Get The Perfect Paint Sheen For Your Project

---

I have found there is a lot of confussion surrounding the type of paint finish customers want for their woodwork. 

I get asked for a matt gloss more than you know.

I have put together this quick guide to help make sense of a confussing topic.

What is a high gloss finish

This is the most durable and easiest to clean of all. It’s super-shiny and reflects light really well. As it’s so tough, it’s the perfect choice for wooden architectural trims such as skirting boards, stair stringers, window frames, cabinets and doors. Don’t be tempted to use it for interior walls and always prepare your surface well, as gloss will show up every imperfection. Although it was very popular until the end of the 90's we very rarely are asked to apply a gloss finish nowdays, with our customers prefering Satinwood.

what is semi gloss

Gloss paint is a great paint finish for rooms with moisture such as kitchens and cloak rooms as well as architectural trims, this highly durable paint combats grease and humidity.

what is satinwood

For a paint finish with luster that isn’t too shiny, Satinwood paint is more of a velvety paint that’s easy to clean and ideal for high traffic areas such as living spaces, entryways, children’s bedrooms and playrooms. it’s a great all-rounder, we reccomend using Benjamin Moore's Scuff X. Although it is slightly more expensive than other satinwood's the finish is great and amazing when it's sprayed.

What is an egshell finish

Eggshell is named after a chicken’s egg as it has a similar look. This is a flat paint with very little sheen and it can be used to hide blemishes on walls or woodwork. It’s not as hardwearing as gloss or satinwood but works well in living areas and dining spaces as well as bedrooms.

When it comes to choosing between satinwood vs eggshell, the main thing to bear in mind is that eggshell has a lower sheen than satinwood, which means it is duller and closer to a flat or matte emulsion.

Thank you for spending the time to read our Blog, if you are considering a decorating / paint spraying project and you’d like some help or advice please feel free to get in touch. Call Trevor on 07532 778861 or email trevor@tjdecor.co.uk - TJ Painting and Decorating, Alton / Petersfield Hampshire

www.tjdecor.co.uk

Can You Paint Matt over Silk, Eggshell, Mid Sheen, Satin, Soft Sheen or Gloss Paint?

The good news is YES!! you can paint Matt emulsion over the following surfaces

• Silk

• Eggshell

• Mid Sheen

• Satin

• Soft Sheen

• Gloss Paint

However as with all good decorating projects the secret is in the Prep!!! If the walls are not prepared properly this can lead to the appearance of fine hairline cracks all over the walls

To begin with you need to provide a key for the new paint to stick too.

You do this by sanding the areas you want to paint with 80 or 120 grade sandpaper.

Ideally you need to remove any sheen or shine from the wall surface. The best way to do this is with the use of an electric sander. Bear in mind this can be a dusty process so it would be advisable to wear protective clothing and a dust mask. You may also want to tape up any doors and open windows to help the dust escape.

Another option would be to seek out local a local Painter and Decorator who uses a Dustless Sanding System. When you call just ask the Decorator if they use a Mirka sander for their prep work.

This would reduce the dust in your home dramatically. Once all the sanding has been completed, it is good practice to wipe down the walls with a damp cloth to remove any dust or contaminates that could effect the paint sticking to the wall.

Now you have completed the dusty business of sanding, you now need to prime the wall area. We have found the best product for this is Zinsser Gardz avaiable from most good Decorators Merchants.

A 5 litre tin costs about £40.00 and covers around 50m2 of wall.

To calculate how much Gardz you need use this Paint Calculator

Allow the Zinseer Gardz to fully dry and now you can apply the matt emulsion without any problems.

Painting the Outside of Your House - 7 Signs That The Exterior of Your Property Needs Attention

A question we get asked every year from about Easter until October is - I’m not sure if the oustide of my house needs painting, I was hoping you could help me?

---

Hopfully this short guide will help answer a few of those questions and concerns?

Masonry Blistering / Bubbling

If the previously applied masonry paint on the exterior of your home is starting to blister and bubble, then this is a sure sign that moisture is getting behind the paint and pushing away from the wall area.

There are reasons for the moisture getting behind the paint. 

• It could be moisture coming from within the property,

• it could be coming in via cracks in the masonry,

• Rising damp due to an ineffective damp proof course.

• Even rainwater penetrating through the aging paintwork.

Dealing with these blisters / bubbles early is important because when they begin to burst and peel off, it will leave the surface exposed and will eventually make the problem worse.

Chalking

Chalking is very easy to identify, if you rub your hand over the surface of any previously painted wall area, and there is a chalky powder on your hand you have Chalking.

Chalking means that the resin in the paint have started breaking down. This is typically caused by UV light from the sun.

Essentially resin is the glue that holds all the other paint ingredients together.

Once the resin breaks down, the powders and pigments are no longer bonded together. So, they simply turn back to a fine powder.

Some paints are more resistant to UV breakdown than others but over time this will happen to all paints.

When a paint starts chalking it is at the end of its life cycle and needs to be re-painted. If left untreated the paint will start to come off and leaves the surface underneath exposed to the elemnts.

It is common to see this sort of thing on garage doors that have been neglected, as well as masonry surfaces.

Cracked or Blown Render

Cracked and blown render are typically caused by rainwater penetrating a wall, then expanding through freezing and thawing.

This is why it is essential that you keep your guttering and downpipes in good condition and free from leaks

You can easliy identify blown render by running a ring spanner across your masonry is a quick and easy way to identify blown areas.

Any areas that sound hollow have ‘blown’. Which essentially means the render has come away from the surface underneath.

Repairing cracks and blown render is essential to maintaining your property and should be done before any painting takes place. Most good Plasterers should be able to repair any damaged render for you.

If the blown render is not dealt with, water will still be able to get in behind the paint and cause further issues.

Peeling / Flaking Paintwork

If your paintwork is peeling and flaking this means there is an issue with the adhesion. (The paint has not stuck to the surface properly).

This can be caused by several things. Including incorrect products being used or the surface being damp, dirty or dusty before the paint was applied.

Dealing with this promptly will ensure your property does not remain exposed to further weather damage causing the timber underneath to rot.

Rotten Windows and Doors

When moisture does get into wooden doors and window frames it can cause a lot expense and damage. Including making them rotten. Regular maintenance is the best way to stop this happening and avoid having to replace windows and doors unnecessarily.

It can also mean windows and doors swell, making it impossible to close and secure them properly!

Mould / Dirt Pick Up

You can easily identify mould or dirt pick up on a painted surface, Areas or patches of green on a wall is mould and dirt pick up is usually more uniform and just looks grubby and well dirty.

Organic growth, such as mould, algae and lichen need moisture to survive and grow. If you have this on your walls then it means the surface has become porous and is holding moisture.

This is a good sign that the paint is coming towards the end of its life and needs to be re-painted soon.

Faded Colour

Another issue caused by UV light from the Sun is colour fading. Certain pigments in paint can fade over time and depending on which areas of your home get more sunlight than others you can start to see areas becoming patchy.

Investing in higher quality paints can reduce this issue.

What other benefits are there to painting the exterior of your home?

Painting the exterior of your home doesn’t just protect against these issues, it can also transform the look giving your home ‘kerb appeal’

This can be brilliant for the value of your property…plus it’ll make the neighbours jealous!

Final Thought

More often than not, prevention is way cheaper than cure.

Regular maintenance to the exterior of your home is essential.  

Not only to improve the look but also save you money in the long run.

If you need further help or advice please feel free to contact Trevor TJ Painitng and Decorating 01420 88910 or trevor@tjdecor.co.uk

Our most asked question this year

End of 2021 Review

 Our most asked question this year, as most years is

How much would you charge to paint……..?

Generally, I get asked this question while I am holding the phone in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.

This is not the best way to price any decorating work to be honest.

I spent a few days thinking about a way to help homeowners get an idea of a budget for their decorating projects.

In the past I have recorded a video our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/mOdwDjTO6hU discussing Painters and Decorators work around the UK, that has been very popular.

The video is helpful if you want to us a Painter in Scotland, but what if you wanted to use us you’re your decorating?

With this in mind I have looked at all the projects we have completed in 2021 for our customers.

Below are the average prices for the most popular rooms in our customers homes.

---

What we did in 2021

Our most popular rooms and average prices.

---

Hopefully this will help give you a “ballpark figure” if you are considering any painting project.

I hope you have found this useful? If you need any help or advice please get in touch trevor@tjdecor.co.uk

---

What Are The Ten Most Worrying Home Renovation Projects?

Although Halloween has passed, it appears that people doing home improvement projects, particularly house extentions, will continue to experience nightmares with kitchens, bathrooms follow close behind.

According to a survey conducted by Rated People, more than half of the homeowners polled (58 percent) said that house extensions were the most frightening renovation job they had ever undertaken.

Loft conversions (50 percent)

Kitchen Refurbs (45 percent)

Bathroom Installations (45 percent) were the next most likely to give them goosebumps (40 percent ).

Garage conversions (29 percent)

Solar Panel installations (29 percent)

Fireplace Installations (25 percent)

Boiler Servicing or installation (22 percent)

Landscape design (13 percent)

Painting and Decorating (13 percent) rounded out the top five most terrifying projects (12 percent ).

Additionally, homeowners stated their greatest concerns when it comes to having such maintenance completed.

These included

Spiralling expenses (58 percent))

The mess created by construction work (41%)

Interruption to everyday routines (36 percent ).

Because some homeowners were concerned about how frightening these tasks could become, nearly three-quarters (72 percent) postponed remodelling more than once.

In addition, the study of 2,000 people found that, as a result of the surge in home renovation projects over the previous year, 50 percent of respondents admitted to picking up the tools and conducting the work themselves.

"It is encouraging to see that so many homeowners are continuing to spend in home upgrades," said Adrienne Minster, chief executive of Rated People, in response to the poll results. DIY has been popular in recent years, and homeowners are posting 40 percent more trade tasks on Rated People now than they were at this time last year, before the pandemic. However, it is vital to recognise that many people still find home improvement projects intimidating, particularly larger projects such as an addition or a kitchen remodel.

"Of course, there will be some disruption while construction is underway, but by identifying competent and professional tradesmen who can not only carry out the work, but also provide expert advise and assistance with planning and design, there is no reason why projects cannot run smoothly." By being aware of the frequent remodelling concerns and working to alleviate them as part of their usual planning process, tradespeople may assist these customers and win more business."