J | Fall Home & Yard The Dallas Post October 6, 1999 Simple tips to help brush away your painting fears Painting is like getting in shape: We say we're going to do it, we imagine the beautiful results we'll create, and we take comfort in knowing we're increasing longev- ity. But painting is also similar toa physical workout in that most would rather talk about it'than do it: What is it about painting that engenders such interest in every- thing but the actual work? Are we a nation of lazy house painters, or are we unsure of our artistic and handyman talents? “My guess is that people don't need to be convinced that paint- ing adds beauty and value to a house. Instead, most of us need to be convinced that we can do the job well enough to last several years,” said Tom Rapps. brand manager for Dutch Boy Paint. Why People Fear Painting Consumer research by Dutch Boy shows that most people would love to paint aroom in their home. In fact. most admitted that they thoroughly enjoyed the process of picking colors and envisioning the finished product. But an over- whelming number of them were hesitant to actually put brush to wood. Citing the anxiety associated with painting, many homeowners are reluctant to undertake a project that they think they'll have todoagain next year. Dutch Boy's Rapps says this [ear is unneces- sary. "With the proper prep and a few pointers, anyone can do a paint job that will Tast a long time.” he says. “Furthermore, top quality paint is made to last.” Rapps [eels do-it-yourselfers would be more comfortable pick- ing up a paint brush if they tack- led the project with the simple thought of Do it once, do it right. If you're going to spend your spare time and some spare dol- lars on a home-improvement project, it only makes sense to take the time to do it correctly so you won't have to do it again. "Every minute spent on plan- ning and preparation will pay you back ten-fold down the road.” says Rapps. "Just liguring out what paint to buy and exactly how much you need can save you from hav- ing to paint again next year, or having to run out to the store for another gallon halfway through the project.” “ The Three “P’s” Of Painting Rapps says that any would-be home improvement bull can achieve a great paint job by fol- lowing the three "P's": prép, prod- uct and performance. Paint experts agree that prepa- ration is the key to a successful paint job. It's been estimated that improper. surface preparation alone results in 90% of interior paint failures. The first key is to have a clean, smooth surface to paint. Second is to protect every- thing around the room and keep it out of the way to avoid delays. It's that simple. Some of the most common re- sults of shoddy prep work in- clude: e Paint not adhering to dirty, dusty or rough surfaces e Furnishings and surfaces mistakenly painted because they weren't removed, covered or masked off * Cracks and holes reappear- ing because they weren't treated with spackling compound and spot primed » Flaking paint occurs because a primer wasn't used, or not enough of the old paint was re- moved {rom the substrate. Selecting A Project-Specific Paint Next is selecting the actual paint you will use. Critical to any great project is using a paint that is suited for the task at hand, and one that goes on in one coat. “If you're going to be painting your kitchen, why wouldn't you use a paint specifically manufac- tured for that room's environ- ment?” asks Dutch Boy's Rapps. “The same holds true for floors and furniture. Use a paint that’s designed for the project.” Available today are project-spe- cific paints specially formulated for everything from kitchens & Adding beauty to any room is easy once people get over their initial anxiety toward painting. baths and porches & floors, to aluminum siding and children’s rooms. The reason for project-specific paints is that each room or sur- face has its own needs. For ex- ample, a bathroom needs paint with a unique blend of resins to protect against moisture and hu- midity. And a child's room requires a paint that is less porous so that grime and grease can’t penetrate. It also needs a paint that is sensi- tive to those occupying the room. Paints such as Kid's Room Paint with Low Odor are now available so that children and parents can breathe easier after a paint job. Paint is no longer sold in the “one size fits all” category. Go for a top quality paint that works where it says it works. Using an inferior paint means you'll have to use twice as much to cover the same surface, and it’s more likely to crack and peel. Painting Your Masterpiece What most people view as the most undesirable part of the project is actually the most re- warding. With each stroke of the brush you're adding color, value and protection to your home. Painting also provides you with a canvas in which to show off any budding artistic talents. If you still think a paint project is too daunting, remember there's a fourth “P” — partners - so that you don’t have to go it alone. Your local retailer will surely give you advice on every aspect of the project, and most paint manufac- turers offer a toll-free number. On second thought, maybe a paint job is not the same as get- ting into shape. It's more fun, takes less time and the results are more lasting. REAT ADDITIONS INC. eo] IR {5 \" {e]n] J H]\ [eff od do] = S31 [0] TA BK Fall Home & Yard The Dallas Post October 6, 1999 7 How to: rotecting y Many homeowners are un- aware of all the benefits of adding attic ventilation to their homes. First, in the summer, a well- ventilated attic removes a heat build-up that can radiate to the rooms below the attic, making your home uncomfortable and harder to cool. Removing this at- tic heat can reduce the strain on air conditioners, and that can save you money. Second, attic ventilation helps protect your attic from damage caused by heat and moisture. Too much heat in the attic can cause shingles to deteriorate prema- turely. Excess moisture can cause mold, mildew, and wood rot in the attic. If you go into your attic and see signs of mold and mildew such as dark spots on the rafters or rust on the nail heads, you could ben- efit from adding ventilation to your attic. And, if you store things in your attic, you want to make sure attic moisture does not damage your belongings. Many homes, although vented, are not vented well enough to eliminate potential damage Lower cooling costs while our attic and roof caused by excess heat and mois- ture. If your attic seems too hot or if there are signs of moisture in the attic, you will benefit from adding ventilation. An easy way to add more ven- tilation is by installing a powered attic ventilator. A power attic ven- tilator has a thermostat so that the fan turns on automatically when your attic requires ventila- tion. To get the most from your power attic ventilator, here are three tips to remember when installing a powered attic ventilator: Tip #1 Provide plenty of intake air. A powered attic ventilator works best when it has plenty of intake air to circulate in the attic. Intake air is provided by vents placed in your eave or soffit areas. They provide a source of fresh air for your power attic ventilator todraw from. Tip #2 Install a power attic ventilator with enough power to do the job. Power attic ventilators are rated by the cubic volume of air moved per minute (CFM). This number represents the actual amount of air moved by the power attic ven- tilator. The higher the number, the more ventilation the powered attic ventilator provides. The Home Ventilating Institute, HVI Division of AMCA Interna- tional, Inc., a nonprofit organiza- tion, recommends that you esti- mate the number of square feet in your attic and multiply that num- ber by 0.7 to find the proper size power attic ventilator for you at- tic. Tip #3 Be sure to select and install an HVI tested/certi- fied power attic ventilator. It is your assurance that your power attic ventilator will per- form the way it is intended. HVI tests and rates power attic ventilators, as well as other home ventilating products, for perfor- mances according to industry standards. You can obtain a free list of HVI Tested / Certified prod- ucts by contacting the HVI. Phone: 1-847-394-0150, Fax: 1-847-253- 0088. E-Main: HVI Office@aol.com, or write to: HVI, 30 W. University Dr., Arlington Heights, IL 60004-1893. Doors for tight spaces In places where a swinging door would waste space and a door-in- the-wall can't be installed, use an open pocket door. I Consider IA\ET}! Tr e Cost Efficient e Durable e Attractive ° Engineered to * Versatile do the job IN [eo]: 97: {NS y:Ve 0.\:]H Nee], [of {3} = BLOCK RETAINING WALL SYSTEM STAUB WALL SYSTEMS vil supply all the material you need to build a quality wall at an affordable price. We can aid you with the design & engineering of the wall and help you start the project. - Complete Installation Also Available = STA UB WALL SYSTEMS We keep an extensive inventory of Allan Block at our Lehman Twp. location = Distributor — Installer Allan Retaining Wall Block ‘Route 118, Lehman, PA * 570-477-2152
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