OKC Painter – Painting Blog

Nobody said painting was easy.  When going DIY, it’s easy to let your ambitions get the best of you.  If you’re going to try to do it yourself be mindful of what experts say are the top 9 DIY painting mistakes.

1. Skimping On Prep Time

Homeowners understandably want to jump right into the project because they’re excited to see the new color on their walls. This is an emotional reaction. Professional painters, on the other hand, spend the majority of their time on prep. If you’re going to do it yourself, be sure you’ve properly cleaned walls, scraped off peels and cracks, applied painter’s tape carefully, and allowed any patching compound to dry before you start. Experts agree that a lack of proper prep is usually the biggest difference between DIY and professional projects.

2. Skimping on Brushes and Roller Covers to Save Money

The best paint in the world won’t perform if you go cheap on the application tools. Good brushes and roller covers offer better coverage and will save you on paint in the long run. Better yet, good brushes can last for years. They’re worth the extra dollars. At Paint It OKC, we use only the best applicators on the market.

3. Using Masking Tape Instead of Painter’s Tape and Knifes

As with the brushes and rollers, professional painters spend the money for high quality tape. If you’re going DIY, you should too. Along the same lines, you should use a putty knife or mini scraper — not your finger — to remove air bubbles and seal the edges to prevent drips and ensure sharp lines.

4. Going Without Primer

Primer is essential for covering flaws and giving you a smooth, long-lasting finish. You might be able to get away with paint-and-primer-in-one mixes if the old surface was previously painted, is in good shape, and has a flat (non-glossy) finish. But if you’re painting over a more difficult surface such as plaster, wood, concrete, glossy paint, or stained/porous drywall, use a stand-alone primer or a premium all-in-one mix specifically designed to cover unpainted surfaces.  This is another determination that Paint It OKC can make for you.

5. Painting Over High-Gloss Without Sanding

New paint needs some texture to adhere to, so make sure to lightly scuff any shiny surfaces with sandpaper, followed by a rinse with clean water. If not, you can find yourself with a patchy paint coverage and using more than you need.

6. Plunging Your Brush Too Far Into The Paint

Dip it only a third of the way in — you’ll get enough paint on your brush without wasting or pushing the paint deep into the bristles, which can be a nightmare to clean.

7. Painting Aimlessly

Always start near the ceiling and work your way down for the smoothest finish; that way you can catch drips as you work.

8. Painting Over Wallpaper With Water-Based Paint

You can paint over wallpaper, but be sure to use oil-based primer first. Water-based paints and primers can react with the wallpaper glue and cause unsightly peeling, another problem that will cause cost you significantly more in the long run than any savings you encounter going DIY.

9. Skipping Cleanup

You’re tired at the end of the job, so you put the brushes in the garage and decide to deal with it later — bad idea! Protect your investment by washing those brushes thoroughly with water and dish detergent, wrapping them in airtight plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and storing them in their original packaging so that they hold their shape.

If you’ve read through all these points and still feel up to the challenge of DIY, we wish you the best of luck.  However, if it’s starting to seem like a lot more headaches than you bargained for, give us a call at Paint It OKC today!

Contact Paint It OKC and let’s get started on your exterior painting project. Paint It OKC, is an OKC painting company that specializes in interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, paint color selection, power washing and fence/deck staining. Call us today at (405) 317-7788 for a FREE home consultation and estimate.

For most homeowners, trying to find a good Sherwin Williams housepainter can be boiled down to two issues—quality and location—that are often expressed in four simple words: “Best housepainter near me.”  Locating a housepainter is an important, long term decision. That’s why it’s best for homeowners to know what they’ll need in an exterior housepainter.

Are They Close?

Based on Google searches, most homeowners consider the housepainter’s proximity to their home to be an important factor in their decision. But should it be? When you’re looking for, say, a plumber, time is of the essence (an overflowing toilet doesn’t care what it says on Yelp!). With an exterior paint project, you can afford to take your time. How close a housepainter is to your home should only be a factor if the painter charges for time in transit. Paint It OKC charges by the job regardless of how much time is spent in transit. Whether you’re in Norman or Edmond, Mustang or Midwest City, if you’re in our trade area, you’ll be charged the same flat rate for each job.

A Matter of Trust

When you hire a housepainter, you’re inviting a stranger into your home. It’s not the time to worry about the security of your valuables and your children. Paint It OKC holds all its housepainters to the highest standards of character and professionalism. If we can trust them to work for us, you can trust them in your home.

Accidents Happen

We all know that house painting can be a dirty business. What’s not so well known is that it can be a dangerous one as well, particularly when it comes to multi-story homes. Not all house painting companies are insured against on-the-job injuries. What happens if a housepainter injures himself in your home? Unless, the housepainter is fully insured with up-to-date insurance, you as a homeowner could be liable. Paint It OKC’s housepainters are all covered with current and comprehensive policies.

Quality and Craftsmanship

Will your exterior be thoroughly cleaned by an exterior housepainter—including removal of mold or mildew if necessary—by power washing or by hand? Will they advise of any moisture-related considerations prior to paint application? Will all areas beneath and around the surfaces to be painted be covered, and light fixtures, door handles and trim protected? Will the housepainter carefully inspect for wood rot, water or insect damage, the surface will be prepared by an experienced exterior painter (scraped, caulked and sealed as needed to create a moisture barrier and uniform surface). Will all surfaces receive a high-quality paint which will leave a uniform and lasting finish? With Paint It OKC, all these answers are a resounding “Yes!” Contact us today to schedule a quote.

Contact Paint It OKC and let’s get started on your exterior painting project. Paint It OKC, is an OKC painting company that specializes in interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, paint color selection, power washing and fence/deck staining. Call us today at (405) 317-7788 for a FREE home consultation and estimate.

Has anyone had the nerve to tell you that a room in your home is in desperate need of a makeover? Maybe a family member has mentioned it to you. Or perhaps no one has said anything at all, but your friends have started bringing over home décor to your house as a subtle hint. But the underlying problem is still there- a dull paint job.

We get it. It’s a lot easier to just deal with dated paint and change the decorations in a room. But a new coat of paint could be just what you need to become inspired in your home and breathe new life into it. The first step is the hardest and we want to help! At Paint It, we want to uncover the ugliest room in Oklahoma and help provide that home owner with a $500 room paint makeover! Let the Paint It “The Ugliest Room Contest” begin!

To participate, all you have to do is visit the our contest page at www.paintitokc.com and send us pics of your best, ugliest room. We’ll post our 6 finalist’s photos on Facebook and let fans Like, Comment or Share their favorite “Ugliest Room” and the winner will be awarded a $500 paint makeover by our expert interior painting team. Let Paint It help you change the color and mood in your worst room.

How to Submit a Picture:

Starting Wednesday, July 25, to Friday, August 4 at 11:59 p.m. you will be able to submit your pictures on our website! On the contest page, you will find a button to send us photos of your “Ugliest Room.” Just send us photos of the room in the upload images area and we’ll pick our finalists after all submissions are in on August 4. Then it’s your turn! Fans will vote on

our Facebook page from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11. Don’t forget to tell us your name, email address or phone number when you upload your photos so we know how to get in touch with you if we choose your room.

Again, the Paint It “The Ugliest Room” will not accept room submissions after Friday, August 4 at 11:59 p.m. All contestants must be the home owner and live in the Greater OKC Metro area. You can submit as many rooms as you would like in your home. The value is good up to $500. Good luck and let the ugly picture taking begin!

Contact Paint It OKC and let’s get started on your exterior painting project. Paint It OKC, is an OKC painting company that specializes in interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, paint color selection, power washing and fence/deck staining. Call us today at (405) 317-7788 for a FREE home consultation and estimate.

Most homeowners think painting is something they can easily do themselves.  This is understandable since painting, unlike plumbing or electrical work, is something almost everyone has at least a little bit of experience with.  It’s a logical question, then, for any homeowner looking to renovate, remodel, or redecorate a room, exterior, or even an entire house: hire a professional painter or DIY?

Money

In terms of dollar and cents savings, DIY gets the advantage.  When doing it yourself, the only significant expense you’re likely to incur comes in the way of supplies (primer, paint, brushes, tape, drop cloths, etc.)  If you have more time than money, then doing the painting yourself might be the way to go.  You just better ensure that you have a whole lot of time, because….

DIY Painting Is a Huge Time Investment

Consider a 2500 square foot house requiring the painting of interior walls.  A professional painter can typically complete such a job in under a week.  For an amateur working nights and weekends, a project of this magnitude will likely take at least two to three months to complete.  So when you consider the investment in time, it’s also important to consider the opportunity cost of all the activities that will have to be sacrificed for such an extensive period of time.  This is to say nothing of the inconvenience of having your home in a state of disrepair for an entire spring.  For DIY to be worth your while, you need not only ample time, but also a calendar free of obligations.

Safety

House painting might look easy, however, it can actually be a dangerous activity for those who don’t know what they’re doing.  This is especially true if you are dealing with high ceilings or second-story exteriors. Painting from a ladder requires balance, concentration, and flexibility.  Otherwise you’re at risk for broken bones, concussion, or worse.  A professional painter will have the skills and expertise to ensure their safety.  And if an accident should happen, a professional painter will be insured to cover any damage.

Expertise and Quality

The most important part of any paint job is the part any reputable painter can guarantee.  Their expertise can ensure that the difficult parts of any job can be done with relative ease.  Things like high spots, tight corners, and sanding surfaces can drive an amateur painter insane.  For a professional they are second nature.  Professional painters can guarantee clean lines and multiple coats are standard operating procedure.  A professional painter knows how to avoid splashes, drips, and bubbling in order to make your home look every bit as good as it deserves to.

Contact Paint It OKC and let’s get started on your exterior painting project. Paint It OKC, is an OKC painting company that specializes in interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, paint color selection, power washing and fence/deck staining. Call us today at (405) 317-7788 for a FREE home consultation and estimate.

The color palette gracing your home’s walls, ceilings, trim and doors creates the setting for your life. It’s the backdrop for each carefully selected furnishing and everything that takes place there. Each room speaks volumes about who you are as well as who painted it. For this reason alone, you want the best interior painter you can find. You hope that the best painting contractor will also be a “painter near me.” Paint It! has three crucial questions for you to ask to ensure you get both.

1. Can the paint contractor deliver your vision?

A room is much more than four walls. Likewise, a house is more than the sum of its rooms. Each doorway leads to worlds that range from warm and earthy to cool and sleek. The paint you choose is the foundation, and the contractor you select will lay it. Successful execution requires the ability to both visualize and fulfill often customized demands:

• Are you painting a room, a level of rooms or a whole home?
• What color impression do you want people to actually see?
• Will you vary wall color, split tones or use special finishing effects?
• Will trim complement or contrast?
• Do you need a custom color coordinated to a treasured furnishing?
• Do you want to establish or maintain complementary palettes for continuity?
• Do you want a velvety flat finish, a glossy light-faceted one or a satiny glow?

Many contract painters buy in bulk for their own economy and convenience. For a more personalized, expressive approach, you need a full-service team with the skill and resources to help you plan and then deliver your vision.

2. Does your painter offer quality products and services?

Prep. A professional finish is only as good as what lies underneath it. Experienced interior painters know that wallpaper, water damage or other surface flaws require a bit of extra care and preparation. Furniture must be protected and fixtures removed. The list goes on because the best painters often spend more time on preparation than they do on the actual painting.

Equipment. Quality extends to the brushes, applicators and other equipment your painter uses as well. Cheap or spent rollers and brushes won’t deliver a clean, smooth professional finish. Real painter’s tape has no substitute. Drop cloths should be clean, with proper coverage. Sturdy ladders or scaffolding ensure a steady hand, and it doesn’t stop there.

Paints and Primers. While more than 1,500 different colors is impressive, premium paints like Sherwin-Williams offer additional benefits in both appearance and durability. Quality primers smooth, seal and prepare surfaces to ensure paint won’t crack, chip or peel. High-end paints offer the full range of bases and compositions, from acrylic latex and oils to enamels and antimicrobials.

3. Does your painter operate in a professional manner?

What some may see as merely administrative details highlights the venues that truly separate the amateurs from the professionals:

• Communication. Quite simply, does the contractor return your calls promptly, within 24 hours? Do they provide straightforward, honest answers to your questions? Do they provide you with a written detailed price estimate?
• Schedule. Does your contractor provide a clear schedule establishing acceptable start and completion dates? For multiple rooms or large jobs, the schedule should include a thorough, efficient prep, paint and cleanup sequence.
• Contract. A written contract protects both you and the painter. The contract should guarantee the work and detail completion and payment structure.
• Insurance. Using a contractor that is insured protects you, your home and the painter. This ensures that if something goes wrong, the contractor has it covered.
• References. No substitute exists for experience gained from jobs well done. A reputable interior paint contractor should be able to provide authentic samples of prior work.

The Best Interior Painter Near Me

Before you begin your next interior painting project, let Paint It! and its painting professionals show you how we can turn your vision into reality. Peruse our website pages or call (405) 317-7788 today for a FREE estimate. Learn why Paint It! ranks as the best interior painter near you.

Paint It! is your OKC Metro expert painter committed to delivering quality paint performance using top-quality paint products by Sherwin Williams. Our quality managers offer free paint estimates and advice for adding color to any interior or exterior space around your home. Paint It! specializes in interior and exterior house painting, fence staining, deck staining, door painting or staining and interior cabinet painting jobs.

The exterior of your home includes elements which will attract a visitor’s attention as they arrive at your property. Aside from the front door, they will notice the fencing and decking that line the home’s perimeter. Over time, these areas can begin to show their age. Without regular upkeep, these areas may negatively impact your home’s overall appearance. A new finish can make your fence or deck look like new again, but what process should you choose? If you find yourself in this situation, call Paint It. We are coatings experts, and we will provide you with the best options available to improve the appearance of your fence or decking.

Grain and Texture Staining

 Grain lines and texture are usually part of the visual beauty of any wood product. To bring out the grain and texture, consider semi-transparent stains. You can add tinting colors which add slight coloring to the wood without covering up the grain lines and textures. Deck and fence staining basically enhance nature’s design that positively reflects on your home.

The Opaque Stain

As an alternative, consider fence or deck staining with increased color. For deeper, more concealing color, choose an opaque stain. These products cover the wood grain with a higher concentration of additives, and will mask more of the woods natural appearance. From an up-close view, you’ll still be able to see the wood grain. It’s simply not an obvious detail from afar.

Painting Exterior Elements

Although you’ve loved the rustic look of your semi-transparent deck staining, maybe it’s time for a change. Old wood or areas that have been refinished many times can benefit from the concealing properties painting offers. A coat of exterior paint can easily improve your weathered fence or decking or even make them look new again. White, gray and many neutral colors are favorites, but painting a fence or decking enables a homeowner to be creative with any color they desire.

Some things to consider when choosing a coating:

 Deck and fence products vary by their main ingredients, including oil-based or water-based products. An oil-based or water-based product may be chosen for different reasons, like drying times, fumes, or applications over existing coatings. A Paint It professional can further educate you on the differences between oil and water-based coatings, and help you get the best product for your application.

Oil-Based Applications

 For some professionals, oil-based products are their favorite because they overlap and penetrate exterior materials with ease. Distressed wood, for example, matches perfectly with oil-based products. Be aware that oil based stains penetrate the wood and are affected by UV exposure. Oil based stains may require re-applications over shorter time periods than an exterior paint.

Water-Based Perks

When you’re looking for a fence painting product that stands the test of time, most professionals point out the virtues of water-based paints. The ingredients tend to flex more under extreme conditions instead of cracking or peeling. If you’re going to stain a surface that has previously been painted or stained with an oil-based product, then a water-based product will better adhere to the surface to be covered. A Paint It professional can discuss these options with you during an initial evaluation.

Contact Paint It OKC and let’s get started on your exterior painting project. Paint It OKC, is an OKC painting company that specializes in interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, paint color selection, power washing and fence/deck staining. Call us today at (405) 317-7788 for a FREE home consultation and estimate.

The living room is an area of the home where the family can gather to talk about the events of the day. It’s a place where you can relax after work and where you can celebrate the joyous occasions in life, such as a holiday or the arrival of a new baby. The living room is somewhat of a catch-all room for all the emotions and occasions in life. It should be a space that is warm an inviting. Aside from changing the decorations on the side tables or on the coffee table throughout the year, you can work on a living room rehab project that will change everything about the room from top to bottom.

Getting Creative

When it comes to painting your living room, the paint pros at Paint It suggest you celebrate National Painting Week by beginning your living room rehab project. This is a time when you can cut loose and celebrate the new colors that the spring season has to offer while focusing on the personality of the living room. The holiday week takes place from May 22 to May 31, 2017. During the week, you can find your favorite color that will showcase the life and the joy that the family has in the home at Sherwin Williams.  Lighter colors, such as beige or ivory, work well in a living room. They allow the room to appear larger than it is compared to darker colors tending to make the room seem enclosed. Lighter colors also offer a way for you to add any decorations on the wall and almost any color on the furniture if you want to re-upholster the couch or the chairs.

Rehab Color Selection

One of the challenges when you’re working on a living room rehab project is that you might not know how to select the colors to use in the room. The first thing a Paint It consultant will tell customers you should do when you begin your living room painting is to look at the largest pattern that is in the space. Highlight that pattern or design with a color on the wall. An example would be a nautical theme. You might have blues, hues of gold and white for the decorations and furnishings. Capture the primary color from the largest pieces in the paint on the wall. Use a color wheel to see which colors complement each other the best. When you begin decorating and re-upholstering furniture, consider contrasting cool and warm shades as they will create a balance in the living room, making it easier to finish the project.

Get The Right Help

The expert interior painters at Paint It are ready to help you jump start your living room rehab project in honor of National Painting Week. You will appreciate our color samples for inspiration and we offer free estimates and guidance for all your home painting needs. Call us today at 405.317.7788 and let’s bring your project to color and life!

If you’re like most Oklahoma City homeowners, your garage has probably seen better days. Over time, a typical garage tends to become a cluttered eyesore that detracts from the aesthetic appeal and utility of a home. If you’d like to make your garage more functional and look like new, have Paint It out to turn your dirty garage into an organized work space for projects or extra storage.

Prep The Garage Area

To get started, go ahead and clean the area up before we arrive. We need to be able to access the entire floor surface in the garage. You will also want to go through your space and determine if there is anything you are ready to let go of and put out for the trash pick-up. You might find some seasonal items that could be stored in the attic to help free up the garage space.

Paint The Garage Walls

We will first tackle the walls as a part of your garage rehab. Whether your garage walls are concrete, brick or drywall, Sherwin Williams Super Paint products will transform the look of your garage as this product line offers better protection and durability for tough to maintain areas like a garage.

Epoxy Paint The Floor

Epoxy painting your floors will help you keep a cleaner space for years to come. Our process begins by determining if we need to degrease any spots. Next we wash the floor to remove the contaminates and then you are ready to for the muriatic acid etch on the flooring. This will create the proper profile for your paint coating to adhere. After your garage flooring is properly prepared, our expert painters at Paint It will apply 2-3 coats of epoxy paint as needed to get to the right look and protection.

Bring In Organizational Hardware

No matter how large your garage may be, implementing a practical organization scheme for your tools and stored belongings will make life easier in the long run. While Paint It doesn’t provide organization systems, we know some great businesses in OKC we can refer that can install complete systems to organize your space. If nothing else, we suggest you head to Home Depot or Lowe’s to check out shelf racks, cabinets you can mount, or even plastic tubs. This will provide a nice way to see your contents while keeping your belongings out of the way and organized.

Install Something Unique

Personalizing your garage with custom accessories is the key to getting the most utility out of your personal space. For instance, homeowners with gardens could install a plant-potting work station to make transplanting perennials less messy. Those interested in TIG or MIG welding might install a 240-volt electrical outlet. Tools like air compressors and shop vacuums are useful additions to garages of all sizes.

The Ultimate Garage Rehab

Once you are finished, we think you’ll find the effort will be well worth the reward. You will notice your garage is more spacious than you remembered and a clean and organized space just might inspire you to start a new project or hobby.

Contact Paint It OKC and let’s get started on your exterior painting project. Paint It OKC, is an OKC painting company that specializes in interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, paint color selection, power washing and fence/deck staining. Call us today at (405) 317-7788 for a FREE home consultation and estimate.

Tips To Sell Your Home Fast

The days are growing longer as spring sets in, and open-house season is about to begin. If you put your property up for sale this season, you’ll want to make a spectacular first impression. There’s no need to spend a fortune on household upgrades. Follow these tips to sell your home quicker.

Hide the Clutter

You might love the stacks of magazines by the sofa or countless pictures nailed to the wall, but homebuyers may simply see these items as clutter. Take a critical look at each room. Remove as much clutter from the space as possible. Rent a storage unit for these items if necessary. Keep in mind that many personal photos decorating the house might be a turn off to buyers as well. Replace the family photos with basic art you can borrow from a friend or your real-estate agent. These subtle changes will help you sell your home.

Take Care of the Exterior

Although you are ready to move on, a fresh coat of paint or a power wash may be your best bet for making an excellent first impression with your prospective home buyer. The overall

outside view, from the curb, is often the first and only chance you have for a home buyer to fall in love with your house. A consultant from Paint It can help you determine if your trim can be power washed or if fresh paint is necessary to beautify your home. Our estimates are free and will help you stay on track with your budget to get your home ready to sell. You will want to finish any needed exterior paint work a couple days before an open house so that the surfaces can dry. Don’t forget to clean and wipe the exterior windows because more light into the interior will only translate into better bids for your nest egg.

Make the Rooms Larger

Use visual tricks in your interior rooms to make the home appear larger. In general, light colors painted across the ceiling and walls will widen the space as light bounces off the reflective surfaces. Colors like Passive, Pure White or Tradewinds make an excellent selection to appeal to the broadest group of home buyers. Accent other areas with deeper colors to neatly contrast the pale hues. Top suggestions for contrast colors from Sherwin Williams include Distance, a blue gray and Or In The Navy, a dark blue. You will find more color ideas at Sherwin Williams Most Popular Colors.

De-personalizing your home is one of the most important factors. Not everyone will love your sense of style. You want each room to convey very neutral themes and colors. Otherwise it becomes difficult for home buyers to visualize their own furnishings inside your home. You will also want to clean out closets. It’s important to make your storage space seem as large as

possible. Remove up to half of the items which currently occupy the space. Make sure your closets are bright and clean. Interior paint color in your closet is important as well. Choose light paint colors like Sherwin William’s Repose Gray or Natural Tan which will complement your room walls.

Update the Hardware

An inexpensive and effective way to update any bathroom or kitchen is by swapping out the hardware. Cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and sink faucets can be swapped out for modern styles. Your kitchen may lack an elaborate remodel, but the hardware tricks the eye to believe that the space is updated. Wipe down all cabinets and surfaces after the installation to help give everything a nice shine.

Once you sell your old home it’s time to start dreaming of how to decorate your new home. Don’t forget the interior experts at Paint It can help enhance your new home with fresh coats of paint to match your furniture and any new décor you plan to add into your house.

Paint It is Oklahoma’s top interior and exterior painting company and a proud supporter of Sherwin Williams paint products. Our expert painters pride themselves on attention to detail and superior customer service. We provide free in-home estimates for all interior and exterior painting. We specialize in staining decks, fences and other paint related work as well. Call Paint It! at (405) 317-7788 today and one of our experts help you with your next move.