The key to any paint project is preparation of the surface prior to painting.   The only way to achieve a top-quality paint job is through both adequate and proper preparation of the surface.  You may have heard that preparation is 80% and this is true.  Preparation does not take 80% of the time but its impact is 80% of the quality of the final product. 

Interior Painting

What this means is all trim (doors, frames, etc) should be sanded and wiped down prior to painting and gaps in trim should be caulked.  Blemishes such as existing paints drips, sags, and buildup should be sanded smooth.  Holes should be filled with the proper filler and the filler should be sanded smooth to avoid patches showing up after painting.

Walls should be sanded when required and holes filled.  The key here is to sand the fill smooth so patches will not show after they are painted

Exterior Painting

Before painting the house must be powerwashed to remove all dirt, mildew, algae, and other debris from the surfaces of the home.  Once cleaned the house should have time to dry.

All loose paint must be scraped and in high visibility areas sanded.  Often it is necessary to use an electric sander in high visibility areas after scraping peeling paint to eliminate the edges left after scraping.  All barewood must be primed with a suitable primer (oil is preferable). 

 Gaps and cracks on the siding and trim should be sealed with caulking to prevent moisture from getting in the wood.  Doors should always be sanded and wiped and sometimes it is necessary to lightly sand window frames as well.  Exterior paints often bond stronger than interior paints so sanding all frames is not usually necessary.  Metal surfaces should be lightly sanded and primed as necessary.  

Please contact us for more information about preparation requirements and our procedures or if you have any questions when doing the work yourself.  

For interiors, generally we recommend an eggshell sheen for walls and a satin or semigloss sheen for doors, frames, facia and other trim.  A flat paint should be used on ceilings and an eggshell sheen on bathroom ceilings.  A flat paint is an option for walls but it will scuff and should not be used in high-traffic areas  or when there is heavy use to the room.   Even washable flats scuff and this does not wash off. 

For exteriors the siding is typically a flat finish and the trim a semigloss.  There are additional product selection considerations for exterior work because there are paints, solid stains, semi-solid stains, and semi-transparent stains.  To complicate things further there are latex and oil-based variations of the products.  Please contact us for more information as the product selection is one of the most important decisions for your exterior paint project.  Product selection is more important for exterior painting due the the risk of paint failure and poor durability resulting from weather conditions.

Really the key is to look at the colour options in all different types of light. Morning, afternoon, evening, and night.

Another tip is to always test at least two colours IN THE ROOM BEING PAINTED. Also depending on what wall the test colour is on the colour will look different. The light “catches” the colour in different ways so this must be considered.

Colours should also be chosen after considering the accents, furniture, and artwork to be displayed in the room.  The use of a feature wall can be a creative way to introduce colour to a room or change the “feel” of a room without having to paint the entire room a dark colour.  Another approach is to use a “two-tone” scheme to give the room depth.

After contract signing I provide customers with two test colours and if needed colour consultation. This consultation service is primarily offered to customers in Vancouver, North Vancouver and West Vancouver. I feel this is a crucial step to both the interior and exterior painting process.

My ” go to” product ICI Diamond has just released a new satin sheen that can withstand some moisture after application.  Also this product is a little thicker than the semi gloss alternative, and a bit less shiny so the coverage is far better.

Just a couple alternative products to consider in additon to the regular product mix I use

The spring is a great time to paint outside with moderate temperatures and little concern of painting in direct sun.  The general rule is as long as overnight temperatures are about 1o degrees your exterior can be painted.  High daytime temperatures will help but paint tqkes time to cure and needs high overnight temperatures.  This is particularly important for darker colours that may not dry/cure properly.  I look forward to answering any questions and working with you

-Travis Avant