http://www.chismbrothers.com/blog/ en dchism@chismbrothers.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-12T22:40:34+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/when_can_i_walk_on_my_freshly_painted_deck http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/when_can_i_walk_on_my_freshly_painted_deck#When:22:40:34Z A fresh coat of painting or staining on your deck is always recommended every 18 months to 2 years in San Diego. Decks take a lot of beating from our hot sunny weather. You can sometimes go longer than that, but to keep it looking it's best, at least ever two years is best. Then the question is, when can you walk on a freshly painted deck? This will depend on the temperature when the paint or stain was applied and the temperature after the product begins to dry. In most cases a full body stain or aryllic deck finish will be dry to touch within an hour in dry, hot weather. After two hours you could take a chance and walk on it with shoes, though I'd recommend barefoot. After about 4 hours you should be able to safely walk on your deck. Moving Furniture Back on Your Deck I would not recommend putting furniture or plants back on your deck for several days. Acrylic paints and stains take a solid week of really dry weather to cure, sometimes even longer. If the objects are light, a few days after is just fine. If you have heavy plants or a sunbrella with a heavy base, I'd wait a good week. Also, be careful putting potting plants directly on your deck. They tend to cause dry rot because the water can't escape when you water your plants. You can buy pot risers that help the water escape properly.  2012-05-12T22:40:34+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/how_to_create_the_perfect_color_scheme http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/how_to_create_the_perfect_color_scheme#When:18:53:20Z If you have too many color schemes going on in a room, sometimes it can be confusing or dizzying. Therefore, it is important to have a well organized mix of colors. When coming up with a plan for your interior design, follow the 60-30-10 rule. This formula keeps the perfect balance in a room. The best way to explain this formula is to compare it to a man in a business suit; 60% of his ensemble is his suit, 30% is his shirt and 10% is his tie. The same goes for a room; 60% should be the main color (the walls), 30% should be the upholstery or secondary color (such as an accent wall) and 10% should be the decorative elements.   60 - Sixty percent of a room should be a classic color or a color that is not too overwhelming. This color should get people’s overall attention, but shouldn’t be distracting. 30 - Try to tastefully balance the main color with this secondary color, both should either complement or contrast each other, but they shouldn’t compete with each other. 10 - Have fun with the last ten percent of interior decor; choose a bold accent or fun decorations that give the room character. You can have a lot more freedom with this small bit of color; use it to add panache to your interior design. While the 60-30-10 rule operates primarily as a guideline for interior color schemes, it can help with exterior color schemes as well. One way to do this would be to paint all the sides of the house the dominant color, the shutters and trim the secondary color, and the front door a bold accent color. Although the percentages may not be exact, the formula will still present a pleasant, harmonious appearance to your home.  If you have any questions or would like a free estimate, give Chism Brothers a call at 858-454-3850. Homeowner Paint Tips, Design & Color, 2012-05-08T18:53:20+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/a_good_paint_brush_is_key1 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/a_good_paint_brush_is_key1#When:18:00:38Z Paint has the special quality of being able to make almost any surface more beautiful or captivating. However, if paint isn’t applied correctly, it can defeat the purpose of adding beauty and refinement. Choosing the right brush is key for a good quality paint job. There are a few questions you need to consider before choosing a brush: 1. What type of paint are you applying? When painting with oil-based paint, use a natural bristle brush; synthetic brushes are not reccomended for oil-based paint. When painting with water-based or latex paint, use a high quality nylon, polyester or synthetic brush, natural brushes will soak up water and go limp in water-based paint.  2. What type of surface are you painting? Are you painting a small surface? Trim? Corners? Flat surfaces? Textured surfaces? Angle tipped brushes are used most often, and are recommended for small surfaces, cutting-in, and tight corners.  Flat tipped brushes are good for broad, flat surfaces or heavily textured surfaces. These brushes are rarely used, except for decks, cabinets or other odd jobs. Here are a couple more things to keep in mind when choosing a brush:   A good brush will have flagged (split ends) which allows more paint capacity in the brush, and will leave fewer brush marks. A brush should be full and the bristles should generally be longer than the width of the brush; the bristles should also have bend recovery, meaning that the bristles snap back into place if you bend them back and let them go. The base (ferrule) should be tightly wrapped and securely attached so that the brush doesn't "shed". Generally speaking, the best brushes have wood handles. Try to get a brush that is comfortable to hold. Remember, you get what you pay for. This stands true for almost anything in the painting industry (paint, contractors, brushes, supplies, etc). When you buy a good quality brush and take good care of it, it will serve you well and be worth the investment. If you have any further questions, contact one of our painting experts online or at 858-454-3850. Chism Brothers Painting gladly serves the greater part of San Diego.  Homeowner Paint Tips, 2012-04-23T18:00:38+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/how_does_weather_affect_painting http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/how_does_weather_affect_painting#When:18:07:37Z Weather in San Diego usually stays mild enough for painting to be done year round, but there are still a few factors that should be considered before painting. 1. Sun If a day starts off mild but becomes very hot, try to avoid painting in direct sunlight. Sunlit surfaces can be up to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature and can inhibit the paint from drying properly. Try to work around the house so that you are always working in the shade. When the temperature is too high, it can cause acceleration of the paint curing process which could result in wrinkles and bubbles forming in the paint. Another problem with painting in the heat is that areas around stucco cracks and gaps (where caulking is applied) can expand and virtually disappear when hot, which means that when the temperature decreases those areas will constrict and cause the paint to crack. 2. Wind ​Like sunshine, wind can cause paint to dry too quickly and prevent optimal paint formation. Improper adhesion results in paint system failure. Wind can also stir up dust, dirt, pollen and other contaminants that not only disturb the paint finish, but can promote growth of mold and mildew. 3. Rain ​Although rain is a rarity in San Diego, be aware that you should not paint within 24 hours of a rain shower or storm. Painting on wet surfaces traps moisture which fosters the growth of mildew. And of course if it rains directly after you finish painting, the rain will undoubtedly damage the freshly painted surface. For optimal life of a paint job, it is important to be aware of how all of these elements affect painting and the paint curing process when beginning a paint project. Also, to help extend the life of your paint job, use the highest quality 100% acrylic latex paint. High quality paint can last up to 5 years longer than using regular paint.  If you have any further questions, contact Chism Brothers Painting at 858-454-3850. Call us or contact us online if you would like to schedule a free estimate. 2012-04-02T18:07:37+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/why_to_paint_your_home_exterior_in_spring http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/why_to_paint_your_home_exterior_in_spring#When:23:29:51Z As San Diego weather is becoming warmer, all attention is shifting to the outdoors. Springtime calls every homeowner to clean up their gardens, yards, and tend to the needed home-repairs. Your to-do list probably has become long and overwhelming already. Where to start? If your exterior paint is reaching the end of it’s life, begin there. Here are a few reasons why it’s best to start Spring chores with exterior repainting: Spring is a very comfortable time to do outdoor painting. Also, the lifespan of a paint job is elongated when the painting is done in mild weather. It's smart to paint before putting down mulch and planting; both will get trampled if you paint later on. It’s a good idea to get your painting done before graduations, barbecues and get-togethers begin. Days will only get busier moving closer to the summer, so repainting should be done first. After you’ve finished your exterior painting, you’ll feel better about giving undivided attention to the other things on your to-do list. For a free estimate, give Chism Brothers Painting a call at 858-454-3850.  We provide thorough and dedicated service to the greater part of San Diego.  Homeowner Paint Tips, 2012-03-16T23:29:51+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/why_to_always_use_the_best_paint http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/why_to_always_use_the_best_paint#When:21:19:19Z With hundreds of paint brands and thousands of paint types on the market, the process of choosing paint can be very difficult. Even though many paint companies will claim to produce the best paint, very few paint manufacturing companies make paint worth buying. Paint is primarily comprised of 3 things: Pigments: finely ground particles or powders that provide the paint color. Binder: provides adhesion, integrity and toughness to the dry paint film by binding the pigments together. The binder also affects the paint sheen. Liquid (or the “carrier”): provides the desired consistency for the pigment and binder to be applied on a surface. If high quality materials are not used in the paint-making process, paint will quickly begin to fade and deteriorate. The primary cost for a painting job is for labor, not for paint; typically, the cost of paint is only 15 percent of the overall painting cost. Since higher-quality paint is usually only about $15 -$20 dollars more than regular paint per gallon, using high quality paint will not drastically increase the overall painting cost, but it will greatly enhance the paint performance as well as extend the lifespan by 2-4 years. Therefore, it always is worth it to use high-quality paint. The most reliable companies for producing high-quality paint are: Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Few other companies produce paint that is equal in quality and durability. Chism Brothers Painting has been serving San Diego for over 30 years. We use only high-quality materials to ensure long-lasting results for all of our customers. If you have a paint project, give us a call at 858-454-3850 to schedule a free estimate. 2012-03-01T21:19:19+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/how_to_get_rid_of_wall_stains http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/how_to_get_rid_of_wall_stains#When:22:18:37Z When there are obvious stains on your wall from things like water, ink, or smoke, usually regular primers won’t be durable enough to block the stain with one coat. Tough stains typically have to be treated with three or more coats of regular primer and paint before the stains are hidden. An alternative solution to using regular primer is to use blocker primer, which works much more efficiently on dark stains. Zinsser blocker primer works as a white shellac to seal off stains so they won’t show through. You can either spot prime or paint a whole wall with blocker primer depending on the size of the stain. Follow our simple 4-step method to cure your stained wall: Properly prepare the surface (read our blog post on surface preparation and follow steps 1-3). Spot prime or fully prime the wall with Zinsser blocker primer. Paint the wall with 1 coat of tinted primer. (If you used the blocker primer to just spot-prime, it’s important to prime the rest of the walls so the paint will adhere correctly. Since primer is less expensive than regular paint, it is more cost effective to paint a coat of primer before painting your final coat, but is not necessary if you used blocker primer for the whole wall.) Finally, apply 1 to 2 coats of final paint. In the case of water stains, make sure there is no moisture or dampness in the wall before you begin painting. It is important to fix the underlying cause of the problem before painting over the surface, to prevent mildew and mold growth. Our team of professionals is trained to repair damaged drywall as well paint it, so give us a call if you have this problem. Chism Brothers Painting has been providing quality service to San Diego since 1982. Call us for a free estimate at 858-454-3850. Homeowner Paint Tips, 2012-02-16T22:18:37+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/la_jolla_elementary_paint_project http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/la_jolla_elementary_paint_project#When:20:44:38Z Chism Brothers Painting recently worked on a project for La Jolla Elementary School. Mike Chism informed all Chism Brothers painters that La Jolla Elementary requested a donation of paintwork. Eight painters volunteered to participate, but only six were needed to perform the work. Troy Payne, Raul Suarez, Paul McGoldrick, Dave Olson, John Gallela and Viernon Johnson ended up working on the project.   We were asked to paint the interior of the auditorium so it would be finished in time for the school's upcoming events. It was a good sized auditorium with three sixteen-foot walls, four metal doors and frames, and a wooden wall under the stage with doors and storage areas, all of which needed to be painted. We used Sea Pearl White for most of the auditorium and and Hamilton Blue as an accent color and for the front of the stage.    Chism Brothers was glad to help out La Jolla Elementary School. Thank you to all of our painters who willingly participated in this donation project! Community, Painting Projects, 2012-02-02T20:44:38+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/why_should_i_get_a_second_opinion_on_paint_color http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/why_should_i_get_a_second_opinion_on_paint_color#When:19:38:30Z When my two younger brothers turned 11 and 13, my mom wanted to surprise them by repainting their room with a more mature color scheme since they were out-growing their blue, zoo-themed room. She decided that a tan color would look good in their room with dark brown trim. While this color combination was a great idea, it didn’t look too great when the tan turned out to be more of a salmon pink. Claiming that it looked tan in the store and would probably dry tan, my mom was surprised when it dried looking very feminine. As an artist, my mom has a great eye for color, so from this situation I deduced that anyone could make the same mistake if they were to pick out a color without getting a second opinion. Here are some reasons why getting a second opinion is important: Time and money. Quality paint is expensive so it isn’t worth buying gallons of paint that aren't a satisfactory color. Additionally, it takes time to 1) browse paint colors, 2) buy the paint, and 3) paint a room. If you don’t like wasting time, you don't want to get past step 2 with a color that you won’t be satisfied with. The sooner you can determine which colors you undoubtedly like, the faster the painting project will go. Perception. Each person perceives colors slightly differently. Getting a second or third opinion on a color will ensure that color is a winner. Placement. Make sure that when you get an opinion on color that you tell the person which room the color is for. Preferably ask someone who knows you and your house well enough to know whether or not the color is a good fit for the room. Multiple Options. There are over 2000 options of paint colors, so even though you may have picked one you like, someone else might be able to suggest a color you might like even more.  Painting isn’t something you want to do more than once every few years, so it always pays to get a second opinion. If you would like a professional color consultation, we would be happy to serve you. Our official color consultant at Chism Brothers believes that “colors should provide a soothing, comfortable background but shouldn’t be boring...” Give us a call at 858-454-3850 if you would like us to help you decide which colors will look best in your home. Homeowner Paint Tips, 2012-01-17T19:38:30+00:00 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/what_paint_should_i_use_for_my_ceilings1 http://www.chismbrothers.com/site/what_paint_should_i_use_for_my_ceilings1#When:21:54:53Z One question commonly asked by homeowners is: “What type of paint should I use for my ceiling?” Ceilings should almost always be painted in a flat, matte acrylic paint. The reason for this is that:  Flat paint will not reflect light or draw attention away from the wall and room furnishings. Ceilings don’t receive much wear and tear, so a glossy, durable paint is not necessary. If you live in an older home, and if there are architectural blemishes in the ceiling, flat paint hides imperfections well. Flat paint also dries more evenly than most other types of paint. Painters once encouraged using semi-gloss paint for a bathroom or kitchen ceiling (or a room with higher humidity) since semi-gloss paint has higher moisture resistance and sometimes holds up better, however, flat paint today works just as well, and tends to look better. As far as ceiling color, it is entirely up to you which color you use for your ceilings. Most homeowners prefer using white or ivory paint for their ceilings, but using a color for the ceiling can make a nice statement if done correctly. Read our blog post about creative ceiling techniques for some color ideas. Chism Brothers has been the leading painting contractor in San Diego for over 30 years, if you’re interested in scheduling a free estimate with us, contact us online. If you have any other questions, call us at 858-454-3850.  Homeowner Paint Tips, Painting Education, 2012-01-13T21:54:53+00:00