McLain's Painting Service

Warm and cool colors

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:40:08 +0000

We hear a lot about “cool and”warm” colors, but what does that really mean? Would some colors be best for certain rooms? Here are a few colors according to temperature and how they may fit in your home or office:

Blue: considered cool, it is a calming color if not overused. It would be good for a bedroom.

Green: also calming, it has a pastoral effect and can be used in bedrooms, bathrooms and in libraries in the home.

Red: this is a warm - really a hot color, so it is to be used carefully. it can accent against a pink. At Christmas it is an enjoyable contrast to green. Red is powerful and must be used carefully. It has been said that McDonald’s employed red in their theme color to help inspire the feeling of hunger when you saw their advertisements.

Notes about Paint Purchases

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:08:42 +0000

If you’re at a paint store, remember that although choosing colors can be an exciting time, don’t overlook some very important items. For one, if you find a color you like, jot down the name of the store and the particular brand name of the paint that you like. Then be sure to take the paint chip back to your house and test it under the different lights in your room or home. Flourescent looks a bit different than incandescent! Put the paint chip next to your sofa and other furniture. Get an overall effect of how the paint will blend with the rest of the room.

Surface preparation

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:43:53 +0000

We’re firm believers in “pre-season” work before the team hits the field. You need to be ready! I’m talking about painting, not the football season. We are serious about superior surface preparation. Our prep work may include scraping loose paint, counter-sinking nailheads, and even using anti-mildew pressure washing. It’s more than just a nice paint job - it’s priming new and bare wood, caulking and sealing , and proper tarp coverage of sensitive areas, including plants and walk-ways. A great paint company is a great “prep”company as well.

Think “time” in choosing paint

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:27:40 +0000

We all value time, and that plays a big part when it comes to the choice of paint for your home,whether inside or outside. Think time before you buy that latest-fad-color-of-the-month. You’re going to be looking at this color for quite a while. You remember many a home you have walked into that has had 1970s-era green or yellow, or a color that pointedly told you of the latest style of that generation. If that’s what you truly want to look at for a number of years, fine. On the other hand,if you want a long-range color that you can work with, plan carefully and think time.

Have you considered the “fifth wall”?

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:24:17 +0000

Your room’s ceiling is an important part of the overall paint job, yet some people make the mistake of ignoring it. It’s a tricky decision, so be careful. Be selective on the type of white you use, if you are going with a white ceiling - it can either add a good contrast or be too powerful and take away from some of the rich tones on the walls you’ve just painted.

However, if you want to change the ceiling’s hue and give it a color similar to the other four walls, remember that ceilings tend to look darker, so consider your choice based on the height of the room - if the room is less than nine feet tall, make it a few shades lighter than the rest of the walls. If the ceiling is higher than nine feet, you can have a darker hue in order to “shorten the height” and give the room a more homey feel.

Welcome to the Safari

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:38:31 +0000

Its amazing how paint can transform a room. With the most simple aspect of color to the more detailed faux finishing, a room can change ones mood just with a can of paint.

McLain’s Painting experiences room changes on a daily bases. A recent job gave one of our own employees, Luke Lucas, the chance to transform a teenage girls room. Taking plain white walls and changing them into zebra stripes and leopard spots, turning the room into a safari theme. The expression on the clients face of joy and amazement was priceless. Now her daughter has a room that she has always wanted. One that is unique and makes her schoolmates jealous.

Certain companies hate change. Here at McLain’s Painting we embrace it with color! Let McLain’s Painting help you get into the change.

A word about other items…

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:24:54 +0000

Sometimes when I give advice to people about painting, I aim so zoned in on the paint and the procedure, I forget to mention some minor but important points. Before I forget, let me give you a few extra pointers:

1. A deep tray is best whenever you are painting something. You’ll have less hassle with constant refilling. I would also recommend tray liners if you can get them.

2. Try to avoid bedsheets as a substitute for a good drop cloth. It can’t absorb the paint drips well, and you run the risk of the paint bleeding through and damaging rugs or furniture. Go with poly sheeting (but watch out for sliding or slipping on them) or go all out and get the reliable, trustworthy drop sheets. They’ll absorb the paint that is dripped on them.

3. Keep a damp cloth nearby. When paint drips you want to get to it fast before it dries.

Painting a bathroom

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:40:41 +0000

When you are choosing a type of paint for the bathroom, I’d recommend a good 100% acrylic interior paint with a satin or semi-gloss sheen. The higher the sheen, the more resistant the paint is to humidity and moisture. Make sure you scrub down the walls well - soap scum can mess up a good layer of paint.

Another thought: Be careful about getting impatient with the drying of a paint in a bathroom. Have good ventilation and wait a few days before using the shower or bath in that particular bathroom. Semi-gloss paints might take 2-4 weeks before they are fully cured, and high humidity from a bath or shower will inhibit the process. If you rush this drying time, the paint will to feel rubbery and may peel off easily.

When choosing a painter…

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:54:11 +0000

We’d like to hope you would consider us whenever you make your decision to hire a painting contractor, but putting that aside, there are a few things I’d like to tell you as you consider the right painter for your needs:

1. The term “cookie cutter paint jobs” is unknown in the field of professional painting. Every job is unique: the size of the walls, the “gingerbread” molding, the design of the frames around the windows… I could go on. You should consider a seasoned pro who can take on the challenge of your unique house design.

2. Ask about a paint warranty, and get it in writing. See if it has a reasonable amount of time before expiring - I would say 3 years is sufficient. Make sure you understand the warranty’s limitations as well.

3. Check with the Better Business Bureau (we’re proud members). Look for contractors with no bad comments or judgments. This is valuable, because the BBB keeps records as far back as 3 years on Knoxville area contractors, including non-members.

Accent colors

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:25:02 +0000

When choosing an accent colors, it’s important consider the influence that natural or artificial lighting has on a room. Your accent wall or trim color can look awesome in a sunny room but absolutely drab in a small, dark room, so you need to do your homework.

If natural lighting is the dominant illumination for your room, remember the room may appear lighter at some points in the day and darker at night.

My suggestion is to test out different color swatches in the room. Work with lighter colors if the room needs to be brightened.