Tuesday, September 7, 2010

4 little known facts to maintain your painted walls

Don't forget to read my article 
18 steps to design success 
over at Housewife bliss!




You've dreamed of repainting and finally get the courage to do it. You've done your homework and managed to narrow down the paint selection to a few hundred choices. You've even hired a color professional to narrow the chaos down and help you select THE best paint combo known to man; and the transformation begins. Excited you see your space take shape...*swoon*


Samantha Friedman

The change is amazing, and you can't beleive it took you this long to repaint. And then it happens. You turn the corner from your hallway to see your beautiful wall has been marred by the black scuff monster.


In panic you grab a rag, papertowel anything you can find to rub it off the wall...and it only makes it worse. YIKES! Now there is a big shiny patch in the middle of your wall the size of Equador.

Wall mainteneance 101-First things first DON'T PANIC!

When a scuff monster has attacked your wall don't attack it with gusto. This will cause the paint to burnish. What does that mean, you ask? Simply put, it means you have stripped off the smoothed out top coat of the original paint. And you have rubbed TOO HARD. To keep walls clean try to remove stains quickly. They will generally come off easier. 


How should you clean them?
Start out with clean water on a nonabrasive rag. If that doesn't work, dip the rag or sponge into a dilution of water and dishwashing soap. For more stubborn cases, you can apply soap directly to your sponge and gently wipe. Keep in mind that the more moisture applied to the wall the softer the paint will become.


There are two types of stains
Oil based and water based. If the stain is a water based stain than a wet cloth with water will do. But generally for oil based stains the dishwashing soap will help break it down.

How to clean Permanent marker
You can try diswashing solution, however the chemical that makes them "permanent" is the same chemical that makes paint permanent. More aggressive solvents like comet on a sponge, or a sponge with an abbrasive side may help. Get as much of the marker off as you can, but most likely, you will need to repaint that section of the stained wall.


Overall scratches and dents on the walls
Most dents can be avoided with furniture bumpers. They can be purchased at big box stores like Home Depot, or I like to buy mine from Rockler woodworking. You can also install chair rails. And remember the glossier the paint, the easier to clean.




Are some paints easier to clean?
All paint manufacturers have paints that are considered more durable. Many on the market today have high-performance finishes that are amazingly easy to clean—you just sponge them off as if you were wiping off a countertop, {instead of experimenting like a mad scientist with water and various solvents that may not work!} Ketchup, food, scuff marks, mud—all just wipe clean. Sherwin Williams has Duration Home, Behr has Premium plus and Benjamin Moore has AquaVelvet; and all are easy-clean products. Each manufacturer has a scrubbale flat or a high-performance eggshell ready to take on your homes dirt and grime. Just ask your local paint supply company and they will be happy to let you know which paint is the best for your lifestyle.  

What to avoid to prevent painting mistakes
Often times when a consumer takes on the task of painting (in an effort to save money) they rush to the finish line without warming up. What does this do? Causes major cramping, dehydration, and profuse sweating. Ok, not exactly, but without proper preparation the surface can't be prepared correctly. Make sure you:
1) Wipe off your walls, especially around light switches.
2) Remove all cobwebs.
3) Remove grease, lotion, or any smoke residue that can be found on kitchen and bathroom walls. (If walls are not cleaned properly the paint will stick to the above items causing your paint to fail.)
4) Use good tools. Don't skimp on quality brushes and rollers. If you do, they will shed into your paint, giving you unwanted textured walls!

What are some of your painting woes?



Don't forget to follow us on twitter!

And become a FAN on our AB HOME facebookfanpage!







Need design help from an experienced design professional with over 12 years experience? Want to work with someone who listens to your needs and sticks to your budget? Call our office for a design consultation that will change the way you live and think about your home. Contact us @ info@abhomeinteriors.com or call us @ 
615-750-2763. you can also visit us online @ abhomeinteriors.com







13 comments:

  1. Great tips There is no way around making marks on the walls other that moving out.
    Have a nice evening.
    Teresa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Never let your goat into your house.
    It is very bad for your paint. Among other things.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I consider myself an avid painter so i really enjoyed this post! xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great tips! I just got done helping my little girl's school with a large painting project. Prepping the walls, doors, etc. takes most of the time! The paint went on much quicker.

    xo,
    cristin

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love painting walls in every new home, and I so could've used this post those times! (Haha, I think I've committed all these mistakes :))Thx so much for sharing these!

    ReplyDelete
  6. My painting woes are cats running in the paint and running around the house....I so need to clean all smudges or perhaps I should paint paw prints. What a useful post (as always of course), and I hope you are feeling better! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have a wildly destructive puppy - this post is infinitely informative. Thank you!
    Leigha
    P.S. Thank you for the kind comment on my guest post at Housewife Bliss. Off to read yours now.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Once again...great advice! A "woe" for me is when the cracks appear in the seam between crown molding and the wall...:(

    ReplyDelete
  9. Interesting! Will bear this in mind

    ReplyDelete
  10. I was surfing net and fortunately came across this site and found very interesting stuff here. Its really fun to read. I enjoyed a lot. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information. 192.168.l.254 is a private IP address to login to your Router Admin Control Panel. Visit 192.168.1.254, logging in, now you can setup your Router such as: Security Options, DNS and much more.

    ReplyDelete