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Painting
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The simplest
and most cost effective way to transform your
home is through an interior painting project.
Interior painting allows you to make over
a single room or your entire house and can
substantially increase your home’s value,
especially if your current paint is scuffed
or marred or if the colors are alternately
garish or drab. Further, if you’re selling
your home, a complete paint job in bright,
neutral tones makes it easier for prospective
buyers to envision the space as their own,
thus increasing your chances of selling.
While MyHome specializes in removing the headache
of painting your interiors yourself to free
up your busy schedule, for those who do choose
to personally undertake an interior painting
renovation, the savings can be significant.
The process can also be so remarkably time-consuming
that it may take several weekends and evenings
to complete. And since poor preparation for
interior painting can result in sloppily covered
walls that will need to be repainted much
sooner than expected, rushing any step along
the way isn’t a good idea. So for many in
the New York City, Bergen County, New Jersey
and Westchester, NY areas, working with an
all-in-one renovation team like MyHome is
just common sense. MyHome’s team—from our
Consultants who help select your paint colors,
sheens, faux painting techniques and paint
brands to our highly skilled teams of painters—ensures
your project will be completed professionally,
on time, and on budget. |
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Preparation
Preparation is extremely important - especially
when painting a furnished apartment. Proper
handling of your furniture and belongings
is essential since you won't want paint spatter
on anything. You must pack all your small
belongings (books, picture frames and knickknacks,
etc.) in boxes for the duration of the paint
project. If you 'd like, the MyHome team can
assist you. We will cover your floor with
construction paper (or in some cases with
masonite) , we don't use cheap drop cloths
like other contractors. We also apply blue
tape to the areas that will be painted later.
For example, tape is applied to the space
between the wall and ceiling. Using blue tape
is important because it won't pull off paint
when the tape is removed. |
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Plastering
Generally, the older the property, the worse
the condition of the walls. Pre-war apartments
have solid plaster walls that have been painted
many times over the years. They usually require
plastering. Most post-war buildings are constructed
with sheetrock, which is easier to work with.
The best but most expensive and time-consuming
plastering system is skim coating. This entails
applying a coat of plaster over the entire
surface. After it dries over night, it is
sanded and another layer is applied. Skim
coating usually requires three or four coats
of plaster. It is the nicest looking option
because it makes the walls look new. Another
method is to scrape, sand and plaster only
the areas where paint is peeling or the walls
are cracking. This process repairs cracks
and peeling paint but doesn't make the wall
look perfect. The amount of plastering you
require will be based on the level of smoothness
and perfection you want to achieve, but may
be limited by your budget. |
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Trim
All metal and woodwork is referred to as "trim."
This includes crown and base moldings, windowsills,
frames, doors, built-in cabinetry, and radiator
covers - basically every painted surface that
are not walls or ceiling. Usually the trim
is painted in a semi-gloss finish for best
protection. Often, the older the apartment,
the worse the condition of the trim. It usually
has layers of paint and chipped or damaged
areas. If you are looking for perfection,
it may be best to replace it with new trim.
If you just want to fix it up a little, it
is possible to fill in some bad areas then
sand, prime and paint. Some older apartments
have beautiful exotic wood detail that may
be worth stripping and refinishing. This option
is detail oriented, time-consuming and costly. |
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Priming
Priming is the process of applying a primer
or base coat to the surface to be painted.
Priming is recommended in every painting project
and is an absolute necessity in some cases.
For example, you must use a primer if you
are painting an area that's been repaired
or patched, a water-damaged area or if you
are attempting to a paint light color over
a dark one. The primer acts like glue for
the paint, enabling it to adhere to the wall.
Even if you are on a tight budget or are painting
the exact same color, we recommend priming. |
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Paint
Application
By far, the best approach is to apply at least
two coats of paint to all surfaces. In some
cases a third coat may be needed. If you are
on a budget, it is possible to apply only
one coat of a special, thicker paint.
MyHome recommends two brands of paints - Benjamin
Moore and Sherwin Williams. Benjamin Moore
is readily available and can be found in Janovic
stores throughout Manhattan. It is the more
recognized brand in the tri-state area and
it offers more finishes. Should you want to
look at color swatches, you can find them
easily in your local paint store. Sherwin
Williams is also a great national brand but
it is not easy to find in local stores. If
you want to save money on paint, it is a great
option since it can cost up to 40% less than
Benjamin Moore.
Once you've chosen the color, you'll need
to select a finish. Generally, ceilings are
painted with a flat finish. Bathrooms, kitchens
and trim are painted with semi-gloss since
it is more durable and easier to clean. Semi-gloss
is not recommended for walls other than in
kitchens and bathrooms because it highlights
every imperfection. Walls in other rooms can
be painted other finishes you like. The most
popular flat finish is eggshell. Special finishes
such as pearl and satin are beautiful but
are significantly more expensive. |
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Faux
Finishing
Painting introduces an endless amount of possibilities
to change the appearance of your interior
space. Faux finishing takes that to a whole
other level. Faux finishing is a special technique
used in order to achieve a custom pattern
of paint application. It has become extremely
popular during the last decade especially
in urban areas such as Manhattan. This unique
finishing technique allows the artist an unlimited
amount of styles and patterns to work with.
The basic concept is to apply one base coat
in a uniform color and than set the tone with
the glaze coats. The glaze coats are a different
color, which when applied is added as a second
or third color to the base coat. Depending
on the artist's style and the application
method, the texture is decided. You can use
different techniques and tools that are more
common such as sponging, combing, ragging,
and brush strokes or create your own individual
texture. One of the most popular applications
in New York City is called Venetian Plaster.
This application, which was very common in
Italy beginning in the 19 th Century, is a
local favorite because it creates a marble
look and a smooth polished feel. When faux
finishing, the only limit is your imagination.
You can use it throughout an entire space
or only highlight one small section such as
a kitchen back-plash. MyHome's faux finishing
artists have all the tools, skills and experience
to use faux finishing in order to turn your
dream into a reality. |
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Untitled Document
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Untitled Document
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Untitled Document
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