If you’re ready to give your home a new look, your thoughts probably turn first to painting it a fresh color. But don’t forget wallpaper. This once-maligned covering is popular again, with gorgeous prints plus peel-and-stick convenience. In the wallpaper vs paint battle, we’ll examine the pros and cons of both. Our goal is to help you weed through the branches of your decision tree and come up with the answer that suits you best.

Paint – the Pros and Cons

Paint is a classic option and probably the easiest to use, overall. Almost anyone can do it and it’s one of the most affordable decorative changes you can make. It’s a durable, easy-clean finish for families with kids. There’s an almost endless selection of colors. Depending on the sheen, it’s easy to touch up if it gets dinged.

The downside is that painting takes planning and time. There’s a ton of prep (cleaning and spackling walls, applying primer – not to mention taping and draping). Switching between lighter and darker colors can mean extra coats of paint. And trying to match an older shade can be tough. (That’s where our color consultants can help.)

Wallpaper vs Paint: Wallpaper’s Turn

Wallpaper has been the decorator’s friend throughout the years, but it declined in popularity around the turn of the 20th century. People got tired of stuffy, old-fashioned prints and the nightmare of getting wallpaper off the wall.

Enter the next gen of wallpaper, with beautiful prints and interesting textures. And while some paper is still best applied by pros, much of the newer wallpaper is peel-and-stick – made to go on and come off just as easily. (Which means even a renter can use it.)

Wallpaper is usually more expensive than paint. It’s less durable and if it gets damaged can be tough to repair. If you’re not hanging peel-and-stick, you probably would be better to hire the job out. And since it goes on with adhesive, it might not be the best long-term choice for high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

The Bottom Line

Both paint and wallpaper are good décor choices. So, why choose one over the other? Paint your living room a beautiful color and enhance it with a wallpaper accent wall. Or hang textured wallpaper like grasscloth in your dining room and paint over it.

The bottom line? When considering wallpaper vs paint, remember that wall coverings encompass a vast, customizable world. Whichever one you choose will give your home the style you’re looking for.

The post Wallpaper vs. Paint: What’s the Real Benefit of Both? appeared first on Paintzen.

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Painting during the summer seems to make sense. It’s hot, usually rains less than other times of the year, and the paint should dry quickly, speeding up the whole job, right? Wrong. We’re about to bust some summer painting myths, offer some ways you can keep yourself safe – and tell you how to get the best results when painting during hot weather.

Painting During the Summer: Is It Ever Too Hot?

In a word, yes. The perfect temp for painting home exteriors is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s some wiggle room in there, of course. For example, if you’re using latex, the paint works best between 50-85 degrees. But if you’re going with oil-based paint, you have a broader range: 40-90 degrees.

For any type of paint, however, a temp over 95 degrees is too hot. That’s because excessive heat can cause the paint to dry too quickly, creating an uneven finish. It can also keep the paint from bonding properly to the surface, which can leave you with cracked, blistered or peeling paint (not to mention a painting do-over).

What About Humidity?

The average size house takes three to four days to paint. When you’re planning your job, look at the weather for a string of dry, still days. Don’t paint within 24 hours of rain.

But painting during the summer has another weather watch-out: humidity. That’s because humidity can cause as many problems as rain. For instance, high humidity can keep paint from drying. It can also form condensation on the house overnight, leading to poor adhesion, streaks and fading.

Wind can also be an issue, causing paint to dry unevenly and blowing debris into the paint. High winds can even topple ladders. So don’t paint if the wind is over a gentle breeze.

When’s the Best Time of Day to Paint?

Painting in high temps isn’t just bad for the paint – it can also be bad for you, causing heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps and dizziness. So if you do paint during the summer, paint in the coolest parts of the day, morning and evening.

Also stick to the parts of the house that are in the shade, moving with the sun as you work. This not only helps you stay safer it also makes for a better paint job.

How Can I Keep Cool While Painting?

Working in the heat is no joke. Every year, thousands of workers suffer heat-related illnesses, and some will die from overheating. So, it’s vital to have a plan to protect yourself while painting during the summer.

Here are some tips for staying safe in the heat:

Limit your time in the heatGo into the air conditioning to cool off regularlyLearn the symptoms of heat-related illness and first aidUse a buddy system – have someone observe you for signs of heat-related illnessesDrink cool water frequently

Painting your house is a big job and hot weather throws in some additional complications. Why not stay inside and let a pro do it for you? Check out our exterior painting services. We also stain and paint decks.

The post Painting During the Summer: How to Stay Safe appeared first on Paintzen.

May is here, which means rising temperatures, afternoon thunderstorms, and of course, Mother’s Day. We want to take a moment to celebrate all of the mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers and wives out there who have shaped us and our community. We give thanks for all the hard work they put forth, and the warmth they provide us. That’s why we’re taking a moment to offer up a few springtime home improvement tips that we can all take part in, so that we can brighten Mom’s day! As always, you can count on Horner Painting for interior and exterior home painting services; after all, a fresh coat of paint can work wonders to transform your home, bringing a smile to any mother’s face. Simply reach out to us to get started, and to take advantage of our early bird pricing specials on exterior painting services. Now let’s delve into a few more home improvement projects that you can take on as we approach Mother’s Day (which is on Sunday, May 9!).

Springtime Gardening

Early May doesn’t just mark the time to celebrate mothers, it’s also the best time to begin gardening. Whether Mom likes to garden, or you’re the green thumb of the house, everybody can enjoy delicious veggies and beautiful flowers that your garden can bring. Take time this week to till your garden beds and lay in seeds. If you don’t have garden beds, now is the time to build them. Consider making a raised bed with railroad ties or exterior-grade lumber. Or, till straight into the ground to make a makeshift garden with veggies that will be just as delicious. And feel free to get the kids involved!

Carpet Cleaning

The spring season also marks that time of the year where we dust away the cobwebs of winter, cleaning the house from tip to toe. Yet, folks often forget to give their carpets a thorough cleaning as they practice the spring cleaning tradition. Carpet cleaning can work wonders to transform your home, especially if you have pets and kiddos who bring more dirt in the front door every minute. Try to set aside a time to rent a commercial carpet cleaner from your local hardware store if you’re a do-it-yourselfer. Or consider hiring a professional company while Mom is away from the house for a few hours for a welcome surprise!

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

If you’re a handyman, you can show your appreciation for the mum in your life with a kitchen or bathroom remodel. While you’ll have to set aside a bit of money and plenty of time for these projects, a home remodel can prove useful, valuable, and appealing to the eye. Transform a bathroom with modern fixtures, or get rid of that old, outdated wallpaper. Or pull out the appliances of your kitchen and replace them with new, more efficient, stainless steel models. If you’re feeling bold, a remodeling project is sure to show your love and appreciation for Mom.

Our Early Bird Specials

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our ideas, and we hope you enjoy the weekend celebrating time with all of the mothers in your life. We’ll be here throughout the summer, ready to provide you with home painting services at the drop of a hat. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to take advantage of our early bird specials this spring.

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Home improvements are expensive. Yet, they can be well worth the investment. Homeowners have long opted to pour money into their homes not just to better customize them to their needs, but also to up the home’s equity, as well as its resale value. If you’re one of the many homeowners out there striving to boost your home’s market value, you may be asking yourself: What are the best investments for my home? What improvements will earn me the most value in the long run? Well, we’ve done some digging, and we’d like to highlight four of the best value-per-dollar investments you can make to improve your home. Here’s our list.

Basement Finish

If you have the money (or the time, tools, and experience to do it yourself), finishing your basement can earn you as much or more money than you invest. Consider finishing your basement with an extra room or two, and an additional bathroom. If you have extra space, tacking on an entertainment room is a great idea. And you can add a storage room (which can remain unfinished). Don’t go overboard on customizations (like integrated surround sound, or a built-in bar), unless you’re planning on enjoying these amenities yourself; when you opt to put your home on the market, you may not earn as much money for basement renovation than you put into it if your home purchaser doesn’t like the custom details as much as you do.

You may also consider finishing your basement with an apartment configuration (including a bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen), so that you can rent the space. Consider adding a separate entrance to your basement if you’re finishing it with a full apartment. Adding a garden apartment is an excellent source of passive income while you’re living in your current abode, and it can be an appealing selling point should you ever put your home on the market in the future.

Exterior Updates

Updating your home’s exterior won’t just provide better protection for your home, it will boost its value and curb appeal. If you have damaged siding, worn out paint, or siding that could use a facelift (like added trim and details, or a stone facade), then an exterior update is a great idea. Replace any damaged siding along the surfaces of your home. And paint your home siding if it hasn’t been painted in five years or longer (of course, you can count on Horner Painting to paint the exterior of your home!). If you have the budget, you can update your siding with a new, tack-on facade of stone and extra trim details to make your home look warmer and richer.

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels

Do you have a kitchen with outdated appliances or tacky countertops? Or perhaps your bathroom still has an odd avocado-green bathtub. Updating these outdated rooms can work wonders to modernize your home, making it more appealing for homebuyers in the future. Consider replacing old cabinetry, laminate countertops, laminate floors, outdated appliances, and fixtures that don’t fit the character of your home. Consider stainless steel appliances, timeless wood cabinets, and granite countertops in the kitchen. Or update your bathroom with a modern, high-efficiency toilet, a tiled shower, a simple, modern vanity, and fixture changes.

dd a Deck

If you don’t already have a deck, adding a modest deck can prove to be an affordable facelift to boost the value of your home. Consider adding a deck that is open and utilitarian, with space for dining and cooking. Your deck shouldn’t take away too much yard space, and it should be well integrated with your landscape and the trees on your property. Don’t forget to plan your deck for its view, and consider installing privacy fencing if you have neighbors nearby. Don’t forget to stain and maintain your deck to keep it protected from weathering; stain your deck every two to three years.

Call Horner for Exterior Painting

As always, if you live here in Northern Colorado, you can trust Horner Painting for a professional paint job that is sure to boost the value and curb appeal of your home. Horner Painting provides painting services for our neighbors throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath. Plus, we’re currently offering early bird specials for folks who schedule spring painting! Simply reach out to us today for an estimate on your upcoming painting project. We hope you’ll call on Horner for our painting services to make your home the talk of the neighborhood!

If you have professional painters scheduled to paint your home, you can save some money and get a better paint job by prepping the space beforehand.

Painters work best in a room that’s clean, decluttered and covered to protect from paint spills. Doing this before they arrive takes some of the workload off of them so that all they have to do when they get there is drape, tape and paint.

Paint Job 101: Clear the Decks

As a homeowner, you can save them time and yourself money by prepping the room up front. First, remove anything hanging on the walls that you don’t want to be painted around, like art, hanging shelves or bulletin boards. Also remove anything breakable, including lamps (assuming they’re not your only light source) from the surfaces of the room, packing it away or moving it to another space to keep it safe during painting.

Once that’s done, move the furniture away from the area being painted. In some cases, you can move it to the middle of the room, but if the room is small, has a lot of furniture, or if the ceiling is being painted, you may want to take it to another room entirely. Not only do you want to make room for ladders and paint supplies, but the painters also need room to work safely. After you move the furniture, cover anything left in the room with a drop cloth, tarp or plastic to protect it from splatters and spills.

Prep the Walls

When the decks are cleared, it’s time to prep the walls. First, *fill nail holes and small dings with spackling compound. Then lightly sand the area to smooth it out. When the repairs are done, vacuum the walls using your extension hose and a wide brush too, or wipe down the walls with a sponge and damp water. If the walls are greasy or extra dirty, wash them with a solution made of grease-cutting detergent and water. Then rinse with clean water to remove any remaining detergent. Let the walls dry completely (24 hours) before painting.*

If possible, schedule your paint job during a time when the humidity is low, and the temperature is 60-80 degrees. Not only does this let you keep the windows open to air the space, it also is the best temperature range for paint to dry.* If the weather doesn’t cooperate, keep the house cool and dry by running the fan. This will help paint dry and keep odors down.*

Clean Up Spills

What if you find paint splatters somewhere after the painters are gone? Most professional painters take care not to splatter and clean up any spilled paint. But if some misses inspection, it’s easy enough to clean.

Wipe up as much of the paint as you can with a cloth or putty knife. Then mix one-half teaspoon of dish soap and a cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Squirt the stain over the spill and then wipe until it’s gone. If it’s a serious spill, wet vac it away, then squirt with soapy water and wipe the rest up.

Find out how easy it is to schedule a paint job with us. Explore our painting services and get a free quote today.

*Please refer to the manufacturer’s product label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions

The post Save Money on Your Next Paint Job With These Professional Tips appeared first on Paintzen.

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It’s easy to overestimate how much paint you need for a job – and to find yourself with a partial can left over. So, what do you do with leftover paint? Are there any tips for storing paint?

First, why bother keeping paint – especially since paint cans can quickly clutter your storage space? The first reason is that you might need it for touch ups. The second is that you might be able to use it for another project and save yourself the time and money of buying new paint.

The good news is, paint is durable if it’s stored properly. Here are the best ways to store paint.

Store it in a Climate-Controlled Area

Most people naturally gravitate toward storing paint in a garage or shed. And while those spots work for most things, they don’t for paint. That’s because paint becomes unstable at extreme temperatures. Instead, store it in a climate-controlled area, like a closet or cabinet. The darker, dryer and cooler the storage space is, the better. That way, the paint stays fresh and ready to use.

Move Leftover Paint to Smaller Cans or Jars

Gallon buckets are great for transporting paint from the paint store to your house. But storing used paint in them can shorten your paint’s lifespan, not to mention leaving you with a pile of half-empty paint cans.

To preserve the paint, transfer it to a smaller container. Storing it in clear, labeled jars can help you easily find the paint you want.

Then, make sure the new container is properly sealed to keep out any extra air, so the paint doesn’t dry out too quickly. If there’s more than an inch gap between the paint and the top of the jar, you can create an airtight seal by putting plastic wrap between the paint and the lid. You can also store the paint upside down, which also creates an airtight seal.

And don’t forget to label the containers. Even if they’re clear and you can see the paint, you’ll want to know the color and paint company, in case you need to reuse the paint or get more later.

How Long Will Paint Last?

When stored properly, leftover paint will last for years. Here are typical the shelf lives of certain paints:

Chalk paint – One to 5 yearsLatex paint – Between two and 10 yearsMilk paint – Up to a weekOil-based acrylic – Up to 15 years

Properly Dispose of Leftover Paint

If paint turns lumpy, smelly or chunky, you know it’s gone bad. Then it’s time to get rid of your leftover paint. But don’t just dump the containers in the trash, because that can be hard on the environment. Instead, pour cat litter or sand into the can to soak up the paint, then take it to your town’s waste collection center.

Learn more about our interior painting services or contact us for free 8” by 8” color samples today.

The post What’s the Best Way to Store Leftover Paint at Home? appeared first on Paintzen.

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including curb appeal, and Austin – with its penchant for bringing the weird – is one of Texas’s brightest curb-appeal stars. To bring the flavor of Austin to your home, we scoured the streets of Bat City to find the paint colors that are hotter than a Texas summer.

Take Your Cue From Old Austin

Gypsum-PPG1006-1

Frosty Glade-PPG1146-4

Austin is filled with beautiful, old neighborhoods, like Travis Heights and North University, populated by sprawling bungalows, stately brick homes and graceful Tudors. While Austin is known for keeping it weird, these neighborhoods tend to rely on classic colors to tell their homes’ stories.

One of the most popular colors in this area is farmhouse white, paired with a light blue or aqua door. Match the shutters to the door for a traditional look or try white shutters on white paint for a fun twist. Gypsum by PPG Paints is a grayish white with a classic style. Bring the curb appeal with a cooled-down aqua like Frosty Glade.

If You Love Bungalows, Try This

Sweater Weather-PPG0999-5

Faith-PPG1221-4

Rum Punch-PPG1190-7

Bungalows are at their best when painted a whimsical mix of natural hues, like a mix of brown, green and red. Paint walls a saturated greige like Sweater Weather, then add a honeydew hue like Faith for the trim. With a red door in Rum Punch, you’ve got an instant charmer.

re You a Fan of Blue? You’ll Love This

Kingstone Aqua-PPG1150-4

Delicate White-PPG1001-1

Burgundy Wine-PPG1053-7

If blue is your hue, you’ll love this Austin-inspired color scheme, which pairs a bluebell blue with rust and white for a crisp, happy look. Roll Kingston Aqua on the walls, Delicate White on the trim and deep, rich rust like Burgundy Wine for the door.

Go Big and Go Home

Tropical Splash-PPG1233-5

Pacific Pearl-PPG1011-1

Stunning Sapphire-PPG1158-7

Funkier vibes create memorable curb appeal, and Austin is, after all, known for being funky. Bring a taste of the coast to the Hill Country with a bright aqua wall color like Tropical Splash. Pair it with trim in a true white like Pacific Pearl, and blink it out with a bold, blue front door in Stunning Sapphire.

While we’re talking Austin and all things Texas, did you know that September is state-fair month? The State Fair of Texas has been drawing Texas fans since 1886. It’s the longest-running fair in the nation – as well as (no surprise here) one of the largest. If you’re in the neighborhood in September, join our friends from Austin, Dallas, Houston and every other town in the state for some all-American fun!

Interested in creating your own little piece of Texas at home? Let our color consultants help you find exactly the right color scheme for your casa.

The post Let Austin Inspire Your Curb Appeal For a Look That’s All You appeared first on Paintzen.

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