ATD Painting

Eggshell Vs. Satin Paint

2011-04-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Here are two essential choices when considering the best type of paint on your next home improvement project. While eggshell and satin are two popular paint grades, they have varying results.

Level of Sheen

Satin has a medium high gloss that adds extra shine to the room. Eggshell has no sheen when it dries; it leaves a flat, warm look on walls.

Durability

Satin finish produces an easily removed layer of paint. Eggshell, however, is significantly harder to remove or damage due to its exterior shell when it dries.

Common Uses

Eggshell paint is better suited for high traffic areas where paint may become chipped. Satin paint is more stain resistant than eggshell paint, working better in locations that collect grime. Many people opt for eggshell paint in their kitchens for this reason.

Cleaning

Eggshell can withstand a good scrubbing more than satin, but satin's grime resistance is going to make cleaning easier.

Popularity

Eggshell is a great deal more popular among paint consumers. The success of eggshell paint is due to the fact that it's easily repaired and touched up. Satin paint needs an entirely new coat when damaged.

Exterior Paint.....What color would you choose?

2011-03-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

Does your home need to be repainted? Perhaps you are looking to go with a different exterior paint color all together. A brand new coat of paint can make a world of difference on appearance. Not to mention, it will keep you home bright, new and beautiful.

If it's been 5 years or more, it's time to start thinking about painting the outside of your home. With the weather conditions, the life of exterior paint doesn't last quite as long as interior paint. Many people decide to go with the original paint color already present on their home. But, some homeowners choose to change the look all together. Either way, we can help you with all of your painting needs!

Please be sure contact us today to request an estimate. We can also help you choose a paint color if you do not have one in mind. We look forward to working with you!

Painting A Media Room

2011-03-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

If you’re planning to base your media room around a projector, then I believe the single most important choice you can make is to pick the right kind of paint finish. Why? It comes from the fact that a human eye’s ability to resolve the details in a picture is based on the relative light levels in that picture versus the overall surrounding environment — I’m not talking about the contrast in the picture itself, but between the picture and other light in your room. Your eye can best resolve the detail in the picture when the darkest parts of the picture aren’t much darker than the overall light level of everything your eye can see, i.e. the light level in your room.

So how does the paint finish matter then? Any sort of glossy finish is highly reflective of light. Which means that light, originally coming off your projector screen or any other source (lamp, window, doorway, etc.,) is reflecting off the wall and into your eye from multiple directions, even if the original light source is not in your direct eyesight. This light bouncing off the ceiling and walls reduces the effective contrast in your projector picture. The best way to minimize this is to minimize the opportunities for light to reflect, which means picking a flat finish for your paint – both for the ceiling and the walls.

Now that you have a type of finish, the next critical decision is to pick a paint color. In general, you want a dark color because it reflects less light and we just went over why that is important, right? But it’s also important to consider the tint of the color. You should avoid extremely vibrant colors like true reds, blues, or greens. This is because there will always be some reflected light of your walls and ceilings, and this will pick up the tint of the paint. Besides reducing the perceptive contrast of the picture on your screen, this light can throw off the color balance as well. I believe there is some evidence that there is a perceptive effect, but I believe the main effect is the reflection back onto the screen itself of the now colored light. This would add a tint to your picture in the direction of the color of your walls.

So, ideally, you should go with neutral dark colors such as browns and grays if not outright black. But not everyone can live with those sort of color schemes, so my final bit advice on color is that if you’re going to go with a color, red is better than blue or green.

Living Room Transformation ~ All With The Power of Paint

2011-02-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

When remodeling your home's interior there are many important questions to take into account. One of the key considerations is color. The color of a room is one of the room's more significant design elements. With proper planning you can use color to create a mood, add height or bring warmth to the coldest of spaces. A well chosen color palette has the added advantage of accomplishing these objectives with minimal costs. This is especially true when painting a living room. Most individuals spend a great amount of time in this living space. You want it to be as comfortable and inviting as possible.

By far the most popular color choice of all is white. White is a very versatile shade that can be adapted nicely to any home. It works well with nearly all styles and decorating preferences. Using this color has several advantages. Perhaps the most important is the color's ability to make small spaces seem larger. Even a very tiny room may appear to have more square feet when you use this color on the walls. Another advantage is the color's ability to add light and a feeling of freshness to a room. White is a good choice for rooms used more often during the summer months when a cool retreat is a welcome break from the heat.

While white is often an excellent paint choice, it does have a few disadvantages. Too many white walls can make a house feel sterile and uninviting. It is also a difficult color to keep completely clean. This is especially true if you have small children in the house. If you choose white, be sure to use a paint that is easy to clean up and maintain when tiny handprints or crayon marks arise.

To counteract the color's drawbacks many homeowners add an additional color to white paint before putting it on the walls. A small hint of red or blue in the paint mixture can soften the color's sometimes stark effect.

Let us help you with your painting needs! Your color choice, our reliable work.

Painting Shutters ~ What you need to know

2011-02-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

Both paint and wood stain have definite advantages when used to finish and preserve the wooden shutters on your house. Your final choice should depend on whether you want the strong, solid color of painted shutters or the subtle, accented, wood grain of stained ones.

Painted shutters hold up to the weather better, thus making the paint option a strong candidate for the exterior of your house.

Painting new shutters requires at least two coats of paint, since you will need a primer-sealer coat as well as a top coat.

Stained shutters allow the wood's grain to shine through. Considering the cost of making the shutter, you may want to see the natural beauty of the grain.

The quality and weatherproofing durability of exterior stains has improved in recent years, making this choice a viable selection for exterior use.

Stained shutters can be easily covered with paint, but a painted shutter needs to be thoroughly stripped before it can be stained.

Removing Red Wine Stains From Carpet

2011-02-10T06:23:00.000-08:00

Serving red wine? Just accept the inevitable! At some point in the evening, you or one of your guests is going to spill their wine, drip on the carpet while refilling a glass, or leave a ring on your white tablecloth. Relax! Just because it's bound to happen doesn't mean that all our good clothes will be ruined. Here's what to do:

1. Blot Up Excess Wine - Use a clean dishtowel or rag to blot up the excess wine. Don't rub or wipe, since this will just press the wine further into the fabric.

2. Sprinkle with Salt - Sprinkle salt over the spill until you can't see the stain anymore. Let the salt dry and then scrape it off before rinsing and washing the garment.

3. Rinse the Stain - When the salt is dry, rinse the stain with club soda or a mix of equal parts dishwashing soap and hydrogen peroxide. If the stain is on a carpet, blot the stain using a sponge. Hydrogen peroxide can be a bleaching agent, so only use it on light colored fabrics or test it on an inside corner of the garment before using.

Shimmer & Shine ~ Popular Painting Trend For 2011

2011-02-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Looking to make some home improvements this year, but expenses are holding you back? Painting is an economical way to update your home. A fresh coat of paint will brighten your walls without draining your bank account.

There are several new painting trends on the horizon for 2011.

If you are looking to add some higher voltage style to a room, metallic finishes and shiny paint sheens are on designers’ lists for 2011. Gloss can subtly create a brighter, more upbeat mood in a home, but at the same time, it adds style and pizzazz.

Plenty of paint manufacturers are getting in on the metallic action, including the trend setting Ralph Lauren and Benjamin Moore. There are so many tones and hues to choose from there is sure to be one that catches your eye.

Sherwin Williams ~ Most Popular Wall Colors 2010

2011-01-28T09:13:00.000-08:00

Most Popular Colors 2010

Kilm Beige (6106)
Latte (6108)
Macadamia (6142)
Nomadic Desert (6107)
Softer Tan (6141)
Blonde (6128)
Ivoire (6127)
Believable Buff (6120)
Whole Wheat (6121)
Extra White (7006)
Restrained Gold (6129)
Dover White (6385)
Antique White (6119)
Camelback (6122)
Basket Beige (6143)
Interactive Cream (6113)
Hopsack (6109)
Wool Skein (6148)
Navajo White (6126)
Bagel (6114)
Divine White (6105)
Alabaster (7008)
Svelte Sage (6164)
Universal Khaki (6150)
Pure White (7005)

Visit http://www.swcolor.com to download an electronic color palette for color matching & viewing.

Welcome To Our Blog!

2011-01-23T13:18:00.000-08:00

It's the start of a new year, and we are looking to reach beyond the "walls" of painting to bring you weekly and informative blog posts.

We will feature articles about the latest paint color trends, home interior decorating ideas, ways to brighten and change your living space on a savvy budget and much more!

We will also feature specials on our painting services throughout the year. Be sure to sign up to follow our blog as well as our other social media outlets so you can take advantage of these fabulous offers.

Our company strives to provide the best service to each and every customer. We always pay Attention To Detail...

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