I once saw in a catalog an air freshener with the “new-car smell.” I’ve never seen an air freshener with the “just-painted smell.” Decorators say that the easiest way to “freshen” a room is to paint it, but no one likes the smell of new paint. We even pay more for paints marketed as low odor. Before latex paint took over the paint market, the solvent in oil-based paint made the smell intense. While latex paints do not smell as strong as oil-based paint, they do contain a small amount... more

Interior decorating books recommend perfectly matching the colors of paint with existing decor. As the gallons of unused paint turned in for recycling reveals, matching colors is easier said then done. Paint manufacturers advertise that they can match any color (even that of a competitor) using a computer matching system. Using a spectrophotometer, a shoebox-sized instrument connected to a computer, the color emitted from a sample is measured electronically. Each wavelength of light reflected from... more

On July 1, 2010 it became more convenient to turn in leftover oil and latex house paint. A network of permanent collection sites was established by PaintCare, the non-profit formed by the American Coatings Association, an industry group representing paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. The sites are open to both do-it-yourself and professional painters. There is no charge to turn in paint covered by the program. Architectural paint... more

Being a colorful woman, I have often wondered why people would paint interior and exterior surfaces gray, particularly when they choose gray during hard economic times. Being the thrifty sort myself, I always reach for the brightest color and highest sheen I can get for the price. Not so with the general population. They buy gallons and gallons of gray paint. Recycled Paint Not a Gray Area People used to think recycled paint only came in gray. Portland’s MetroPaint has a fifteen-color palette... more

Before you start a home or yard improvement project think about what debris your project will generate. Thinking ahead can save you money because much of what you think is trash destined for a landfill might be salvage for re-use or recycling. All building and remodeling projects in Portland with a permit value of $50,000 or more (including construction and demolition phases) are required to separate and recycle (keep out of the landfill) the following materials from the job site: Rubble (concrete/asphalt) Land... more

When most of us describe color we say that a house is blue or a room is yellow. A few of us get down to the level the house is light or dark blue or the room is pastel or bright yellow. Because so few of us get down to the undertone of a color, a lot of us end up with unexpected color results when we paint our home. Undertone can be described as the hidden color or the color behind a color. For example periwinkle blue has a violet undertone and lemon yellow has a green undertone. On a color wheel,... more

They say there are no straight lines in nature, but clean, straight lines set painting projects apart. They distinguish the amateur from the professional. While painter’s tape can help, it does not guarantee sharp lines. A common thought amongst painters is that the longer a painter paints, the less painter’s tape they use. For clean edges without tape, most painters rely on a good quality angle brush with thin, crisp, tight bristles. They paint at eye level, not reaching overhead. For control... more

By Paulette Rossi Water-based porch and floor paint were previously only available in light grey, medium grey, and dark grey. Numerous manufacturers now offer many colors as standard or will tint floor paint to any color the customer wants. Unlike house paint, floor paint is formulated with additives that help it dry tighter and harder to withstand heavy foot traffic. Most floor paint is enamel, available in flat, satin, or gloss finish suitable for interior or exterior application. It is formulated... more