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

Driven by air quality regulations, architectural coatings, paints, and stains have been trending greener for almost 20 years. Developers seeking a price premium for projects certified through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) point system have demanded low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) paints for a decade. Consumers concerned about indoor air quality are increasingly interested in zero-VOC paint. Metro’s Recycled Paint Program has seen a... more

Over the years, homeowners have used on various paint schemes to “hide” their shed in the back yard. Thirty years ago when I was a kid, my mother would send me out back with forest green or tree trunk brown paint to hide the shed in the landscape. Twenty years ago the shed was painted the same color and trim as the house with the hope the shed would be blend in with the home. Today, with the deck and patio used more as an extension of the home’s living space, the shed has become an exterior... more

Just because everyone knows that paint adheres longest to clean surfaces doesn’t mean that everyone should use a pressure or power washer to prep a surface for primer and paint. Yes, exterior surfaces are covered with dirt, environmental pollution, mildew, moss and chalking, peeling, and flaking paint. However, pressure washers are dangerous tools that should not be operated by a weekend do-it-yourselfer. A pressure washer utilizes an electric or gas engine with a pump to increase the water pressure... more