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

Two coats of paint will never equal the performance of a coat of the right primer, sealer or stain blocker, and one coat of paint. Paint applied to bare surfaces peels, cracks, and chalks early; colors appear splotchy and the sheen diluted and uneven. Primers and sealers are formulated to stick to a surface, creating a uniform foundation to accept the paint. Some formulas can hide stains and block odors. Because primer-sealers seal pores in the substrate, less finish paint is required. And, because... more

While novice painters will have better control painting with a brush than a roller, rollers do cover walls and ceiling surfaces at least 50% faster than a brush. Painting with a roller will require more paint than painting with a brush and as with any tool, both prior practice and the quality of the tool will determine the outcome. Tools Buy a sturdy roller frame with a threaded hollow plastic or wooden handle that can receive an extension pole for painting ceilings and high walls. The metal rib... more

When I talk about MetroPaint, the local 100% post-consumer recycled latex paint, I always say, “It’s a combination of all your favorite brands all over again.” Metro even has the tag line for their paint, “Paint made from paint.” People over forty smile and laugh at my favorite brands’ statement because they have developed a fondness for a particular company’s products. Younger people, especially twenty-somethings, look on blankly because they haven’t tried enough brands to find their... more

More than 80% of all decks in the United States are built entirely or partially with pressure-treated wood. While the market for composite, low maintenance, decking materials continues to grow, the posts, beams, and joists are usually made from pressure-treated wood — known for its structural strength. An unprotected deck absorbs water, softening and swelling the wood fibers. The sun’s heat dries the wood, which makes the wood shrink. Without protection, even the wood of a pressure-treated deck... more

Americans love to paint. Each year they buy an average of 2.3 gallons of paint. A 2007 Environmental Protection Agency study estimates that about 10% of the house paint purchased annually ends up as leftover or unused. In Oregon and Washington State about 2.322 million gallons of paint is leftover annually. A study spearheaded by the nonprofit Product Stewardship Institute finds that people will hold their leftover paint for about seven years before they dispose of it through municipal household... more