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

Our tastes change over time; the floral motif wallpaper in the family room seems out-of-date, and the kids have outgrown the wallpaper with zoo animals in their bedrooms. Paint can revitalize these rooms but what about the wallpaper? Ask a room full of people and some will say, “Paint over the wallpaper. I’ve done it lots of times.” Others will say, “Painting over wallpaper is asking for a disaster.” Both thoughts are correct. It depends on the condition of the wallpaper, the type of wallpaper,... more

Using the right brush for a painting project makes the work go easier and faster. A premium brush will even make the painted surface look better and last longer. Quality brushes are an investment. They are not going to be found in the dollar bins at hardware stores. Depending on the size of the brush expect to pay between $10 to $25 per brush. The good news is that most painting jobs — including painting a house — usually can be done with about three brushes, and with care they can last for years. Natural... more

A common reason for re-painting is the desire for a fresh, clean surface. But simple repainting will not remedy the most common cause of paint discoloration: mildew. Mildew is the common name used to describe mold and its discoloration, which often appears as black, green, or brown fuzzy, powdery, or slimy patches. Since mold is a parasitic fungus its web-like body can eat through and into porous painted surfaces.... more

You may be an active do-it-yourselfer, but painting the second story may be intimidating. You may find changing colors invigorating but the prep involved before applying the new color can take more time than you have. You may know that the peeling paint contains lead but may not know how to safely handle and dispose of paint chips. While anyone can call themselves a painter, hiring a skilled professional painter must be... more

Advertising has conditioned us to see our painting project finished. You see the painter standing proudly in the newly painted room. The ad copy explains how he only needed one coat of custom-tinted brand paint. In reality, getting to that clean finish can be messy. Spilled paint and the subsequent clean up is no fun. Protect Surfaces When painting rooms remove as much furniture as possible. Any piece, which... more

Sometimes we finish a painting project and the surface appears less than fresh. Poor hiding — the failure of paint to conceal the previous coating — is a common painting problem that is often easy to solve without applying an extra coat of paint. Quality Paint All paint companies sell many grades of paint. More important than brand name is premium grade paint. Premium paint contains not only the best pigments... more

Knowing when to paint is just as important as knowing what to paint. Painting under the best weather conditions, at optimum temperatures, and allowing adequate drying time ensures good surface adhesion. Low temperatures and rain Obviously, paint is not going to stick when it is raining. But, it is best to stop painting at least eight hours before anticipated showers. Some paint can labels go further, advising stopping 24... more