expert advice
Cheryl Fuchs:
“Actually, if you are painting new siding or where all of the previous coating has been removed, you should first apply a coat of primer followed by two coats of paint. However, if the surface was previously painted and that old paint is still sound, a single coat of a quality paint will probably suffice....”frequently asked questions
- Q.: What color should I paint my house?
- Color choice is a very personal decision, but there are a few things to keep in mind. When you choose a dark color for the exterior trim color and a much lighter color for the main part of the house, it can make the house look smaller if there is a lot of trim. On the interior a lighter ceiling color will make the room look larger and the walls look higher.
- Q.: I have a project that I need done right away; can you fit me in your schedule in the next week?
- On average, our project schedule is scheduled four to six weeks in advance, up to eight weeks during the summer. While we would like to accommodate everyone's time frame for completion, our schedule is operated on a first come, first serve basis. We believe that adjusting current projects scheduled to "fit" other projects in is not only a poor business practice, but also compromises our mission to provide both a quality job and a quality experience.
- Q.: How does the new EPA regulation regarding lead-based paints affect me and my property?
- If your home was built after 1978 there isn't any lead-based paint in our home so the regulation does not apply to you. However, housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978 are impacted. According to the EPA, a hazardous condition exists when lead paint dust is present on a floor to the extent of 40 micrograms (1 millionth of a gram) in a square foot area. Another way of expressing it is if a square centimeter lead based paint chip were ground into dust it would (by EPA standards) contaminate 25 square feet of floor space.
Effective December, 2008, EPA regulation required that individuals receive from the service company doing the work, the EPA brochure entitled Renovate Right - Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects. In addition effective April 22, 2010, any contractor working in a home built prior to 1978 that has not been certified lead free and where they might "disturb" any painted surface must be trained and certified by the EPA. The EPA is requiring the "proper" containment and clean-up when 6 or more (20 for exterior) square feet of lead based paint will be "disturbed" in a home. We are fully trained and certified by the EPA.