We really appreciate everyone who took their time to vote for our fourth annual Charity Paint Giveaway. It was neck-and-neck for the top spot but in the end the highest number of votes (by less than a 2% margin!) went to Summer House. Brooks Painting is proud to support and give back to our community and look forward to working with Summer House by donating up to $10,000 in time and painting services to this non-profit organization. As runner-up, Dixon Montessori Charter School will receive a free Brooks “Painter for a Day” service.

The mission of Summer House, Inc. is to provide living options and support for adults with developmental disabilities that respect their individual dignity and human worth, and enhance their self-reliance, self-esteem, safety and involvement in the local community.

If you are interested in volunteering to help or donate with the project, please contact our office at 530-753-5074.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and have a voice in this worthy cause! We are looking forward to working with this year’s recipient and are already excited about next year! Start thinking now about who you could nominate in 2011.

VOTING ENDS JULY 3, 2010.

Don’t miss your chance, and please spread the word to friends and family. Anyone can vote (only one vote per IP address allowed). We will announce the recipient the week after the poll closes.
If you are interested in volunteering to help or donate with the project, please contact our office at 530-753-5074, or drop us an email.
Thank you for taking the time to vote and having a voice in this worthy cause! We are looking forward to discovering this year’s recipient and working on their project.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.  I think this goes really well with grilled steaks or tri-tip and is a super yummy alternative to traditional potato salad.  Let the BBQ Season Begin!!

To nominate a deserving person, family or charity organization, visit our website at www.brookspainting.com/vote.

The nomination deadline is June 13, 2010.

After the nominations are in, the top 5 stories will be posted and public online voting to determine the 2010 recipient will begin June 19th at brookspainting.com/vote. Voting ends July 3, 2010 and we will announce the recipient shortly after.

If  you would like to volunteer or doante to this year’s project, please contact the Brooks Painting office at 530-753-5074 or email us at info@brookspainting.com.

Contractors today must jump through numerous hurdles to guarantee that they are meeting these rigorous safety standards when working with lead paint in homes, businesses and other child related facilities. Thousands of workers performing renovations will have to be trained and certified as “Renovators” by EPA-accredited trainers. Paint professionals and other home improvement professionals will be trained in how to effectively protect household items and how to seal floor coverings from potential contamination while work is in progress. In addition, training will be given in how to use high-powered equipment while working with lead paint and how to contain the dust that accumulates during renovations.  The EPA in its’ wisdom, has estimated the additional cost per contract will only be $36.00.  Unfortunately this is far from accurate; the cost of working on pre-1978 homes where lead is present will greatly increase the cost to the homeowner.  While they have greatly underestimated the cost, the safety concerns they have are very legitimate.

The process is to educate the homeowner.  A contractor is required to give the homeowner or property owner the new EPA “Renovate Right” pamphlet. A certified firm will determine if lead is present and if so the rest of the steps must be taken. When the work is being done it is all about containing the dust, chips, and potentially hazardous material.  The containment process is the most critical part of the process, as it is directly related to property owners exposure.

This new law is all the more reason to check out any contractor that you are hiring.  Do your homework on the companies you hire, the internet provides a wealth of information on them.  If you have a pre-1978 home, the contractor must be certified.  Ask them to show you their certification, as they are required to show it.  If they are not certified then thank them for them time, and move on to a contractor that is.  Due to the high cost to become certified, many contractors are avoiding the new regulations.  It is critical for your protection that the contractor is certified, and it is the law.  Feel free to call the staff at Brooks painting for answers to your questions concerning this new law.  Brooks Painting is already a certified lead paint renovator.

Bright yellow creates a feeling of energy, cheerfulness, expansion and creativity.  It is also one of the more difficult colors for the eye to process.  Use it in kitchens and bathrooms, but not in main living areas because it can make people irritable.  Instead, use a softer yellow in living areas.  It will add positive energy and a cheerful feeling.  Think of yellow as a splash of sunlight. Orange also stimulates energy and creativity, and a very bright orange can be great in an exercise room or office, or as an accent color.  Use a softer, creamier orange (terracotta or peach) for your kitchen or living area. Red raises blood pressure and stimulates conversation and appetite.  It can create excitement in an entryway or game room.

Mid to light green is good for rooms where the family gathers to relax.  Green calms, provides balance and promotes confidence.  It can even cool down other stronger colors in the room.  It is also a good choice for bedrooms and bathrooms

Light blue, lilac and pink can calm and restore, add tranquility and are often recommended for use in bedrooms.  Avoid using blue in kitchens and family gathering areas, where it can drain energy from the room and induce depression.  Pink can be used in a living room to add romance and elegance.

Deep green suggests wealth and elegance.  Black evokes different feelings depending on what it is combined with — too much black is mysterious and scary, but can also suggest excitement and elegance.  Other colors that can create an elegant feeling when lit by lamplight in a dining room include brick red and sapphire blue.

Gray, white and beige are neutral; they do not create a mood, but can be used to balance other colors in the room.  They are frequently used for trim and woodwork.  Darker neutrals subdue other colors; white can intensify them.

Next time you are setting up tempura paints for your little artists to use, try adding table salt to the paint. This will give it some texture and a sparkle when it dries. You can also add some flour with the salt to thicken it up, giving it a 3-D effect and the sparkle too! If it’s thick, use heavy paper and allow plenty of time for it to dry. Most of all, let them have fun (maybe you should join in too)!!

This historical building is going to look beautiful when we're done painting!

Even boss Jeremy got out a roller and did 8+ hours of physical labor!

I am happy to report that the 3rd annual Brooks Painting Charity Paint was a great success! We had 18 employees (yes, the office gals included!) and 7 other volunteers log about 200 hours of exterior painting work on Saturday at the old Maxwell Elementary school building in Woodland. Once all the work this building needs is done the Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center of Yolo County will be able to move in and make great use of it helping many women, children and families. There is still a lot to be done, but we are proud of what was accomplished in one day- you could already see the difference! We are already getting ready to plan next year’s event, so stay tuned!

Saturday, November 14th is the big day!

Brooks Painting Inc. is committed to being involved with and giving back to the communities that we work in. One of the ways we do this is our annual Charity Paint Give-Away. In 2007 we donated our services to painting the buildings, dugouts and backstops at the Davis Little League fields. Last year we donated interior and exterior painting services to the Sharp family of Vacaville. This year Brooks Painting Inc. has chosen the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center (SADVC) of Yolo County as our $10,000 Charity Paint recipient. We will be painting the exterior of the old Maxwell Elementary School in Woodland, which was gifted to SADVC in 2005. They have not been able to move in or use the facility because of all the repairs that are needed. We are glad to be able to be part of helping SADVC get one step closer to serving clients in this expanded facility.  All of Brooks Painting employees (even the ones who are not painters!) and other volunteers will be working on the building at 175 North Walnut Street on Saturday, November 14^th. This face lift will be a noticeable start to rejuvenating this historical building for a great community cause!

The building we are painting for SADVC

If you want to help the SADVC with their project, you probably can! If you have products or services to offer related to the construction aspect of getting the building ready for use, please contact tim@norcaldevelopment.com. If you have other products, services, or wish to donate monetarily to the center, please contact joe.deulloa@sadvc.org. They would greatly appreciate any help in seeing their vision for this building become a reality!

We will begin accepting nominations for our 2010 give-away in February, via our website at: www.brookspainting.com Start thinking now of whom you want to nominate!