The weather has been beautiful.  It feels like spring.  It’s the time of year when the leaves are coming back and flowers are blooming that we want to freshen up everything around us.  That means it’s time to freshen up the color on your walls, make some overdue repairs, perhaps some spring cleaning.

Sherwin-Williams’ color forecast for 2012 shows that colors will be inspired by Mother Earth.  Neutrals, reds, blues and greens; all inspired by our surroundings.  Neutrals inspired by pebbles, a field of grain, earthy clay or weathered wood.  Reds inspired by a blossoming flower, or a glowing ember.  Blues inspired by the sky, a lake or the ocean.  And greens inspired by seaweed, algae or moss.  From where ever the inspiration comes, it’s time for change and freshening up your home.  Put some color on your walls, open up the windows, bring in the light and fall in love with your home all over again.

Filed under: Homeowner Tips by Terese on March 9, 2012 1:33 pm
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Isn’t eggshell a color?  If I had a nickel for every time I have heard that over the past 20 years, I could retire.  There are so many choices in today’s paint world, it can be overwhelming what to choose for your home.  Just like the grocery store, paint stores are lined with so many different choices.  It is easy to get confused about what to buy, so how do you know what kind of paint you need?

One thing that you don’t have to really decide about is Latex vs Oil.  With all the changes the EPA has made in the paint industry, you can’t really buy oil base paint in California anymore.  And the very limited types you can, only come in quarts, and are very expensive.  Why would you buy oil when there are so many excellent choices in the latex lines?  You shouldn’t!  Latex paint has less odor, is better for the environment, and is easier to use.  Now there are still some oil base primers that you may want to use, but the future is already written.  In the next 5 years we won’t even be able to get those.

What sheen should I use?  Flat, eggshell, stain, semi gloss, or gloss?  Here at Brooks Painting we use eggshell more than any other wall finish.  The reason is that it gives you the most durability with the least sheen.  We use flat for most ceilings, it hides the flaws in the ceilings and doesn’t reflect the light like an eggshell or higher sheen would.  We use semi gloss on trim for the most durability, since homeowners touch the trim more often than other surfaces.

What is low voc or zero voc paint?  Using a low- or no-VOC paint will decrease the odor we like to call “that fresh paint smell”. While the evaporating solvents in a typical paint have not been shown to be harmful in reasonable amounts, it can be more pleasant to work with the low-VOC varieties. There are also fewer compounds that evaporate into the atmosphere.  Most paints today are required to meet the low voc label, and many more are simply making zero voc paint.  Sherwin Williams just recently switched their tints to zero voc, so now their zero voc paint will truly be zero voc.  It is the future of paint, and they are top quality products.

The next question is what brand of paint should I buy?  As a professional painting contractor, Brooks Painting has worked with almost every paint brand over the past 15 years.  Our primary brands that we work with are Sherwin Williams and Kelly Moore.  There are countless other brands out there, and that can be overwhelming and confusing.  One thing I recommend is buy paint from a paint store, not a big box store.  Paint stores specialize in paint only, and are the best resource you can find on products.  They also stand behind their products if something goes wrong.  You wouldn’t buy a car at a grocery store, so don’t buy paint from someone who doesn’t specialize in it.

More Questions? Your paint experts at Brooks Painting will be happy to answer any more questions you have about interior or exterior painting topics. As a painting contractor working in Yolo County, we bring our stellar service to you, so feel free to call us at 530-753-5074.

Filed under: Homeowner Tips by Jeremy on February 24, 2012 10:35 am
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You’ve made the decision that your house needs painting; it’s time to bite the bullet and get it done.  So many considerations, so many options, it can be overwhelming for many.

So what are you looking for in a painting contractor?  Is price the most important to you, or is workmanship?  Or is there something else?  Consider this: selecting a painting contractor is about the entire package.  First of all, let’s get the business end out of the way.  They should be licensed and insured.  This should be checked with the Contractors State Licensing Board (www.cslb.ca.gov).  Check to see how long they’ve been in business and their business rating with the Better Business Bureau.  Check their references.  How involved in the community are they?  They should be a member of the local chamber of commerce.  If a local business gives back to the community, then why not support that business?

I would think you’d want to know about their painters.  How long have they been with the company and their experience would be important to know.  Longevity with a company says a lot about both the painter and the company.  Ask the references that you call if they are respectful of your property, clean up at the end of the work day, and how well they do their job.  If the painting contractor has a color consultant, that’s a big bonus.  People can be overwhelmed with the decision of selecting colors, and so having a professional help you through this process is a huge benefit.

At the end of your experience with a painting contractor, you should be happy with the results.  You should feel confident that the money you invested in protecting and beautifying your home also provided you with an experience that you would want to share with your friends.  That’s truly the sign of a good painting contractor.

Filed under: Homeowner Tips by Terese on February 17, 2012 11:36 am
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Color Theory

Learning the basic “language of color” will help you achieve your decorating goals. Here is a simple break-down from Sherwin-Williams:

Hue

Hue identifies the general family of a color, such as red, yellow, blue or green. The traditional color wheel is made up of twelve color families: red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue-red-violet, violet and blue-violet.

Color Wheel

Colors on the opposite side of the wheel from each other are called complementary colors. In combination, these create striking contrasts. For less contrast, choose colors next to each other on the color wheel, which are called analogous colors. Choosing colors of different tints within one color family creates a monochromatic color scheme.

Warm or Cool?

Different colors in the same family may be described as being “warm” or “cool.” Colors with yellow undertones will seem warmer, while the same color with blue or red undertones will appear cool. Cool colors – blue, green, violet – invite relaxation and thought. Warm colors – red, orange, yellow – encourage conversation and play. Sherwin-Williams color experts suggest using both warm and cool colors in rooms where you desire balance and variety.

Value

Value describes how light or dark a specific color may be. On most color strips, lighter values are at the top, mid-tone values are in the middle and darker values are at the bottom. When you combine colors from a single color strip, you’re creating a monochromatic color scheme – perfect for creating a sophisticated, spacious look in a single room.

Filed under: Homeowner Tips by Christina on February 2, 2012 10:37 am
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I came across an article online about color for kid’s rooms that inspire motivation. It’s interesting to think about how much color choices in a room can effect us. You can read the full article on eHow Home. Below is an excerpt from the article.

Color Influences Mood

Since color may influence both emotions and productivity, it’s important to make wise color selections. Bold colors, particularly shades of red or violet, have a tendency to stimulate adrenaline, which increases energy and indirectly improves production. Depending on the tone, shades of yellow and green are both motivating and encourage a more cheerful attitude. Lemon yellows, according to color theory, are the first color recognized by the brain and may increase comprehension significantly. Additionally, modern décor largely embraces mossy greens because they are aesthetically pleasing and highly motivational without being distracting. The key to any color is to use it in moderation because bold colors, though energizing, may become distracting. Instead of painting an entire room, paint a single wall or include accents of a motivational color. This will ensure a visually interesting space that is more comfortable to work in.

Read more: Are There Colors for Kids’ Rooms That Motivate Them? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8308595_there-colors-kids-rooms-motivate.html#ixzz1fKgjQJ8V

Filed under: Homeowner Tips by Christina on January 16, 2012 10:40 am
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