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Tag Archives for " Interior Painting "

Common Paint Finishes - Matte, Satin, Flat, Semi-Gloss, Gloss
Sep 20

Paint Finishes 101: The Basics

By Mack.Painters | Painting

 

If you’re ready to hire experts to repaint your home’s interior, you have thousands of options – and in addition to color, it’s up to you to choose the right finish.

But what’s the difference between satin and flat, or glossy and matte?

Here’s what you need to know about paint finishes.

Paint Finishes 101: The Basics

There are several paint finishes you can choose from to create the perfect look in your home. Most Pinehurst home owners choose:

  • Flat enamel
  • Semi-gloss
  • Glossy
  • Satin
  • Matte

What is Flat Enamel?

Typically used in bathrooms and hallways, flat enamel has a lusterless, nonreflective and durable surface. This type of finish is common in rooms where the air is damp and the walls need to be cleaned more frequently.

What is Semi-Gloss Finish?

Semi-gloss is generally easy to clean. It reflects light, but not too much – it’s usually used on doors and cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. Semi-gloss paint looks best on very carefully prepared walls and surfaces; imperfections in the surface beneath the paint really stand out on the finished product, so it’s best to hire professionals if you’re using this type of paint.

What is Glossy Finish Paint?

Glossy finish paint is highly reflective, and it’s shiny. Some people say it looks a little like plastic when it’s dry. Most often, glossy finish paint is used to create a dramatic effect (such as on trim or cabinets). Imperfect surfaces shouldn’t be painted with a glossy finish, because like its semi-gloss counterpart, it causes imperfections to stand out.

What is Satin Finish Paint?

Satin paint finish is moderately glossy, and it’s probably the most commonly used type. You’ll see it on interior wood trim, ceilings and window trim, kitchens and dining rooms, and in hallways. It can stand up to light washing, so it’s good for high-traffic rooms in the house.

What is Matte Finish Paint?

Matte finish is also referred to as “flat finish,” and it doesn’t reflect much light. Many homes feature matte finish paint because it’s great for hiding imperfections in the walls (like cracks and bumps). The downside to matte finish is that it’s difficult to clean. It’s usually best-suited for bedrooms and other rooms that don’t get a lot of through traffic.

How to Choose Which Paint is Right for Your Home

Many homes feature several types of paint – it just depends on which room you’re using it in. It’s common to find semi-gloss in the kitchens and bathrooms, satin paint in the kitchen, and matte finish on the ceilings.

When you’re choosing new paint for your home, your paint pros will help you weigh the benefits of each type so you can make the right decision. The idea is to create the longest-lasting, most durable and most attractive blend for each room, and Mack Painters can help you do that.

Do You Need to Talk to Pinehurst’s Painting Experts?

When you’re ready to talk about the colors and finishes you need in any room, we’re here to help. Call us at 910-725-3227 or get in touch with us online. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and give you a free painting estimate for any of our services.

 

3 Things You Need to Know About Interior Painting - NC Painters
Sep 12

3 Things You Need to Know About Interior Painting

By Mack.Painters | Painting

If you’re like most people, you haven’t thought much about interior painting until you realize your home needs to be freshened up – and that also means you’re not quite sure what you need to know about painting before you hire a professional painter.

Fortunately, we have you covered. These are three things you need to know about painting the interior of your home before you dive in with both feet.

3 Things You Need to Know About Interior Painting

When you’re ready to update your home by hiring a professional painter, knowing these three things can make the whole process easier.

#1: Sheen Matters

The finish of your paint – called its sheen – is very important when it comes to how it looks. Generally, high-traffic areas of your home will do better with gloss or satin finishes that stand up to touching and are easier to clean. However, these finishes can really make imperfections jump out. Matte finishes tend to look better, but they aren’t as tough as glosses and satins, so it’s best to weigh your options when we come out for your free painting estimate.

(Check out our guide to paint finishes to learn even more.)

#2: Check Out Lots of Samples Before Settling on a Color

Test out several samples in various light conditions before you pick a paint color. You can get samples easily, and you can wait for natural light to change over the course of a day – and check out how the colors look under your home lighting scheme – before you settle on a color. You might be surprised at how different times of day and your interior lights affect the colors you love.

#3: Work With Professionals You Trust

The painters you hire make all the difference in the world. You want to work with a company that’s experienced in prep work, which is vital to a good paint job, and whose painters pay close attention to detail. You also need painters that can protect your belongings from paint splatters, avoid streaks and lines, and save you money while getting the job done quickly.

Do You Need to Talk to a Professional Painter?

If you’re thinking about painting your home and would like an estimate from the Southern Pines painting experts, call us right away at 910-725-3227. We’ll evaluate your needs and give you a free painting estimate so you can make the best possible decision for your home.

 

Casa Blanca, Black Bean and Melange Grean
May 09

3 Colors That Work in (Almost) Any Home

By Mack.Painters | Colors

When you’re repainting the interior of your home, picking the right colors can be tough. For most people, that requires going to the paint store, picking up samples, and checking them out in different light levels – but what if there were a few colors you could choose from that look great no matter what?

These three colors, with only a few exceptions, work exceptionally well in almost any home.

3 Colors That Work in (Almost) Any Home

Your painting professional will be able to help you make the right decision for your home, but three exceptionally versatile colors really stand out this summer as worth taking a look at:

Casa Blanca by Sherwin Williams

Casa Blanca is a rich, neutral color that pairs well with Black Bean and Mélange Green as part of a gorgeous palette.

Casa Blanca, Black Bean and Melange Grean

Image courtesy of Sherwin Williams

Blue Hydrangea by Benjamin Moore

Blue Hydrangea is a vibrant shade that looks great in well-trafficked living spaces.

Blue Hydrangea with White Heron

Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Quiet Time by Behr

Quiet Time by Behr is a soothing gray color that’s ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms and dining areas.

Quiet Time

Image courtesy of Behr

Want to Talk to a Painting Expert About Adding Color to Your Home?

Whether you’re repainting your home because it’s time for a change or you’re ready to put it on the market and sell it, Mack Painters can help. Call us at 910-725-3227 or get in touch with us online. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and give you a free painting estimate for any of our services.

 

What is Primer for Interior Painting and Why Do You Need It
Mar 12

What is Primer for Interior Painting (and Why Do You Need It)?

By Mack.Painters | Painting

Any professional painter can tell you that the walls in your home have to be primed before they’re painted, but what is primer, and why do you need it?

What is Primer for Interior Painting?

Primer is a layer of coating that belongs on the walls, beneath fresh paint, to help ensure that the paint job comes out looking great. It prevents stains from peeking through the surface paint, and it helps paint stick to your walls so it looks its best.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Some stains are impossible to paint over without priming.
  • In some cases, odors – like smoke from cigarettes or house fires – can come right through paint, no matter how many coats you apply.
  • “Self-priming” paint doesn’t always get the job done.
  • Primers can make a huge difference in imperfect drywall by improving the surface appearance.
  • High-moisture areas are more prone to paint flaking, peeling or gathering mildew, which means you need a vapor-barrier primer to help seal the surface and help prevent moisture from seeping through the walls.
  • Most people have better luck hiring an expert to repaint their home’s interior than by attempting to do it themselves.

Why Do You Need Primer?

In most cases, professional painters use one or more coats of primer before using visible wall color. It’s especially important when:

  • The surface that you need to paint is bare wood or new drywall. Both are porous, which means it’ll be tough to get paint to stick to them properly.
  • The drywall surface is skim-coated. A “skim coat” is drywall compound wiped over bare drywall – and it’s also very porous.
  • The previous paint was glossy. If your walls had a gloss finish (learn more about paint finishes), a new coat isn’t going to stick. Your painter will sand it down and put on one or more coats of primer to make sure your new color looks great.
  • The previous paint was dark. If you’re switching from a dark color to a light color, your painter will most likely put down a couple of coats of white primer to make it look better.

Should You Use Primer if You’re Doing Your Own Painting?

You should almost always use primer if you’re taking a DIY approach to interior painting – but it can be difficult to sand and prime properly. In most cases, you’ll actually save money on paint and supplies (as well as on repainting jobs and touch-ups) by hiring a professional painter.

Need a Painter in Pinehurst or the Surrounding Communities?

We can come out to your home and give you a free painting estimate. Call us at 910-725-3227 or get in touch with us online. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and get you pointed in the right direction.