Did it Just Snow Saturday in Madison, WI and the Painting Still Isn't Done? Now What?

Yes, it's true, it snowed Saturday here in Madison, WI (thankfully nothing stuck!) Summer really came and went and Winter is truly around the corner. If you didn't get those painting projects crossed off your To-Do List by now, here are some helpful hints:

1. Immediately tackle exterior projects that need maintenance first. (Cracked, peeling paint and/or bare wood.) Even with the cooler Autumn temperatures, several paint manufacturers make latex paints that can be used down to 44 degrees. Ask your local paint store for details.

2. If you didn't have a chance to seal or stain your deck, it's probably too late if you live in the Midwest--be sure to schedule this work first thing next Spring . . . in most cases, maintenance is worth it versus the cost of replacement (unless replacement is absolutely necessary).

3. Aesthetically speaking about the exterior of your home: Instead of painting the whole house, paint trim or accent pieces that can add a fresh look to your home for the upcoming holiday season. (Schedule the entire repaint for early next Spring--be the first on your painter's list of exterior projects!)

4. Check the condition of caulking around windows and doors. Where caulking is in poor condition, remove and replace with a fresh bead of caulk--this will help keep drafts out.

5. Go ahead and move forward with interior painting projects: Several low and no VOC paints are on the market that makes painting in the winter possible--you shouldn't even have to open a window! Using a dehumidifier and/or an air purifier also helps when painting indoors in the winter to keep humidity levels lower and contain paint smells.

(VOC's are Volatile Organic Compounds--the harmful smelly compounds released from many products including paints and household cleaners.)

For more information about low temperature and earth-friendly paints, contact your local paint store. In the Madison, WI area, McGovern and Sons, Hallman Lindsay, Premier Paint and Paper, and Sherwin Williams carry the painting products you and your painter need to meet all of your painting project needs.

Product Review: ben flat paint by Benjamin Moore

We are excited to share with you one of our newest favorite products from Benjamin Moore: ben. On a recent trip to the paint store to pick up supplies for a project, I was introduced to the ben paint line on a suggestion from Terry McGovern.

Per Terry's suggestion, we used ben (flat) to paint a living room. A little leary of trying a new product, the paint crew, after working with it for a little while, commented on how impressed they were with not only the coverage one coat provided but the user-friendliness of the paint: Truly excellent application properties!

Besides being friendly to work with, the flat finish is perfect for low-traffic areas and ceilings--it is easy to touch-up, has good hide, is spatter-resistant when used with a proper roller-nap, and, best of all, ben is low odor and low VOC (even after it has been tinted) and cleans up easily with soap and water.

An "acrylic blended latex flat coating," ben premium flat interior latex paint is designed for application to many interior surfaces, producing a uniform finish. Although we used ben (flat) on previously painted walls, ben (flat), according to the manufacturer, is suitable for application to: New or previously painted wallboard, masonry or wallpapered surfaces, primed or previously painted plaster, wood or metal, new or coated accoustical ceilings.

(Remember to properly prepare all surface before painting. For surfaces that require priming before painting, ben has a primer, too.)

In addition to flat, Ben is also available in eggshell and semi-gloss sheens. Both of these sheens are washable. Plus, all ben products are tintable with any of Benjamin Moore's colors--even the primer can be tinted.

Although an opportunity has not presented itself for us to work with the eggshell or semi-gloss, we are extremely impressed with the flat. We highly recommend ben (flat) for your next ceiling project or to add a soft finish in a low-traffic area, such as a bedroom.

Fall Painting Special

Mid-July, the weather has been colder than average. The pepper plants in my garden are small. Makes us folks here in Wisconsin wonder whether it's summer or the beginning of October . . . and it also reminds us here at Red Canary about our Fall Painting Specials!

Schedule your project with us by August 21st for completion during the months of September, October or November and receive a 10% discount* on painting services. With the many brands of low and no VOC paints on the market, painting during the cold months here in the Midwest is as easy as a Summer breeze! Call us today for details.

*Some restrictions apply.

Product Info: Aura Affinity Paint

The last couple of years, Red Canary has been working witht the learning curve of Aura Affinity Paint produced by Benjamin Moore. This is a self-priming product (on most surfaces) and it is also a low VOC product that has the ability for one-coat coverage.

For most projects, one-coat coverage can be achieved. As a painter, however, I prefer the richer visual appeal of two coats (any lap marks tend to be "removed" or become less noticeable [remember, lap marks are not always 100% avoidable with any product]), especially on new drywall or walls that are being painted for the first time since the buider painted the home (these surfaces can act like dry sponges, absorbing the paint unevenly).

The self-priming side is both a benefit and a downfall: If you get the paint on trim or any other surfaces while painting, you will want to clean it up immediately. Cleaning dried and cured "oopses" from this paint takes some elbow grease and it also settles in any knotting or graining in trim (as any paint would), making it nearly impossible to completely remove any pigment.
And the low VOC aspect, well, that just goes without saying. Aura is a high-quality, low VOC paint that is friendly for the homeowner, pets, painters and earth.

Additionally, the color selections in the Aura color deck are fabulous and Red Canary has used them to decorate many homes. They are colors that cannot be found in any other paint line, nor can they be matched in any other paint product. Undoubtedly, this is a one-of-a-kind paint that cannot be bought in just any hardware store. If you live in the Madison Metro, your local reputable dealer is McGovern & Sons on Odana Road.