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.

From Shena's Desk . . .

Greetings! After a hectic week and a rainy, dreary Friday, this slow-moving evening seemed the perfect opportunity to put the pen back to the paper--so to speak.

I'm excited to say that our summer has been filled with a variety of projects--interior and exterior. In the upcoming weeks, I will be updating our website www.redcanary.biz with photos of our latest "masterpieces." We'll be sure to Twitter an update!

I will also be working on updating The Chirp on a regular basis, sharing the news about products we are using, projects we are working on and other general articles of interest. There is so much to share!