Hot New Colours for Home Exteriors

(NC)—With the warmth of spring comes a blast of much needed colour as plants and people come back to life after a long winter. Winter can be harsh, not just on us but on our houses. Now is the time to give your house a little TLC and take years off the face of your home.

Every season has a fresh new palette of hot colours. The same is true for home exteriors. “Rich grays, fresh blues and corals have been steadily growing in popularity inside the home,” says Sharon Grech, the colour and style expert for Benjamin Moore. “These colours translate to your exterior in shades that are understated and organic to work with the natural elements. Paints and wood stains are always a smart investment because they not only enhance the beauty of your exterior surfaces, but also protect them from nature's effects.”

Grech suggests limiting your exterior palette to three or four colours, including those of fixed elements like roof and cladding. Beautiful body and trim colours, such as Jute, Pashmina and Kendall Charcoal coordinate well with exterior stone and wood, and you can always accent with vibrant hues to showcase your personal flair.

“Since it is a relatively small area in contrast to the house, your front door is the one spot where you have the most versatility when it comes to colour,” says Grech. “Colour is powerful in the message it sends. For example a red door is daring, while a black door says formal and stately, like the one at 10 Downing Street in London, the famous residence of the British Prime Minister.”

Aside from choosing your paint and accent colours, she says, some of the most important factors to a successful exterior paint job include the quality of the products, proper surface preparation and a good application technique. The Benjamin Moore colours (featured in the photo) include Stonington Gray as the siding, Blue Nose on the shutters, Dune White as the trim and Concord Ivory on the door.

Online resources, such as BenjaminMoore.ca, offer tips, tool recommendations and colour matching to help you achieve the look you're after.

www.newscanada.com

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Lead Paint Hazards and Older Windows

 If your home was built before 1978 and you still have the original windows, it's time to seriously consider replacing your windows -- especially if you have young children or a pregnant person living at home.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the routine opening and closing of windows in homes built prior to 1978 can disturb lead-based paint around the windows, causing paint dust and chips to be released into the air. These lead particles are so potentially dangerous that the EPA now requires contractors to be trained and certified before they can perform any renovation, repair or painting projects that may have previously applied lead-based paint.

"Research indicates that the everyday activity of opening and closing windows creates friction that then allows invisible lead dust to enter the air," says Rick Nevin, a consultant to the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). "Young children, who crawl on the floor where the lead dust has settled, can be especially at risk. Toddlers put their hands in their mouths ... and after playing on the floor near a window, they can easily transfer the lead dust into their mouths. The ingested lead travels through the bloodstream to a child's developing brain, causing many types of neurobehavioral damage."

According to Nevin, one of the most important long-term investments a homeowner can make for the overall safety of a family is to replace older windows, using the EPA-approved lead safe renovation guidelines.

"Replacing older windows is one of the best ways to reduce lead risks," says Nevin. "Make sure to use only a contractor that is certified in lead-safe work practices and strongly consider the use of ENERGY STAR(R) qualified windows, like the vinyl replacement windows offered by Simonton Windows(R). These windows are a healthy choice for replacing older single-pane units. They're energy-efficient and a good value for the investment."

"At Simonton, we advocate that replacing older windows coated with lead-based paint with vinyl windows is a sensible step for homeowners who want to create a healthier home environment," says Gary Pember with Simonton Windows. "We believe Rick's research substantiates the replacement of all windows coated with lead-based paint as a way to dramatically help reduce lead dust within that home."

Nevin explains that, according to his research funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), homeowners need to understand there are four key steps to completing a "lead-safe window replacement strategy" for the home.

"First, they advise replacing all single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR qualified windows," says Nevin. "Second, stabilize any significantly deteriorated paint. Third, perform specialized cleaning to remove any lead-contaminated dust. And finally, perform dust wipe tests to confirm the absence of lead dust hazards after the clean up."

Research results can be obtained at www.ricknevin.com/windows. 

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"FRESH Home Exterior Colors" Guide Now Available

The new 30-page FRESH Home Exterior Colors guide is now available free online to help homeowners select the perfect colors for the exterior of the home. Written by national color expert Kate Smith of Sensational Color, the free downloadable tool is designed to make it easy for people to choose color palates that complement the exterior of the home.

"Enhancing homes with exterior colors is one of the hottest trends in the marketplace right now," says Smith, CMG, CfYH and a career color trend forecaster. "This step-by-step tutorial provides guidance and tips on understanding your home's exterior features and playing off of them with color accents. The easy-to-read flow of this guide explores how to evaluate which colors should be used on the main features of a home exterior -- including the roof, siding, windows, door and trim."

The comprehensive and colorful online piece was a collaborative effort of Smith and several building product manufacturers, including DaVinci Roofscapes(R), Simonton Windows(R), Therma-Tru(R) and Fypon(R). The free color guide is located on each company's web site, plus on the http://www.sensationalcolor.com/colorforyourhome/ Web site developed by Smith.

"We're looking at 'top down' color for the home in this booklet," says Smith. "To understand the colors that work best on a home's exterior, I encourage people to use the FRESH approach, which stands for Fixed features, Regional colors, Environment and surroundings, Style of the home, and Have-to-use colors."

As an example of using the FRESH approach, Smith recently coached homeowners in Arizona to work from the "top down" when selecting new colors and products for a ranch-style home. "After discovering the reddish tint to the stone around the property I first suggested a Sedona blend of colors found in Bellaforte(R) polymer roofing tiles," says Smith. "This combination of colors includes shades of medium and dark terracotta mixed in with light and dark clay tones to create an earthy color that works perfectly on many homes.

"The earthy colors played well with the region and the environment, so I next recommended an off-white painted siding with bronze frames on Decorum(R) by Simonton vinyl windows. Then, to move further down the home, I recommended both the Therma-Tru(R) Classic-Craft(R) Canvas Collection(TM) entry door and some of the Fypon(R) trim pieces around the home (including the shutters and louvers) be painted a burnt mocha color. These colors all combine visually to create an exterior scheme that suits the warm desert environmental setting and the style of this home."

The FRESH Home Exterior Color guide features professional exterior color guidance, advice and tips, along with full-color pictures and links. The free online booklet can be found at www.sensationalcolor.com, http://www.davinciroofscapes.com/color-studio.php, www.simonton.com, http://www.thermatru.com/products/entry/stain/index.aspx and http://www.fypon.com/design/. 

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Paint your world ahead of the curve

(NC)—Take a sneak-peek here at the trendiest decorating colours for 2012. If you have it in mind to refresh any of your rooms sometime soon, it's worth envisioning something that is totally new and totally hot. Use these trends from the colour experts at Behr Paints to give your home the most memorable—and the most enviable—rooms in town:

Santa Fe Today: Living Room, Family Room

This is a timeless country look with a twist that is welcoming in either the countryside or the city. The desert-colour palette is melded with modern furniture to deliver an exciting update to authentic Southwest decor. The warm sunlit room is a welcoming environment for rest and rejuvenation. Details include pottery, native textiles, denim, tooled leather, plus desert plant life for indoor gardens or terrariums. 

To create it, use: The Behr paint palette of Prairie Poppy T12-1, Stagecoach T12-2, Canyon Sunset T12-3, Darlin Clementine T12-4, and Lone Star T12-5.

Retro Recall: Den, Bedroom

This style reflects back on a time before the internet, mobile apps and social media. Interacting with computer games in the 70s and 80s meant going to the local video arcade and playing Pac-Man. Early screen colours were bright primaries, mixed with black, white and grey neutrals. Retro Recall is a clean urban style for “kids at heart” who remember the analog games of their childhood. Add cubed shapes, lava lamps, movie posters and action figures. Enhance this clean and urban look with touches of light-hearted, techno-geek nostalgia. 

To create it, use: The Behr paint palette of LOL Yellow T12-6, Red Wire T12-7, Reboot T12-8, Level Up T12-9,and Game Over T12-10. 

www.newscanada.com

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Newest 'mobile app' matches paint color instantly

(NC)—Now when decorating, you can act upon whatever inspires you in the moment.

A major paint company is giving us an easy-to-use, digital application to record, identify, and match any favourite color, on the go. It might be the blue sky in a park, a vivid red sweater, or an amazing shade of lavender fabric in a flowing curtain. If you want that color exactly, it can be yours. This newest app will match it immediately to just the right paint color.

Called ColorSmart by Behr Mobile Application, homeowners can download the touch-and-tap tool, free of charge from the Android Market and Apple iTunes App Store. For more information on the application and how to use it, visit behr.com/colorsmartmobile.

Here's how:

• Explore Color—Browse the range of more than over 2,000 color possibilities. Once a color is selected, you can further coordinate or preview it in a room image.

• Photo Match—Take a photo, or use an existing photo from your personal collection. Tap on an area in the photo and the application will pull up the three closest matching paint colors.

• Preview—Test your color choice by virtually “painting” the walls, trims and accents on room images. Zoom in to see details or remove a color and add another until perfect. You can also use the 'favourites' feature to save your favourite color combinations.

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Fresh Paint a Great Recipe for Affordable Kitchen Remodeling

A remodeled kitchen is the fondest dream of many homeowners. But at an average cost of $56,000 for a "mid-range" upgrade according to Remodeling magazine, the price is simply too steep for most. That said, if you're on a budget, there's a great alternative: spending $100 or so to give your kitchen a whole new look with paint.

"Many people underestimate the dramatic change you can make in a kitchen with a little imagination and a couple of cans of paint," says Debbie Zimmer, color expert for the Paint Quality Institute. "But actually, you can use paint not only to freshen the wall color, but also to totally change the appearance of your kitchen cabinets."

The only ingredients you'll need to cook up a whole new look for your culinary center are some careful planning, a good eye for color, and a willingness to spend time in your kitchen with some paint cans as your companions.

Where to begin? Zimmer recommends that you visit the websites of major paint companies. On many, you'll find idea centers with paint palettes designed by professional colorists, and "visualizing" tools that allow you to pre-test your color choices online.

Once you've settled on a color scheme, it's time to paint. Assuming that you're going to do a top-to-bottom makeover, start by removing the cabinet doors, as well as the hinges and knobs. If you're going to re-use the hardware, put these items in a plastic bag so they don't get lost.

After placing drop-cloths to protect the floors, paint the ceiling first, then the walls, and finally, the trim. For easy maintenance, use top quality 100% acrylic latex semi-gloss paint: It will resist stains and stand up to scrubbing better than a flat paint. Now turn your attention to the cabinets again.

Scrub the kitchen cabinets and doors with a degreasing solution to remove dirt and grime. When they've dried, sand the cabinets to remove any loose paint and to provide better "tack" for the new coating. Use a wet cloth to wipe off any dust created by the sanding.

Next, apply a top quality latex primer to the cabinets. Use a roller wherever possible, and a small brush where necessary. Let the primer dry overnight.

Finish the cabinets in the same way by applying a coat of top quality 100% acrylic latex paint. Here, too, it's best to use a gloss or semi-gloss finish, since they are more stain-resistant and easier to clean. Don't re-install the cabinet doors quite yet. Wait until the paint is totally dry.

To put a perfect finishing touch on your kitchen remodeling, consider purchasing new knobs or handles for your cabinets either online or at your local home center. They're readily available in a wide range of shapes, styles, sizes, colors, and materials. One is sure to strike your fancy.

When your cabinets are restored and everything is done, stand back and take pride in your new kitchen. . . and in the thousands of dollars you saved by doing your own remodeling!

For more how-to information on home painting, as well as color and design ideas, visit www.paintquality.com or blog.paintquality.com.

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Banish Basement Dampness In a Single Weekend

Water entering a home's basement is very unpredictable. One minute the basement could be dry and the next there could be a river running through it. For homeowners, ignoring a water problem could prove costly and rob its residents of an otherwise enjoyable place to spend their time.

For concerned homeowners, protecting the basement from potential water damage is easier than you might think. Waterproofing a basement is a simple job that beautifies a space while protecting it against future damage from water. First, know what properties to look for in a waterproofer. The property that is the most important to look for in a masonry waterproofing paint is the ability to hold back hydrostatic pressure, which makes a waterproofer different than a water sealer and an ordinary house paint. Ordinary house paints merely adhere to the wall surface while masonry waterproofers penetrate the pores of the masonry to become part of the wall.

Most waterproofing paints will go through pressure tests that will determine the Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI) the coating will hold back. It is also important that the coating be tested to withstand wind-driven rain.

The makers of DRYLOK Masonry Waterproofer developed the specs for hydrostatic testing. They state the PSI should be at a minimum of 4 psi, which is a wall of water 9 feet high. Look for products that have been tested independently on standard grade building materials. Be leery of products that say they will withstand above 15 psi (which is a wall of water higher than 33 feet), as a standard grade building block could never withstand that much pressure. In fact, independent testing facilities will not test products to over 15 psi.

Once you have selected your waterproofer, it is time for surface preparation. Examine the surface for loose or broken mortar or any holes or cracks in the surface. The surface should be clean and patched with a hydraulic cement, such as DRYLOK Fast Plug. Be sure there are no signs of efflorescence, which are natural salts leaching from the masonry surface. These salts should be cleaned with an etching solution or DRYLOK Etch, which is a safer alternative than Muriatic Acid. After cleansing, rinse the surface thoroughly.

A waterproofing paint is thicker than house paint, so it will take longer to apply, but its application is just as simple. Most waterproofing paints can be applied with a stiff bristle brush or a roller. Simply work the product into the surface of the masonry, filling the texture with the coating. The thing to remember is that this coating needs to perform a task, so it is important to follow the label instructions. The experts at UGL recommend applying the first coat with a nylon or polyester bristle brush for best results. The second coat can be applied with a brush or masonry roller. Follow directions for application carefully. If the area covered is more than the recommendation on the label, you're spreading the paint too thin. Two coats are usually sufficient to stop seepage. However, if seepage is still present after several days, an additional coat may be necessary.

Whether your plans are for a basement pantry, woodshop, laundry room or even a living room or play room, you have to start with a dry space and the best start is with a reliable, reputable waterproofing paint. Simple step by step instructions on waterproofing your basement can be found at www.ugl.com.

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