Commercial Painting

I can give phone estimates. I’ll ask some questions about the spaces to be painted and from your answers, I give an estimate of how much a paint job may cost. Generally, phone estimates are accurate and can quickly and efficiently give the homeowner a sense of how much something will cost to paint. Before painting a job, I must physically see the space and verify my estimate. Phone estimates are for information purposes only.

According to the paint manufacturers, when stored properly, an unopened can of oil-based or water-based paint has a shelf life of one to two years (I’ve seen them go for five years or more). Once water based paint has been opened, it must be stored it in a cool, dry place. If you want to use it again, visually check the paint to see if it is free of mold and don’t use it if smells bad. If it has gone bad, take it to a state regulated paint recycling center and dispose of your paint there.

Latex paints contain chemicals called plasticizers that assist in proper film formation and keep the coating flexible. Many vinyl and plastic weather-stripping materials also contain plasticizers to make them flexible. When the two surfaces come in contact with each other, they have a tendency to stick to each other. This condition, known as blocking, generally occurs during the early curing time of the coating, but it can continue for some time. Blocking can also occur on, interior doors, cabinets, double-hung windows and garage doors. The easiest way to prevent blocking is to use a non-blocking acrylic paint.

The deposits, known as efflorescence, are caused by moisture in the masonry. The moisture dissolves salts in the masonry — the mortar, block, concrete, etc. — and is drawn to the surface by the heat of the sun. After the water evaporates, it leaves behind white foamy looking deposits that must be removed before painting. You must find and fix the source of the moisture or your paint job will fail. Remove the efflorescence with a wire brush and coat the surface with an appropriate masonry primer and paint it with a topcoat or two.

Most latex paints when applied at temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees will be dry to the touch in about one hour and can be recoated within four hours. Various factors can increase these times such as poor ventilation, low temperatures, thick films and high humidity. In general one can safely put on two coats of water based paint in a day.