Maryland Painting is one of the effective way of enhancing the aesthetics and atmosphere of a house. Through a decorative painting technique such as Faux painting, a certain house may become even more stylish and classy. Surely a house decorated with faux painting will stand out from the rest of its neighborhood.

Faux painting utilizes several techniques to achieve the desired effect and decoration. One effect is painting stripes. It is one of the most popular faux techniques that can add the visual appeal to any space. Stripes are created with the use of masking tapes or painter’s tape. The width of the stripes can be adjusted by setting the distance between the tapes. Although taping itself requires considerable time and effort, the resulting effects once the painting job I completed will surely be worth the effort.

Sponge painting is recommended for those who are allergic to painter’ tape or for those with limited patience in taping. By sponging, a porous surface may have additional surface texture and depth. This is achieved by first applying a single color onto the surface then sponging another paint of different color over the first layer of paint. The sponge effect can have varies results depending on the type of sponge utilized, how wet the sponge is with paint and how well the paint blends with the sponge. Two techniques are actually used in sponge painting. Sponging on, as in applying the glaze to the walls with the sponge which creates a more porous and mottled look. Sponging off, applying the glaze to the surface with a roller and removing the desired amount with the sponge, creates a more subtle and textured appearance. Paint products which may be used for both techniques are latex semi-gloss paint (the base color) and faux technique glaze (the complimenting color).

Color Washing is one of the easiest decorative painting technique which provides an alluring worn look. A weathered stucco look is resembled by the visibly overlapping brush strokes of color washing. Different color wash effects may be attained by use of different materials such as a brush, a sponge, a rag or a cloth. Imperfect or slightly damaged walls are ideally applied on with color washing to give it a subtle texture finish which not only hides the flaws but also catches the attention. Yellow, orange, red and other bright colors are best for use in color washing.

Rag painting is done in a similar way as sponge painting, the only difference is that a rag is utilized instead of a sponge. Like sponging, rag painting is also done either by ragging on where the glaze is applied to the wall with a rag, or by ragging off with the glaze is applied to the wall by a roller then removed from the wall with a rag. The base color is allowed to be shown through and thus create a textured and speckled surface by ragging on. Whereas a slightly more subtle finished look is achieved by ragging off.

   Many assume they know what the key to a great looking and long lasting paint job is:

1. Top of the line paint.
2. Doing it according to the salespersons instructions.
3. What ever a method a freind or family member has always used.
4. Some tip from a T.V. show
5. Taking your time.
6. Hiring a pro.

Some of these will make a difference, but they are like a symphony orchestra. Each individual instrument sounding alright by it self, but not being able to harmonize together without proper preparation.

Proper prep can easily take as much or more time than the actual painting itself. Without it, problems can stink up your work like a tuna sandwich left in the sun on a hot day. So, unless you hire a trusted pro, follow some of these procedures.

1. Clean, clean , clean! Make sure the surfaces you are coating are free of dust, smoke, grease, hairspray (bathroom wall next to mirror) and food or paint might not stick as intended.
2. Patch nail holes or any holes in the wall . C’mon, don’t try to fill them with paint! It probably won’t work then you have to go back, fill the hole and paint again. Use a decent spackle and sand it level and smooth. Be prepared to apply several coats on larger repairs.
3. Sand. Yes, sanding or abrading the surface will give the paint some “tooth” to stick to. Have yet to read a can of paint that did not recommend sanding a glossy surface before painting. If your can does not have application instructions on it, I’d think about another brand.
4. Clean, Clean, Clean! Yes do it again!
5. Caulk cracks and joints. Do this after you clean because caulk does not like to stick to a dirty surface. (just like paint) If you have bare wood or drywall in must be primed first so the caulk will stick to that also. You may even save a few dollars by keeping drafts from entering through the cracks.
6. READ the can or go to the manufactures website. The paint manufactures want you to have success with their products. Most have sections for home owners on the website. When you find the product you are using, look for a link to TDS (technical data sheets).

The tips above pretty much apply to interior painting or exterior painting. If you live in the Annapolis, AnneArundle, Queen Annes or Talbot county areas, we’d like to be able to serve you.

These are just some of the things you need to consider for preparing your project. If in doubt, call your local pro.

www.marylandpainter.net

Choosing a color for an interior room can be a little overwhelming. When you go to your local Annapolis hardware or paint store you will see that there are many colors to choose from. In some cases there can be too many colors to choose from so you need to narrow it down and choose a color that works for your room.

First you need to get a basic idea of what color you want. Many rooms are now using color to make the room look better and whether you go with a bold color or something more toned down you can be assured that it will look better than white.

You want a color that goes with the furniture and decor that you have in the room. You want to make a list of the colors that you have in your pictures and accent pillows. This can help you narrow down the choices that you have for your interior room.

Take a picture or pillow to the paint store and have them match the color you want. This can be the best way to get the color to match and the room will look natural. If you go with a bold color then you need to use white accents to frame it in and make it stand out.

Take some of the color cards and see if any colors match the colors of your accents pieces in the room. You may be looking for a in between color and the best way to find one is to use color cards. If the card is not exactly what you want then you can have them lighten or darken the color accordingly.