Why You Should Get a Second Opinion on Paint Color

Bad execution of a green-themed bedroom.

Well executed green-themed bedroom.

When you walk into a room you will always get a vibe from the room, whether it is a kitchen, living room or bathroom. Primarily this vibe (or feeling) comes from the room decor, especially color. When a color is off in a room, you can tell; it might not be terribly unsightly, but when something doesn’t feel right in a room, usually you can attribute it to the color scheme.

As a painting company, we don’t want any homeowners to end up with a room that “just doesn’t feel right;” which is why we think it is important to get a second opinion on paint colors for your home.

With over 2,000 color options for paint, the choosing process can be a bit overwhelming; so not only is getting a second opinion smart, it also lightens the load of the decision by 50%. When you ask someone to help you with paint colors, make sure it is someone who knows you and your house well enough to know which colors will fit the personality of your family and your home.

Here are some additional reasons why you should get a second opinion on paint:

How to Start Fresh in 2012

The new year is all about starting fresh and accomplishing the tasks you have at hand. The best way to completely “begin again” is to freshen each aspect of your life that has become dull over the past year. Updating and refreshing your surroundings and atmosphere helps to rejuvenate your mind and your resolve to get things done.

Think about a room in your home where you work the most. Whether it is your office, your bedroom, the kitchen or your sitting room, it is important that room is aiding to motivate you rather than distract you.

Color is both inspirational and influential. Stimulating hues can affect us physically and emotionally. Here are some some great colors to rejuvenate and motivate:

Is it safe to let my child sleep in a freshly painted room?

How long you should wait before letting your child sleep in a room depends primarily on the paint you use. All paints can be categorized into 3 different types:

1. If you use a Zero-VOC paint, which is non-flammable, eco-friendly and virtually odorless, you can let your child sleep in the room the same day you paint.
2. With “Green Seal” and Low-VOC paint, you can also allow your child to sleep in the room the same day. However, there will be a slight odor for 2-3 days after painting, which will lessen if you blow a fan in the room and leave the door and/or windows open.
3. If you use oil-based paint or paint without a “Green Seal” logo it could take a while for the room to be child-safe. Paints that are not eco-friendly have many more toxins and chemicals that continue to be emitted 2-3 weeks after painting.

Despite the vast number of paints available for use, we highly recommend using a Low or Zero-VOC paint when painting a child’s room, or for any home interior room. Normal latex and oil-based paint contain harmful solvents and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) that pose possible long-term problems for the kidneys, liver, or the central nervous system. Take note that any paint with a strong odor is likely filled with VOC’s, (this is also true for carpets; so it is advisable to research which carpets are child-safe before having one installed in your nursery).

Using zero-VOC paint is the best way to ensure you are creating a safe environment for your child. No-VOC paints are ideal for parents seeking a child-safe, eco-friendly nursery; not only are they safer to use, but they are also odorless and easy-to-clean. Benjamin Moore’s Natura® and Sherwin Williams Harmony® are both great zero-voc, nursery-safe paints.

If you have any further questions, call Hallco Enterprises at 301-831-3679 or contact us online.

3 Signs of A House In Need of Repair

As winter is approaching and as nights are growing longer, sometimes a house can seem just a tad spooky in the dark as strange noises come from the walls and certain doors seem to open by themselves. Before you go decide your house is haunted, consider the alternate possibilities for these occurrences that can usually be cured with a few small repairs.

1. Cold Spots

• When you walk through the house and feel a cold brush of air most likely it has to do with drafts and poor insulation. To fix the problem: on a windy day take a lighted candle and move it slowly around the window frames in your house; if the flame flutters, there is a draft. It is easy to install weather striping or heat-shrink plastic sheeting on the windows. Although if the draft is strong, it may be time to do some window repairs or replacement.
• If a wall in your home is very cold to the touch, consider adding more insulation inside the walls.

2. Strange Noises

• If you hear weird noises that you can’t explain such as moaning or strange scratching noises, it can usually be attributed to plumbing problems. The pipes might be rubbing against the wood frame of your home when they expand and contract. In order to fix the problem, figure out when and where the moaning occurs, then call a plumber.
• If you hear soft whispering noises, most likely it is rodents in the walls. For this problem, call a rodent control center and check thoroughly outside to see if there are any obvious places where small animals could be entering.
• Rattling is probably your heating system. Hot water systems bleed off the air and forced air systems often rattle if the furnace fan is out of balance or if the fan belt is loose. If you don’t think it’s the heating and aren’t sure about where it’s coming from, contact your home service professional.
• If you hear scraping sounds, check for branches rubbing against your room or siding; this problem can be easily fixed with a little pruning. 
• Creaking usually only happens in older homes since part of the structure can expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. There is no real solution for this, but neither is it something you should be overly concerned about.

3. Doors Opening by Themselves

• If your cupboards or doors randomly open by themselves, it is almost always misalignment. The hinges on cupboard doors become worn through repeated use and should be checked and realigned annually. All you have to do is loosen the hinges and shift the door so it is square and level with the opening, then tighten the hinges again. If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the hinges.
• Doors become misaligned when houses slowly shift with weather and humidity. Similarly as with cupboards, to fix this problem you simply adjust the hinges so the door is level.  

If you don’t know of a good contractor to call to fix these problems, we can direct you to a great company; call us at 301-831-3679. Also be sure to give us a contact us after you’ve re-insulated your walls or trimmed back those trees that have damaged your home exterior. We will be make those interior and exterior surfaces look as good as new.

Which Paint Brand Should I Use?

When it comes to paint, the difference in brands goes beyond more than just the brand names. It is important not to choose a brand depending on how much it costs, but rather why it costs the price it does. The main differences between paint brands are in the chemical compositions and the quality of the products used to make the paint.

Whether you’re considering a more expensive purchase, such as Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams, or a more economical option, such as Behr or Glidden, you should take into account that paint prices vary directly with quality.

There are copious numbers of paint brands, but only a small percentage of them produce good quality paint. According to Consumer Reports and user reviews these are the brands with the best paint on the market:

1. Benjamin Moore is the best overall paint brand, producing excellent quality interior and exterior paints in a bountiful number of colors. Benjamin Moore also is customer-oriented company and serves each user well.
2. Sherwin Williams is the best quality paint brand, using optimum-quality products to make their paint. Although Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore appear to be equal in terms of products, Sherwin Williams seems to cater more towards interior painting and design, whereas Benjamin Moore serves each painting purpose equally.
3. Behr produces many products that combine primer and enamel, so it is said to be one of the most efficient paint brands.
4. Pratt and Lambert produces good quality products and has a reputation for good industry color authority. Pratt and Lambert can be considered the paint brand of best value.
5. Glidden is the most practical paint since it is made economically and is easy to buy. It meets most of the basic user requirements for paint, and therefore works well for small home projects.

For people who prefer not to spend top-dollar for paint, these last three brands are good options for decent price and quality.

Whichever brand you choose, remember to keep in mind that you will have to repaint sooner if you use a less quality paint, so in order to save time and money, it is always more efficient to use a premium brand.

If you have any other questions about paint, colors, or anything related to painting, give Hallco Enterprises a call at 301-831-3679.  

3 Great Ways To Use Multiple Colors In One Room

Painting a room only one color usually can look great, but it can get montonous from room to room if each only has one color scheme. The most common way to split colors it to use natural breaks such as a corner or ceiling. But there are also some other tasteful ways to use multiple colors in a room.

• One common method of bringing a second prominent color or shade into a room is to create an accent wall. Accent walls are typically painted a contrasting or coordinating color which creates a nice focal point.
• A technique used by some painting professionals is to paint a room in parallel, where a room is painted in two colors on alternating surfaces. In a typical room this would mean that the opposite walls are same color. This design creates a sense of movement and is often used in smaller rooms, such as a bathroom or bedroom. 
• A third design idea that is currently popular is to paint the ceiling a color other than white. There are three basic options for color choices on your ceiling:

1. Paint the ceiling a lighter shade of the wall color. This gives a feeling of additional height in a room and ties the space together nicely.
2. Paint the ceiling a darker shade of the wall color. This technique is usually used in tall rooms, since it visually lowers the ceiling. 
3. Paint the ceiling a different, coordinating color. This makes the ceiling a focal point, drawing attention upward.

One caution with painting the ceiling a color other than white is that if all of your ceilings are different from one room to another, it creates a disjointed effect as you walk through the house. Another problem presented with painting the ceiling is that it can draw attention to any flaws in the surface, as well as emphasize any lines or corners that aren’t square or level (especially in older homes). One way to mask these problems is to use flat paint, or to bring the color down onto the wall and then to use an ogee moulding 3 to 6 inches from the ceiling.

Hallco Enterprises has been a leading painting contractor in the Montgomery, Howard and Frederick County for the past sixteen years. If you have any questions or if you would like a color consultation with one of our professional painters, give us a call at 301-831-3679.  

What is Proper Surface Preparation?

Proper surface preparation is vital for maximizing the life-span of a new paint job. When a surface is well-prepared, the paint adheres better, looks cleaner and lasts longer.

Before starting any painting project, you should always remove as much furniture as possible from the room and take off any electrical outlet covers. Also, be sure to cover the floors and any remaining furniture with a dropcloth.

The first step in surface preparation is to examine the walls for holes or crevices and to fill them in with spackle. After the paste dries, use some sand paper or a light buffer to smooth out the roughness and to make sure any old paint drips or ridges are sanded down.

The next step is to clean the walls thoroughly, making sure they are free from dust, dirt or greasy stains. A clean sponge dipped and gently squeezed in mildly soapy water is best for cleaning walls. If there are any tough spots, you may have to use a heavier cleaning product. Be sure to also wipe down the baseboards and to clear any dust or cobwebs from the corners and then to apply painters tape along the edges.

Unless you plan to use a product that works dually as a primer and paint, it is always important to prime walls before painting. Primer works as a binding layer for the wall and paint so that the finishing paint adheres better. Using tinted primers reduces the number of necessary paint coats by providing a base layer that is similar to the finishing color. Additionally, a high-quality primer will help to hide any small imperfections on the walls.

After completing these simple steps, your walls will be ready for a beautiful long-lasting paint job. If you have any further questions, call us at 301-831-3679. Hallco Enterprises has provided Montgomery, Howard and Frederick County with dependable and professional services for over 20 years. Call us today or schedule a free estimate online if you would like to put your project into capable hands. 

What type of moulding would you install in a Dining Room?

A Dining Room is the perfect candidate for decorative moulding. If done properly, certain types of moulding can add the perfect touch of elegance to a Dining Room without changing the overall theme of the room.

These are Mouldings most typically used in a Dining Room:
1. Crown Moulding

• Crown moulding is like the cherry on top of a beautiful room. A room generally doesn’t feel complete without crown moulding.

2. Chair Rail Moulding

• Practical and decorative, Chair Rail is a great moulding that adds a nice simple accent to a room, while also protecting the wall from scratches and scuffs.

3. Base Moulding

• Similar to Crown Moulding, Base Moulding provides that “finished look” for a room. Even if the room already has baseboard, you can always consider upgrading the base moulding to match nicely with the rest of the moulding project.

4. Panel Moulding

• If you use chair rail with a nice base moulding, it would be in best taste to also use panel moulding. This serves as a union for the two elements while giving the room a more complete look.

5. Door and Window Casing

• Using Moulding for Door and Window Casing is a great way to add elegance to an otherwise simple Dining Room.

6. Wainscoting/ Shadow Boxing

• Wainscoting is next in popularity after Chair Rail and adds refinement to a room. There are limitless designs for wainscoting (such as Shadow Boxes) to meet individual tastes.

Since the Dining Room is usually where you entertain guests, it is a great idea to use a few of these moulding techniques to add some unique qualities to your Dining Room. You can also use any of these moulding ideas for another room or hallway of the house to achieve an overall beautiful and elegant appearance in your home.  

Call Hallco Enterprises for a free estimate to get a start on your Maryland Dining Room project. 

Should I invest in painting my home before selling?

Compared to any other type of home improvement, painting before selling brings back the highest return on investment. Not only does it increase your home’s value to paint before selling, but it also leads to a quicker sale when your property is one of the nicer-looking homes in the buyer’s price-range.

When you sell your home the interior should definitely have a fresh appeal. It will greatly impress potential buyers if your house has a professional finish with sharp cut lines along the ceilings and trim. It is best to paint your home in neutral colors – such as beige, cream or ivory – since it will allow the buyers to picture your house with their own color schemes. Lighter colors also add brightness and makes rooms appear more spacious.

You may also consider sprucing up the exterior paint of your home. Even just a nicely colored doorway can make all the difference in the look of your home. When the entrance of your home is appealing, it will give a better first impression to the potential buyers.

It is important that your home looks well-maintained when you put it on the market. Considering that painting your home can bring up to a 500% return on investment, it is well worth your while to paint before selling.

Hallco Enterprises serves the Montgomery, Howard and Frederick counties of Maryland. If you are planning to sell your home, call us for a free estimate at 301-831-3679. 

TIps To Add Fall Colors To Your Home

For the Interior

As the seasons begins to change, it’s the perfect time to switch your rooms from cool summer color schemes to cozy, warm autumn colors. Fall is the time for rich and warm colors; reds, yellows, greens, oranges and browns.

If you don’t want to paint a whole room, you can always try splashing the room with color by painting just accent furniture pieces or throwing in some new decorative items.

For the Exterior

Now is the time for fall get-togethers and bonfires, so to get your home ready for guests there are a few easy ways to make your porch and home exterior more “autumnish”.

Embrace the fall colors with paint. You can easily give your home that perfect “autumn look” by spattering your porch with hues of burnt sienna, lipstick red, olive green, chocolate brown or golden yellow. A striking technique is to paint a bench or your front door one of these colors. Also, you can always paint some flower pots yellow or red, and put in some mums, green foliage or another colorful fall filler.

If you would like a color consultation or an estimate, give Hallco Enterprises a call at 301-831-3679; we would love to serve you.

16 Mistakes To Avoid When Painting

As much as possible, people innately try to avoid making mistakes, although sometimes it can be difficult when you don't know know which actions might have adverse results. In the painting world, most mistakes aren't very forgiving, so to save from wasted time and energy, take note of these most commonly made painting errors. 

1. Skipping the tape.

Even the best painters can accidentally go off-line when painting. Grab some painters tape to get clean lines and edges. 

2. Skipping the surface preparation.

New paint won’t stick to glossy or dirty walls in bad condition. Take some time to properly prep, or you will have problems with your project later on.

3. Painting without priming.

Primer makes the paint adhere better, and makes your paint more vibrant. Going without it often leads to poor results. So for best results: use primer, or get a paint that is made to be used without primer. 

4. Brushing when you should be rolling.

Brushing larger areas tends to leave brush-stroke lines that show after the paint dries. For large interior areas, a roller will do a better job in less time. Select the right type of roller for the paint you’re using and try to avoid pushing the roller into the wall when you paint.

5. Being impatient.

After you fix the holes in the wall with a patching compound, it’s easy to want to sand and prime immediately; but make sure you let it dry completely before you do the next step. Otherwise you’ll have to re-do it all. Same goes for drying paint, make sure you follow the instructions for drying time before applying a second coat.

6. Failing to protect the floor.

When painting you can almost always expect to get paint on the floor, so before you open the can, make sure the floor is completely covered with plastic covering or a drop-cloth.

7. Underestimating the amount of paint needed.

Professionals say you need 1 gallon of paint for every 400 square feet. Plan ahead to avoid running back and forth to the paint store. Also, if you have to get another batch of paint, you run the chance of having the colors not match perfectly.

8. Assuming the walls are clean.

People don’t usually think to wash their walls before painting, but paint looks much better when it has a good, clean surface to adhere to. Wash your walls before painting and you will get better results.

9. Painting when the humidity is high.

When the air is humid it takes longer for paint to dry, so if the weather is more humid than usual, wait a day or two for the moisture to decrease.

10. Abusing paintbrushes.

Make sure the brush you’re using is in good shape. When you use an old brush with latex paint, wet your brush bristles with water and shake the brush dry before you dip it in the paint. The brush will hold more paint and deliver better results.

11. Buying any paint brush.

When choosing a paintbrush to use with latex paint, nylon or polyester bristles work best.

12. Forgetting paint build-up on pad edge.

When you use edge pads around ceiling edges and corners, make sure you frequently wipe off excess paint to avoid marking the surface.

13. Painting with furniture in a room.

Removing paint from your furniture is virtually impossible, so if you can’t move it out of the room, at least make sure it is covered with a drop-cloth.

14. Splattering door knobs.

Unless you like the look of polka-dotted door-knobs, we suggest you slip some plastic or some type of covering on them.

15. Painting the wall plates.

It only takes a couple minutes to remove the wall plates and tape around your light switches and electrical outlets. The results are well worth the extra few minutes.

16. Starting a painting project before getting all materials needed.

It can be very frustrating to get half-way through your project and realize you’re missing one of the necessary materials. So before you start, do a quick inventory and make sure you have everything you need.

Look over this list before painting to save from unnecessarily wasting time or materials. It’s worth it in the end to pay attention to these details.

Would you like a free estimate for your painting project? Hallco Painting services Howard, Montgomery and Frederick County; give us a call at 301-831-3679.  

How Do I Clean My Walls?

When your walls begin showing traces of dirt and grime, it can be unnerving to begin scrubbing your beautiful walls, not knowing if you’re using the best method for cleaning interior paint.

In this blog, we will give you a quick how-to for cleaning your walls, to put you at ease when you tackle the job. Recently we wrote a blog about how walls get sratched; what you should know when you clean your walls is that there are two types of scuffs: residue and abrasion.

For cleaning away residue scuffs and grime:

• If you have a high-gloss or sheen, it should be relatively easy to remove dirt. You should use a clean rag, dampen it with soap and water, and apply low pressure in a circular motion to remove the dirt. You can also try using a Magic Eraser for the tougher spots.

For getting rid of abrasion scuffs:

• Scuffs from abrasions are a bit harder to remove, since usually abrasions break the paint film, leaving a permanently dark spot. But you can try cleaning away the scuff with soap and water and a clean cloth. If that is not successful, you can paint the wall again from end to end or corner to corner.

Let us know in the comments if you have any tips for cleaning scratched walls.

If you have any questions, give Hallco Enterprises a call at 301-831-3679.  

How To Dispose of Old Paint/ Cans

After a painting project, most of the time homeowners will put aside their extra paint into closet storage or their basement, but over the years we accumulate more paint cans than we will eventually use.

To get rid of all of these paint cans: first decide which colors you still might need for touch ups in your home. Consider donating the full cans that you won’t use. Then let all of your useless paint dry. There are a couple ways to expedite drying paint:

• Paint hardener (which is about $4 to treat one gallon.)
• Add kitty litter or some absorbent material to the paint and stir it around.
• Get some old cardboard boxes (that also may have been collecting in your home), break them down flat and then pour the paint out and let it dry in the sun.

When the paint dries out you can dispose any Latex, Water and Acrylic products at a normal landfill. Oil and Alkyd products must be disposed of at specialized collection areas. To get rid of these, simply call your local refuse center to see what their collection schedule is. Oftentimes they will schedule a local drop off at a community center or school.

It’s as easy as that! Don’t let those old paint can pile build up in your house.  

Playground Painting Project in Ocean City

The past several years, Hallco Enterprises has been restoring old playgrounds throughout Maryland, D.C. Delaware, and other surrounding states. Hallco is awarded the projects for several reasons: affordable cost, using quality playground paint and getting the project done in 1 day. Our owner, Ted Hall, manages the projects and makes sure that each project is well staffed and completed in a timely manner. 

We are located in Clarksburg, Maryland but recently were hired to complete a playground painting project in Ocean City,. Our painters left our paint shop early in the morning, completed the entire project and drove back home that evening. Below is the testimonial and a few before and after photos. 

"The 4^th Street project in OC turned out great and I thought you might enjoy some of these pics. You guys do excellent work." James R.

How to Preserve Your Exterior Wood

Before

After

Oftentimes we don’t consider ways to sustain the life of exterior wood, such as gates, until after damage has been done. Instead, with some thorough preparation work and several solid coats of paint, you can significantly increase the life expectancy of your gates and exterior woodwork right off.

These pictures are an example of a situation where the homeowner decided to revamp their gate after it started showing signs of aging. Originally it had stain and a clear finish, and while this looks nice, it also requires more maintenance. The refinished product is an application of quality primer and several coats of solid paint.

Do this quick process on your exterior woodwork to save from having to frequently repaint. If you live in Frederick, Montgomery or Howard county and have wood gates, fences, decks, etc., Hallco Enterprises specializes in proper preparation and painting of these items. Give us a call at 301-831-3679.