For the upcoming adult and current millennials, home ownership is not as common. However, older millennials have been venturing out to buy homes, since many of them have families now and have saved up for a new home. If you are not sure whether owning a home is right for you or where to start, consider the following information:

Family Situation

If you have a family and are living in an apartment, are you financially in a place where you pay a monthly mortgage or place a down payment on a family home? Consider how much money you will save in the years to come if you forgo future rent and own the home. With a family, you are ideally looking for an affordable option where your children can grow up and flourish in the community. If money is a concern, ask yourself if you are willing to commute from a smaller suburb, or if you are willing to save up as you pay rent. Is it important that your children grow up in a home, or is it something that you are willing to delay if it means convenience, location, and/or safety? Check police reports for neighborhoods that are unknown to you.

Starters and Projects

Maybe you are single or a newlywed and looking to the future, but you don’t really need a large home. Perhaps you simply want to buy a plot of land. Absence of children allows you a bit more flexibility when searching for a new home. Keep these perspectives in mind if you are itching to find a new home to make all your own.

A starter home is affordable, but it can be a project that takes a couple years of investment if you decide to expand in size. However, if the starter home is fairly new it will be easier to determine costs ahead of time especially if you are planning on integrating a family in the future. If you are planning on not having children or would like to have a small family consider the freedom of a fixer-upper. Weigh the cost of restoration against buying a home in perfect condition. Would you plan on selling the home for more and using the profit to buy a larger home? Think of the local market and the condition of the home.

Current Trends

The newest trend of homes if the tiny house. It’s minimalistic, and low maintenance. However, it not known to be a lasting resource like most homes.

If your heart is set on a very small unobtrusive home, consider a cottage. The tiny home is known to depreciate as it is not grounded to the land and is not made with completely lasting materials. If tiny is what you are after, and you want to be a long-term homeowner consider the tiny house as a temporary shelter as you build or save to build your cottage on a small plot of land. There are small eco-friendly home alternatives that will last and complement nature if you decide to go the minimalist route.

Finances, family, time, and lifestyle are all major factors that should play a role in determining how, why, and if you buy your own home. Decide what matters most to you, how much time and money you are willing to invest, and what your future looks like. Also if you need a nice touch of paint on your new home, we’ve got you covered.

How Often You Should Clean Your Gutters

With Fall already here, it’s important to remember that even a recently painted home needs a bi-annual gutter cleaning to prevent damage and to keep a pristine look overall. Not only are you preventing an overflow of water and ice in the Winter to come, but you are protecting the structure of your home. In general it is recommended to clean the gutters twice a year; once around Spring’s end and once in the Fall. There are exceptions however . If you live in an area surrounded by pine trees you might want to consider four cleanings a year. If you have little foliage hovering above your home or you can only make it to one cleaning, choose the Fall. In this case, clean once most of the leaves have fallen from your trees.

Why You Should Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters seems trivial, but you are going to save a lot of money as you avoid cracks in the foundation, leaks which lead to interior damage or mold, and excess debris on your driveway or yard. Also you will discourage wildlife from nesting around the house which saves you the trouble of calling animal control or the exterminator.There are numerous reasons why you should clean your gutters, and it is a fairly simple task despite the messiness it entails.

How To Clean Your Gutters

Start by setting up a sturdy ladder that you can attach your bucket to. Have a spotter for safety. Make sure to start cleaning near the downspout .This will ensure you are moving debris away from the exit and not pushing it towards the drain where it will get stuck. Dispose of all debris into the bucket and empty as needed. Once all major debris is removed take a hose and clear the remaining dirt opposite the downspout. Make sure to clean off any strainers. If you have had a recent injury, are pregnant, or you have other physical restrictions find someone you know who can help, or consider looking for a service.

Costs And Other Factors To Consider

If you are having your home painted, cleaned, or repaired in any way ask the company providing the service if they could offer a special discount to clean your gutters. Most gutter services alone can be from $75 to $200. This cost is small compared to the consequences of a cluttered gutter. If you waited too long, you may need to consider replacing one or more of your gutters. If your home is severely damaged, get the necessary repairs, and consider Good Faith Paint Company for your next exterior paint job or deck staining.

Even though summer time should be a period to enjoy basking out of your house, it is also the perfect time to change the appearance of your house. Why is it so? The answer lies in the nature of paint to be used and the environmental conditions. Apart from painting materials, summertime is ideal to give your home a completely new look. Therefore, you can achieve your goal by reaching out to a professional house painter to undertake that task. Don’t wait for too long before summer comes to an end; however, before you embark on painting summer seasons, there are numerous factors to consider.  For that reason, this is what you should know when painting your house in the summertime.

The Type of Paint

1. Oil-based paints will not set up well at a temperature of fewer than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Latex paints dry much faster when the temperature is warmer than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Water-based paints are also suitable but not so popular because they don’t last long.

Preparation

This is the key part that you should give your attention. The exterior parts of your house are always subjected to some elements. It is prudent that the surfaces you intend to paint be cleaned before you get started.

Choose the right time

During hot summers, you can choose the appropriate time to start working. An early start will save you from the soaring temperatures and determine the quality of your painting, and it will create an ideal time-frame for the paint to dry well.

The Right Temperature

1. Temperature is a determinant when it comes to achieving the desired results after painting your house. There is no better time other than summer to accomplish your task. This implies that painting the exterior walls of your house in winter or any other time another summer is an exercise in futility. During low temperatures, the paint will not dry as you would expect and if you insist, the paint will flake off leaving your walls in bad form. In fact, this is the ideal time to paint your interior walls. One thing is certain, not every summer time is perfect for painting your exterior walls. Fluctuations in temperatures might be a big problem for the paint to dry nicely. Therefore, it is advisable that you paint at the onset of summer or very early in the morning so it can gradually dry before temperatures soar.
2. No moisture! Manufacturers recommend that the paint should be applied onto a dry surface. Normally, the surface becomes moist through exposure to rainy, snowy or humid conditions in the air. In that case, summertime remains the ultimate choice for exterior painting.

Important Points to Observe

Before you can start painting, you should consider the following:

1. Choose the best quality of paints.
2. Ensure the surfaces are clean.
3. Always buy good quality tools for painting.
4. Secure those areas that you need them painted.
5. Follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions keenly.
6. Above all, when working on the exterior parts of your house, make sure you have full information regarding weather forecast during summertime.

As a matter of fact, heat can not only be a disadvantage to your paint but can also be detrimental to your health. In the process, you might get dehydrated, so remember to take a lot of water to stay safe when working outside. Be careful!

Painting a Room Two Colors

The colors in one’s room are a depiction of one’s style, class, and personality. In a sense, one can tell the kind of person you are just by observing the space you live in. This is why it is so important to keep your space looking as you want others to see you. The best way to do this is through the colors you choose for the interior design of your room. Ever heard the phrase, less is more? It is usually advised to keep the colors in your room simple yet show your own kind of sophistication. Seeing as today we are talking about painting a room in two colors, here is a list of things to consider before you get your paintbrush.

Color Psychology

Finished popcorn ceilings came out of style many years back, yet numerous older homes and some new ones still have them. While bringing down a finished roof is not that hard, it is a messy task that requires diligent work and very special safety precautionary measures.

Equipment required

To do the job you will need:

• Plastic sheeting (2-3 mil for dividers, 6 mil for floors)
• Rosin paper
• Painter’s tape
• Rags
• Putty cut
• Pump up sprayer
• Liquid dishwashing cleanser
• Six(6) inches or more extensive floor scrubber
• Mesh sanding cushion with handle
• Drywall joint compound
• Drywall joint tape
• Dust cover or respirator
• Coveralls

Preparation

Removing a finished roof is a messy task so great prep work is vital to keep from spoiling your dividers or floor and to make clean up less difficult.

1. Remove all furniture from the room.
2. Turn off the warming or cooling system and close any vents. Roof vents should be eliminated and secured with plastic.
3. Cut off the power to the room and remove any roof lights or air fans.
4. Cover the divider outlets and switches with plastic, fixing them with painter’s tape.
5. Cover the floor with plastic, extending it a foot up the divider and joining it with painter’s tape.
6. Run painter’s tape on the divider around the roof along the dividers and join the 2-3 mil plastic sheeting to it, covering the plastic along the base of the divider.To help with the clean up, cover the floor with rosin paper, covering the sheets and taping them together.
7. Make sure to wear a mask or respirator and protective glasses, and keep the part of the roof you are dealing with sodden to minimize dirt.
8. To help with the clean up, cover the floor with rosin paper, covering the sheets and taping them together.

Getting It Down

Make sure to wear a mask or respirator and protective glasses, and keep the part of the roof you are dealing with sodden to minimize dirt.

1. If your roof wasn’t painted, fill a pump off sprayer with warm water and include two(2) tablespoons of dishwashing cleanser per litre of water.
2. Saturate a 4-6 foot square area of the roof with the solution. Wet it enough to make it loose, yet less that it does not harm the drywall under the surface.
3. Wait 15-20 minutes for the soapy water to be consumed by the surface material.
4. Use a scrubber, or other wide bladed equipment, to tenderly rub away the popcorn surface. Be mindful so as not to gouge the drywall or tear the drywall joint tape.
5. If the surface becomes hard to remove, splash it once more, hold up a couple of minutes, and attempt once more.
6. Use a putty blade to remove any remaining material and to get into the corners.

Repairs and Finishing Touches

You’ll likely need to do some drywall texturing to the roof after the surface has been removed, including:

1. Hammer any noticeable nails or screws beneath the surface and cover them with joint compound.
2. Replace any spoilt drywall tape and smooth out the joints with joint compound.
3. Once the repair work has dried, sand the roof with a sanding cushion with a long handle. Sand only to expel the high spots, as excessive amount of sanding will spoil the ceiling.
4. The last touch is to prime and paint the roof with latex ceiling paint.

Removing that dated popcorn roof will spare a trek to the exercise center by giving your arms and abdominal area an extraordinary workout. Notwithstanding you’re protruding biceps, the smooth roof will bring an incentive in your home and make all the hard work beneficial.

If this work seems more difficult that you can handle, contact a professional paint contractor to get it done right.

Your house says a lot about you. And that’s why from the general architecture to the exterior and interior decor; everything needs to be neat and presentable. By doing this, you can be sure that your house will be warm and cordial for both your family and any visitor during the winter holidays. Colors form a critical component of your home’s decor. For a while now, Good Faith Painting Company has been delivering exceptional painting services to our esteemed clients residing in Raleigh, NC. That’s why hiring our professional painters to do your winter interior painting will be worth every penny.

Even though winters can be cold and damp, that doesn’t mean you can’t have your home’s interior painted. In fact, winter is the best time for interior painting. Taking into consideration that winter seasons come with a lot of holidays and celebrations, we always involve (and advise) you on choosing the best paints to ensure that your interior colors are intricate, appealing and welcoming.

Most people don’t know this, but interior painting is a critical home improvement project that should be done at least once a year; and what better time to get it done than during the long chilly winter days. It’s a great way to add beauty to your home. So, what makes winter the best time to get some interior painting done? Below, are three reasons why painting your house in the winter is a good thing;

1. Affordable pricing and time-saving services: Our team of highly trained painters has years of experience, which means that they can deliver high-quality work in a very short time to ensure that they don’t interfere with your winter schedule. Also, seeing as winter is a holiday season, we offer our loyal customers discounts and special offers as a form of appreciation and also because your home’s beauty is of great importance to us.

2. You get to prepare your home for the holidays: We know that winter is the time for holidays. Your home’s interior colors greatly impact the mood and feel of your home throughout the holidays. You can take advantage of the extra time you have during winter to refresh your home’s interior. Good Faith painters always offer you reputable painting services that add some sparkle and liveliness to your walls before the visitors start arriving.

3. You get to cross off a major home improvement project off your to-do list: Since the other warmer seasons are usually ideal for most home renovation projects, getting your home’s interior painting done during winters helps you to reduce your home improvement workload. This means that you get ample time to work on your other projects during other months.

There you have it, three awesome reasons why painting your house in the winter is a good thing. So, take advantage of this coming winter season to spruce up your home’s interior by hiring our professional services. For more information, you can visit our website at goodfaithpaint.com or call us on (919)-368-8647. We will be more than happy to help you make your home’s interior colors envious. Happy Holidays!

A good paint job mainly serves two purposes. First, it gives your home the appearance that you’ve always dreamed of, and second it protects your home. There are two factors that play a decisive role on the durability of a paint job. The overhead sun is extremely important, as it drys out the paint and makes it stick well to the wall. Conversely, water always finds a way to sneak into the thin layer between the paint and the wall, resulting in cracking and peeling. Deciding to get a paint job done is quite a task and there are certain specific areas that one needs to inspect. These areas differ by nature with every element in your home. So how do you tell if your home needs a paint job or not? Here are a few things you need to keep in mind:

Siding

Not all surfaces need a new layer of paint. The siding accounts for almost 80% of the total work. Usually, there are three factors that determine the quality the paint on your siding:

• Do a close inspection of the color. Does it appear faded? You might want to get a new layer of paint done on it if that is the case.
• Next, try rubbing your hand gently across the surface. If a chalky film gets stuck to your hands it’s certainly time for a new paint job.
• In the event that you happen to have a masonite siding, take a peek at the bottom edge of each board. Test its waterproofing capabilities by pouring water on it and seeing if it beads up. If the results are nothing to write home about or if you notice minor swellings around the nail heads, you are better off opting for a new layer of paint.

Windows

When it comes to the windows, a much sharper and accurate inspection is called for. Often times, it might be really difficult to tell for an inexperienced individual, so be sure to look carefully. Here’s what you should be looking at:

• Sills are where your eyes should wander to first. Take a good look at the bottom right and bottom left areas – is the frame molding soft and crumbly? This could very well be a strong indication of water damage.
• Most window frames are endowed with a metal frame at the top. Due to this fact, the drill caps are never susceptible to water damage. However, some window frames are made up of wood and may turn soft overtime.
• A horizontal piece of wood rests at the bottom edge of the window sash. This area is well known to lose its paint at a faster rate compared to other surrounding areas. The paint becomes flaky before other parts…often after a year or two depending upon weather conditions. If you do plan to sell your house, be wary that this might deter potential buyers. Flaky paint is a clear indication of a house that hasn’t undergone maintenance for a good amount of time.

If you notice any of the above symptoms with regards to your windows, you can be sure that it’s time to get a new paint job right away! On the other hand, while getting new windows might be much more expensive than getting a new paint job, the move is definitely worth consideration as they have a major impact on the decor of your apartment.

Doors

The final place of inspection would be the doors. While they form vital entryways, an old and worn out door is probably the worst sight ever. We would recommend that you get your doors fixed and painted before you start to even consider the rest of the suggestions in the list. Here’s what you should be looking at:

• Inspect the door frames and corners well. Pay special attention to the bottom edges. If you notice paint peeling off, your door is undoubtedly in need of service. You should also check for soft areas…much like the window frames. These could indicate potential water damage.
• Move on to the gable ends of your apartment/home. Take a close look at the paint over them. Cracks and peeling are common in these areas as well. Water damage is no stranger, as well. Do the usual hand inspection that you have been done on other areas and note the observations.
• Also, don’t forget to check the vents. Do they still have a proper coating over them? Keep these points in mind to decide on whether you want to get your doors replaced or repainted in the immediate future.

You may want to consider just getting these areas refurbished in order to make your home look all bright and shiny again. Just because your doors and windows need some work, doesn’t mean that you need to get your whole home repainted. If you are not sure, first get these aforementioned areas repainted and have a look at the final result before you make any more moves. Be that as it may, if more than 30% of your apartment is suffering from cracks or flaky paint, it might be in your best interest to go ahead and get a major paint job. An experienced painter can make these recommendations.

Conclusion

To get such issues addressed and properly evaluated, contact a well known professional painter near your locality. He will be able to assess your home for you and suggest what you ought to do next. In most cases, a good paint job should protect your home safely from the sun and the rain for years to come.

If you do feel that your home needs a paint job after reading this article, Good Faith Paint Company has you covered. We are experts in our field and we will be very glad to assess your current situation and suggest appropriate repairs! Give our office a call today!

House Painter Wearing Facial Protection Spray Painting A Deck of A Home.

The traditional wooden deck is a favorite of many people; they love the evenly placed planks dotted with rows of nails or screws. While some love the feel of solid-wood deck boards under their feet, some may even love the look of a weathered wooden deck. But these real wooden decks require a little bit of care from time to time. One of the most important maintenance choices you must make for your deck is whether you should go in for deck painting or deck staining. Except for some hard tropical hardwoods, all decks need some sort of finish to last outside. If you skip the finishing coat, it will usually lead to cracking, splitting, warping and even rotting of the wood.

Deck Painting

Painting your deck is a great choice and it has quite a few benefits over deck staining. But it is not for you if you love a natural looking wood deck.

Here are the pros and cons of deck painting:

Pros

• Painting gives the longest lasting protection against the elements. The high solid contents in paints help form a thick, opaque film on the surface that hide imperfections, resists moisture, and blocks UV rays.
• Painting gives you a wide range of options, because it allows you to use any color you want. Moreover, as the paint is solid, you can completely cover an old color or the wood itself.
• As the paint is thicker, it helps fill the gaps and cracks in the wood. Some paints are made to be used for repairing wood that has been damaged by the elements.
• Painted decks are easier to clean. If the paint used is of good quality and has been allowed to cure properly before put into use, it creates a hard shell that prevents dirt from staining. However, this depends on the color; white color painted decks are not easy to clean.  
• Deck painting is a more protective option to the wood, because it resists rot, mold and sun damage.

Cons

• Painting is a messy job, as you have to prepare, preserve and prime the wood first.
• Paint is forever. Once you decide to paint your wood deck, you do not have any option to change it in future. You can change the color, but you cannot go back to deck staining.
• Painted decks can be slippery when wet. Depending on the sheen of the paint used (gloss, semi-gloss, etc.); painted decks can be as slick as ice when wet.
• Painting hides the natural beauty of wood. The color, grain pattern and texture of the wood are hidden by painting.  
• A wood deck is exposed to sun, rain and snow, and the constant shrinkage and expansion of the wood causes paint to peel over time.  

Deck Staining

Deck staining if for people who decide that painting is not for them. They will then probably end up with the transparent or semi-transparent stains. There are several types of stains; but there are still pros and cons while you choose to stain your deck.

Pros

• Staining helps retain the natural beauty of wood and it lets the wood grain, texture and color show through.
• Generally, stain is less slippery. Although there are some stains that can be slippery, most of the stains are more of a flat surface that protects the wood without creating a slippery surface.
• It is easier to apply stain. Even if you miss a spot here and there, it will not be obvious.  
• Stains are available in a variety of colors. As the wood itself will have a big effect on the finished color of the stain, it is better to test an area of the deck with the stain before buying it.

Cons

• Stains have a shorter life span when compared with paints. The life span of stains depends on the quality, number of coats applied and the weather condition.
• Stains do not fill cracks. Generally, they are much thinner; so, they cannot be used as a repair material to fill cracks, splinters and voids.

Deck painting and deck staining both can give you a deck that lasts longer than an untreated deck. Paints and stains make the wood less water absorbent and keep it dry on the inside. They have compounds that protect the wood from harmful UV rays, which means less of sun damage.