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

Painting During the Fall and Winter Seasons

The fall and winter seasons are associated with many activities, the least common being painting. Experts in this line of work could, however, surprise you with the success stories of interior painting during these two seasons as unlikely as it may seem. This article will give you a brief description of why this is so as well as give you an insight of the challenges that could pose a problem in winter and fall painting. Pretty sure with these few details in mind, choosing when to do an interior paint job with high chances of good results won’t prove to be much of a problem. Winter and fall painting will work!

Challenges of Painting During Winter and Fall

Before starting with the benefits, it’s a good idea to know what issues you expect when painting during these times of the year.

The first is the obvious reason; both winter and fall are cold seasons. Paint doesn’t dry fast enough in low temperatures. When it eventually dries, the end result will be less attractive compared to what was initially expected.

Moreover, to hasten up the drying pace during winter and fall painting, a warm temperature could be maintained inside the painted room. However, you need to open the windows to let the fumes out. Both actions are terrible energy saving techniques, especially during these two seasons.

Benefits of Winter and Fall Painting

First things first, there won’t be much to do outside during winter or fall as opposed to Summer and Spring. Interior painting is not only a good, well planned out idea of an indoor activity during such seasons but will also give the best result if the timing is done right as is explained below.

Cooler temperatures are ideal for drying if the painting is done before the temperature drops too much. Probably in the early or late phases of these seasons, in my opinion. In summer or autumn, the hot temperature will dry up the paint too quickly resulting in the inadequately adhered paint to the surface. It will be no surprise if peeling will be observed in the future in such a painted space.

The summer and autumn seasons are pretty humid compared to winter and fall. As a painter, go for the times when there is the least humidity to do your painting and consequential drying. Moisture gets into paint when drying, thus increasing the likelihood of paint cracking and peeling off from the painted surface. To lower the chances of cracking and peeling off, the safest bet is painting during winter and fall.

The exterior of your house is as important as the interior. This is your home’s most visible part. Your careful consideration will help you choose the right color scheme for the exterior of your house. You will spend money and time, and you definitely want to get it right. Along with increasing its visual appeal, choosing the right home paint colors might help boost the resale value of your home. Use these handy tips when choosing the right paint colors for your home.

Blend with the Neighborhood

Walk around your neighborhood to see how the houses are painted. This will help to guide you on the appropriate home paint colors for your home’s exterior. If most of the houses are painted in brown hues, you should not go for a shiny black. Your house will be the odd one out. The trick is to blend in. Go for a color palette that is consistent with the rest of the neighborhood.

Consider the Architecture

The colors you choose should reflect your home’s architectural design. An old, colonial mansion painted in bright orange and green might not bring out the desired architectural effect. Don’t be tempted by the season colors. If not sure, you can ask a professional on the color history that is consistent with your house design. The idea here is to have paint colors that bring out the best out of the design of your home.

The Climate

The climate of your locality should guide you on choosing the right paint color. The exterior of your house is exposed to the elements. The colors should look appealing, yet be durable and resistant to corrosion or mold. The color choice for a log cabin in the woods would be different from that of a beachfront house. Your choice should be guided by the surrounding environment, considering how the climate will affect the color and the quality of paint.

Create Contrast

Creating contrast with the home paint colors can be easy. Considering the dominant house color, choose a different hue for the windows, roof edging and the window casings. You can then paint the doors and shutters a different color to highlight them. While at it, consider the landscape colors, and the contrast that they bring to the overall picture.

Understand the Surface

What is the texture of the walls of your home’s exterior? The appearance of paint colors changes with the surface, and this will impact the overall visual effect that you desired. When you paint rough surfaces, the colors appear darker. Smooth surfaces will have a lighter visual effect.

Know the Size

You can use color creatively to alter the mood and perception of your house. You can paint bold colors to create an impression of a bigger house. A handy tip here is to remember that darker or lighter colors have an effect on the size perception of the exterior of your home.

When choosing home paint colors for your home’s exterior, ensure that you go for a palette that makes you comfortable, and gives your home the attractiveness it needs. Play with color, and never hesitate to ask for professional assistance, when need be.

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!

How the exterior of your house looks determines and portrays what kind of person you are. The right paint job will ensure that the exterior of your house has a fresh and attractive look. There are numerous reasons as to why you should paint the exterior of your house. The following is a list of important reasons which detail why and when you should paint the outside of your house.

1. The first and most obvious reason is that, paint gives your house an appealing appearance. A well painted exterior will give a good first impression to visitors and prospective buyers.
2. A coat of paint helps protect the exterior of house from environmental factors such as snow, frost, sleet, and rain which may penetrate and cause cracking, flaking and peeling on the walls . Humid surfaces provide breeding conditions for mildew, and rot on wood.
3. To increase the value of your property, a well painted exterior would be a good start. Interested buyers will consider your house if it is well painted and hence increase the resale value.
4. House maintenance is a process that will never end. The cost of maintaining may be high especially when replacing rotten wood, and cracked surfaces. The expensive repair costs can be avoided by applying paint before it is too late.
5. We all change our minds or get bored of seeing the same color every day. Changing the look by painting the exterior will ensure that you get rid of the old fashioned look. It will also let you try out the latest types of paints which can be even more effective than the ones applied before.

When should you do exterior painting?

To achieve a perfect finish of paint, you should consider the best time and weather to paint the outside of your house. Before you start painting, the surface should be prepared by scrapping off peeled paint if any, and applying several coats before the painting the final coat.

Windy weather causes latex paint to dry quickly and prevent proper film formation. Wind can also carry dust which combines with wet paint and allows growth of mildew and ruins your paint job.

Very hot or cold days are not suitable for painting. Direct sunlight prevents film formation while cold days causes the paint to take long to dry.

Spring is therefore the most suitable season when painting the outside of your home. Employing professionals and buying the right paint will ensure quality paint job.