Painter's Insights

VOTING---A RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIVILEGE

2012-11-06T09:20:00.004-07:00

Remember to vote! Voting is a privilege that some take for granted. Recall the news reports from other countries. of citizens being denied voting because of their race, gender, or economic status.

In the United States we are fortunate to have presidential power and other leadership positions that can change hands without violence. Our forefathers established a framework to allow this voting privilege. Not everything in the system is perfect, yet methods have been established to correct the problems.

Don't be passive! Exercise your right to vote!

Community Service

2012-08-24T14:33:00.001-06:00

As a member of LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL, we have the opportunity to serve as part of the community. On September 8, 2012, we will host a booth selling fresh scones.
The money collected in this venture will provide funds for needy individuals needing glasses. We also provide scholarships for high school students going to college, leadership forums and Girls' State and Boys' State.

Get involved in your community through a volunteer group or religious organization. You will feel better about yourself and the world around you.

Appreciate the Small Things

2012-07-14T14:20:00.000-06:00

Make time for everyone close to you. Take nothing for granted. Every moment is an opportunity to speak kindly, give generously, and appreciate deeply. Work with integrity. Deal honestly. Respect everyone you meet. Life is good so make it better for someone else. You might be surprised how the small things will return a hundred full.

Bannisters - Staining or Painting First

2011-12-26T10:25:00.004-07:00

We received a inquiry about painting bannisters. When you are working with painting and staining, which do you do first?

Stain first, assuming the top railing will be stained and the spindles will be painted a solid color. When all the desired area are stained and completed, cover those areas with masking paper.
Paint the spindles.

Seely Painting

Painting Rewards

2011-12-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

Throughout my thirty years of painting, I have experienced many types of painting jobs.   Among the most rewarding are those that are done to help others; the labor, donated.

The first job that comes to mind occurred while involved in course work to attain an associate degree in painting & decorating. Several painters attaining this degree were involved in helping in the restoration work of "The Cathedral of the Madeline." The project we worked on continued for two months. The labor was free but the rewards of working on that magnificent edifice were innumerable.

Another opportunity came when a man fell off his roof while shoveling snow in the dark.   He was paralyzed from the neck down.   Family and friends worked together to transform his home to be wheel chair accessible.
We were involved in the drywall and painting part.   This happened at a time when no seasonal work was available.   The rewards of working and focusing on another's need proved a great blessing in disguise.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Lifting Others

2011-12-17T12:33:00.001-07:00

Today we met as Lions and Kiwanis organizations to put together our holiday food boxes. As we delivered them, we realized that none of us are exempt from life's challenges. The opportunity to lift others burdens with food or service is a feeling that cannot be described.
A few days later we helped deliver gifts to over ten families. Again the opportunity to help brought indescribable feeling of gratitude for small things; life, health and strength, family, and friends.
Take the time to be kinder and more thoughtful. You never know how those simple actions will give others the courage they need for one more day. You may find a new purpose in life.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Gratitude and Serving In the Holidays

2011-12-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

A favorite tradition for the holidays is joining with our Lions Club and Kiwanis Club to donate food baskets to community members. We learn of those who could use help from community and ecclesiastical organizations. We try to include commodities that would provide meals for two or three days. One way to develop gratitude is looking outward and not inward. Our own problems seem smaller when we extend ourselves with a little more with kindness.

Sometimes we receive calls from individuals who received helped in the past and are wanting to pay it forward.

Bless your own holiday season by serving your family and friends and strangers. Continue with gratitude and kindness when the holidays are over and you will be surprised how rich your own life will be.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Painting, Faux Finishing/Woodgraining/ Shutters

2011-12-09T09:06:00.001-07:00

Painting or woodgraining/faux finishing shutters around your windows is an another way to add beauty and continuity to the exterior of your home. Matching the colors in your wood, metal, or fiberglass exterior doors will help your home standout as a showpiece. Custom color matching the shutters to a solid color is a way to draw attention to the unique features of your home.

This picture shows a woodgrained garage door and shutters that have

been matched to the wood knotty alder wood door.

This picture shows a close up of the woodgrained shutter.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Thank you, Forever

2011-12-07T13:46:00.001-07:00

Today is December 7, 2011. On December 7, 1941, life in the United States changed forever when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

This day is probably not remembered by younger generations. But

we remember because we have family members who served in WWII.

Although that was seventy years ago, we thank them and all their family members for the sacrifices they made

to ensure our freedom and liberty today.

We say thank you with hearts of gratitude

to our military veterans who served then

and are currently serving.

Seely Painting, Inc.

The Most Popular Post

2011-12-07T09:25:00.001-07:00

We write posts about subject that we think will be of interest. Finishing a project satisfies the creative nature in all of us. Watching the statistics of the most popular posts viewed is satisfying and surprising. So far the most popular post is "Preparing and Staining Wood Banisters, with over 550 views. Thank you.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Failing Paint---Check the Rain Gutters

2011-12-06T16:18:00.001-07:00

When a specific spot on a fascia or sofit fails and the rest of the fascia is good, look for external problems.   We had paint company representatives go to a job site to determine why the paint was failing in an area. Upon further investigation by the representative, fall leaves and twigs were found plugging the down spout. It is possible that the water couldn't get down the drain spout. If water had frozen in the top of spout, it couldn't drain. The only place the water could go was under the wood of the fascia or soffit.   There might be other reasons, but this is one possible explanation why the paint failed.

Any problem of failing paint on one specific area could also apply to other areas of failing paint. We have seen paint fail and blister on window seals.
Sometimes the problem is water seeping, or it might be the direction the home is facing in the summer.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Painting Guarantees

2011-12-05T16:08:00.001-07:00

When a paint job is failing on an exterior, look for possible causes. An example of a problem might be a portion of a fascia is blistering and nowhere else on the fascia paint is blistering. Because no other areas on the fascia were failing, there is probably another external cause. There might be water seeping under the surface. Until you know the real problem of the paint failure, painting again would result in failure.

If you have a good painter, the he should guarantee the work for a year and be willing to take care of any problems. If he doesn't know why the paint is failing, he will contract other experts who deal in siding, metal gutters, or paint composition. If we don't know the answer, we ask a company representative to look at a problem and give an opinion. Often the paint problem cannot be properly assessed until the representative looks at the problem on site. The paint company should also guarantee the paint for a certain numbers of years.

When painting old siding, call a professional painter or your quality paint representative. A qualified painter will contact a paint representative if he is working with unfamiliar surfaces. Special preparations might be necessary to help your paint adhere better. Sometimes no special preparation is necessary.

Be sure to keep any touch up paint so that unforeseen paint problems can be remedied.

If you have a painting problem, don't be afraid that ask for help at your quality paint store.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Interior Painting Remodels and Redos

2011-11-30T09:08:00.001-07:00

This week we completed the interior painting of an 80 year-old home. The home had previously been a rental. The interior had not been painted for at least 15 years. The walls were lath and plaster, not wall board. This is how we proceeded to repaint the interior.

The bathroom walls were papered. The wallpaper was removed with a wallpaper remover solution mixed in hot water. Be sure to check with your quality paint store about the best wall paper remover. Read the instructions carefully The solution was applied with a spray bottle and left for several hours. As we removed the wall paper, portions of the plaster crumbled.

We repaired the plaster with three skim coats of quick dry mud. We allowed each coat to dry. Between every coat we lightly sanded the walls. A primer- sealer was applied.
The kitchen ceiling was treated with a stain killer because of the smoke and grease. The ceilings were sprayed and rolled.
All interior walls, wood work and doors were prepared by lightly sanding. This sanding takes of any dirt or grease. Any necessary repairs(holes or dings) were repaired and primed.
Two finish-coats of paint were applied to walls and doors. The walls were sprayed and rolled. This project was a three-tone paint job.
Kitchen cabinets were painted wood. The fronts were sanded smooth and painted. The knobs and handles were replaced with new hardware .

The vinyl and carpet were replaced so we were able to spray and roll the interior walls. If the flooring had not been replaced the painting would have been hand rolled.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Turkeys don't fly----they shouldn't drive either

2011-11-21T08:53:00.001-07:00

This is an advertisement we received from Woods & Woods LLC.

It is definitely worth sharing.

Click to watch our video!

This year, millions of people will be traveling for Thanksgiving. If you’re planning a trip, remember to:

Check your tire pressure, oil, and car fluids to avoid car problems along the way.
Enter your destination into your GPS before you begin the trip.
Make sure everyone wears a seat belt.
Save phone calls and texting for later.
Stop to fill up your gas tank once it reaches a quarter tank—don’t let it get to empty.
Bring games if you’re traveling with small children,
but don’t get distracted by them yourself.

And remember, turkeys don’t fly—but they shouldn’t drive either. Watch out for unsafe drivers, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Seely Painting, Inc.

Interior Painting--Spraying & Back Rolling

2011-11-03T11:47:00.000-06:00

We have been working with another painter on a professional building. Yesterday we did the touch ups on his work. Sadly, the touch up spots flashed; i.e., the areas we touched up went shiny and flat. The other painter did not back roll the painting surface after he sprayed the paint on the surface. We will have to repaint the walls where we touched up.

Here is professional painting secret to use when painting a new surface.

Priming

Back roll a new drywall surface. This means that after you spray the drywall surface with primer that you hand roll the surface with a roller. Doing this assures the primer will saturate the drywall surface.
Sprayed primer will only coat the surface. It won't saturate the drywall surface.

If doing the painting yourself, spray the primer on a small section, then back roll it with the roller. This does take more time, but the end results are worth the effort.

Finish Coat

Follow the same procedure with the finish coat.
Spray a section then back roll with a hand roller. Doing this will make sure the paint saturates the surface and doesn't just sit on the surface.
The process will go more quickly of there are two individual doing the painting. One individual sprays the paint, while the second individual comes behind and rolls the paint.

Spraying the paint on extra heavy does not do the same thing. In fact, spraying surface extra heavy will cause runs and extra work. Extra time will be spent going back to catch or repaint where the runs occurred.
Take a little extra time to spray and back roll so your efforts look professional.

Touch Up Paint

Keep the extra paint in a tightly sealed can and clearly labeled.

When there are nicks or damages to your painting surface, you can touch them up with a brush or roller. The touch ups won't show. You might be interested in a home where the primer and finished coats were sprayed and back rolled by hand.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Latex on Wood Banister

2011-10-03T09:29:00.000-06:00

We recently received an inquiry about spraying latex on a wood banister. The answer in one word is ----Don't.
To paint a wood banister follow the basic procedure for painting banisters listed in our older post on painting handrails

Seely Painting, Inc.

Check the Color

2011-10-03T09:22:00.000-06:00

A few weeks a friend decided to paint an exterior shed.    A standard "redwood color" was purchased at the local hardware store. The color turned out to be a disaster.   The color we think of as red wood turned out to be barn red. The shed could be seen throughout the neighborhood.   Luckily, I was able to change the color of the shed by mixing colorants to the remaining paint. The color was changed from barn red to a brown. The resulting color was much more pleasing.

So just a word of caution, be careful in the colors you choose.   Not every color has to be an matched onsite. But don't go by the name descriptions. Even if there are samples of the color on wood. Look at the color after it is mixed. Different woods take the colors differently.

Choose a color that is subdued and not the brightest. If in doubt, purchase a small sample such as a pint or quart of the color first. Apply the paint or stain and allow it to dry. If it is the right color, then purchase a larger quantity.

However, if you are actually painting a barn and want to show it off in the neighborhood, barn red is a great color.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Woodgraining A Garage & Front Door

2011-09-24T23:33:00.000-06:00

This week we began wood graining a metal garage door and a fiberglass front door to match.
Here are steps we followed:

Garage Door

Remember faux finishing wood graining is a process requiring several steps to complete

Prepare the door surface by cleaning it with thinner. This will remove any dirt or oil that is on the surface. Allow the surface to dry. Be sure to determine if the garage door is metal or fiberglass.

Fix and repair any dents or damaged panels.

Brush and apply the first undercoat of paint to add depth and color. Allow it to dry two or three days.

Work on one panel at a time. Working on multiple panels may be overwhelming. Painting one panel at a time allows you to to be creative .
Starting on the top of the garage door allows you to paint without dripping paint on finished panels below. You feel very confident by the you have finished twenty individual panels.

Brush on and apply the second undercoat of color. This may be a slightly darker color to match the exterior surface you are trying to match. Wipe off any excess paint,depending on the intensity of the color you want. Add the texture.

Work with one panel at a time.
The second coat is usually a custom color. But if you know what color stain you want, a standard premixed color is great to use.
We recommend Old Masters custom stains. This custom stain is the best quality we have found. It has a thick consistency when applied. It has body. Other stains are thin and watery. Old Masters stain can be found at quality paint stores.
Allow sufficient time for the paint to set up and dry thoroughly (48 hours).

Brush on and apply the third undercoat of color. This is the final color coat. With this coat you can add final details of design, lighten or darken the color on the door. Allow at least 24 hours for the paint to dry.
Brush on and apply the final clear coat and sealant.

Matching Front Door

Wood graining a matching front door follows the same process as doing a garage door. The process and sequence of application of colors, stains, and textures are the same as the garage door

Determine if the door is fiberglass or metal.

Prepare the surface with a light sanding.

Fix and repair any damaged areas on the door and casing.
Allow the repaired areas to dry. Sand lightly to make the surface smooth.
Brush off any sanding dust.

Brush on and apply the first under coat of color.

If you are really ambitious, the garage door and front door can be done at the same time. However, it's better to do one panel on the garage at a time, even if it takes a much longer time. Do the door on at a different time. Just use the same colors in your undercoat.
Allow the door and casing to dry before closing it so it doesn't stick to the weather stripping.

Brush on and apply the third undercoat of color.

Allow the door and casing to dry before closing it so it doesn't stick to the weather stripping.

Brush on and apply the final sealant coat.

Allow the door and casing to dry before closing to so it doesn't stick to the weather stripping.

These steps are only summaries of the wood graining process.

Please call us or ask for help at your quality paint store.
You might be interested in pictures of the wood graining process
of a garage door and matching front door.

Seely Painting,Inc.

TRANSPORTING PAINT & EQUIPMENT

2011-08-30T10:10:00.007-06:00

Whether transporting liquid painting supplies, tools, or equipment in a car, truck, or van, make sure they are secure. They should be in an upright position. All lids should be solidly shut and closed. Ladders should tied securely. Car trunks, van doors, truck tail gates must be permanently locked and secured. Follow the public transportation safety rules for transporting materials with a vehicle. It is worth the cost to rent a trailer or suitable size vehicle to transport equipment.

The test: if you are going up a hill or making a wide turn, making a sudden stop, and the material shifted in traffic---what would happen?

If equipment or paint comes from your vehicle in heavy traffic, liability is high. The accidents, public and private property damage could be costly.

If your involved in an accident or lose equipment and material, call 911.

Be Safe! Think and anticipate problems. Take measures to solve them before. As the cliche' goes, "A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Seely Painting, Inc.

How to Tell a Fiberglass Door from Metal Door

2011-07-29T10:43:00.001-06:00

How do you tell if a door is metal or fiberglass? A metal door has a flat smooth surface. A fiberglass door has a raised surface on it. It is a steel door that has a stamped imprint on it.

If you have any more questions, feel free to let us know and we will answer it on our blog.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Exterior Paint Colors

2011-07-22T11:20:00.011-06:00

The door on this home was wood grained to match the roof color.
The exterior wood color was matched on sight to coordinate with the brick.

Color matching the your home exterior with the shingles, brick, paneling, siding and doors will make your home come alive.

Turning your home exterior into a show piece can be a fun and simple process. It is not expensive. You don't need to re-shingle or replace the paneling.
Just repaint and coordinate the colors.

Get a small sample of your shingle color. If a sample is not available, take the color swatch cards to your home. An on-site visual match is the best.
With your shingle sample, go to to your local quality paint store. Either you or an in-house decorator can choose the exterior colors. You don't need to coordinate with the roof color, but it helps the visual image of your home.
Choose a door color that will contrast or harmonize with the exterior colors.
If you have a metal door, it can be painted or wood grained to compliment your exterior.
If you have a wood door, it could be refinished or stained to harmonize with your exterior.

If this process seems overwhelming or you don't have time,
let a professional painter help you.

Check the painter's qualifications. Some painters' experience qualifies them help with decorating ideas. Other painters are experts in their painting
but not decorating ideas. Choose carefully.

If you decide to paint yourself, try your colors on a small hidden area --the back of your home. Don't buy a large quantity of the paint color
you choose until your sure that is what you want.
Custom colors cannot be returned.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. The staff at the store is there to help. Customer service should be the first priority.

These ideas are just general suggestions to spark your imagination in home improvement. Always ask your quality paint store or a professional painter if you are not sure exact instructions in how to apply paint or choosing colors.

Knotty Alder Doors

2011-06-17T09:47:00.003-06:00

We recently had a request on how to faux paint a steel door to look like knotty alder.
Here is a summary of steps.

Prepare the door by repairing the dents and imperfections with several coats of Bondo. Skim coats are the best. Allow each skim coat to dry then lightly sand it smooth. Continue to apply the skim coats until the surface is smooth and imperfections are gone.
Seal the repaired imperfections with a spot primer.
Apply under coating and allow it to dry. The color of knotty alderwood you want will determine the color of undercoats and final coat you use.
Continue to apply undercoatings of different color to obtain the depth and richness you desire.
Apply a final coat and hand draw the wood grains and knots.
Allow the final coat to dry thoroughly. This time will vary depending on the weather and temperature.
Apply a clear sealant coat to protect the wood design.

There are books available to help you. They describe the process with more details and pictures. If you are willing to take the time, it can be a very satisfying project.
Here is an example of metal casings, woodgrained to match the real knotty alder wood doors.

Using a Rust Inhibitors/ Rust Converters

2011-06-16T10:42:00.008-06:00

Here is a summary of steps to follow when preparing metal railings.

Hand sand small areas

Sanding sponges can be used.
The sanding will get rid of the rust

Cover the rust or corroded area with a rust inhibitor or rust convertor.
Prime the railing and rungs with rust inhibitor primer.
Apply a final coat of paint that is formulated for metal railings.

Even the best primer and metal paint can needs the added advantage of a rust inhibitor or convertor. Yes, it does take extra preparation time. The preventative preparation is well worth the time and effort. You can spend time with preventative preparation or time redoing in a year or so.

The extent of the rust or corrosion will determine the type of product you use.

Ask for help at your quality paint store about about the best products for your situation. or call a professional painter.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Exterior Painting

2011-05-25T21:01:00.006-06:00

Now is the time to start your exterior painting projects. Here is a list of some projects.

Decks

Decks can be power washed, sanded, stained and sealed.

Exterior Doors & Casings

Exterior doors and casings should be sanded to remove loose paint.
Prime with an exterior oil based primer
Repair with Bondo spot filler where paint has broken away
Prime again over Bondo, making certain primer is dry before apply final coat of exterior latex of oil paint.

Sofit & Fascia

Power wash the surface.
Repair or replace all loose boards
Prime bare wood with an exterior oil primer (different surfaces require different preparations. Be sure to check with your quality paint store or paint representative the preparation that is best for your surface.)
Apply finish coat of exterior latex

Wood Fences

Power wash to remove old stain and dirt
Allow fence to dry
Apply one or two coats of latex stain

Patio Furniture

Sand and repair all surfaces
If previously painted, treat it as though you were preparing an exterior door casing
If stained, apply two coats of latex or oil stain.
Applying a sealer coat is optional.

Cement Drive and Walkways

Painting, resurfacing, and sealing cement should be done by a professional.

Wrought Iron Fences

Remove all rust
Prime rusted area with a rust inhibiter
Apply two coats exterior oil paint

If you have any questions concerning the products to use or how to apply them contact your quality paint store or call us.

Seely Painting Inc. 801 636-1918

Steel & Metal Door Preparation

2011-05-14T11:03:00.016-06:00

This week we received a request to woodgrain a steel door. Much like the commercial doors we did for the Presbyterian Church in Logan,Utah, this door will be color matched to the interior cherry wood finish. This door will be much easier because the interior crash bar will be removed for the woodgraining process. This steel door is solid--no custom windows

Custom Steel Doors of the

Presbyterian Church,

Logan, UT

Single Steel Door to be Woodgrained.

The woodgraining process is basically the same for interior or exterior doors. However, there are always unexpected challenges in painting or woodgraining a door. It takes two or three days to finish the doors, depending on the weather or application process.

Door Preparation

Door hinges and other parts that cannot be removed will be masked with masking tape and paper.

Any dents or imperfections will be covered by a thin coat of Bondo.
The bondo will be allowed to dry then lightly sanded.
Several thin coats will be applied until the imperfections are smooth.
The sanding dust will be brushed off and cleaned off with a dust tac cloth.

Undercoating

Several coats of undercoats will be applied to match the light and dark colors of the cherry wood.

Final Coat

A final color coat will be made and the grain will be hand drawn.
A clear coat sealant will be added to add durability to the door.

Seely Painting, Inc.