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Topics Faux Like a Pro Want to give your rooms a distinctive look? You can add a fantastic faux finish-and Brandman's can help you do it. We'll provide you with all the products, paints and helpful tips you need for great faux finish results! One of the most popular faux techniques is called "rag rolling," using everyday items to create a gentle, cloud-like finish. You'll need lots of soft, seamless fabric rags (like cotton, burlap or muslin). For walls, fold opposite sides of a 2-foot-long rag towards the middle, then roll it loosely with lots of wrinkles. Dip it in paint and apply with a light "rolling" motion. You'll need to switch to a clean rag when the one you're using gets soaked with paint-so have plenty of rags ready to go. For more tips, ask the experts at Brandman's! To make your exterior paint job last, prepare first. Before you paint, you need to solve any mildew problems. That's because this bothersome mold that grows in warm, moist and low-light environments can take its toll on your house paint. To get rid of mildew, prepare a 3:1 mixture of water and household bleach (3 parts water to 1 part bleach). Sponge the mixture on the mildew, covering a 1 to 2 foot area around it. Allow the mixture to remain on the surface for at least 20 minutes-and reapply as it dries. Rinse with a mild detergent and then with water. When dry, you're ready to apply an oil-based primer or a stain-blocking latex primer, followed by at least one top coat of high-quality acrylic latex paint. Two top coats of a truly good paint can last up to 10 years-and Brandman's has all the products you need for a professional-looking paint job. The great debate: plaster, spackle or compound? Which is best for me? This is one of the most frequently asked questions Brandman's gets from do-it-yourselfers. While they may look the same after drying, the three are really quite different in their applications. Plaster is used to patch plaster walls and is best handled by professionals. It dries extremely fast and is hard to work with on a large scale. Drywall compound is applied in thin, repeated coats to hide seams. Spackle is best for small patching jobs, such as filling nail holes. Find them all at Brandman's-where our experts have all the answers.
Sponges aren't just for cleaning up anymore. At Brandman's, we can show you how ordinary sponges can help you create an extraordinary faux finish. And it's easy! By applying paint with sponges, you can add textured beauty to any wall. And by using more than one shade of fine paint from Brandman's, you can create color harmonies and tonal effects you can't get with a single flat color. Best of all, sponging is ideal for walls in less-than-perfect condition. It camouflages dents, bumps and other surface blemishes that flat paint only highlights. Consult the color-matching experts at Brandman's for color selections that blend or contrast perfectly.
Did you know colors can be energy-efficient? Making your home comfortable while reducing energy consumption is the wave of the future-because it makes dollars and sense. You can turn a new or old home into a more energy-wise one with just a few strategic improvements. Using wall-to-wall carpets, high-backed chairs and draft-blockers at doorways and windowsills are obvious first steps, but did you know that room color can be an agent for change? Colors like red, orange and yellow ("warm" colors) add warmth to areas that are cooler in temperature-like the north side of the house, where direct sunlight is scarce. "Cooler" colors like blues, greens and violets are ideal for warmer southern- or western-exposure rooms. To determine which hues are right for your home, ask the paint specialists at Brandman's.
How to restore the natural beauty of your wood. Ever hear that wood "drinks up" oils or restorative unguents in stains and "returns to life?" That's fiction. But the good news is, you can coat wood for low maintenance and bring back its beauty and luster. The best way to get your wood surfaces to look vibrant and new is to treat them with a wood-preservative as you are installing them. It may prevent wood from graying by inhibiting mildew because it often contains fungicides, a small amount of wax as a water repellent, a resin or dying oil and a solvent such as turpentine or mineral spirits. It's not magic-just using common sense and the proper products to protect your wood surfaces (decks, fencing, moldings, trim, siding and the like). To learn more, ask the professionals at Brandman's.
Discover the difference between latex and oil-based paint. It's easy to get confused by the dozens of paint options available today, but your Brandman's staff is here to help. One of the most common questions we hear is: "What's the difference between latex and oil-based paint?" Latex is water-based, and most latex paints have microscopic plates of acrylic that stay on the surface after drying. The big advantages to latex are the quick drying time and the equally quick clean-up. Oil-based paints require "paint thinners" that are much less environmentally friendly, but many painters have customers that specifically request this more traditional paint form. Which is best for your project? Ask Brandman's!
Concrete ideas for getting more out of your basement. Today's busy families are using their concrete-floor basements as more than just storage areas. A painted-on rug or design adds color, fun and function to this often ignored space. Buying the right kind of paint is critical. There are several types of concrete paint to choose from-and Brandman's can custom-blend pigments to produce the color that's right for you. Some require primers, but the prep work beforehand is the tricky part. Why? Most concrete floors are made with a lye compound that must be neutralized-otherwise your new paint will simply peel off. But don't worry. Step-by-step directions are yours for the asking at Brandman's.
Happy endings depend on how you begin. The better you prepare your walls before applying your paint and decorating ideas, the more you'll love the result. It requires some upfront effort, but it will be well worthwhile. And Brandman's is your one-stop destination for everything you need. We have products to help make removing old layers of wallpaper and peeling paint easier, plus everything else that's necessary to bring your ideas to life. We also carry the accessories you need for your project-all affordably priced. So if you have any questions about using these professional-strength products and tools, don't hesitate to ask. After all, Brandman's is where the professionals shop. For additional information or tips, please click here.
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