Paint Like a Pro

Wish you knew the secrets to being a pro painter? We can’t give all of our tricks away, but we’d love to pass on a few to you. These tips are especially useful if you’re interested in painting just one room in your home. If you have a bigger job or would rather leave it to the real professionals, then feel free to give us a call. And now—on to prepping your paint space!

Tip #1 Clear the Space

Any good professional painter knows that a good quality drop cloth is essential for any interior painting job. Leaving this step out of your painting process may make your new project unnecessarily frustrating. Without a drop cloth, you’ll most likely have to scrub away paint that has dried permanently on your floors, tiles or carpet. It’s also important to clear the room of any furniture or other items. It’s easy for drywall dust or paint to land on a lifetime of family treasures.

Tip #2 Spackle Up

Before painting, inspect your walls for bumps, cracks and other imperfections. Spackle up any cracks or dents you see. If your walls are mostly uneven, consider smoothing them down with a drywall pole sander. For wood, use a two-part wood filler to fill in any gaps you may have. Be careful when applying painter’s tape to your walls. Make sure you don’t paint under the tape – it may cause bleeding. When you’re ready to reveal your new wall color, make sure to take off the tape carefully. If you wait too long, the paint could become stuck to the tape and tear off during removal, leaving you with an ugly gap on your wall.

Tip #3 Choose Paint that Lasts

Many people go for latex primers when re-painting the interior of their home, but if you want a primer that will work on almost any surface, go for an alcohol or alkyd primer. If you pick a glossy paint for your walls, be aware that glossy paint is more likely to reveal imperfections made during a paint job. Try not to skimp on the price of your paint, either. You’ll want your wall paint to last as long as possible, so you won’t have to go through the process all over again. Enjoy your new paint job and don’t forget to give us a call if you need to call in the experts!

Color Ideas for Houston Exterior Painting

Pro Painters has been dedicated to providing Houston area homes and businesses with quality painting services for almost 20 years.  At Pro Painters, we offer a number of Houston exterior painting options:

·         Complete Houston Exterior Painting Services

·         Power Washing and Cleaning

·         Replacement of Exterior Wood (Including Window Trim and Door Frames)

·         Replacement Siding

·         Cleaning and Sealing Deck, Fence and Patio

·         Staining and Painting Houston Woodwork

·         Staining Cedar Siding

·         Painting Houston Aluminum Siding, Brick, Block and Stucco 

Painting Houston with Rich Colors

Pro Painters provides many  Houston exterior painting color options through the use of high quality paint from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore.

•       Sherwin Williams’s Hearthstone Brown with Richmond Green trim color work well when painting Houston exteriors in the greener, wooded areas of the region. 
•       You could also choose lighter, neutral colors for painting Houston homes.  The subdued colors of  Sherwin Williams’s Relaxed Khaki for the body and Universal Khaki as the trim color creates a soothing tone on tone quality.
•       Don’t stop at your residence or business in Houston. Exterior painting can revive the look of your vacation home in Galveston.  For your beach house, try a light neutral color for the body of home. Then for your trim, reflect the tones of the sea with a bright blue green like Benjamin Moore’s Blue Spa. 

Go Pro When Painting Houston Homes and Businesses

                                                                                                                                              We have high standards for the quality of our services as we continue to serve Houston.  Visit the website of Pro Painters for full access to color options, and use the online form to request a quote for your next home or business Houston exterior painting project.  

Houston Exterior Painting Tips

At Pro Painters, we offer unrivaled Houston exterior painting services. Our experienced painters pay the strictest attention to detail, producing quality work that is long-lasting and representative of your family’s tastes and personality. Our Houston exterior painting comes with a five year warranty on all materials and labor. As the summer approaches, there may be some projects you are keen to start on before the weather becomes too hot. For those of you who are avid and skilled painters, we have a few tips that may just save you some time when it comes to exterior painting.  

1. Decide on the color well in advance by applying swatches of paint to scrap wood, holding them up against the trim paint for comparison.

2. Make sure to scrape off all the loose paint of the older coat. Older putty knives are the perfect tool for this exterior painting task. By doing this, you ensure that the new coat will look uniform and smooth.

3. It is extremely important to prime the exterior of your home before applying the new color. Many people skip this step in the interest of saving time and money, but it really makes all the difference when it comes to the final products.

4. A good Houston exterior painting job is always preceded by time spent caulking gaps, unwanted knots and additional seams between wooden siding pieces. Don’t start painting until the caulk is totally dry. Smooth it down if necessary with a block of sand paper.

5. During this last step, complete your Houston exterior painting project by working on small areas at a time, making sure to pay close attention to edges and areas around the trim and roof line.

We hope these simple steps help make your exterior painting a successful and fun experience! 

Choose the Top Houston Painting Contractor for Crown Molding

Looking for the Houston Painting Contractor that does it all? Look no further than Pro Painters, established in 1995 to meet the growing need for high-quality residential and commercial painting. Pro Painters is a Houston Painting Contractor that is recognized by the Better Business Bureau (Houston chapter) as a company that consistently delivers superior quality work backed by an incredible 5 year warranty. While we are a Houston PaintingContractor available for both interior and exterior jobs, today we’ll focus on the intricate detail we put into every interior project we complete.

For every house painting project, we are capable of providing:

• Removal of pesky wallpaper
• Installation of new wallpaper that matches your aesthetic
• Comprehensive interior painting, including specialty painting and staining
• Painting and Staining of kitchen and bathroom cabinets
• Radiant Barrier paint for the attic
• Installation of baseboards, chair molding, and crown molding
• Sprays, rolls, and brushes
• Patching, installation, and finishing of drywall

We take pride in the above services and strive to be the Houston Painting Contractor that delivers the finest workmanship possible to every client. To give you an idea of just how intricate a process like crown molding can be, we have included a few examples below:

Crown molding is a simple way to elevate the style and value of your home. The flat planes of the wall and ceiling come to life, are given more character, and hold light and shadow in unique ways when crown molding is installed. Keeping with tradition, this Houston Painting Contractor loves installing crown molding above cabinets and above doors and windows, making family or individual spaces more interesting. Our expert contractors make precise cuts to ensure that all of the angles are in harmony with each other.  

Houston Interior/Exterior Painting Experts

We are the experts in Houston interior and exterior painting. Two core principles have helped us grow from the small company we started as in 1995 to the well-known (and growing) company we are today: the highest standard of workmanship and customer satisfaction. Unlike other Houston interior painting companies, we only sue dependable, brand-name paints and materials.  And when it comes to Houston exterior painting projects, we go above and beyond what our clients expect by replacing siding (when needed), power washing, and cleaning the patio, deck, and property fence.

Our Houston interior painting services have been called upon by Fortune 100 companies and large, general contractors. No business, however, is too small for us to take on. Because value hard-working owners of small businesses, we also provide our interior painting skills and Houston exterior painting prowess to them at an affordable price.   

Many or our commercial interior and Houston exterior painting customers have included:

• Schools
• High rise buildings
• Offices
• Warehouses
• Retail stores
• Government buildings
• Restaurants
• Industrial buildings
• Healthcare facilities

Our trusted team members have years of extensive experience to draw from for each Houston interior painting project they tackle. We understand that our customers desire an interior aesthetic that matches their brand’s vision and services. And when it comes to an important Houston exterior painting project, we know that the color palette a customer is first greeted with will leave a lasting impression. That’s why well-known business like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, TGI Friday’s, and Capital One Bank have trusted us with this important task.

Choose Pro Painters for any Houston exterior painting project. To get started now, all you have to do is fill out our simple, request form on our website. One of our seasoned experts will contact you right away to discuss the project details. 

Spring Forward: Painting Inspiration

With more daylight and blooming trees, Houston is a wonderful place to be during the spring season. At Pro Painters, we've been inspired by the slight weather change and the burgeoning green, yellow, red, and pink tones. If you are in the mood to do some cleaning and home rejuvenation this month, we have just the color palette for you. Below, these earthy and fresh primary color options dazzle us.

Spotlights:

"Chivalry Copper" for the breakfast room or dining room.

"Supreme Green" would go nicely with a spring-themed bathroom.

"Sand Dune" or "Whole Wheat" make a nice background in the living or family rooms.

Inspired by the above palette, we searched high and low for the bathroom that best exemplifies a spring time look. The small and delicate bathroom fixtures and accessories below go nicely with a bright pattern of vertical stripes. Notice the cool blue and green sea tones. The white trim and thin white stripes in between the larger ones lend a clean aura to the room.

Matching Trim & Accessories:

We were amazed by how wonderfully the light slate walls, white trim, and robin's egg blue door harmonize (we made our own interpretations). The golden-yellow flowers on the throw pillow complete the set up. This just goes to show that trim paint makes all the difference if you are intent on freshening up your home surroundings. The lighter tones are also great to use if you have minimal space to work with.

Would you consider any of theses impressive-sounding paint colors for your home? Feel free to leave Pro Painters a comment.

Our third spring tip is our favorite. If you are lucky enough to have wooden floors (old ones!), we recommend trying this fun project in the kitchen. First, separate the floor boards into square sections of equal measurement. Second, pair a white or cream color with a contrasting, earthy color. Finally, go to work painting the square section of floor with the two colors. This "checkerboard" looks is fun and could be a great thing to do with the whole family.

Our final tip takes you outdoors into the beautiful sunshine and crisp air. Houstonians should take advantage of this while they still can! Drag the old patio furniture out of the garage, off the porch, or from their dusty spot in that antique store or second-hand shop and give them a once (or twice) over with spray paint. You would be amazed at the difference. The Aegean blue patio set, white stones, and lush greens make this setting picturesque for spring.

The New Pet Rock

While pet rocks were an impractical fad, here at Pro Painters, we've discovered a fun DIY project that can be fun for the entire family. All you need is leftover paint or paint from a local arts & crafts store, and as many palm-sized, smooth stones as you can carry. Below, we have included a few examples of painted stone collections that we really like.

1. Elements of Nature

The first collection above has intricate details that can easily be made with the tip of a small paint brush. While many of the designs depict birds, trees, and other creatures, there are a few that represent elements of nature, like a rain drop, a cloud, and a nautilus. This could be a great exercise to help your child expand their knowledge and vocabulary pertaining to the natural world.

2. Rock Cuisine

This second example features a small family of stones that would make great additions to any kitchen. Or, they would be great as napkin weights while your family barbecues and enjoys a meal outdoors. Like the first set of beautifully painted stones, this project can help your little ones learn the names, spelling, and look of different fruits and vegetables. We would even suggest sticking to a fun theme, like French cuisine or purely pastries.


3. Soothing Presences

This example is an excellent choice if you have spare white, off-white, or eggshell-colored wall paint. Avoid the hassle of finding a way to dispose of your extra paint and instead, create a fun DIY project. Choose darker colored stones, so the intricate white designs will stand out. These stones can be a calming presence along a garden walkway, in the reading room, or even in the bathroom.


4. As Silent as Stones

At Pro Painters, we were the most impressed by these larger stones, painted to resemble woodland creatures. Every single detail, including eyes, noses, feathers, and spines, are included. For most of the animals, you only need basic brown, black, tan, and white tones. We also love that the stones are already shaped to look like animal bodies. If you could create an animal set, which animals would you choose?


5. A Rockin' Family

We know your kids will love this fifth and final example of "The New Pet Rock." While it may take a little longer to hunt down these smaller stones, it is very important because each person must have a head and a torso! And, the stone searching is a good way to get the kids out of your hair for a while. Once they have assembled their stone family, you can get them started with different paint colors. The possibilities are truly endless. We hope you've enjoyed this DIY yourself blog and as always, we welcome any comments or suggestions below in the Comments section.

Wall Graphics

Here at Pro Painters, we're serious about our residential interior and exterior painting because wall color has a dramatic effect on the energy and aesthetic appeal of a room. We feel the same way about our commercial projects. First impressions are incredibly important if businesses want to retain a loyal customer base. We recommend giving every little detail, from trim paint and light fixtures to comfortable sitting chairs and office plants, careful attention. The subject of this post is the ever-popular wall graphic, an easy thing to incorporate into your home or business environment that will impress guests and visitors.

 The topic of conversation

A well placed wall graphic can become the topic of conversation. We love the effect of the bold color combination in the example below. Entertain guests as the Canadian geese elegantly fly across the horizon of your living room wall. Unlike a conventional painting or art piece, the entire wall serves as the canvas. Our second example below is a little more light-hearted.

At Pro Painters, we think it's great to have fun and let loose every once and a while. Why should it be any different when it comes to your interior wall color and design? While a little less sophisticated, we're crazy about these silly monkey decals. It may make a nice contribution to a summer home or beach house with light flooring, wall paint, and bright furnishings. Plus, your little monkeys will love it!

For the artist in all of us

This third example is a great option for all of you out there who are artistically inclined. While many may not have the patience for each intricate piece of this wall graphic, we think the final effect is definitely worth it. It's placement near the window is also quite wonderful. The red feather stands boldly out against the clean, white wall.

Remembering favorite characters

Here's a great idea for a birthday present or anniversary. If you think back to your youth and the pop icons, artists, singers, cartoons, and films that influenced you the most, we're sure you can find a few that you wouldn't mind seeing every day. Well, at least for a little while. The Snoopy and  Woodstock wall graphic below would be great for an artistic space or entertainment center. If you get tired of seeing it, simply peel it right off.

An inspired work space

At Pro Painters, we think all work and no play makes for a very dull day. A simple and colorful wall graphic can do wonders for your work space. When we're working out a problem, we often find ourselves staring into space or at a blank wall. If you aren't lucky enough to have a desk by the window, you may consider a clever wall graphic like the one below. After all, it's better to have Tetris on your wall than open on your computer.

Show your tub some love

In our final and favorite wall graphic example, we found something to transform your bathing experience. This may be too scary for really little children, but it's definitely 8+ friendly. While this particular wall graphic is playful, it still has a vintage feel. The dark blue tentacles pair nicely with the light blue wall paint and bright white tub. Can you think of way wall graphics can be incorporated in or around a shower? As always, we would love to hear your suggestions below in the Comments section.

Much Ado About Old Paint

At Pro Painters, we hate wasting paint. When you start a home improvement project, it's sometimes difficult to know how much you will actually need. You may end up with five too many gallons. Or, you may end up with a few extra pints. In either case, you don't have to let any of it go to waste. after putting our heads together, we came up with a few ways to put that extra paint to good use. 

Have a vase? You have art. 

Not everyone has the luxury of fresh flowers everyday, so if you have an extra vase or two, add some vibrancy and elegance to them by dipping their tops in extra paint. The glossier and brighter, the better. Once they've dried, go out an find a fresh or fake flower to complement the new hue. 

All eyes on the frame!

Old paint and old picture frames go hand in hand. You might say they were meant for each other. If you're at your wit's end for what to do about that extra gallon of paint, find some old frames (or buy some at a thrift store) and spruce up their coats. Then, hang your new collection of empty frames on a prominent spot on the wall and voilà, you have art! 

Give an old piece some panasch.

When you have little kids, your paint palette for their bedrooms might be a little brighter and more cheerful than usual. Extra, eccentrically-colored paint can be particularly hard to handle. Here's what Pro Painters suggests: apply that brightness to an old furniture piece to give it a complete face lift. It may be the very thing your bedroom or living room was lacking. Be brave. Take it a step further and pair it with a boldly colored lamp!  

Minimalist, but slightly immobile...

For our last extra paint tip, we suggest sprucing up a bare bedroom (perfect for college kids or starving artists) by creating the illusion of a head board. Simply  put: paint it on! While this will render your bed unmovable, you have the freedom to create any headboard you so desire. Make it kingly and elaborate! 

Last words.

If none of these tips have inspired you to grab your old jeans, a stiff paint brush, and that can of paint, we have a few final routes you can always take:

- Give the paint away to a neighbor or family member for smaller projects

- Donate the paint to a school, church, or local arts center

- Properly dispose of your paint by dropping it off at a home chemical collection center

Happy painting and as always, feel free to share your own painting projects with Pro Painters. Just leave a comment!