Frequently Asked Questions | Texas Interior Painters

Dealing with Wallpaper

How Difficult Is It To Remove Wallpaper?

Removing wallpaper before painting will always result in a smoother finish when painting. However, you want to be sure that you understand the integrity of the wallpaper and the foundation beneath it before doing too much.

If the building is older, you may find that there is more than one layer of wallpaper. As you remove the layers beware of crumbling or deteriorating drywall. Often when wallpaper is updated, it isn’t removed, just covered up by the new wallpaper. As additional layers are added, the bottom layers become harder to remove and often are more attached to the drywall.

You should talk with your painters before the project starts to determine how you should proceed.

The Area You Plan ToUpdate

Wallpaper doesn’t do well in areas of high moisture. So if your renovation is in the kitchen or bathroom, you should consider a painting job because the humidity can cause the paper to crack and peel.

The Look You Want

When you are looking to update your home or office, you may want to have modern and bold statement patterns on the wall. Because wallpaper can be tedious, the right option for you may be to use wallpaper on one wall, as a statement wall, and then paint the rest of the walls a corresponding color to match. Patterns can be overwhelming, so using them sparingly on a statement wall is a beautiful way to add a bold statement without being too hefty of a design.

Prepping Your Office for Paint

1. Decide What You Want

Before your painting appointment you want to be sure:

The pricing estimate is affordable.
You understand what the painter is going to do.
The painting company knows the work you expect.
You know when the work will be completed.

Before the painters even show up for your job, you should know what areas you want to be painted and what colors you want to be used. The right painting company will listen to your concerns and work with you to give your business the look you want.

2. Have Repairs Done Ahead Of Time

If you have areas of damage such as rotted wood, walls with holes or water damage, have the damage repaired before even considering a paint job. You can’t put lipstick on a pig. Rotted wood, fire damage, mold and water damage can cause major problems – and painting over it won’t resolve the potential issues. If you have certain damage, many companies offer restoration painting.

3. Make Space

Clear the area to be painted before your painting contractor arrives. Move cabinets or desks away from the walls. By clearing the area, you are making it easier for the painters to get around and also reducing the risk of tripping hazards.

4. Give Employees The Day Off

If you work with your painting company, you can typically schedule your project after business hours. However, if you have your painting done the day before a workday, you might consider giving your employees the day off or allowing them to work from home to prevent anyone from inhaling fresh paint fumes. Exposure to paint fumes can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness.

5. Clean The Walls

When adding some color to your walls you want to make sure they are in their best shape to be painted. Before your appointment, makes sure all wall art, frames, plaques, etc. are removed from the wall.

Additionally, remove any nails or screws from the area that is being painted. If you see any splatters or dirt, wipe the walls down using a wet cloth or paper towel.

Shutting Down Your Office

Pick A Day You Can Close Up Shop

If your business has customers coming onsite, like in a retail center or boutique, pick the day you are usually the least busy and close the store for the painting job on that day. A week before the painting begins, post signs to let your customers know what day you will be closed for painting. You can also have your staff tell clients when they check out at the cash register.

Additionally, if you have an email list, send out a friendly notice that your business will be closed for painting; perhaps send them a coupon or exclusive offer for any inconvenience to use once the store reopens. This also entices them to come check out your makeover.

Allow Employees To Work Remotely

If your business doesn’t have foot traffic, allowing your employees to work remotely may be the best way to set up your painting appointment. If possible, schedule a late appointment after office hours and then allow your employees to do their work from home or their favorite coffee shop the next day. This gives the paint and chance to dry and for any lingering fumes to fade. If your office receives a lot of phone calls, set up calls to be forwarded to someone offsite, so clients aren’t left ignored.

Schedule The Job On A Friday

Schedule your painting job on a Friday afternoon so your employees can enjoy an early dismissal, plus the paint can have the weekend to dry. Being welcomed to a fresh coat of paint on Monday morning is a great way to start the workweek.

Book The Day Before A Holiday

Similar to the weekend, setting up your business’s painting makeover the day before a holiday is a smart way to avoid interrupting business operations or slapping your employees in the face with the strong scent of fresh paint. Adding a new paint job to your business is a great way to liven the energy up and give your company a new and improved look.

Maintaining Your New Paint Job

1. Clean Walls Regularly

You make sure the floors are vacuumed, tables are wiped off, and the toilet bowl is cleaned weekly…but do you know the one area that is commonly neglected in most offices? The walls. Regularly wiping down walls with a wet rag or dusting them with a microfiber cloth is an excellent way to stop dirt and dust from building on your walls.

2. Keep Furniture Away From The Walls

Depending on the layout of your room, it might be the best practice to keep furniture close to walls for special needs and functions. However, try your best to avoid setting up furniture and other items directly against the walls. Filing cabinets and desks can easily rub or chip at paint when pressed directly on the wall.

3. Draw Blinds To Prevent Paint From Fading

One of the most unsightly damages to paint is inconsistent fading. Irregular fading takes place when one section is repeatedly exposed to direct sunlight. After a time, the sunlight starts to fade the section it has access to and creates a noticeable difference in color between that area and unexposed areas.

4. Take Care of Any Moisture Issues ASAP

One of the fastest ways to ruin your paint and create damage to your building is to ignore moisture issues. At the first sign of a leak, you should have a local roofer examine the damage and determine the cause. A small leak can quickly turn into mold and ceiling damage. Don’t let moisture ruin your paint job.

Good Times to Paint Your Home

Know Your Siding

Depending on the material, you need to paint your home’s exterior at different times. For instance, aluminum siding needs painting about every 5 years, while wood siding needs it every 3-7 years. Plan to repaint your stucco home at 5-6 year intervals, and repaint your vinyl siding every 10 years.

A good rule of thumb is you should paint your exteriors every 8-10 years.

Factor In The Weather

Exterior paints need to be applied under the right conditions. Extreme heat, high humidity and drastic temperature fluctuations between night and day can adversely affect your home’s paint. Schedule your painting service when the temperatures aren’t blistering and there’s no rain in the forecast. Our team of professional painters is available to advise you on the best time to start your exterior paint project.

Choosing The Right Colors

1. Decide On Your Look

Start by drawing inspiration from various sources – magazines, design blogs, historical periods, your favorite patterned bedspread – and look for the colors you’re most drawn to. This will help you understand your style and find a theme that makes you comfortable in your space.

2. Create A Cohesive Space

Pick three objects from around the room you’re painting. Match those colors at the paint store to sample strips – you’ll automatically have at least a dozen colors to choose from. Choose your favorite color from all those options as your primary wall color and use the other two colors around the room in furnishings, upholstery or art to tie the space together.

3. Choose The Right Sheen

Paints come in different degrees of sheen, which reflect light differently throughout a space. High-sheen paints like gloss and semi-gloss are easy to clean but imperfections on walls and trim show up easily. Satin finishes are great in hallways and bathrooms because the surface is wipeable. Eggshell and matte finishes are more suitable for low-traffic bedrooms and dining rooms.

Have a questions not answered here? Contact us.

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Tell us about yourself and give us some preliminary information on the project, including location and additional project details.

321 Normandy Ave
San Antonio, TX 78209

(210) 799-3222

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