Category: Painting & Handyman Blog

Whether you have plans to paint the interior or exterior of your home, hiring a painting contractor is the way to go. Not only are they incredibly skilled and will work hard to do a good job for you, but they will also make the whole process easier. Here are 3 reasons why you should always hire a painting contractor.

Protect Your Possessions

Painting contractors know how to properly cover all of your possessions in order to protect them. They will completely remove the items that they don’t feel are safe in the area that they are painting and will cover all of your flooring before they begin. This stops any paint drips from going anywhere they aren’t supposed to. If you choose to paint your own home, it will be up to you to not only make sure everything is moved out of the way, but you will also have to purchase all the materials needed to protect your items.

Speed Up The Process 

When you choose to have a painting contractor take care of your painting for you, this is going to speed up the process a great deal. They will be able to devote several hours a day to your painting and will have a crew helping them on the job if necessary. In contrast, if you try to paint your home, it is going to take you much longer. This can keep make it difficult to function inside your home and you run the risk of bad weather messing you up during the painting process.

Keep Everyone Safe 

Painting the exterior or interior of your home is a job that can be somewhat dangerous for multiple reasons. Ladders are involved to reach the higher parts of your home and a fall from this height could be very harmful to you. This is especially true when your home’s exterior is being painted. You also have to worry about the potential harmful effects that the paint fumes will have on your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs. When you hire a painting contractor to do the job for you, they have all the experience and safety equipment needed to paint your home safely and successfully.

To hire a painting contractor today, visit us at Excellent American Painting & Handyman Service.

If you are having an issue with your sprinkler system, then you may want to consider calling a professional to come and check it out. They have the skills and experience necessary to repair your sprinkler system and will do an excellent job for you. Here are three signs that you may want to call a professional for sprinkler system repair.

Your Sprinkler Heads Aren’t Working 

If one or more of your sprinkler heads aren’t working properly, this could be due to a plethora of issues. The sprinkler head itself may be damaged or broken, there may be a blockage inside the sprinkler, the head may be closed off, and the list goes on. When you hire a professional to come and look at your sprinklers, they will be able to determine what is the problem quickly and effectively and can give you options and bids for fixing the problem.

You Have Low Water Pressure 

Low water pressure is another issue that can arise with your sprinkler system. This is often a more serious issue and one that should be taken care of by a professional. They will be able to examine your sprinkler system to see where the problem lies. They may find that your pipes are cracked, which is decreasing the water pressure a great deal. Or the issue may lie within the backflow values, the sprinkler heads, or something else.

You Have Issues With Your Irrigation Clock 

Your irrigation clock is in charge of making sure that your sprinklers go off at the correct time, and in the correct locations, to water your grass, trees, and other plants. If you find that your irrigation clock isn’t working as it should, this is a big deal. Trying to figure out how to manage the clock on your own can be overwhelming and can seem almost impossible to figure out. However, when you hire a professional to come and look at your clock for you, they run diagnostic tests to see exactly what is wrong, such as a power issue, a programming issue, etc.

To get your sprinkler system repaired today, visit us at Excellent American Painting & Handyman Service.

Hiring a professional to come and pressure wash the exterior of your home is an excellent idea. There are so many benefits that come along with hiring a professional to perform this job for you.

Make Your Home Look Newer

One excellent reason to have the exterior of your home pressure washed is to  take several years of the age of your home. A professional will be able to use the pressurized water to remove stains, hard water deposits, bugs, dirt, and more. This helps to restore your home to its former glory and makes it much more visually appealing.

It Is Much Cheaper Than Repainting

A lot of homeowners think that they need to repaint when their home’s exterior begins to look discolored and old. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. A much more cost effective option is to instead have the exterior of your home pressure washed. This can restore the color to your home, and you may find that once it is cleaned, repainting it isn’t necessary at all.

It Is Great If You Are Preparing To Sell

If you plan on selling your home, then you want to make sure that it looks as good as possible before you actually put it on the market. Hiring a professional to pressure wash the exterior of your home will ensure that it looks great for the sale. Potential buyers who look at your home will likely notice this and it may increase your chances of getting an offer. This may also help your home to appraise for more, which may also mean that you can sell it for more.

To hire a professional to pressure wash your home today, or simply to learn more, visit us at Excellent American Painting & Handyman Service.

Have you noticed water dripping or pouring over the sides of your home’s rain gutters? If so, it could be damaging walls, window frames or the foundation. It’s vital to take action to protect your house and find an effective solution.

Precautions

Move any items under the gutters to safer locations. It’s best not to let a deluge of rainwater pour down on your patio furniture or grill. If you can’t move something and it isn’t waterproof, cover this object with plastic sheeting or a tarp.

If one or more windows are located beneath the overflowing troughs, remember to shut them tightly. Close any storm windows as well. Check surfaces under and around the interior window frames to make sure that no water is leaking indoors.

Diagnosis

Try to identify the cause of the overflow by looking at your gutter system and roof. When you see a lot of debris on the roof surface and/or in the troughs, your equipment might need cleaning. A professional can safely perform this task for you.

On the other hand, your downspouts or troughs may have to be upgraded if a large amount of water is successfully draining but the gutter system can’t handle all of it. Your roof could require wider units or a greater quantity of them. Large homes are more likely to need this upgrade.

Steep roofs are beneficial in most ways, but they can sometimes overburden gutters. If you have particularly steep roofing and notice that rainwater runs into the troughs but some of it splashes out, you might need splash guards to solve this problem.

A skilled handyman can thoroughly clean your rain gutters and address most other potential issues with this equipment. Please contact us today if you need assistance with overflowing troughs or other home repairs and improvements.

Painting your home is one of the primary ways you can create the look and style you want as well as protect the structure itself. Repairing and/or replacing cracks, holes, and other issues in your home’s woodwork make for a longer-lasting and more attractive end result for a painting job.

Types of wood repairs

Over time, the woodwork inside and outside your home can take a few hits. Interior woodwork like window sills and doorway trim is often bumped by moving furniture, or otherwise damaged by kids, pets, and accidents around the house. Exterior woodwork takes a beating from all kinds of weather, tree limbs, ivy vines, birds, insects, and more. A quality repair and painting prep job can resolve those issues.

Large chips and nicks can be patched before painting to provide a smooth surface for the end result, making your trim and sills look like new again.

Exterior wood damage can be handled in several ways. In some cases, wood can be patched or repaired, and in other cases, it must be replaced with matching wood or synthetic materials like PVC. Some wood damage is due to dry rot which can occur anywhere wood and moisture are in contact, even in newer homes. Because dry rot can spread along wood, it must be removed and the area treated to prevent its further spread to intact wood.

Why bother with wood repairs?

Wood problems like dry rot can expand from small areas on trim to damaging structural woodwork, so it’s important to treat it early, and certainly before it might be hidden under a new paint job while it continues to spread. Patching and smoothing chipped and uneven areas in your woodwork will also result in a much more satisfying and attractive result.

With any painting project, we’re ready to work on wood repairs as part of the job, too. Whether you want to add curb appeal, protect your home, enhance its value, or just want it to look the way you’d like, contact us to start planning today.

When your bathroom faucet is 10 or more years old, these are signs it may be time to replace it.

Your Faucet Leaks

A leaking faucet is a nuisance. There’s that annoying sound of the water dripping. And the wasted water is costing you money. You’re left with the question: Should you fix the faucet or replace it? Unless you have a costly, high-end faucet, it’s often more cost-effective to replace an older faucet than to repair it.

The Faucet Uses Too Much Water

Inefficient faucets waste water and money. An inefficient faucet is one that uses more water than is needed to perform properly. Typically, older bathroom faucets release 2.2 gallons of water per minute according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In today’s marketplace, there are faucets that use as little as 1.5 gallons per minute. These water-efficient faucets carry the WaterSense label, which means they meet the EPA’s standard for water savings. The EPA also reports these water-efficient faucets can save the average household about 700 gallons of water annually.

Your Faucet Is Worn Out

It’s time to replace your bathroom faucet if it’s showing these signs of extreme wear.

• Replacing the aerator is difficult or impossible because the aerator threads have deteriorated.
• You’ve forgotten what the finish looked like since it wore off years ago.
• The handle is broken.
• You hear a loud screeching sound every time you turn the faucet on.
• You tried to repair the faucet, but the interior is so worn that new internal parts didn’t fix the issue.

The Faucet Is Unattractive

Perhaps your faucet’s decades-old style makes the entire bathroom look dated. Or you’ve updated the rest of your bathroom, which makes the old faucet look out of place.

At Excellent American Painting & Handyman Service, our skilled professionals are available to help you with plumbing replacements and repairs. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

If you are looking to change up your kitchen, but aren’t sure what to do, painting your kitchen cabinets is an excellent idea. With the help of a professional, you can get your cabinets painted and give them a gorgeous, updated look. One awesome color to choose for your cabinets is white. Here are three reasons why!

Opens Up The Space 

If you feel like your dark cabinets are making your kitchen feel like it is small and enclosed, then you will be happy to know that having a professional paint them white will create the opposite effect in your kitchen. The white color will really help to open up the space, which will also make it feel much larger.

Brings Light Into The Room 

Your kitchen is a space where light is essential. You need to be able to see when you are working in your kitchen in order to both be safe and to keep things sanitary when preparing meals. When you choose to go with white cabinets, you are bringing more light into your kitchen. This is due to the fact that white is highly reflective and will reflect both the artificial and natural light in your kitchen. This can help you to have a brighter kitchen while using less artificial light. This can also help to reduce your electric costs.

Creates A Clean Look 

The color white is a very clean color, so it will create a more clean and fresh look for your kitchen when you choose to paint your cabinets white. This is perfect for a space where you store, prepare, and cook food because you want it to not only be sanitary, but to look clean as well. This can also help you to feel confident inviting others over for meals because of how fresh your kitchen looks.

To hire a professional painter to paint your kitchen cabinets today, visit us at Excellent American Painting & Handyman Service.

When your master bathroom needs a facelift, you don’t have to do an entire renovation to get a fabulous look. With a professional paint job, you can have a bathroom that looks fresh, trendy, and brand new. The key is to use paint to highlight specific areas for the best result.

Paint the Area behind Your Tub

You can create a gorgeous look in your bathroom by painting the wall behind your tub. This choice works exceptionally well if you have a freestanding tub. Select a soothing color, such as seafoam green or a pale salmon hue to create a relaxing atmosphere. For a more dramatic look, choose black or a rusty red.

Paint the Back of Your Door

To add a distinctive look to your master bathroom, you can paint the back of your bathroom door. Leave the frame white and then choose a gorgeous color for the door. If you’ve created a focal point with paint elsewhere in the room, then use the same hue for the door so that the look will coordinate beautifully.

Paint behind the Vanity

If you have a vanity with two sinks and two mirrors, paint the wall from the vanity top to the ceiling or cut the paint off just above your vanity lighting for a lovely look. For a relaxing effect, chose a neutral or light color. For a bolder look, you can try navy, plum, or even dark brown on the wall.

Paint Your Toilet Room

For a separate toilet room, choose a vibrant yellow or orange for the walls for an exciting look. If you want a more subdued appearance, a blush of pink or a pale aqua color makes a fabulous choice. Select the same color for your towels and accessories to bring the look together.

For more information about paint and your options, please contact us today. We’ll diligently work with you to create the best look possible for your master bathroom or any other room in your house.

When you consider buying, selling or renovating a house, it’s important to think about the condition of the kitchen cabinets and drawers. This part of a home may last as many as five decades, according to This Old House. However, the lifespan varies depending on quality and maintenance. To determine if a set of kitchen cabinets will need replacement or repair soon, answer the following questions:

Part One

1. Pull out each drawer as far as it will go; does it fall out or become stuck?

2. Are there major cracks or holes?

3. Do you notice soft, moist wood or other indications of water damage?4. Are any hinges loose? They might only need tightening, but the screw holes could be stripped.

4. Do they exhibit signs of mold or pests? Rodents have been known to chew holes inside of cabinets.

5. Has the surface material started to peel or flake?

6. Do you see any large stains or smell an unpleasant odor?

Part Two

1. Do the doors close securely? It’s best if they have latches, magnets or self-closing hinges.

2. Are all of the metal hinges intact?

3. Do the hinges, screws, handles and drawer tracks remain free of rust?

4. Were the shelves installed securely?

5. Can they support heavy objects without any problems?

6. Thoroughly test the drawers; do they open and slide smoothly?

If you answered “yes” to any questions in part one or “no” in part two, the kitchen cabinets and drawers probably need work. You may only have to tighten a few screws to fix minor problems. Other defects demand new wood, tracks, paint or closing mechanisms. When you find numerous flaws, it could make sense to completely replace the cabinets and drawers. Either way, please contact us if you need help from an experienced professional.

As a homeowner, you want to paint your home with colors that reflect your personality. But did you know that the wall colors you pick influence your mood and the energy in that room or space? Color psychology helps to discern the different kinds of reception we get from different colors.

There exist 12 main colors, categorized into primary, secondary and tertiary colors. Red, yellow and blue make up the primary colors. When you mix any two primary colors, you get one of the three secondary colors; green, orange and purple. The other six are tertiary colors, which can be created by mixing primary and secondary colors. Painting manufacturers use these colors to create up to one million different shades and hues that you can use on your walls.

Red is perceived as an intense color. It raises the energy level of a room and creates excitement by pumping adrenaline in our bodies. It is a color best used in dining rooms, the living room or even an entry way.

Yellow communicates joyfulness and happiness. It is perceived as uplifting and energizing and has been proven to spark up conversation. It a good choice for the kitchen, bathrooms or dining rooms.

Blue has been proven to be a calming color as it helps to bring down blood pressure and slow the heart and respiration rate. It creates a serene atmosphere and mood for sleep, making it ideal for bedrooms and even bathrooms.

Green is derived from combining the cheerfulness of yellow and the serenity of blue, creating comfort and peace. You can paint any room in your house green or use it as a secondary color.

Orange is created from red and yellow, and it evokes high energy and enthusiasm. It may not be the best choice for the bedroom or living room, but it brings the much-needed energy in an exercise room.

Purple is a rich and dramatic color from red and blue. Its different shades portray royalty, luxury or sophistication. It makes a great choice for a dominant color in a bedroom or living room.

For all your exterior and interior painting services, contact us and let us help you choose a colors that lift your moods.