Category: Painting & Handyman Blog

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.

Doing home improvement projects can certainly be an adventure. It can even be a lot of fun when everything is a success and you have a beautifully finished product. However, when things go awry, it can be the complete opposite. Here are 3 kitchen and bathroom remodeling trends to leave to the experts.

1 – Dishwasher Installation

A dishwasher is a luxury that some people can’t live without, especially when there is a consistent, heavy load of dishes. Although adding a new dishwasher seems like an easier task, there can still be some issues when trying to install a dishwasher. Therefore, consulting or hiring an expert would be preferred over trying to accomplish this task on your own.

2 – Installing a Tankless Water Heater

There are definitely many benefits to a tankless water heater. Tankless or on-demand water heaters are more efficient than more traditional water heaters because they heat the water as it is being used whereas traditional units heat large amounts of water which remains in a reservoir until needed.

3 – Repainting Cabinetry

Repainting cabinetry can seem like an easier and less expensive way to renovate your kitchen or bathroom. But repainting cabinetry is a more complicated process than it first seems; especially for the average homeowner  A good paint job requires specialized equipment which may be difficult to locate and even more complicated to use. Without the proper tools and experience, repainted cabinetry can look very cheap and unattractive. Therefore, this is one job best left to a professional residential painting company. They have the right tools and extensive experience to give you a finished product you’re sure to love

This is the perfect time to start some new home projects. But because some projects can be more complicated than others, sometimes the best option is to call a professional to ensure that the job is done correctly and your new home project lasts for years to come. Call us today!

Nothing updates a room like freshly painted cabinets! If you are thinking about doing the work yourself there are important steps you need to follow.

Painting cabinets is a big job and it requires quite a bit of preparation. If it is your first time refinishing cabinets, learn the process with a smaller job like the bathroom or laundry cabinets. This way you can go through the whole process and understand clearly what is involved with each step. Then when you move on to tackle the bigger job of kitchen cabinets you will have a good idea what needs to be done.

Prep 

This is arguably the most important part of the painting process. Good preparation makes each subsequent step easier to manage. The first thing you will need to do is unscrew all the hardware and put it in a plastic bag and label it. Next, you will need to sand all the drawers, doors and the frame of the cabinet. Wipe down all surfaces to remove the dust. Apply primer in the same direction as the wood grain, primer ensures good paint adhesion and truer colors. Allow the primer to completely dry.

Paint

After you have selected the perfect color for your cabinets, you are ready to apply the paint in the same manner as the primer. Latex paint in semi-gloss, gloss, or satin is recommended for homeowners, leave the oil-based paints to the professionals. Allow at least two hours to dry and apply a second coat.  If your original cabinets were very dark and you are applying a lighter color you may even need to apply a third coat.

Reattach the Hardware

Once the cabinets are completely dry, reattach the hardware to the original doors. Then reattach the doors to the cabinet frame. Sit back and admire the facelift, that was a lot of work!

If you would like to paint or refinish your cabinets but want to leave the work to experts, contact us and we would be happy to discuss all your cabinet refinishing options.

A home repair checklist helps you stay on top of home maintenance. Many homeowners use a home repair checklist to guide their regular home inspections. We recommend you inspect your home at least quarterly. When you make regular home inspections, minor issues can be repaired before they become major (and costly) problems. Here’s what you should go on your home repair checklist.

1. Drainage. Water should drain away from your home’s foundation. To make sure that happens, gutters and downspouts should be clean and in good repair. If you have downspout extenders, make sure they’re connected and directed to keep rainwater away from your house.

2. Siding. When siding is in good condition, it protects the rest of your home from the effects of weather. Loose, cracked, or rotting siding cannot perform this important job. Damaged siding needs to be addressed promptly before it allows water to leak into your home. If the damaged area is small, it can be repaired. Widespread damage usually means it’s time to replace your siding.

3. Plumbing Leaks. They aren’t always obvious as a leaking

faucet. Check pipes in cabinets under sinks and fixtures in unused areas like a guest bathroom. Also, any toilet that makes noise when it’s not in use is probably leaking from the tank to the bowl.

4. Doors and Windows. In addition to checking windows and doors themselves for damage, look around them for gaps. Sealing these air leaks keeps warmed air inside in winter and hot air outside in summer. Inspect window screens for tears.

5. Decks. You should check your deck for loose boards, soft spots, and rotten wood. Any of these problems require prompt repair because they can become safety hazards.

We hope our home repair checklist has made inspecting your home easier. If you found some issues that need to be dealt with, contact us. We can provide handyman services to help you with your home maintenance needs.

If you neglect to clean your home’s rain gutters, a variety of detritus can collect in them until they become clogged. This may result in a range of harmful and costly problems that have the potential to badly damage your home.

Overflow

Water could back up and flow over the sides of the gutters. This might cause damage to your doors, siding, windows, foundation and cellar. If you have a wooden deck, clogged eavestroughs may cause its boards to rot.

Overflowing rainwater could also reach the interior of your house. It might harm insulation, ceilings and walls. If such problems persist, floors and carpets may also eventually suffer damage.

Dampness

Clogging makes it difficult for rain gutters to fully dry. This promotes mold growth inside of eavestroughs and downspouts. Mold may also proliferate on any materials affected by overflowing rainwater. Mosquito larvae often benefit from persistently wet areas as well.

Collapse

If a clogged trough becomes excessively heavy, it might fall down. This could destroy it or cause other damage. Falling gutters may shatter window glass, break vinyl siding panels or dent any aluminum surfaces.

Damming

When a trough fills with tree debris, rainwater won’t be able to drip off the roof’s edge. This may result in an ice dam during the winter. Consequently, your roof might leak and its materials could suffer significant damage.

Infestation

Clogged gutters provide a habitat for stinging insects, ants and squirrels. These pests can build nests in the troughs and feed on tree debris that has collected in them. Vermin may eventually invade the attic or other parts of your home.

To prevent these problems and avoid costly house repairs, schedule professional gutter cleaning before your eavestroughs become clogged. Please contact our friendly staff to request a quote or learn more about our services.

Depending on the materials and weather conditions, both interior and exterior doors may last more than a century or as few as two decades. You can find at least six major reasons why replacing a door may be essential in the near future:

1. Thanks to new knobs and hardware, replacement units simply work better. They also fit their frames more precisely. If you currently struggle to open, shut or lock an entrance, consider purchasing a door as soon as possible.

2. This home upgrade protects your belongings from thieves. A new unit will close tightly and lock securely. You can also add extra security features, such as multiple locks or a peephole. Consider choosing a more rugged material like steel.

3. Any new door will have a major positive impact on the appearance of your house. Furthermore, an entrance is one of the first things that people notice when they visit a home.

4. It could increase your property’s resale and rental values. Bankrate ranks garage and front door replacements among six of the most lucrative home improvement projects. Likewise, a house with attractive entrances will probably lure suitable buyers more swiftly.

5. An upgraded entry door can help cut your heating and cooling costs. Unlike an old unit, it won’t have any holes or cracks that leak air. You could select an insulated model to maximize the benefits.

6. Replacing a door may block unwanted noise and improve privacy. You can achieve these goals by upgrading from hollow to solid interior units. An insulated exterior model with no windows will produce the best results in a noisy environment.

Basically, this home improvement makes life easier, enhances comfort and represents a wise investment. Please contact us today if you want to benefit from high-quality replacement doors and professional installation at affordable rates.

Your wood deck is a beautiful outdoor extension of your home’s entertaining space.  The demands of summer sun and weather on your deck can create problems if left unchecked during the cooler winter months.  Protect your deck and extend the life of your outdoor space with these regular maintenance tips.

Sweep and Wash Weekly

The surfaces of your deck collect dirt, debris, pollen, and other grime on a daily basis.  Left unchecked, this debris can degrade the paint, stain, or wood decking.  Sweep your deck and rinse it clean weekly with water to clean surfaces.

Plants and Shrubs

Potted plants add focal points of interest and beauty to your deck but can cause spots or stains to the wood surfaces due to soil and water runoff.  Surrounding shrubs, trees, and other plants add interest to the landscape and privacy to your deck but can become problematic if allowed to grow too close to the sides of your deck.  Move potted plants around weekly or biweekly and keep surrounding landscape plantings trimmed away from the wood surfaces of your deck.

Power Wash

As the cooler months approach, remove all items from your deck and use a power washer to remove deep stains, any patches of mildew, and grime that has accumulated over the season.

Sand and Repaint or Restain

Sun, wind, rain, hail – all of these weather elements contribute to fading of your deck’s paint or stain.  Regular use and high-traffic patterns across the surface of your deck will also create areas of greater wear.  Restore the beauty of your deck by sanding away the existing paint or stain and repainting or restaining the exposed wood.  Be sure to add a coat of sealant over the finished deck once the paint or stain has cured.

Check for Rot and Cracks

Even with the best maintenance schedule, your wood deck can have boards or posts that experience cracking over time or weaken due to dry rot.  Regularly check your wood deck for signs of cracked boards or dry rot and replace individual areas as needed.

Caring for your wood deck is an investment in your home’s value and extends the life, beauty, and enjoyment of your outdoor space.  At Excellent American Painting, we specialize in keeping your wood deck beautiful and functional through carpentry repairs as well as staining and painting.  Contact us today for a free estimate.

A storm door usually consists of fiberglass or aluminum with a large window and insect screen. This product may last for several decades if it’s well-made. You can find about six major reasons to install one:

1. These doors shield home entrances from the elements. Rain and snow won’t reach your front doorway as easily if you have a second layer of defense. This may prevent surfaces from rotting, rusting or growing mold.

A front door typically costs much more than a storm unit and contains more vulnerable materials. If you can protect it from harsh weather, you won’t need to spend as much money on repairs and replacements.

2. When you want to let in some cool, fresh air, you can open the window. Its screen will keep pests at bay while allowing excess heat to escape your home.

3. This equipment will make your house more energy-efficient. Cold drafts may enter a building through gaps around a single barrier, but they normally won’t be able to penetrate two doors.

4. A second layer of protection could stop burglars from invading your home. Most latches can be locked from the interior, and some manufacturers even provide a separate lock with its own key.

5. This minor improvement project offers an affordable way to enhance the appearance of any house. A newly installed storm door will probably look better than the outer surface of an old front door.

6. When your house appears more attractive, offers better security, uses energy efficiently and needs less maintenance, you can sell it quickly and set a higher price.

If the advantages of a new storm door appeal to you, please contact us today. We can install a durable unit that will protect your home and enhance your quality of life for many years to come.