Hey Spring is on it way!Time to think about getting That deck looking good for the summer. And a spring cleaning for the exterior of your home.

Saved T 1-11 siding!

Just one of the exteriors we had this summer.

This building was 8 years over due for painting. This is after 8 hours of power-washing and replacing the rotted and warped 1x trim. We were able to remove almost all the original paint. It wasn't de-laminated as bad as we expected. However, this southern exposure gets beat up bad by the sun all day.

After all scraping and caulking is finished. The first coat of stain is being applied, this siding is very thirsty! I sprayed the product on the siding and then back rolled and brushed as I progressed. This will make sure the product is worked into the wood siding. Penetrating and sealing as it dries.

Second coat of stain has been applied to the siding, And 1st coat of trim stain is in progress. This siding will definitely need a third coat, to satisfy my eyes.

The third coat put the frosting on the cake. With a whole lot of scraping,caulk and elbow grease. This siding is well protected again and looking great. Hey Mark, please don't wait 8 more years again to call. LOL.....

From start to finish

 On big out of the ordinary paint jobs. Its best to clear the room. With all the different angles and hard to reach places, take the time to get things out of your way. I know its not always easy to do. Trust me, when I say it will make the job all that much easier.

 As you can see here we were dealing with 23 foot cathedral ceilings with a wood beam running the peak. I know! Your thinking, not everyone has the equipment to do such things. Just remember the right tools are the difference between professional results or ho-hum. Call your local rental center.  

 Of course we would prefer that you Call A Painters Touch at 248-418-1447 for all your painting needs.

 A little good help always comes in handy. The homeowners cat Huey always had my back. That cat loves to climb.

 This was a tricky stairway to get done. So was the ceiling and skylight. Again, right equipment allowed me to get up close for minor repairs in drywall and all the cut in. I was able to roll out from the stairs.

 Ahh, all ceilings and toughest wall are complete........

 Now I can work from a much more comfortable position and pick up the pace.......

Time for final coat on the walls, final clean up, and give the space back to its rightful owners. A job well done....... A big warm Thank you to Bob and Cheryl for choosing A Painters Touch. Your front room is looking great. Now they want us to do the dinning room and kitchen. See you, next week........

Drywall Repair A Common Problem In Every Home

A common problem in almost every home is drywall repair. Anytime we are indoors we are usually surrounded by drywall - a less than perfect building material. It's fragile, is easily ruined by a bit of water and can be a magnet for mold. Yes, there are water-resistant varieties now, but drywall can still be miserable. Just think of the first time you tried hanging a picture before realizing it's not that simple on drywall.
However, we have not come up with anything better. It's been around for decades, having replaced plaster. Plaster had far worse drawbacks. Among them, it takes forever to dry and is much more labor-intensive to install.
Drywall was a great idea because it's like applying plaster except most of the messy work is done in a factory, and it's shipped to your home ready to install. Before you know it the job is done, and only later do you realize that you tackled one of the most dreaded jobs of home remodeling. Repairing drywall is even easier.


No matter how well drywall is hung and finished, eventually it will need repairs. Daily life brings about all sorts of wear and tear, like doorknobs creating small holes in walls. Even if every adult, child and pet is a perfect family member and each manages to not cause any damage, natural processes will still slowly take hold.
The rigid materials that give our houses their structure eventually start to shift due to natural expansion and contraction. Drywall will crack.
There's no need to be anxious. Even extensive drywall damage is fixable, even if it means replacing large pieces. Most drywall repairs require just basic skills, tools and drywall patching mud. I know, sounds tedious
and it can be!  Just remember the time taken in this step makes all the difference in the out come of the finished appearance. Anyone can paint, but not everyone has A Painters Touch.  

Wall Prep before Painting

Anyone can paint, but not everyone has A Painters Touch.
Prep is the most important step when it comes to painting any surface in your home.
If your looking for the Pro like outcome follow these steps.
Sand all walls and ceilings with 80 grit sandpaper. This will knock off what I
like to call "wall boogers", dust, dirt, etc. It will also rough the surface just enough to allow better adhesion for the next coat.

After your rough sanding is done its time to make any and all repairs. Dings, dents, nail pops, holes, etc. I like to use a 45 minute set time lite sand powder form drywall mud.

After all repairs have been made and allowed to dry its time to sand again.
This time use a 100 grit sanding block. Feather all edges and blend into wall surface. Prime all repaired areas with a latex primer.

Drywall repairs can be a little tricky for the first timer.

With the proper tools and techniques you can change the look of a wall dramatically.

After applying 3 coats of mud and feather sanding in between each coat. I primed the entire wall again. The cubby hole or nook in the wall has disappeared.....

The final product is a beautiful dramatic look.

Choosing Colors for your Home

This home owner chose three walls of color throughout the house shown here and the following pictures. They include a blue-gray, a reddish brown, a buttery yellow. Millwork and built-ins painted White Dove provide crisp boundaries for the wall colors.

Reddish browns provide a visual connection from the dining room to the front door Dark Red, through a series of cased and uncased openings, which allow a glimpse of the entry’s sunny walls.

The interior of the living room’s uncased square arch is wrapped with the entry’s warm yellow, leading the eye from the front door through the house.

Using the same gray in the open-plan adjoining living room unifies the two spaces. The simplicity of archways with no casework pulls in the view of the next room rather than framing it.

The master bedroom’s peaked ceiling creates graphic sloping lines against the dark walls. The dark floor tile in the adjoining yellow bath ties the two rooms together.

Ask the right house painting questions.

How long ago did you hire the painter? A reference for a recent paint job isn't as valuable as a reference for a paint job that was completed several years ago. A customer is more likely to give you valuable information if the job has stood the test of time, and the customer is still happy.

Did the contractor do quality work? It's important to understand what quality work looks like. Even if your friend is happy with the results, you might want to take a look at the finished paint job. Give special focus to areas such as windows, doors and trim. Careful work in these areas is a positive indication of a good painting contractor.

Was the painter polite and pleasant to work with? This is more important than it might seem on the surface. It's important to find a contractor you communicate well with and feel comfortable around. A courteous demeanor is a hallmark of professionalism and will save you unnecessary stress. Also, a painter who is enthusiastic about his job is more likely to do a good job than one who is burned out and just in it for the paycheck.

Did the work start (and finish) in a timely fashion? Good contractors let their customers know their planned schedule in advance. And professionals do their best to stick to it. Look for a painting contractor who arrived at a reasonable time every morning. Just remember that exterior paint jobs can be affected by the weather, so watch for customers who hold a bad rainstorm or unseasonably cold temperatures against the contractor!

Was a warranty included? A contractor that stands behind his/her work is a sign of a professional. Look for a warranty and see what limitations or exclusions were explicitly spelled out in the warranty policy. Remember a warranty only has value if it is in writing and extends for a reasonable period. If the painting contractor does not guarantee work for at least one year, it could be a sign that some aspect of the painting work could be low-quality.

Avoid the 7 Color Mistakes

Don't Overlook the Basics
Choosing a color palette can be a difficult task, but set yourself up for success by knowing the basics of the color wheel and how different schemes work.

Don't Forget the 60-30-10
Follow the color principal of 60-30-10 to create an aesthetically pleasing color scheme. Divide your color choices into percentages: 60 percent is a dominant color, 30 percent is a secondary color and 10 percent is the accent color.

Don't Ignore Your Lighting
Always consider how lighting will affect your color choices. Before finalizing your selections, see how each color will look in the room during different times of the day.

Don't Think Neutral Means Beige
While beige is a neutral, shades of your favorite colors can also act as neutrals in your room. A neutral just needs to be a balance of warm and cool tones, like the shade of red used in this living room.

Don't Overload Your Palette
While a mixture of colors can be beautiful, too many or the wrong shades together can create a disastrous look. Follow a favorite color scheme, like monochromatic or complementary, and stick with the 60-30-10 rule to create the perfect palette.

Don't Always Rely on Color Trends
Adding a trendy color to a room's palette can be the fresh take you need, but choose where you use the trend wisely. Wall colors and accessories can be easily switched out, but when purchasing furniture, choose shades that will stand the test of time.

Don't be Too Gender Specific
Pink isn't just for girls and blue for boys any more. Bring shades that are usually marked for gender specific rooms into the living areas of your home.

Add some Color

Color changes everything. Or lack of color, if that's your thing. Point is, everyone knows you can give your drab, washed-out walls a burst of brilliant depth (or wash away your decorating sins with virgin white) just by picking up a paint can and having at them. That's the power of a coat of paint: It rearranges your reality. Which is why painting is the most oft-tackled home-improvement project.

While you don't have to be a pro to learn how to paint like one, there is more to a good paint job than just slathering some color on the wall. That's where we come in.