Every Project Is A Work of Art

Our company's favorite saying is "Every project is a work art."   Our original company logo  a shows a painter holding an artist's palette with colors and a paint brush.  Our new logo  still shows the painter with an artist's pallet.  Every project we do is a work of art because we love to create beauty.  

One dictionary defines art as "The conscious production
or arrangement of. . . colors . . .  or other elements

 in a manner that affects the sense of beauty."

For us painting is not just putting a medium on  four walls, a cabinet or a door.  We look at the whole project with an artistic eye for colors to match, compliment, or enhance the surroundings.   If the color you need does not exist, we create it on the job site.

When choosing colors for your own projects, remember to choose colors that will contrast, compliment, and create the look you want.  Use the free decorating service of  quality paint stores, on-line articles, and libraries to help you create the look that expresses your personality.   

Consider your needs when you look for a qualified painter. 
Hiring a painter to paint rental unit  a standard color is different than hiring a painter who has experience with custom colors in a home.

Here are some pointers to consider.  

• Personal Qualifications
• Experience
• Reputation
• References

If you are  repainting a rental unit or a home
that is being sold, you won't have the same decorating needs. You still will want warm neutral colors appeal to a prospective home buyer or renter.

If you are painting your personal home or business,  choose colors that will enhance the area, a place where you will want to spend time.

Seely Painting, Inc. 

The Favorite Blog of March

We asked blog readers to let us know which blog article was their favorite.   "Preparing & Staining Wood Banisters"
received the most reviews.   Thank you for letting us know that you enjoyed reading about staining your banister.  

Seely Painting, Inc. 

How to Finish and Stain New Bare Wood Banisters

Today I received a call from an individual wanting to know how to  prepare and stain a brand new bare wood banister   These are the steps.

• First lightly sand all surface areas with a medium coarse sponge sander.
• Dust the sanding dust off and use a tac rag to wipe off an remaining dust. 
• Apply a pre stain which can be purchased at Sherwin Williams, or Kwal Painting companies.  Each company is part of a national chain so they can be found in almost every state.
• Stain an inconspicuous area to make sure that is the color you want.  If you have extra pieces or sample pieces of  wood from the banister, use those first.
• Apply the oil stain color you want. With an oil base stain you have more to time to brush it  or rag it on evenly.   Brush it on and wipe of the excess.
• Do not use a water base stain because it will cause the wood grain to raise.
• Allow the oil base stain dry over night.  
• Don’t  sand the banister after stain coat dries because that will remove the stain.
• Apply a first finish coat of interior oil varnish-non-yellowing 
• Allow it to dry 24 hours between coat.  
• Lightly sand after the first coat of varnish with a fine sponge sander.  Use a tac rag to remove the sanding dust.  

• Apply the last finish coat and let it dry.  

If you have questions, give us a call  
Seely Painting, Inc. 801.636.1918 

or go to your quality paint store.

Wood Graining A Door

Wood graining your doors is a great way to 
add beauty to your home without having 
to purchase a new door.
These pictures will help explain 
how we wood grain doors.

This picture shows how to cover the dents and imperfections with Bondo.* Be sure to use light skim coats. Let the bond dry. Lightly sand it.  If needed, use several slight skim coats to build up the dent until it is smooth.   If you use heavy skim coats the coat will crack.  Be sure to lightly sand after every coat.

This picture shows applying a light undercoat to 
the door and casing. Several under coats of 
different colors are applied.

Each undercoat is allowed to dry before 

applying the next coat.  

This picture shows the dark 
over coating around the casing.

In this picture the final dark over coat is applied 
to the door.   The wood  graining is done by hand.
A final clear sealant coat 
was used to cover the wood graining
and protect the door.


You might enjoy reading our blog post "How to Woodgrain." 

*Bondo is an all purpose body putty by 3M Company.  Be sure to read and follow the directions on the can, or ask your quality paint store for instructions on its use.

This post is only a summary of how we woodgrain.  Be sure to consult your painting professional or quality paint store for directions,

Seely Painting, Inc. 

 

 

Adequate Ventilation When Painting

This is a followup on some cautions for painting a basement.   

• Make sure you have adequate ventilation when using a sealing varnish or lacquer for wood trim, handrails, etc.   Make sure you open doors and windows if possible,  use fans to keep the air circulating.   
• Wear a mask or respirator  
• If you feel woozy, light headed, or sick,   get outside where you can get fresh air. 

Breathing the fumes is very dangerous.   They can cause permanent health damages.   

• Adequate ventilation is necessary when using any type of painting material.

Latex and acrylic based paints have very little odor.   Make sure that you always have ventilation when you paint a basements or enclosed areas.

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Refinishing & Painting A Ceiling

This week we will refinish and paint a 20 foot ceiling that is approximately 120 square feet.  The owner is remodeling the whole house so we are starting on the ceiling first.    The ceiling is made of slats that have been  stained a walnut color with a lacquer finish.   He wants a high gloss white painted over the stained slats.

 Home Preparation

• Use a twelve- foot  scaffolding with two planks and wheels.
• Mask and cover the walls with plastic
• Cover the floor with plastic and drop cloths

Ceiling Preparation

• Spray  the  ceiling with  latex primer specifically made to go over lacquer.
• Allow the ceiling to dry for a day. 

Painting

• Spray the ceiling with a high gloss white latex finish.

 Safety

It is important to have the proper equipment and helpers when attempting a project such as this.

Safety should be your first priority.   Don't skip the safety precautions just to save a few extra hours. It is important to have the proper equipment and helpers when attempting a project such as this.

• Always use a spraying mask  and goggles to protect your mouth, nose, and eyes.    
• Helpers and extremely import to have to avoid life threatening accidents.  
• Make sure your spraying equipment is in good working order. 

 

• A paint sprayer --painting gun--is not a toy.  Always point the gun towards the ground away from any individual or body part.  If paint is injected into the body serious physical harm
  and possible death can occur. 
    
• Take your time with a project this size.  Rest when you are tired.   Accidents happen when you are exhausted.

Other Considerations

Be sure to compare the costs and risks of doing it yourself or hiring a professional to do a project this side.   Always ask a quality paint consultant for the best products to use when working with different materials.  

 

The Best Blog for March

We want to know which blog article you liked by participating in a short survey.   This will let us know how we're doing and if we're meeting your needs.   Below are the four posts you 
can vote on this month.

1. Preparing & Staining Wood Banisters
2. Latex Paint Not Sticking To a Wood Handrail
   
3. Painting Handrails
   
4. Preparing Cabinets for Paint

After looking at the blog articles, go to our website and vote.   

Thank you.  

If you have any comments, let us know by e-mail us at painterseely@yahoo.com

We love to paint and it shows.   

How to Paint a Garage

This week an acquaintance talked with me about building shelves in his garage to take care of the clutter.  He said the sheet rock in his garage had never been painted. 

Leaving your garage sheet rock unsealed and  unpainted leads to deterioration of the paper and plaster in the wall board.    Over time the sheet rock paper will turn yellow and the plaster will crumble.    Here are the steps to stop that deterioration.

• Prime the yellowed sheet rock with oil based  Kiltz.   This is a stain killer that will stop the yellowing paper from bleeding through the paint. 
• Apply any  exterior latex or oil finish paint over the Kiltz. 

• If the sheet rock has not turned yellow, you can seal the wallboard with a latex based exterior primer.  

• The finished coat can be an exterior latex or oil based paint. 

Seely Painting, Inc.

Sanding is the Secret!

Most people don't realize that sanding 

is important when doing a painting, 
refinishing, or restaining project.

Sanding is the little secret that  adds 

the finishing touch. 

Choosing the right sandpaper for 
your project is important. 

   

Here are a few pointers to help you 
choose the right sandpaper

• Choosing a coarse sandpaper that is too coarse will damage and scratch the wood. 
• Choosing a paper that is to fine will be a  futile exercise in elbow grease.

• The higher the number, the finer the grit.   
• The lower the number, the coarser the grit. 

 For interior projects such as doors, walls,  
banisters, and cabinets, the most commonly 
used sandpapers are 150 and 120 grit.

 They  produce the best finish. 

When doing exterior products fences, decks, 
wood trim on your house, doors and casing,  
 50 grit is a good choice.
 Any coarser grit would damage your wood.  

If you have any questions, gives us a call or ask at your quality paint store. 

Seely Painting, Inc. 

How to Paint an Exterior Wood Door

When painting a new or existing wood door, 

the preparation is as follows.

• Sand the enter door with 150 grit sandpaper. 
• Dust off with a duster or tack rag.
• Prime all the bare wood spots with an oil base primer.  If the door is new, then you prime the whole door.
• Let the primer dry.
• Apply a spot putty to any imperfections.
• Sand a second time with 120 grit sandpaper.
• Dust off the sanding dust.
• Apply a first coat of quality exterior latex paint.
• Allow the paint to dry.
• Sand a third time with 120 grit sandpaper.
• Dust off the sanding dust.

• Apply the second and final finish coat of latex paint .

When choosing a solid color for your wood door, 

consider color matching the door to 

exterior brick,  facia, or stucco. You will be amazed how color matching to dresses up and adds to the beauty of your home.

Wood Cabinet Preparation

This week we are refinishing kitchen cabinets.   A family member decided to help by filling in the nail holes and other imperfections with a so called stainable wood putty.

Unfortunately, the  wood putty is not stainable.  We spent extra preparation time digging out the putty and sanding instead of preparing the cabinet surfaces.    What the home owner should have used was a product that is called color putty.  There is a difference between 
spot putty, wood putty, and color putty.

• Spot putty is an automotive dent filler that can be used on wood We use this product where caulking or spackle will not fill small imperfections.

• Wood putty is made made of wood filler.  It simulates the look of wood and is not stainable.  A  stain cannot be used on it  because it will  not match your project.
• Color putty can be purchased in stores but only a few standard colors are available.

Before you start a project, ask a 
professional painter 

or a quality paint store. 

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Painting A Water Damaged Ceiling

This week we repainted a stained ceiling in a main floor bathroom. The stain was caused by water damage.  The stain was about 12 inches in diameter.   The damage was caused by frozen pipes in an second story bedroom.   This is the procedure we did to repair the stain.

• A stain killer was sprayed over the stain.  It was a quick-dry oil primer. The stain killer was sprayed  from a can.    The ceiling was a smooth wall texture,  so an existing texture did not have to be matched.
• Two finished coats of latex flat paint were applied.   The paint had been color matched to the original ceiling paint.  The finished coats were applied to the stained area and feathered into the existing paint.

A 2 1/2 inch latex brush was used to  apply the two finish coats of paint.  Be sure to allow about three to four hours of drying time between the coats.

By color matching the ceiling paint, repainting the whole ceiling was unnecessary. Time and money were saved. 

Seely Painting, Inc. 

How to Finish Metal or Fiberglass Doors

Sometimes we are asked the question 
"How should I  finish my metal or fiberglass door?  
Should I paint it or  woodgrain it?"  
It's really a matter of personal preference.   
If you are satisfied with a single color door, 
then try a custom matched color.  

You will be amazed at what color can do to 
improve you surroundings and bring 
warmth, harmony and continuity 

to your living space.  A good painter should be able to reproduce what every  look you can want; 
whether the door is 
metal, wood, or fiberglass.

Why woodgrain a metal door?

• A depth and richness will be added to your door at a minimal cost.
• The door can be matched and coordinated with colors to match your exterior.
• Each side of the door (interior and exterior) can be a different color.
• Do something fun for yourself and your home.

Seely Painting, Inc.

Bathroom, Hall, Kitchen Repaint

This week we are painting a bathroom, hallway, and kitchen.  In doing this remodel, we are making a custom color to match the  bathroom tile, vanity and fixtures.  This custom color will be used in the hallway and kitchen to give  the home a feeling of continuity.  A continuous wall color throughout the living area will create an warm and spacious feeling. 

This is the procedure we will use to create an inviting atmosphere.

• A custom color will be made for the bathroom and hall using one gallon of an earth tone color and two gallons of white eggshell.  The main color is being lightened  because it was too dark. 
• The ceiling color will be 25 percent of the wall formula color.

• The same formula with be used for the kitchen, except it will be lightened.  This particular kitchen needs more light.
• The casings and doors will be stained to match the existing kitchen cabinets.  
• The existing metal doors (a bathroom and the outside kitchen door) will be wood grained to match the kitchen cabinets. 
• The new wood doors that will be stained and finished to match the kitchen cabinets.   

Seely Painting, Inc.