Refinishing & Woodgraining Ideas

Last week a question was asked "Do you refinish doors?   All I see on your website are pictures of wood grained doors." 
   
Yes, we  refinish doors.   There is a sample of a refinished door under the "Portfolio" tab on our website.  An exciting idea is that any wood, metal, or fiberglass door or cabinet or  exterior shutters  can be refinished to look like the wood grained doors you see in our portfolio.   

One of the elements used in refinishing and wood graining is  custom on-site  color matching.  Standard colors and stains can be used but the advantage of a on site color match is that it will bring out the distinct colors in your interior or exterior decor. 

You may be hesitant about custom color matching because if you need to  match or redo a wall,  an exact match is not possible.

Thanks to modern technology, you can take a sample of your touch up paint to a quality paint store.  They have a computer that can match the colors used in the paint sample and print out the formula used by the painter.

The advantage of having an artistic custom painter is if you can imagine it,  it can be created.  

Seely Painting, Inc. 

How to Paint Metal Railings and Bannisters

Wrought iron railings add beauty to any setting.  Metal railings last longer than wood because they do  not  deteriorate as quickly.  Maintaining the metal requires  a little more if they are white or another color.  If the color is black, rust is not the problem as it is on other colors.  Here are the basic steps for painting metal railings.

• Sandblast or sand all of the railings and rungs.    Sandblasting areas that are large; for example, large apartment complexes or commercial buildings.    Hand sand  small areas such as private residences.  Sanding sponges can be used.  The sanding will get rid of the rust.
• Put on a primer that is a rust inhibitor. 
• Paint with a final coat of paint made for metal 

Seely Painting, Inc.

 

Where to Buy Painting Supplies

We are often asked the question, "What do you mean by a quality paint store?"  

A quality paint store is one that specializes in painting products.  Because it is a paint store,  it will have resources and a knowledgeable staff to answer your questions.   They can recommend the best product for you project.  As a quality store, they are up-to-date on the latest products.  They can recommend painters who will do the work for you, or other knowledgeable individuals who can answer your questions.  If there is a problem with a product failing, they can contact their paint representative to research the problem.  

Discount, large chain stores, and hometown hardware stores certainly have their place.  Everyone is looking for the best price and a bargain.  There are knowledgeable people in these stores.

Depending on the supplies you are buying, you often get better prices on some things.  But for special projects, a paint store can be the best place for information.

 Paying a little higher price for quality product and knowledgeable staff to answer questions will make a "do-it-yourself" project a rewarding project.

Seely Painting, Inc. 

How Do You Woodgrain?

Wood graining is a faux finish.   People watch in amazement as a dented door that looks like it has been through a war is turned into a beautiful masterpiece. The question most often asked is "How do you do that?"   There is no grand secret.   Mostly  time, patience, and imagination will get the process started.

If you are interested in trying your hand at the process or just curious about how it is done, here is a summary.

Graining a wood, metal or fiberglass door  requires six to eight different steps of shading and color.

• Repairing the damaged areas that are dented or  blistered.
• Caulking and bondo are used to fill dents and imperfections.
• Undercoatings of different colors are brushed on.
• Graining is then hand drawn.
• Sealant is then applied.

It is best to start with small projects so you 're not overwhelmed with the process.

There are many books and websites that can help you along in the process.  If nothing else, a greater appreciation for this art  will be gained by trying your hand at this process.

If you need help or are interested in a larger project, give us a call.   Take a look at our website  to look at the possibilities.

Preparing & Staining Wood Banisters & Railings

Wood banisters and handrails can be the interior show piece of your home.   Preparation is the key to a beautiful look. 

• Lightly sand the railings and posts to remove rough surfaces.
• Dust and clear away saw dust using a duster or tac cloth.
• Apply an oil base coat of wood sealer and let dry thoroughly.
• Apply an oil base stain and allow to dry 24 hours.
• Apply a coat of lacquer or varnish and allow it to dry thoroughly.
• Fill nail holes with matched color putty.   Make sure the putty is matched to the stain.  A beautiful stain job can be ruined by little spots of mismatched putty sticking out all over your banister and railing. Apply thin coats and allow to dry.  
• Sand lightly and apply second coat of putty on any nail holes that have shrunk as they were drying.

• Sand lightly posts, railings and rough putty holes. Clear away the dust so wood particles won't get in the final clear coat.

• Apply final coat of lacquer or varnish 

If you have questions call us or a quality paint store.   It is better to ask questions before than ruin a beautiful wood banister.  

Garage Door Preparation

As a follow up to the post of September 17, 2010, "Painting a Garage Door Like a Professional" be sure to clean the door surface (wood, fiberglass, metal, or steel) before painting.   If the door was painted before, find out the type of paint or primer that was used.

• If the door is wood,  lightly sand the surface.   An oil base paint can be put on top of a  of an oil primer or latex primer.  Latex paint cannot be put on top of an oil based primer. Acrylic paint can be put on top of  an oil base primer.

• If the door is fiberglass, metal, or steel, make sure the surface is clean.  Oily residue will cause the  the undercoat to fail and blister.   Wash the door and allow it to dry completely.    If necessary, use a stripper on the door to remove old paint.   Check with your quality paint store or qualified painter to ask the type of stripper to us.    Even experienced painters ask the paint stores and paint representatives for the best products to use.   If using a stripper,  power wash the surface after  to remove  residue.
• Allow the door to dry completely before priming or painting.

The preparation seems like a lot of work, but it pays off because you have a surface ready for paint.  Nothing is more
discouraging than painting a door and having it fail.

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Preparing Cabinets For Paint

A picture is worth a thousand words.    In the last post  we outlined a procedure to get your cabinets ready to paint.   Here are a few pictures showing how spot putty is used to correct the damaged area of the cabinets.   Remember:

• Mask and over the counter top and areas that need to be protected. Typically, this is a brown masking paper or clear plastic sheeting.  These supplies can be purchased at a quality paint store.
• Sand the cabinets lightly to remove the dirt and grim that has collected.  Or the cabinets surface  can be washed to remove the dirt.  If you sand, be sure to use a tack cloth to wipe up the dust.  A tack cloth is a cheese cloth with a tacky surface that dust will stick to leaving the surface clean. The putty and primer will adhere better  to the surface that is clean.
• Spot putty the damaged areas and allow to dry.   Apply thin skim coats each time.  And all them to dry thoroughly.  Drying only takes about 15 to 20 minutes.  Then lightly sand it is  until smooth.   Apply another skim coat, allow to dry, then sand.   Follow the same procedure until the damaged area is smooth.    This is usually three coats, but may be more depending on the damaged areas you need to fill. 
• If you apply a heavy coat of spot putty, it will crack as it dries.   You will end up sanding off the cracked portion.  
• Apply the primer and allow it to dry thoroughly.  
• Sand it lightly and remove the sanding dust with a tack rag or brush it away with a duster brush.  If the sanding dust is not removed, the final paint coat will be gritty and it will be necessary to sand it and apply another final coat  over a smooth surface.

 Here are a few pictures showing what the process looks like.   This owner wanted dark cabinets painted.   A similar preparation process  would be used  for woodgraining.

Spot putty has been applied in to damaged areas of cabinet in preparation

of priming and applying a   final coat of paint.

 A paint sprayer was used to apply  the primer to these cabinets

because of the extensiveness of the project.-----And a professional
painter was  doing the work.

We suggest you brush the primer and final coat by hand.  Unless you are familiar with using a  paint sprayer your project can be frustrating learning to use and control the sprayer.

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. 
 

These  primed cabinet are ready for the final coat.

Painting Cabinets Creates a New Look

Fixing cabinet surfaces can be less expensive than buying and installing new ones.   Whether deciding to paint the cabinet surfaces a solid color or wood graining them to create a new look, the work and effort is worth the time invested.  


Any cabinet surface can be wood grained  to bring out the original look of the cabinet.  The cabinet color can be changed to match  new or existing decor.

• The surfaces  should be lightly sanded. 
• Then spot putty should be used to cover the imperfections. 
•  After the spot putty dries, it should be sanded until smooth.   
• Two or three spot putty applications may be required to cover the spot completely

•  The spots should be sanded after each fill.  
• A special primer is then put on the surface and allowed to dry. 

• The primer is lightly sanded before the final coat is applied.  One or two final coats may be needed, depending the color and type of paint used.   

This is  a basic outline procedure of how to fix, change, or repair cabinet surfaces.   Be sure to check with a quality paint store or call a qualified painter if you have questions. 

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Painting A Garage Door Like A Professional

 Painting or woodgraining  a garage door yourself is huge commitment. The beauty and value it adds to your home is worth the effort.  Matching the front door, shutters, trim, or exterior will make your home a show place. On site color matching might be the answer to match the  existing color of your exterior surface, roof, or shutters.  


Do your homework and have the color ready.   Test it  in an inconspicuous place.  A quality paint store can recommend  the right kind of exterior paint, tools, masking supplies, and clear sealant.  For a quality job, plan your work in steps.  Planning ahead will reduce frustration and disappointment.  Realize that a quality paint job requires three or four working days.

• Make sure you know what material the door is made of--fiberglass, metal, or wood.  Different surfaces require different paint and preparation.
• Clean the surfaces before you start and allow them to dry thoroughly. 
• Mask and drop off the area below the door to protect the cement.  
• Repair any damaged surfaces on the wood trim or the door surface with a spot putty.
• Allow the repaired surface to dry then lightly sand.  It may take two to three spot applications before the dents or damaged areas are smooth enough. 
• Prime the damaged areas.
• Apply a primer or undercoat on the door, working in sections.
• Allow it to dry thoroughly.
• Apply the final coat and allow it to dry.
• Apply a clear sealant to add durability to your paint job.

This is only a summary of the steps necessary to paint a garage door.  Be sure to check with a quality paint store or call a painter for more information. 


Some "how to paint a garage door" articles indicate you can do a door in a short amount of time.  The objective and reason for painting the door determines the amount of time put into the project.  Repainting for a quick cover up maintenance will require less time.  Painting the door to make your home like a show  piece will require a more time.   The best part is you get to determine the objective and the end result.    And if painting a garage door seems like too much effort,  give us a call!

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Increase Your Door's Beauty

Metal frames around doors add durability to the framing structure.   When you have an expensive wood door,  painting the metal frame a solid color distracts from its beauty.   To showcase the door,  we suggest wood graining the  door frame to match.   The frame can be grained with the colors of your door and/or exterior.   The frame also can be wood grained to match the exact grain of the wood. 


An example of this is shown in the frames that match expensive knotty  alderwood doors in an exclusive Park City condominium.   The contractor wanted the doors to be the main focus without the distraction of the metal.    By woodgraining the frames, the focus remained on the doors.  The grained frames added the to beauty of the doors.  


Woodgraining the metal frame to match a building's exterior and the door's colors adds  visual beauty.   The door  seems larger because the matching metal frames don't define the door size.   The same principle applies when woodgraining a metal door.   The  door frame can be grained to match the grain of the metal doors.    


Wood casings can be woodgrained to match a door.  Sometimes the wood casing is a different wood than the door.   The casing takes the stain differently.   By woodgraining and color matching the stain used on the frame, the casing will not be a distraction.


Not every  painter or painting contractor  can wood grain a door to look authentic.   It takes someone who can match colors on site.   By mixing colors on site, the match will be more exact. 
Make sure your painter  is a knowledgeable artist with experience.  

Seely Painting, Inc. 

When to Use Laquer or Varnish

Lacquer is used for interior cabinets, handrails, entertainment centers, tables, chairs,  and ceilings that have wood surfaces.   Lacquer is a quick drying finish.  Manufacturers use it as a finish because it is quick drying.   If water puddles on a lacquered surface, it will eat right through the finish.   Avoid skin contact and flush immediately with water.    Use in a well ventilated area.  Follow the directions and precautions on the container.


Varnish such as spar varnish is a slow drying finish.   It requires 24 hours to dry.  That is why it is an excellent sealant for exterior doors and surfaces exposed to the elements.  Doors should have two, and preferably three coats as a finish.   Be sure to allow a full 24 hours  drying time between coats.   Varnish can be used for interior surfaces such as cabinets, chairs, entertainment centers, chair rails, hand rails and wood banisters.  It is resistant to water.  Avoid skin contact.  If it gets on the skin,  flush immediately with water.  Use only in a well ventilated area.   Follow the directions and precautions listed on the  container.

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Renewing and Finishing Decks

Refinishing your deck with bring new life to the wood.  A new stain and sealant will revitalize the deck and preserve the wood.

• Be sure to power wash the  off to loosen any dirt and immediately apply a brightner while the deck is still wet.   This will bring the wood back to a new wood look.  Be sure to follow the instructions on the can. Let the wood dry over night. 
•  After the wood is dry apply a light sanding to remove any any rough edges.   

• Then apply two coats of stain. Allow time for the stain to dry between coats.   The wood often absorbs the first coat because it is so dry.   
• Then apply a clear sealant.    

Be sure to use quality products and not those from a discount store.   Discount products may save money at first , but you end up paying more  because you'll have to do the deck more often. 


 Check out the products we like to use on our website.  

Seely Painting, Inc.        

    

Increase Your Homes Value With Exterior Color Matching

The color of  a building's exterior makes viewing it a pleasant experience.   Exteriors that are not color coordinated create irritating feelings. 

First think of a building where the colors are not pleasing and your resistant feeling to enter the building.    Then think of a building where the colors matched or coordinated.  Entering this building was a pleasant experience. 

Regardless of the building materials, on-site color matching can create  colors that will enhance your home or building's beauty. 

 For example, wood additions,  trim, or decks can be coordinated with brick, stucco, or vinyl siding. A contrasting color can be created for doors and trim painted a solid color  that will harmonize with the roof  or exterior building color.   

If the exterior brick has multiple colors in it,  a color can be matched to one of the specks. 

On-site color matching is advantageous because the colors will be custom and create the exact look you want.    

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Increase Your Homes Value With A Wood Grained Door

Nothing is more beautiful than a wooden door to enhance your home and increase its value.   The only draw back is the price of a wooden door.   Doors start at a minimum price of $400. 


An alternative to this is to use a faux wood grained door. Whether it is a metal or fiberglass door your home can be changed from an ordinary painted entrance door to an extraordinary door. 


With on-site color matching , the door can be made to match your home's exterior.  A wood grained entrance door.  will show piece your home.   Just as no two real wood doors are alike, every wood grained door is different because every door is a work of art.

Seely Painting, Inc.