Stair Railings. Banisters. Handrails. Call them what you will, they are more than just a means of safely ascending and descending your staircase, they can make a significant architectural statement in any house.Walk in to one of the Victorian homes found throughout Boston and you’ll be welcomed by a dramatic staircase with banisters that highlight the home’s rich history. The same is true of more contemporary homes; some of the most creative railings turn a mundane space into one that is visually spectacular by combining wood, metal and glass.

The degree to which a staircase impacts a home’s interior is affected by its size and shape, the room in which it exists, the materials used to fabricate it, and its color and finish. The treads and risers are important as is the railing, including posts, spindles and the handrail, each a defining feature. On all of these surfaces, paint and stain can be transformative.

The process of painting or staining the staircase of your home begins by assessing its current condition, how it is typically used and the outcome you are seeking. Stairs leading to a basement tend to be treated very differently from a staircase that is part of a grand entrance. Would you like to preserve the character of your staircase? Are flaws to be repaired or masked? Do you want to transform the look of your home or enhance what is there? Painting or staining your staircase can achieve one or all of these results.

Like all painting projects, prepping is where we begin. It is often the most time-consuming part of a paint job and it is also the most important. It involves protection of steps, risers, posts, railing or walls, anywhere not to be painted,and it creates an optimal surface for paint application.

Take a look at this magnificently detailed wrought iron railing carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and taped so as not to be affected by sanding and painting the steps and risers.

In some cases, staircases will require post repair, or the closing of gaps that have formed, or filling in cracks with wood putty. In addition, proper sanding will smooth uneven surfaces and allow the paint to properly adhere. The care we take in prepping, whether painted, stained or some combination of both, assure a result that is both beautiful and long lasting.

Note below how meticulously refinished wood railings, painted stairs and natural wood floors enhance the dramatic turn of these handrails.
​Proper preparation, quality paints and stains, expert application. The results can be extraordinary whether your staircase is as dramatic as those shown here or more simple in style.

If you’re considering painting the interior of your home, one of the most important decisions, and often the most stressful, is which color to choose. Color trends come and go, but what remains true is that color can dictate the entire mood of a room. Regardless of current fashion, you’ll want to choose a wall color that you can live with for years to come.

This is one of the reasons that the color white has been so popular over the years. Its classic look can be paired with almost any furniture and accessories, and its reflective quality makes a room appear larger and airier. Sounds like the simplest color choice, right?

Wrong. Here at Mesa Painting Pros, we work almost exclusively with Benjamin Moore, which has 150 shades of white paint. Why so many? Each white has an undertone, or a tiny speck of color that is almost undetectable, but makes each white a nuanced, situational color. These undertones are red/pink, blue, yellow, and green/gray. How do you know which is best for your interior painting project?

To help you choose among so many shades of white paint, we’ve identified important factors to consider:

The Amount of Natural Light
Geography, and the light that is inherent in different regions of the country, is an important factor to consider.  Northeasterly locations like New York and New England tend to emit a lot of gray light, so it’s best to find a shade of white paint that balances the cooler gray.  In the south and southwest, in places like Miami or Phoenix, the light has a lot of blue filtered through it, causing some whites to take on a pinker cast. In these locales it’s best to choose a cool white paint to temper that warmth.

The direction of a room and the natural sunlight that comes through the windows also affects how white paint appears on a wall. In a room facing north, the light tends to be on the colder side with gray and blue hues, so a warmer white will work best. In a room facing south, the sun is much brighter, perfect for a cooler shade of white paint. In eastern- and western-facing rooms, the light changes throughout the day. They are both typically brighter in the morning and dimmer in the afternoon, but rooms facing west tend to take on a golden hue as the sun goes down.

Matching Your Room’s Function and Existing Color

How you plan to use your newly painted room is an important consideration when choosing white paint as a color. Kitchens and living rooms are more conducive to warmer tones than an office or a bedroom. The style and color of your furnishings should also be considered, as the reflective quality of white paint can pull from the furniture and return those colors back into the room.

Don’t forget to consider the impact of floor color.  Our client and friend, Remodelista’s Justine Hand, pointed out that the color of your floor can also affect the look of your white walls. “I wanted a warm, welcoming white in my hallway, so I turned to one of my favorites, Crisp Linen by BM. I used it to great effect at my Cape Cod cottage, which had black floors. However, when I used this same paint in my Newton hall, it picked up the orange tone from my varnished floors and appeared way too yellow.”

Don’t Forget About Trim

A good rule of thumb is to keep your trim shade simple. The differences in whites are hard to detect on trim. “Choose a white that has an undertone of your wall color,” says Justine Hand. “It will still read as clean white, but the overall effect will feel more cohesive.” Some people prefer to use an un-tinted white, feeling it will add depth to the room and make the wall color shine. However, that contrast against colored walls can be jarring, and can actually make the room look smaller.

If you plan to paint your entire room white, it’s not necessary to choose a different shade of white paint for the trim and ceiling. Instead, consider a different finish. A popular finish combination is semi-gloss trim with eggshell walls and a flat ceiling, but a general rule is to give the trim a finish with more shine than the walls.  If you do choose a white with a glossy finish, whether for walls or for trim, remember that whites can take on a yellowy tone with lacquer finishes, especially if it already has a yellow undertone.

In rooms like kitchens and living rooms, you might consider choosing different shades of white paint, one for the walls and one for cabinets or bookshelves.  The contrasting whites will add interest and depth, highlighting some of the room’s most important features.

So, How to Choose The Right White Paint?

You’ve assessed the natural light in your room and the function of the space.  Now, it’s time to look at paint samples. But how do you begin when there are 150 whites in Benjamin Moore alone?  Whether you go to a paint store or ask us to bring color samples to your home, we like the simple advice that appeared in a National Post article: “Bring a piece of white paper with a square cut out so you can focus on the color you’re considering without being influenced by those around it.”  The undertone of any white paint should show up just fine against the plain white of paper.

Narrow it down to a few shades you think will work, then try them out in your home. It is important to see how they work in different parts of the room and at different times of day. In a Consumer Reports article, an artist and textile designer from Georgia named Susan Hable revealed that “she puts five or six [paint chips] at a time [up in a room], stacking them vertically near the trim of the door.” We’re happy to help you by bringing our many sample decks to your home. If you prefer a larger view, we can paint a moveable canvas or poster board or we can paint straight onto the walls. Whichever approach you choose, you’ll want to be able to make direct comparisons.

After you have actually had your walls painted, you will wish to routinely cleanse them. This aids to keep them looking at their ideal and also stops them from ending up being dirty as well as dingy. Improperly cleaning your walls can trigger damages though, so you will certainly wish to guarantee you're cleaning them the proper way. Right here are the actions you will certainly wish to follow:
​
Determine What Type of Paint You’re Cleaning

The initial thing you will certainly wish to do is determine what sort of paint you are cleaning up. This is necessary due to the fact that a semi-gloss or a shiny enamel paint will stand up ideal to washing. Satin, level or eggshell latex paints do refrain from doing as well. Because of this, you want to wash these walls less regularly and also scrub less strongly.

Dust the Walls Before Cleaning

Before you reach function cleansing your wall surfaces, you will certainly intend to dust them. Use a microfiber towel or duster to remove particles and residue from the wall surfaces as well as the corners of your walls. Do not damp the walls till you have cleaned them.

Lay Towels or a Drop Cloth to Catch Debris and Cleaning Solutions

The following thing you will want to do is lay towels or a drop cloth near the wall surface that you are cleaning. The towel or ground cloth will certainly catch any kind of particles that drop from the wall surface or any kind of cleaning options. This assists to minimize the mess you make while cleaning and safeguards your floor covering.

Before you get to function cleaning your walls, you will certainly want to dust them. Utilize a microfiber fabric or duster to remove particles as well as a deposit from the wall surfaces and the edges of your walls. Do not wet the walls until you have actually dusted them.

Clean the Wall With Mild Cleaners Companies

Now you prepare to clean the wall surfaces. Begin by cleaning up the wall surface with a soft fabric or sponge dipped in cozy water and a moderate liquid dish cleaning agent. Begin with the top and also work your way down. If there are locations on your wall that are so dirty that soap does not get rid of the area or discolor, you can use diluted ammonia, vinegar or sodium bicarbonate to clean the location. Nonetheless, this ought to just be done as needed. Never ever use rough rubbing brushes on the wall surface, as it can trigger the paint to peel off.

Dry the Wall Thoroughly After Each Wall or Section

Lastly, grab a dry towel and also pat dry the wall surface after finishing a wall or area. This helps to stop any kind of excess water from damaging your paint or drywall. In addition, if climate permits, open your windows and/or make use of a follower to help the walls dry much faster.
Are you aiming to have the walls repainted in your home? After that rely on The Painting Business. We offer specialty services such as stipple ceiling removal, snacks ceiling elimination, exterior and interior painting, installation of rain gutters and also deck revitalization. Give us a call today to arrange a cost-free in-home quote.

ABOUT MESA PAINTING PROS

The experts at Mesa Painting Pros put all of their focus on commercial painters, residential homes, including exterior and interior color consultations and painting services. They can help you choose a color, prepare your home for painting, and make sure it looks incredible by the end. To receive a free quote for your next exterior painting project, you can contact Mesa Painting Pros.

Painting is just one of the easiest and most affordable ways to refurbish a worn out looking room. Be cautioned though: if you think the work does not call for some forethought and preparation, after that you may find yourself looking at a big mess as opposed to a space that infuses sensations of tranquility. Painting isn't hard, but if you don't take the work seriously it could cost you more than just time-- it might cost you thousands of dollars to repair!

Avoid these 6 usual errors to guarantee a smooth paint task:

1. Failure to Preparation
Painting is incredibly easy, right? Just get a gallon of your favorite shade, a roller, brushes and also get to work. Not so quick! There's more to this job than slathering paint on the wall. Professionals understand the value of proper preparation as well as can invest more time in this first phase of the project than actually painting. So what kind of preparation should you do?

- Take care of surface flaws: you might be (unpleasantly) shocked at how much new paint draws out a wall's flaws. Don't allow every scrape, ding as well as bump show through. You can prevent these unattractive sights by smoothing over harsh sides and fill out cracks and also scrapes before you put that roller to the wall.

- Clean wall surfaces. Have you looked closely at your wall surfaces recently? It isn't just old paint making it look so exhausted as well as used-- it's dust. Yes, your wall surfaces obtain unclean too, which built up grime simply could hemorrhage through your brand-new paint task. Make sure to dust the surface area of the entire wall, taking special like scrub off fingerprints, spots as well as discoloring triggered by cigarette smoke.

- Cover furniture as well as flooring. You might be attracted to skip this action, however don't. Securing the remainder of the area against unexpected spills is necessary to guarantee you don't have a larger mess to tidy later.

2. Using Low Quality or the Wrong Devices
The right tools are important to any work-- and also painting is no exemption. Use the wrong brushes and you will certainly be looking at streaks and smears. Utilize the very best high-quality brushes as well as rollers that you can afford. Not only will they cover the wall much better, however likewise make the entire project simpler to handle. When choosing your job tools, try to find:
- Roller liners (they make clean up a wind).
- Artificial bristles when using latex paint as well as all-natural bristles when using oil-based paints.
- Thick foam rollers (they make the application much easier and extra detailed).

3. Opt out of Using Painter's Tape.
There's a reason why professionals use a high-quality painter's tape to moldings as well as trim-- it functions! Stay clear of a careless appearance by securing painter's tape along trim firmly. This will certainly give you the sharpest and also cleanest lines. But bear in mind, peel off the tape off before the paint has a possibility to completely dry-- otherwise it can peel the dried out paint bizarre.

While flat paint can highlight a lot of fingerprints as well as marks, satin often works well considering that it supplies more wall protection without the glare of the gloss.

4. Stopping working to Prime.
Why is topping the wall so important? The duty of primer is threefold:
- It aids load blemishes on the wall surface to give you a smooth, perfect look.
- It provides the new paint a great surface to comply with.
- It aids highlight the new shade.

While lots of contemporary paints currently include primer, be sure to utilize a separate primer for brand-new walls that have actually never ever been painted or rougher surface areas like timber or concrete. Otherwise, you might discover on your own applying a number of coats.

5. Selecting the Wrong Paint.
You've discovered the best color of blue for your bedroom, yet do you understand what type of surface to use? Choose improperly as well as you can regret your decision to paint in all.

Not every painting covers another well. For example, if you attempt to make use of latex paint over an oil based one, the brand-new color will certainly crack as well as peel prior to you obtain made use of to the new shade on the wall surface. Prior to repainting any kind of room, check if the current paint on the walls is oil-based. If so, sand it a bit to assist the more recent latex paint stick to the wall.

But that isn't the only decision to make when choosing the right paint for your space. Think about exactly how the area will be used. Heavily trafficked locations (entrance halls, mudrooms, playrooms, etc.), require a paint design that can manage use as well as abuse. Costs mattes, semi-gloss as well as satin surfaces function best in busy areas because they're made to conceal fingertips and smudges. And also, they can be cleaned down frequently.

6. Brush Dunking.
This is a typical mistake that throws away paint as well as makes the task messier: inappropriate brush dunking. A simple sip (no greater than a third of the method up to the brush) is all that is needed to give you great insurance coverage.

ABOUT MESA PAINTING PROS

The experts at Mesa Painting Pros put all of their focus on commercial painters, residential homes, including exterior and interior color consultations and painting services. They can help you choose a color, prepare your home for painting, and make sure it looks incredible by the end. To receive a free quote for your next exterior painting project, you can contact Mesa Painting Pros.