FAQ

Q: What is Prep Work?

A: For New Creation Prep work is very important because it’s what separates us from everyone else. You can tell a job was done by New Creation because of the time and effort we put into our prep work. So without delay, Our prep work has 5 main steps and are in order as follows:

POWER WASH
SCRAPING
SANDING
PRIMING
CAULKING

There are other preparation tactics such as wood putty, chemical sprays, and mildew removers among others, that are needed in certain cases.

FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK ON THE PREPERATION PROCESS AND PAINTING FACTS TAB UNDER THE INFO TAB.

Q: Why is prep work recommended?

A: Prep work is the most important part of painting and is the pinnacle of a job well done over a mediocre job. In most cases prep work is about 25% of the total paint job. A good “prep job” can be (and usually is) the difference between painting your home every four years or every nine years. Painting is like a shield that helps protect the house from natures elements such as rain, snow, hail, sleet, and the sun. However, paint is only as strong as its weakest link. Power washing removes dirt and debris from siding and trim and will remove the old, fading paint that is no longer adhered to the wood/siding so that the new paint has a nice, clean surface to latch on to. Scraping/sanding will allow for more surface area to create a stronger adhesion for the primer application to bare wood. Caulk is used to seal joints around windows, doors, etc. to prevent water, dirt and debris from damaging the wood. Finally, primer is used because it has chemicals that further protect the wood/siding and it also adheres to wood better and stronger than paint; And paint adheres to primer better and stronger than wood. All in all these steps are taken to create more surface area for application, to ensure a stronger bond, and so that the paint job can last longer.

Q: Why should I paint my entire home simply because of areas with faded paint?

A: Although your house may be unpleasant to look at, there is much more at stake if you do not get this resolved. One thing that happens is the sun can dry out the wood and create what is called “dry rot”. If this happens over an extended period of time, your boards become brittle and weak, and will eventually fall apart and have to be replaced. Secondly, the paint chalking off (fading) leaves your siding exposed to other elements such as snow, rain and hail. When water/condensation runs down your siding and sits on your window sills it will rot through your wood and warp your boards to the point of non-repair. Replacing siding and windows is much more expensive than a re-paint of your home.

Q: What causes fading paint?

Snow and rain can really damage those areas that don’t get a lot of sun, but sun damage is largest problem we see from our client’s homes at New Creation Painters. There are two main ingredients in paint: resin and pigment. Pigment (the color) is mainly for aesthetic appeal and Resin is put in paint as the protector. Resin has bonding agents that latch the paint onto your siding, masonry, cedar, vinyl, etc. It also has hardeners that act as a cover over your house and help make the resin last as long as possible. Overtime, our sun breaks down this resin and causes the pigment to distort and look uneven. This is the patchy, uneven look you see typically on the west and south sides of your home.

Q: Can I still have a wall painted that has wallpaper.

Yes. Their is more prep work involved but we have the tools that are necessary to work efficiently. Don’t hesitate to give us a call, we are here to help and answer all your questions!

Q: What is better enamels, latexes or oils?

A: Enamel is a broad classification for finishing materials that dry to a smooth, hard finish and usually possess a gloss. In the past this term referred exclusively to oil base products, however, new generation latex products area also at times referred to as enamels. Because of these factors enamel as, a paint term has become somewhat ambiguous. Oil base products are those products that typically are composed of pigments dissolved in a mineral spirit such as paint thinner. While latex products are an emulsion suspended in water. The obvious differences are that oil base product require mineral spirits for clean up, have a longer dry time, and have a stronger odor while drying to a harder finish. Latex products typically will dry faster and are water clean up. Oil base products are used primarily where a harder finish is required. However, today’s improved latex products have allowed for the substitution of latex in nearly all scenarios that had traditionally called for an oil base material.

Q: Can you give me color advice? What colors are best?

Yes, our in-house color consultant can help you choose on colors that may suit your needs best here is a general outline on how we decide:
Warm Colors (Red, Yellow, and Orange) attract attention, create excitement, promote cheerfulness, and stimulates action.
Cool Colors (Blue, Turquoise, Green, and Purple) relax and refresh, promote peacefulness, encourage and concentration.
Light Colors (Off Whites, Light tones) make areas seem more spacious and tend to give people a psychological lift.
Dark Colors (Deep tones) Make areas appear smaller and long exposure can create a feeling of monotony.
Bold Colors: Attracts the eye and creates excitement.
Whites: Reflect more light and denote cleanliness. They can unite spaces.

Q: Is there a special paint for bathrooms?

A: Yes, there are paints that are specially formulated to provide a mildew resistant finish in humid environments such as bathrooms. These tough durable finishes are suitable for use on interior walls, ceilings, and trim. Common household stains may be removed with nonabrasive cleaners. When applied according to label directions these products will resist mildew growth and will remain washable.

Q: I have a less-than-perfect wall and want to hide the imperfections without having to apply textured paint. Do you have any suggestions?

A: If the imperfections are not too pronounced, sponge painting with multiple colors can hide them. The greater the contrast among the colors used in the sponge painting process, the more the overall effect will hide imperfections.

Q: I want to paint one wall a different color. How can I select the wall that should be painted with this different color?

A: This is often called a feature or accent wall. While this could depend on the overall space, the wall that comes into view opposite the main entrance is in most cases selected as the feature wall and should be the one to receive the special treatment.

Q: What is the best method to paint the exterior of a house?

A: It all depends on various factors such as the siding on a house and what preparation procedures need to be taken. When painting areas that have deep crevices, as in the case of wood shingles on the side of a home, this method can get the product into otherwise hard to reach areas. However, when coating wood surfaces that have a significant variation in porosity and/or when coating cementitious surfaces with a thicker paint coating, back brushing or rolling can be recommended so that the material can be driven deeper into the substrate and so that the overall coat can be uniform.