The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the home. Designed to foster maximum relaxation, these places are supposed to be sanctuaries where you can get as much rest as possible. However, depending on what color your walls are currently painted, you actually might find that you aren’t feeling as rejuvenated as you should. These are some of the best colors to paint a bedroom for sleep and how each of them prepares the mind for optimal shut-eye.
Deep Blues
Blue—specifically, deeper shades of blue—is widely regarded as the number one hue for relaxation and restfulness. This is because it provides a calming effect on the mind that makes the conditions just right for you to drift off into dreamland. Darker blues are particularly effective since they absorb any excess light within the room and keep the space dimly lit enough, so as to not disrupt your sleep cycle. So, if you’re looking to improve your sleep quality, painting your bedroom blue is a great place to start.
Tame Yellows
On the other hand, if blue is too dark of a color for your liking, you don’t have to feel forced to choose it. In fact, even some sunnier colors can still help you get better sleep. Yellow is a hue that’s associated with both sunlight and energy—two things that make for a great morning. Because of this, you would think that it would then fall short of helping you sleep, but this isn’t the case. In fact, yellow is also a natural color that can create a soothing and cozy atmosphere. Just be sure that you don’t use a variation that’s too bright.
Pale Greens
Pale or light green are also among the best colors to paint a bedroom for sleep. Being hues that we would naturally find in our local forests, these colors bring with them a sense of harmony and positive energy. This atmosphere can have a calming effect on the mind as well and make it much easier for us to re-energize our bodies. Like with yellow, though, this impact is lessened should you use a brighter version of the color, such as neon or lime green.
Clean White
If you take more comfort in a clean and organized bedroom space, white just might be the color for you. While many assume that white reflects too much light and, therefore, prevents us from getting the sleep we need, it actually provides a fresh and clean atmosphere. Sometimes, rooms with a lot of color can appear cluttered and chaotic, working against the tranquility you’re trying to establish. White walls act as clean slates for the mind, making the room appear more organized and reducing your stress.
For more information on what colors could work the best in your own bedroom, reach out to Bear Mountain Custom Painting. As home interior painting professionals, we’ve personally worked with all paint colors in the spectrum and have first-hand knowledge of the effects they can have.
Did you know that backyard deck spaces are one of the most desirable traits a home can have? Whether they serve as a space for entertainment or to act as a personal retreat, they offer ample opportunities for a homeowner to experiment with and take part in various activities. For this reason, if your own deck has seen better days, it’s often in your best interest to get it remodeled. Doing so will not only give you additional things to do with this space, but it will also raise the overall value of your home when it comes time to sell it.
Still, the benefits don’t come without a bit of hard work and monetary investment. While deck renovations are wonderful in the long run, there’s a lot that you need to keep in mind for the project itself to be successful. These are some important things to consider when remodeling your deck space so that you can ensure the finished product is everything you’ve dreamt of—and more.
Before the Project
Even before you officially start your deck remodeling project, there are several things to do to get off on the right track. Like most other renovations, you’ll need to establish a vision for your new deck space so that you can clearly convey your needs to the professionals. This is also the time you should spend thinking about your financial and spatial limitations. Here are some factors to think about:
Your Needs for the Space
Your overall needs for your new deck space are some of the most important things to mull over before you get started. After all, the purpose of the project is to make it into something you can use to your liking. To do this, you must have some desired uses in mind already, so take some time to list out a few potential activities you want your deck to accommodate and what work you’ll need to do to make that happen.
What Permits You’ll Need To Acquire
Once you know what work you want done, you’ll need to figure out the types of permits you’ll need to obtain. Most exterior or outdoor construction projects require permission from your local township in order to perform specified changes. This means that you’ll need to run your ideas by them before you’re legally able to start your renovations. The permits you’ll need will depend on the scale of work you’re looking to complete, as well as your deck’s overall size and general purpose. As such, you’ll need to do the proper research and talk to your local housing authorities to ensure you’re in compliance.
The Materials and Design You Want
Next, try to finalize your new deck’s design and the materials you want your professionals to use. Decks can come in a variety of different styles with a plethora of supplies to suit your tastes. From treated or untreated wood to fiberglass and even metals like aluminum, you have your choice of colors, textures, and overall durability.
The Resources You Have To Work With
Make sure as well that you create an initial budget and timeline for the project to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. These plans will allow you to lay out what resources you currently have to work with so that you know what your limitations are. It also helps to assess how much space your current deck takes up and how much room you still have to expand upon.
What Professionals You’re Going To Hire
Then, with everything else planned out, it’s time to find qualified professionals to turn your dream into a reality. There are a lot of companies to choose from, and as such, you’ll need to do a bit of research to find the one that’s right for you. Look at their service areas, ratings, and, most importantly, reviews to get a feel for their level of experience.
During the Project
There are also several considerations you must take into account during the renovation itself. Unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan, so it’s important that you know how to respond, should some things inevitably go wrong. This is what to keep in mind:
Whether You’re Sticking To Your Budget
In the midst of a large project like a deck remodel, it’s easy to get carried away with expenses. Your components could end up being more expensive than you thought, or your previous models may not be in stock anymore. When this occurs, you might end up paying more than your budget allows and tapping into funds you don’t have. For this reason, you need to be extra considerate of your initial plans and take extra care to stay within those guidelines.
Maintenance and Upkeep
But among the most important things to consider when remodeling your deck space is what you’ll need to do after the fact. Your work as a homeowner isn’t finished even after the project is. In actuality, it’s up to you to manage the ongoing maintenance of this space in the years to come. Otherwise, you risk it deteriorating back to its former state. This is some of what you should think about:
How Often You’ll Need To Pressure Wash
Pressure washing is the most beneficial thing you can do to keep your deck looking nice year-round. It’s best to pressure wash your newly renovated deck space at least once a year to keep in in optimal condition. However, depending on the products you use to stain or paint it, it may need more frequent washes.
Frequency of Repairs
You’ll also need to account for how often certain parts of your deck tend to deteriorate and, therefore, how often you’ll need to fix or replace them. While the newer parts won’t typically have this issue, you’ll need to have an understanding of the overall lifespan of your deck. This way, you can recognize when it’s time to think about doing touch-ups or more thorough maintenance.
It’s only natural that you wouldn’t want to trust just anyone with your deck remodeling project. That’s why we at Bear Mountain Custom Painting set out to prove to each of our clients that we’re the best ones for the task. With over a decade of experience in painting and professional carpentry services in Cumming, GA, we’re confident that we can create the space that best suits your needs and preferences. Reach out to us with any questions about what we offer and how we handle projects like these.
When it comes to protecting your home and providing it with the proper insulation and style, nothing is as important as your home’s exterior siding. These materials can last for several decades in the right conditions and may need to be repaired only in the event of significant damage. However, just like there are justifications to keeping your current siding, there is a multitude of reasons why you might not want to wait that long to make the switch. These are some of the top benefits of installing new home siding and why you shouldn’t put this project off any longer.
Boosted Property Value
The professionals will be the first ones to tell you that new siding is a fast and effective way of greatly increasing your home’s overall market value. In fact, it’s one of the leading home renovations that owners undergo before listing their home for sale. The new look alone is enough to make buyers take interest, and the increased resistance of the materials ensures that it won’t need to be repaired for a long time.
Improves Overall Energy Efficiency
Newer siding is also great for improving a home’s energy efficiency. With better-insulated materials installed along the exterior of a house, it’s significantly less likely that cooled or heated air will escape from inside. This reduces the amount of energy required to cool or heat your home and saves you a lot of money over time. More insulation also keeps outdoor air from penetrating your interior walls, generally making your inside environment much more comfortable.
Allows You To Repair Hidden Structural Damage
Another top benefit of installing new home siding is that it gives you the ability to repair internal wall damage while you do so. Even minor damage to exterior siding can mean major problems for the walls behind it if water or insects gain entry. These things can begin eating away at your walls and cause serious structural deterioration if left unaddressed. For this reason, removing your siding is crucial to being able to get to these at-risk spots and fix them before they can become a larger issue.
Preserves the Quality of New Paint Jobs
Ultimately, new siding is simply better at retaining its color and can be much easier to repaint in the future. This is because the surface has yet to be damaged by harsh sunlight or storms that can cause paint to bleach or fade. Your new siding materials will keep their color for many years to follow installation, and when you do need to repaint, it will hold on to the pigment better.
If you’re looking for siding installation professionals in Cumming, GA to help you through your next exterior home project, we at Bear Mountain Custom Painting are ready to take your call. Our experienced workers know the importance of new home siding and how to give you the results you want.
The task of repainting your home’s exterior is a tedious one at best. Even the preparation process can be a project in itself, which makes you feel like you’ll never finish the rest of the renovation feel. Fortunately, painting professionals use specific strategies to improve the speed and the quality of your finished product. These are some of the top exterior painting techniques used in the industry and how they can completely change the look of your home.
Three-Step Brush Technique
The three-step brush technique achieves a rich, deep color that also minimizes the appearance of streaks. To start, the painter must load the first two inches of the brush’s bristles with their paint of choice and spread the product in thick layers over the siding. Move in two or three back-and-forth strokes over a small area. After you apply the paint, use your unloaded brush to sweep back over that painted section and smooth out any application lines.
Roller Technique
The roller technique, on the other hand, is useful for covering larger areas in much less time. Using a large bucket and screen, load your roller with paint and roll it out until you have removed the access paint from the nap. From here, you can begin laying the paint over your siding, applying a medium amount of pressure in long side-to-side or up-and-down strokes. Keep in mind, though, that since rollers can’t reach the tight nooks and crannies of your siding, you should follow up this technique with a brush.
Cutting-In Technique
Another useful exterior painting technique is the cutting-in method. This strategy allows you to paint in smaller, hard-to-reach areas and minimize smearing or unclean lines. To do this, load up your brush and tuck the tip carefully into the inside corner. Then pull it along the edge until you’ve painted one side of the outline. Repeat this process with the rest of the outer edges until all you have left to do is fill in the center.
As you work, be sure to move slowly and carefully in order to increase the quality of your results. However, if you find that you’re struggling to get these high-level techniques just right, consider calling exterior home painters in Cumming, GA. This type of job isn’t easy, and bringing in the experts is often the best way to ensure you get the desired finish.
Regardless of how well you care for the exterior of your home, if you own it for long enough, the chances are good that you’ll need to repaint it. Exterior paint performs several useful functions for a home, such as allowing it to reflect or absorb heat—not to mention increasing its overall appearance. But painting a home’s exterior can be a very involved process, and you could be left at a loss if you only have experience with indoor painting. For this reason, it’s crucial that you’re thinking about all parts of the project and what you can do to make it easier along the way. These are a few key things to consider when painting your home’s exterior to ensure the results are everything you’re hoping for.
The Weather During the Project
One of the main differences between interior and exterior paint jobs is how much of an effect the weather can have on the process. Paint products need certain conditions to properly cure to the surface of the siding, so if you’re working with too much heat or humidity, you can risk having your fresh coat of color slide right off within a few weeks or months. Because of this, you’ll want to choose a few days when you know that the weather will cooperate. It’s best to complete this job during one of the drier times of the year with very little rain and lower humidity.
The State of Your Siding
You should also stop to think about what state your siding is currently in before you start painting it. In addition to high humidity, your new paint could also fail to stick if your old coat is beginning to flake or if your siding needs repairs. As such, you’ll want to make sure that this surface is in the best possible shape before you take brushes to it. At the very least, this often involves sanding the old paint off and washing it thoroughly. Should you notice that certain parts are loose, broken, or rotted away, take the necessary steps to fix them before you do anything else. You may even want to hire our professional siding repair services in Cumming, depending on the severity of the damage.
The Presence of Lead in Your Old Paint
But before sanding away the old paint, do a bit of research into the history of your home. If your property is older, built before 1978, there’s a high probability that your old exterior paint contains lead. This substance, when flaking away, releases toxic particles into the air around it. Inhaling lead paint over time can make individuals incredibly sick and inflame already existing respiratory ailments. For this reason, you’ll want to take extra precautions if your home does, in fact, have this type of paint on its siding.
Choosing the Right Exterior Paint Products
Another key thing to consider when painting your home’s exterior is the type of paint you’re going to use to replace the old coat. Though lead paint has been illegal in use on homes for several decades, there are other potential additives to be aware of, such as VOCs. VOCs are released into the air as paint dries and can have potentially harmful effects on those in the immediate area. This risk isn’t as substantial when painting outdoors, but it’s still something to be conscious of.
Additionally, the paint you choose for your home’s exterior will need to be outdoor paint, specifically. Unlike indoor paint, which is stain-resistant and holds up to scrubbing, exterior paint products have additives that resist fading and the growth of mildew. Because they perform two different functions, you’ll need to choose the right one if you want your paint job to last.
Using a Primer Along With the Paint
Primers work wonders to help the paint dry properly against the siding and leave a smooth, clean finish. This is why it’s best to use a primer along with your chosen exterior paint. Fortunately, a lot of modern paint products include a primer mixed into the paint so that you can apply both the paint and the primer at the same time—and it only costs a little extra. This can save you ample amounts of money and allow you to get more use out of each individual can of product.
Protecting Your Surrounding Foliage
Make sure that you’re properly protecting the grass and foliage near your home while you’re painting. This project can be incredibly messy, and getting extra splatter on your bushes and flowers can both make them sick and diminish their appearance. For this reason, just like you cover your furniture for indoor painting tasks, you should also take care to cover your landscaping. This way, you can ensure that your plants are out of the way while keeping them safe from any potentially toxic substances in the paint. Keep in mind that you should cover any outdoor furniture or utilities as well, such as the garden hose, grill, and deck chairs.
Giving a Professional a Call
Arguably the most important thing you should consider for a job like this is whether you should call a professional. It’s common for homeowners to want to take these projects into their own hands. However, this can cause you to miss crucial details about the process that could have a lasting effect on the finished product. As such, it’s often best to go straight to those who have years of experience in the industry. They can answer whatever questions you might have and help you complete your painting job in a way that fits your needs.
If your home is in desperate need of a new exterior paint job, but you don’t know where to begin, reach out to us at Bear Mountain Custom Painting. As experienced exterior home painters in Cumming, GA, we’ve broken these projects down to an art form. We consider it our duty to think about all the details of a job so that you, as the homeowner, don’t need to worry about how it will get done. Instead, all you need to keep in mind is the vision you have for your beautiful home.
Drywall is a popular option for homeowners looking to quickly and affordably renovate their homes. Created by layering wood, plaster, and paper, these sheets of wall finish provide a room with a clean and seamless appearance that’s easy to customize. However, as a trade-off, several different things can damage this material, which means a professional carpentry service in Cumming, GA may need to replace more often than you’d expect. These are some of the signs you should replace your home’s drywall instead of fixing it.
Large Cracks or Holes
One of the benefits of installing drywall along the interior of your home is that you can effectively patch it with carpenter’s putty. Unfortunately, this only works if the hole is small. When the damage to your drywall is a bit larger, you can’t cover the area in a way that leaves the surface looking as smooth as it once did. Should you notice any larger cracks snaking their way across the walls or accidently slam your doorknob through the wall behind it, replacing the drywall is probably the better option.
Water Damage
Prevalent water damage is also a common reason to replace your drywall. Because drywall materials are incredibly sensitive to moisture, direct exposure to water can quickly soften and weaken their structural integrity. This can cause them to develop wood rot or mold, which can begin negatively affecting your health if left to flourish. For this reason, you should immediately act upon signs of water damage, such as dark stains, leaks, and collapsing materials.
Splinters Near the Walls
You may find large plywood splinters if there’s a problem you need to address. This only occurs with drywall products that use plywood panels, but it’s something to be aware of if you aren’t sure what yours is made from. These splinters begin to form when the paneling has suffered some form of damage, whether it’s water damage or the house settling and putting extra pressure on the walls. These things will fray the edges of the drywall and leave splinters on the floor.
A Hollow Sound
If your walls sound hollow when you knock on them, this is also a telltale sign you should replace your home’s drywall. Drywall may seem thin, but it’s actually quite solid and sturdy in the proper condition. If you notice your walls produce a hollow sound when you knock on them, it could be an indicator of damage underneath the surface. In some cases, this could indicate insect or water damage, as both will eat away at the interior before breaking through the other side. Either way, it’s often best to cut out a section of the wall to properly inspect the situation.
