Tips for Maintaining Your Roof and Siding In Richmond, MI

The siding and the roof are the most important protective elements in the house.

Being the first line of defense, these must be subject to regular examination and maintenance to detect any sign of wear, without forgetting the cleaning and replacement of damaged or worn parts.

If you want to extend the durability of your roof and siding, improve the aesthetics and add value to your home, here are a few maintaining tips you should follow;

Remove the lichen and moss from the shingles

If it is not removed, the lichen that forms on a shingle roof will weaken its structure.

To remove it, apply a patio cleaner using a soft bristle brush until it disappears completely. To prevent lichen from reappearing, Sprinkle the affected surface with a powdered laundry detergent containing bleach granules.

Repair Gutters

A leaking gutter can be the source of water infiltration in the basement and cause soil erosion. It will also ruin your exterior paint and even the siding.

Since most gutters are made of vinyl or aluminum, it is difficult to seal the cracks with silicone caulk or a roofing coating.

Here’s how to do it:

• Cut a square of fiberglass mesh and shape it so that it covers the crack inside the gutter.
• Then apply a roof repair cement for dry or wet surfaces inside the gutter, to cover the crack. The cement will overflow on each side.
• Press the mesh well to seal the joint, then let it dry for a day.
• Cover with roofing cement and smooth with a putty knife. The joint will be completely waterproof. Once dry, you can repaint the entire gutter.

Replace Asphalt Shingles

To replace shingles, push a narrow bar under the remaining parts of the damaged shingle until you reach the nail, then lift about 3 cm.

Then cut the tab of the new shingle so that it fits well into the space, even if it means cutting more.

Finally, coat the space to be filled with roofing cement, then push the new shingle under the previous row. Gently tap to equalize.

Find The Right Color for Your Vinyl Siding

Is the siding you need to repair no longer available on the market?

To have a panel exactly the same color as the original siding, extract a board from a hidden place, (under the terrace for example), and use it to repair damaged siding on the prominent front-end of the house.

Next, buy a new piece of siding that resembles the one on your house in use it to cover the less prominent part.

Paint The Pine Siding Before Installing It

Pine or cedar siding can last a lifetime if properly prepared before installation. The cedar does not need to be painted and takes on a beautiful lustrous gray tone over time.

However, the pine must be painted to protect it against water infiltration between the boards.

Be sure to paint the rough side of the board, which will retain the paint better, while its smooth side will have to be repainted much more frequently.

Insulate Before Installing the Siding

A very simple way to increase the energy efficiency of a house is to install foam insulation on the exterior walls, covered with a metal sheet, before installing the siding

In addition to its great insulating properties, this material offers a barrier against water and wind.

Contractors also use it to level the walls before installing the siding.

Avoid Water Infiltration

Rainwater pipes are designed to remove large amounts of water from the roof very quickly.

However, if there is no drainage system, the water will be directed to the foundation and could possibly infiltrate the house.

Rigid drainage accessories are not always a good solution since their angled position makes mowing the surrounding lawn difficult.

You can also dig a trench, which will be connected to the downpipe by a 90 ° elbow connector.

The end of the pipe may rest in a larger hole filled with gravel or be directed towards the street drainage system.

Book a Free Exterior Painting Estimate

Repainting the exterior of your home should be done regularly to keep it looking beautiful and improve its overall value. Just make sure you hire a professional painting contractor and use the above tips to cut costs in your next project.

If you need any help with your residential painting needs, Eason Painting would be more than happy to help.

Our services are currently available in Macomb Township, Washington Township, Ray Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romeo, Armada, Troy, Shelby Township, Harrison Township, Chesterfield, and Clinton Township, MI.

Call us today on 586-465-5081 to find out what creative ideas we have in store for you!

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Exterior Home Painting Rochester, MI: How to Paint a Brick House

Bricks are difficult to paint because they are porous and absorb paint. However, if you take the time to prepare the exterior brick part of your house, it will be easier to apply paint.

Generally, we recommend that you hire a professional painting contractor for major painting projects like exterior painting.

However, if your project is relatively small want to give the DIY painting a try, here is what you should do;

Clean The Surface

Water the surface with a garden hose. Water is particularly effective in removing most of the dirt and dust from bricks.
Use a high-pressure cleaner if there is a layer of dirt on the surface of the house or if mud has accumulated in a corner.
Use a high-pressure cleaner at 100 bar power.
Remove white spots with a stiff bristle brush. The white spots are the sign of fungi flowering or a deposit of salt.
Apply a solution of bleach and clear water to get rid of mold. Let the solution sit on the bricks for about 20 minutes, then scrape the surface with a stiff bristle brush.

Prepare The Surface

Cover windows and doors with newspapers. Attach newspaper to doors and windows with masking tape and be sure to cover the other areas you don’t want to paint.
Repair cracks –Use a scraper to empty the cracks in the bricks. Brush to remove dust and waterproof cracks with acrylic sealant. Let the putty dry for about 5 hours.

Apply a latex primer to the surface of the bricks –Use a paintbrush, roller or spray gun. Put additional coats of primer on the areas affected by organic growth damage.

Choose The Paint

Choose elastomeric paint –This will be dense enough to fill the cracks in the bricks, but you will need to apply two coats. The elastomeric paint also repels water enough to protect the surface of the bricks in bad weather. You will find this type of paint in most DIY stores.

Choose exterior acrylic paint –Acrylic latex paint allows moisture to leave the brick surface and helps prevent mold. You will find them in almost all DIY stores. In general, a single coat of paint is sufficient, and you will only need a second coat if the surface is in bad condition.

Paint Your House

Apply the paint with a paint sprayer –this is more expensive than a brush, but it allows you to paint the bricks faster. Move the paint gun sideways, slightly overlapping the areas you have already painted.
Take a roller to paint the bricks. The rollers are wider and more expensive than most paintbrushes, but they are less expensive than paint sprayers. Rollers allow you to paint a house faster than paintbrushes, but slower than a paint sprayer. Start at the top of the house and move the roller up and down, moving sideways to paint the adjacent sections.
Use a paintbrush to fill in corners that you can’t reach with a paint sprayer or a roller. Areas near doors, windows, and borders require precision that a paint sprayer or roller cannot achieve.

Let The Paint Dry

Read the instructions on the paint bucket to determine how long the paint will take to dry.

Add A Second Coat of Paint.
Apply a second coat only if recommended in the instructions supplied with the paint.

Note:
Find out if you should paint the bricks of your house a certain color. In some regions, a particular color may be required by local regulations. For example, the exterior of houses in historic districts may be subject to specific colors.

The Bottom Line

Painting a brick exterior is not a completed project.
However, if you don’t have the time, skill, or tools to complete the job flawlessly, timely, and efficiently, consider hiring a pro.

Hiring a professional painting contractor saves you time and money, as well as the stress and hassles that come with an exterior painting project.

Need professional help with your home exterior repainting project? Our highly skilled and experienced team at Eason Painting can help. Our services are currently available in Macomb Township, Washington Township, Ray Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romeo, Armada, Troy, Shelby Township, Harrison Township, Chesterfield, and Clinton Township, MI.

Call us today on 586-465-5081 for a FREE painting estimate.

Residential Painting Richmond, MI: White Painting Over Dark Colors without a Trace

Covering dark old paint with white or light color can be quite a hassle, but not impossible.
As with any DIY task, repainting a dark wall in white requires patience and thoroughness.
If all the steps necessary to complete this project are not followed, likely, the result will not be up to your expectations.

Also, note that repainting a wall in white does not necessarily mean using a white undercoat.
On the contrary, it is strongly recommended to choose one slightly tinted in a lighter color than that present on the wall.

By following these four steps, you are putting all the chances on your side to cover your dark wall with a white finish without traces.
Have a look;

Clean the wall

Preparing the wall to ensure the adhesion of a layer of paint is essential. Start by filling a large bucket of warm water to which you will add a little soap or detergent to the surfaces.
Then, using a sponge, clean the wall in small circular movements before rinsing with clean water.
The objective of this step is to remove dust, dirt, and grease that have settled there and created over time.

Sand the wall

Once the wall is dry, it’s time to start sanding. If this step is recommended, it is only mandatory if your surface to be painted has roughness or cracked paint.

To smooth surface, two solutions are available: the use of an electric wall sander, or, if the surface is small, the sanding block fitted with sandpaper.

As for cleaning, make circular movements until you no longer feel any defect. Complete this step by passing a cloth slightly moistened with water on the wall to remove the last residues of dust.

Apply an undercoat

To camouflage and prevent the pigments of the old paint from showing through, the use of an undercoat, also called primer, is essential.
Once the roller is loaded, apply generously to the wall using the cross method (from bottom to top, then from left to right).
Be careful not to paint too many times in the same places at the risk of creating extra thickness.
Smooth the undercoat, then let it dry. In general, a single coat of primer is sufficient to cover a dark color.

Finish with two coats of paint

Once your wall is dry, four to six hours after applying the undercoat, you get a total opacity of the old paint.
You can then start the last long-awaited step: repainting the wall in white. For a perfect result, two coats will be necessary.
Observe the drying time between each of them, two to six hours, depending on the type of paint used.

The Bottom Line

As mentioned, covering a dark color using white or light cover requires skill, stealth, and attention.
The most important step is thoroughly preparing the surface to enhance paint adhesion.
In addition, simple steps like using a tinted primer can make your painting project an effortless task.

Need Help With Interior Painting in Richmond, MI?

Residential painting is a priceless, inexpensive, and effective way to add some color into your home, protect your property, and make your interior a little more interesting.

If you need professional help with your home interior repainting project, Eason Painting can help.

We have years of experience offering residential painting services in Macomb Township, Washington Township, Ray Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romeo, Armada, Troy, Shelby Township, Harrison Township, Chesterfield, and Clinton Township, MI.

Call us today on 586-465-5081 for a FREE painting estimate.

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Interior Décor Romeo, MI: How to Use Orange and Yellow?

Although fall is neither the current nor the next season, it’s worth talking about the decorating ideas suited to the season as we wait for things to calm down.
This will allow you to prepare months in advance, mainly if you plan to make major changes to your interior.

Autumn is the period when warm colors are most used, such as the different shades of brown, deep red, gold, and especially orange.
Since these are not colors that are used very often in interior decorations, you may wonder how you are going to adopt them.

Today, we are going to focus on one of these fall colors: orange!
Is there room for orange in a traditionally designed living room? Modern? Mid-Century?

Yes, orange and yellow are welcome in your interior, whatever your style. Find out below some of the creative ways you can use orange in your home interior.

Create an Accent Wall to Define a Space

In the case of a living room open to the kitchen, the dining room, or a bar arranged in the corner of the living room, the creation of an orange accent wall can be particularly interesting.
By painting the furthest wall in orange, you will not only define the space but also warm the atmosphere in your living room.
With brown furniture around, the decor will be even better.

Paint the Wall (S) Orange

We know that painting is the easiest way to freshen up and transform a room. Is your living room well lit naturally?
So do not hesitate to paint two sections of the wall in orange. It is also a perfect option for warming up a contemporary living room.
Don’t feel constrained to using the likes of pumpkin orange here; even sienna can also offer a magnificent decoration.

Use the Natural Version of the Color

If the pumpkin orange seems too visually overwhelming for a Scandinavian decoration, consider using the color as it appears in nature.
Naturally and spontaneously, bring a warm touch to the living room and accentuate the orange geometric shapes on the wall painting, if any.

Change Curtains

Whatever the color of your living room, you will find a tone of orange that can look elegant on your curtains.
A combination of blue and orange may not be very common, but it offers a striking rendering.

How About Yellow?

Yellow in your home: fresh and fruity or deep and dark
The end of summer and fall are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for tones like yellow.
Just think of the apples and pears that ripen on the trees, but also the leaves that change color in the fall.
The green leaves gradually change color to red and yellow as autumn approaches.

Nature is the primary source of inspiration for tones like yellow, green, and orange. Vegetable dyes provide these colors.
So these are colors that combine effortlessly. These soothing and neutral tones can perfectly coexist with the most improbable tones.

Yellow combines perfectly with light shades of brown, and beige-white. When using the color yellow, pay attention to the rate of light in the room.
In addition, the color should be used sparingly. It is recommended to paint a maximum of half the space in yellow.

What Shade Of Yellow Should You Use?

The yellow color represents optimism and energy, like the sun. You have different shades of yellow.
Dark yellow goes very well with shades of brown, gray, and black. The other hues can be very chic; they exude class and quality.
Please note: a surplus of yellow creates too bright space, which can overwhelm the eye.

Light yellows such as Gentle Yellow, Sunrise, and Prairie Gold are perfect colors to combine with dark shades of brown and gray. They are suitable for living rooms, bedrooms and children’s bedrooms. These colors bring both tranquility and cheerfulness to the room and a certain light.

Need Help With Interior Painting in Richmond, MI?

Interior painting is a priceless, inexpensive, and effective way to add some color into your home, protect your property, and make your interior a little more interesting.

If you need professional help with your home interior repainting project, Eason Painting can help.

We have years of experience offering residential painting services in Macomb Township, Washington Township, Ray Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romeo, Armada, Troy, Shelby Township, Harrison Township, Chesterfield, and Clinton Township, MI.

Call us today on 586-465-5081 for a FREE painting estimate.