Can You Increase the Value of Your Home by Painting?

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In short, yes. Painting your home is one of the few home improvement projects that almost always provide a return on investment (ROI). It is one of the best-kept secrets to making a great first impression and selling your home as quickly as possible.

Depending on the previous appearance of your paint job and the quality of the new paint job, you can typically expect a 110% to 140% ROI. That means if you spend $7,500 on a high quality paint job from a professional company, it could increase the value of your home by $10,000 – an ROI of over 130%.

If you are thinking of investing in a professional paint job to enhance the resale value of your home, consider first that prospective homebuyers make their decision within the first few minutes of being there. Does it have potential? Rather than worrying about every nook and cranny, focus on creating a lasting impression.

Here are five simple strategies to ensure you get the best value possible:

Consider your curb appeal

One of the easiest ways to guarantee a great first impression is to paint your front door and possibly the whole front entryway. Don’t get carried away picking out colourful schemes – you want it to enhance the look of the exterior of your home – not just be eye-catching. Consider the colour of siding, trim, and brick you already have and pick a colour in the same family. Look to see what your neighbours are doing and if there is a common theme.

Touch ups

Whether it’s the trim, walls, ceilings or fixtures make sure everything is in good condition. Take a walk through your house or around the exterior to look for chips, cracks or fading. A quick touch up in these areas can make a huge difference.

Stick with neutral

Colours are such a personal choice, one that a potential buyer may not agree with you on. Make it easy for them to envision themselves living there by sticking to a neutral pallet. It may seem boring to you, but you don’t want to scare people away with your bright pink bathroom.

Finish those overdue projects

We know what it’s like, you get busy with life and didn’t have a chance to finish attaching the baseboards or your freshly painted cupboards don’t have knobs yet. You may have been living with these issues on your home fix-it list, but it is this unfinished business that a new owner will notice first. Do yourself, and them, a favour by completing any overdue home projects.

Go green

Always choose paint products with low or non-VOC’s as they contribute to respiratory illness, headaches and are simply bad for the planet. If you choose to use environmentally friendly products, you can stress to the new homeowner the value of your choice.

Still have questions about professional painting and how it could increase your home’s value? We’d love to hear from you! You can reach us by emailing info@evolvepainting.ca or by calling us 780.993.9969.

 

 

 

 

How Do I Maintain My New Paint Job?

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There is nothing quite as satisfying as having your home beautifully painted by a professional. It is an investment in the appearance as well as the value of your home, so it is wise to take certain steps to protect it.

It is inevitable that there will be some wear and tear, but following these steps will ensure that your paint job looks great and lasts for years to come.

One thing to keep in mind – fresh paint typically takes weeks to dry properly. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it is ready to be washed when it may actually still be wet.

Interior paint maintenance:

  • Only use high-quality paint – Even the best paint job will have lacklustre results if the right paint products are not used. A high-quality paint product will ensure that you won’t have a problem with your paint fading, even in direct sunlight.
  • Clean stains and spots immediately – This ensures easy removal as the longer dirt or grime sits on the wall, the harder it will be to remove. All you need is water and a gentle, damp sponge.
  • Keep an eye out for damage – Watch for mould in humid rooms like your bathroom or basement and look out for any wall damage in other rooms – fix any issues as soon as possible.

Exterior paint maintenance:

  • Inspect the exterior of your home – A regular inspection of the exterior surfaces of your home will prevent mould and mildew from forming and spreading. Any excess dirt left behind from wind, rain or snow will compromise the paint as well.
  • Pressure wash – It’s a good to get into the habit of pressure washing the exterior of your home about once a year, especially if there is mould or mildew present.
  • Avoid using products with TSP – TSP or Tri-sodium phosphate should not be used to clean your paint both inside and out. The chemicals will de-gloss and compromise the paint.

If you follow these guidelines and properly maintain your interior and exterior paint job, your home will retain its value and look beautiful for years to come.

Have other questions about professional painting? We’d love to hear from you! You can reach us by emailing info@evolvepainting.ca or by calling us 780.993.9969.

Should I Hire a Professional to Paint My House?

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Painting a room, not to mention an entire house, takes a lot of time, effort and energy. If you are debating between a DIY project and hiring a professional, consider first the value of your own time.

Professional house painters will get the project done is much less time and save you the hassle and headaches that typically come with doing it yourself. Not only that, but they will do a noticeably better job. When it come to increasing the value of your home, a professional painter will focus on details like straight lines and smooth walls using the best products available.

Here are some of the essential details that a professional painter can help you with:

Planning

A professional painting company will work with you, the homeowner, to decide how many rooms you need painted, how many colour choices you will need to make and, most importantly, how long it will take to finish. There is nothing worse than starting a project only to find that you underestimated how long it would take.

Select a colour palette

A professional painting company has access to the best possible products as well as connections with other reputable home improvement specialists such as interior designers who can help you decide on the perfect colour palette for you and your home.

Decide on a paint finish

As with selecting a high quality paint product, a professional painter will help you choose a finish to best suit each room. You may not know that different finishes can affect the overall look and performance of the paint. For example, flat or matte finishes are perfect for bedrooms or guest rooms, while pearl or satin finishes work best in a bathroom or kitchen.

Prepare the room

A full-service painting company will ensure that your household items are protected before they begin painting. It is usually best if the homeowner packs up small or delicate items themselves as well as moving any light furniture. Then, the painters will move any heavy or large items to the centre of the room and cover with drop cloths.

Protect floors and woodwork

Good service means bringing high quality drop cloths and painters’ tape along to ensure that your flooring, carpets and trim remain paint-free throughout the job.

Repair and prepare walls

A professional painting company will assess your walls before beginning any project. They look for nail holes, cracks, chipping, pealing and any other wall damage that will need to be repaired before any paint is applied. Once the walls are fixed up, they need to be properly cleaned to ensure that the paint sticks and you get the perfect paint job.

Painting

Professionals take special care to evenly apply paint so that you are completely satisfied with the results. Hiring a reputable professional means having it done right the first time.

Final cleanup

It is important to hire a full-service painting company so that you know the final cleanup is taken care of. No one wants to come home to a huge mess. You should come home to beautiful walls – that’s it.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? Rather than spending your precious free time doing it yourself, let a professional painter take care of the work for you. Now you can simply sit back and enjoy the results.

Have more questions about hiring a professional painter? We’d love to hear from you! You can reach us by emailing info@evolvepainting.ca or by calling us 780.993.9969.

 

Quality Products

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At Evolve, we believe in providing our customers with the best possible products in order to achieve exceptional results.

Here are some of the trusted brands and products we use:

Dulux – Leading producer of high quality paints that are sure to brighten up any room.

Benjamin Moore – Delivers quality products that customers can count on every time.

General Paint – Provides superior paints that stand up to the challenges of everyday living.

Cloverdale – A growing Canadian company founded on exceptional products and customer service.

Sherwin Williams – Voted highest in customer satisfaction for their high quality product lines.

For more on how to find the perfect product for your paint job, you can contact us today by emailing info@evolvepainting.ca or by calling us 780.993.9969. We’d love to help!

How to Choose the Right Paint Colour for Every Room

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Tired of white walls, but have no idea where to start? We can help with that. With hundreds of options out there it is hard not feel overwhelmed. At Evolve, we can offer you colour advice so that choosing the right paint colour is fun and not stressful.

Don’t be afraid of colour; instead try to understand how colour can enhance your living space. Different colours and hues can affect the memories and moods you create within your home.

We will work with you to decide on a colour palette that will create a warm, inviting space. It is important to always consider your own style and tastes above what is in style or popular. Paint is a personal choice and you want to feel uplifted every time you enter your home.

If you are having trouble deciding on what colours to choose you can refer to a colour wheel to decide on what you like and what shades complement each other. A rule loved by interior designers is the 60-30-10 rule (60 percent dominant colour, 30 percent secondary colour and 10 percent accent colour). This gives you the freedom to express your personality while creating a lasting, classic look.

We recommend choosing soothing and relaxing colours to enhance family rooms, living rooms and dens. Bedrooms or offices do well with inviting and warm shades, while you can go bold in kitchens and bathrooms.

You can also look to each room’s existing features for help choosing a colour palette. For example, you will want to choose wall colours to complement your flooring. Do you have dark wood flooring or light laminate or even patterned tile? What about your existing carpets or rugs? Choosing a palette that will enhance these features is sure to create a lasting impression.

Consider your furniture as well. Do you buy a lot of bright and bold colours or are most of your furniture and accessories muted in colour? Work with the colours already in your home to make sure you choose the best possible colour.

Think about the mood you would like to create in each room. Does your kitchen get a lot of bright sunlight while your den is dark and cozy? This will affect the paint colours you choose. We can always take a look at your room and make suggestions.

Don’t forget to consider the paint for your ceiling. Most go for simplicity and choose white for their ceilings. This also makes the ceilings feel higher. Some use their ceiling as an accent by choosing to paint it with colour. Whatever your preference, we can help you decide on the perfect product for painting your ceiling.

Need help deciding on a colour palette for your paint job? We’d love to help you! You can reach us by emailing info@evolvepainting.ca or by calling us 780.993.9969.

 

Your Guide to Interior Paint Sheens

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Similar to finding the right colour for your walls, it is essential to choose a sheen that best suits the room. There is only one basic rule: the higher the sheen, the higher the shine and therefore the more durable your paint job. In between a flat paint (no shine) and a high gloss (all shine), there are other variants that have specific uses and effects.

Find the right sheen for your paint job:

High Gloss

The most impactful of all of the options, high gloss is the shiniest and most durable of all of the sheens. However, it is definitely an attention grabber and far too shiny for use on walls. High gloss is a great option for cupboards, trim, doors or furniture – anything that attracts scuffs and sticky fingers, but best if used sparingly.

Semi-Gloss

This sheen also works perfectly for high-traffic areas, as it is easy to clean and maintain in areas that typically take a lot of abuse. Think cupboards, trip, baseboards, doorframes, etc. The shine also highlights the decorative elements of your home.

Pearl or Satin

A pearl or satin sheen is a good wall paint for most rooms, including your kitchen, bathrooms, hallways or laundry areas. Easier to clean and maintain than eggshell and is slightly more water resistant. It provides a velvety, smooth finish, but does have a tendency to highlight any application flaws.

Eggshell

This sheen is perfect for walls with imperfections that you may want to minimize. However, because it is less durable, we recommend it for rooms that don’t get roughed up too much. Essentially it is a flat sheen with a little extra ‘eggshell-like’ luster.

Flat or Matte

The lack of sheen absorbs light rather than reflecting it, which makes it perfect for ceilings or a soft, subtle feel for bedrooms, dining rooms or living rooms. The biggest disadvantage of flat or matte sheens is that they are not very durable and cannot be cleaned easily.

Have other questions about choosing the right sheen for your paint job? We’d love to hear from you! You can reach us by emailing info@evolvepainting.ca or by calling us 780.993.9969.

What You Need to Know About VOC

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What does VOC mean to you?

If you have no idea what that term means, simply take a moment to recall that ‘new paint smell’. That chemical smell is just that – harmful chemicals. When you paint with a product that contains VOC’s you are essentially polluting the air in your home. People with chemical sensitivities are especially bothered by VOC’s.

VOC’s or Volatile Organic Compounds used to be necessary to add to paint in order to increase the effectiveness, enhance the colour and improve resistance to insects and mould. However, that is no longer the case. There are many new types of paint that limit your exposure to these compounds, including All-Natural, No VOC, and Low VOC products.

All-Natural Paint Products

These products are composed entirely of natural ingredients and therefore contain no VOC’s. Natural ingredients typically include a water base combined with plant and animal oils and resins, and then coloured with plant and mineral dyes. There is no odor and is by far the healthiest paint choice on the market.

No VOC

No VOC paint contains less than 5 grams per litre of paint, typically due to biocides, fungicides or colourant. It produces almost no smell when wet and none at all when dry.

Low VOC

In order to meet the Green Seal Standard, low VOC paint must contain less than 50 grams per litre. Other paints can claim to be low VOC while still containing 200 grams or less per litre.

If low emissions are a priority, any one of these choices will limit the air pollutants in your home.

Do you have lingering questions about VOC’s and the type of paint to choose? Don’t hesitate to contact us – we’d love to help you. You can reach us by emailing info@evolvepainting.ca or by calling us 780.993.9969.

 

10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Professional Painting Company

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1. How long have you been up and running?

It is important to select a reputable company who has been in business for at least 5 years. The more years they have been serving customers, the better. You can also ask how many years of experience each painter has in the industry.

2. Do you use sub-contractors?

Many not-so-reputable companies will use sub-contractors (unskilled labourers) instead of professional painters. If an estimate seems too good too be true, it probably is. Most companies who offer highly skilled professionals have to charge more.

3. Is my paint job covered by warranty or insurance?

It is crucial to ensure that the painting company you hire is fully licensed and insured so that you are never subject to liability. Any reputable painting company will also offer a paint guarantee or warranty to protect you from paint failure.

4. Can you provide me with a couple references?

Protect yourself by requesting to see at least three positive references. Most professional painting companies will also have testimonials visible on their website. You can also check out online reviews to see what other customers have said about them.

5. Do you have a portfolio?

Just as you would ask to see references, you can ask to see a portfolio of their completed projects to get a sense of the quality of work they produce. Don’t settle for low quality photos. You’ll want to see details like clean lines as well as photos of the staff working to make sure they aren’t just stock photos.

6. Do you keep a clean work place?

Any company worth hiring will handle the cleanup – before, after and in-between. No one wants to come home to a huge mess, so cleanliness is important.

7. How much wall preparation is included in the estimate?

Wall prep is a very important aspect of getting a great paint job that lasts. You will want to make sure that this is also a priority for the company you are hiring. Most reputable companies will include any necessary repairs in the quote.

8. Do you prep the rooms before you paint?

It is important to find to before the day of the paint job if you have to have each room prepared. Do they bring their own drop cloths, etc? Will they help you move heavy items? The more they are willing to help you with, the more convenient the job will be for you.

9. What brands of paint do you use?

The quality of the product is just as important, if not more, than the quality of the work. Even a great painter cannot produce good work if the products are low quality. Most reputable companies use professional quality paints from brands like Benjamin Moore, Dulux, General Paint or Sherwin-Williams. High quality products may be slightly more expensive, but they add years to your paint job.

10. Can you help me pick out a colour palette?

A great company will assist homeowners when it comes to choosing which colours will work best for their tastes as well as each individual room. Same goes with choosing a finish. A professional company will have the experience necessary to help you as well as the industry connections to recommend another home improvement professional.