Why Do Painters Backroll?

Exterior house paint in Rhode Island is applied in two ways: Spray only or spray and backroll. What is backrolling? Applying paint by sprayer and then using a paint roller to, in theory, push paint into small openings.

And what about just brushing paint? Well, you could brush an entire house, but that hasn’t happened in over 50 years.

So with only two options, one of the most common questions we get is “How does Happy Trees painting apply paint”

There are a range of opinions on this, but understanding the factors involved can help homeowners make the best decision.

On a breezy Rhode Island summer day the paint can easily “skin over” before it is backrolled, especially of the person rolling is busy moving ladders or drop cloths.

Spray-only

An even, consistent paint film will give a home the longest-lasting protection from weather, UV and yes, bird poop.

• Consistent paint thickness per manufacturer’s specs
• More efficient application
• Less chance of drips or runs
• Easier color Transitions (light to dark no problem)
• All areas of the house get exactly the same consistent coverage

Spray & Backroll

Spray the paint for efficient application and then immediately roll over (backroll) to, in theory, push it into small openings. While backrolling can fill small gaps, it also creates uneven film thickness in the paint – think of rolling a red dining room with white paint.

Uneven paint film thickness means uneven paint performance.

On a breezy Rhode Island summer day the paint can easily “skin over” before it is backrolled, especially if the person rolling is busy moving ladders and drop cloths.

Drawbacks to Backrolling

• Slower
• Widely varying paint thickness
• Timing is critical
• Weather is a factor
• “Easy” areas get backrolled, “hard” areas don’t
• Unnecessary multiple existing coats
• Pointless on smoother surface

There are several factors that make backrolling more of a challenge – timing and weather top the list. With questionable benefits and difficult execution, Happy Trees Painting falls squarely in the “spray only” camp. Give us a call and we’ll show you the difference it’ll make on your home

3 Steps to Proper Paint Storage

The leftover (latex) paint in your basement will, sooner or later, become a disposal problem. Here’s how to make sure your next can of paint remains in usable condition.

As a general rule of thumb, if a can of paint is less than one third full it is not worth storing – leave the lid off and let it dry completely. Then, leave it out with your household trash – dry paint is considered disposable household trash.

Important to note: liquid paint is considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of accordingly – the Jackson County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal facility is a great option.

Paint should always be stored indoors so that it can not freeze. If it has ever frozen, it is now toast.  A good test for frozen paint: stir it. Stir-able paint should be OK, if it feels like a brick it’s probably been frozen.

The How’s

1. Cover the opening of the can with plastic wrap
2. Put the lid on securely
3. Store the can upside down

The Why’s

Plastic wrap will keep paint out of the “gutter” at the top of the can and will keep paint from drying on the lid. It’s best to plan ahead: as soon as you open the can that will likely be leftover, wash the lid and use a pour spout to keep the gutter clean. Plastic wrap will also keep the lid from contacting the can where corrosion can start. See the photo.

Now, before the lid goes on us committed Paint Geeks will exhale long and slow into the can. This will displace oxygen (dries paint) with CO2 (not so much).

Now, the lid – securely. Thumb-pressing is adequate; hammering is excessive and will usually damage the seal.

Finally, upside down storage means the paint in the can seals the lid, making premature drying that much less likely.

Industry experts acknowledge that just about 0% of the paint stored in your basement is likely to ever see the light of day, so the whole storage thing may be a triumph of Hope over Reason. At least now you’ve got reason to hope that your paint will remain in usable condition.

Still not sure if it’s usable? Give us a call – we’d be happy to take a look.

Compare Painting Bids

Cover these points with each painter you interview – you’ll soon have a good idea who will provide the work you’re after.

Prep Work Is Critical

The single most important part of a quality paint job. Some homes require more prep time than painting time. A careful, methodical and systematic approach will maximize the performance benefits of high quality materials. Will they pressure wash to clean dirt, or also to remove paint (spray tip and technique matter)?

Use backer rod for large gaps (good), or just fill with caulk (bad)? Use sharp scrapers or dull putty knives to remove paint? Attention to detail is essential to the final result. Most homeowners won’t know about shortcuts taken with tedious prep work until well after their check has been cashed.

Material Quality

Closely supervised, experienced painters will always deliver a better job than unsupervised, inexperienced workers.

Every paint manufacturer makes a range of products – from very high quality to very low price. A painter should be able to explain which product he uses, where it falls in the product line and just what the difference is beyond “it’s a better quality product”. This is true for primer and caulk as well. Cheap caulk dries out and pulls loose, cheap primer is watery because it has fewer solids. Understand what you’re paying for and verify that is what you get.

Included Or Not?

Materials are often not included. This is a huge unknown for the homeowner – no incentive for the painter to eliminate waste or estimate paint quantities accurately.

Workman’s comp insurance is required by law; liability insurance is required by common sense. Some painters have neither.

A low materials estimate makes the bid looks better; accurate materials estimates do not. Proposals that include the cost of materials bet on the painters’ expertise and give the homeowner a better view of their final cost.

The Deal Breaker

Workman’s compensation insurance is required by law; liability insurance is required by common sense. Some painters have neither. No homeowner wants an uninsured worker slipping off a high ladder. Make sure your painter can document that he and his employees are properly insured – a certificate of insurance issued for your specific project at your specific address is routine for commercial insurance carriers. Subcontractors? Each individual worker needs to have his own current, up to date certificate.

Top-Notch Work

Closely supervised, experienced painters will always deliver a better job than unsupervised, inexperienced workers. Proper attire (painters “whites”) is an easy gauge of the level of professionalism. An agreement that eliminates assumptions about the type of work to be done and a supervisor that clearly communicates with his crew and the homeowner will ensure that all expectations are met.

Long-Term Commitment?

A professional crew can paint most houses in less than 2 weeks. If you’ve hired a crew of one, or they work a “flexible” schedule, they may be a part of your life for quite a bit longer. Great if you don’t mind them using your bathroom, but most homeowners want to get the whole thing over with sooner rather than later. At the other end of the spectrum are the “blow and go” or “quick change” artists – quick prep, quick spray, collect the check and outta here. If that’s what you’re paying for, OK, but not so good if you’re paying for a top-notch job.

Extras

A Porta-Potty is a thoughtful touch that most painters don’t consider (easier to sneak behind the garage). Trash bags for daily pick-up, no blaring music, no foul language, professional attire, tarps on the driveway prevent permanent reminders of your paint project – these small details do make a difference.

We transformed the inside of a nice providence home and the homeowner ran into exactly what’s described here: colors that on one wall or time of day looked completely different than another. The homeowner was surprised, but Debby Zimmer at Paint Quality Institute explains what’s going on:

“Deep, highly saturated shades have been popular for years, but the palette that’s in vogue right now is just the opposite. Interior designers and colorists are favoring lighter hues that just tease the eye with subtle hints of color.

During the daytime, a wall color might appear to be in the pale green family, but at night, under artificial light, it may take on a yellow caste.

Vaguely reminiscent of the “pastels” of yesteryear, the light colors that are gaining popularity today are more sophisticated ensembles, often marrying three or more different hues to create soft color that is often hard to put a name to. Layering color in this way also produces some interesting visual effects.

Because the new tints are so changeable under different lighting conditions, a useful recommendation is to apply some sizable swatches of the paint color to several of your walls and live with them for a day or two before fully committing to the color.

Because the new tints are not pure yellows, greens, or whatever, many have a chameleon-like quality, shifting their appearance slightly when the light changes.

During the daytime, a wall color might appear to be in the pale green family, but at night, under artificial light, it may take on a yellow caste. Likewise, a light bluish tint might gravitate toward pale gray in dimmer light.

Because the new tints are so changeable under different lighting conditions, a useful recommendation is to apply some sizable swatches of the paint color to several of your walls and live with them for a day or two before fully committing to the color. That way, you can be sure you’ll like your new choice at every time of day or night.

The emerging trend to tints is part of the natural ebb and flow that occurs in the paint industry every five years or so, and this stage of the cycle offers some tangible rewards to those who jump on board.

For one thing, repainting walls, ceilings and woodwork in lighter-colored paint tends to “open up” the area, making any room seem more spacious.

Perhaps even more important is the psychological benefit that comes with a lighter indoor environment. Brighter surroundings can lift our spirits, no matter what the color. And soft tints derived from certain color families – green and blue, for example – have a restful quality that can be restorative after a stressful day.

If you’re truly serious about doing some interior painting, there’s no time like the present. Adding some light new paint color is the perfect antidote to winter’s shorter days and gloomier weather. You’ll be right in step with the latest trend in interior painting, and you’ll find 2016 to be a far brighter new year!”

For more information on paint color and painting techniques, visit the Paint Quality Institute blog at blog.paintquality.com or its website at www.paintquality.com.

About the PAINT QUALITY INSTITUTE℠

The Paint Quality Institute was formed in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute’s goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com. PAINT QUALITY INSTITUTE and PAINTQUALITY.COM are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow.