Painting and Remodeling –A Word From Clay
Check back here each week where I will have tips and suggestions about painting and remodeling your home. Our goal as your contractor is to always leave happy customers with beautiful homes. We make your home your castle.
3-23-2016 One of the most stressful projects for any home owner is remodeling your home. Think about how complicated it can be to find the right painting company AND a flooring company AND a granite installer AND a window company (and so much more). Then think about trying to schedule all those companies. You don’t want painting and flooring crews getting in each other’s way! The good news is that Castle Painting and Home Services can help you. We are a professional painting and remodeling team that can meet all your remodeling needs with one contractor! That’s right — one contractor, one awesome team and one amazing result! You might think it would be more expensive, but it’s actually more economical and definitely less stress for you. And if you mention our Spring Special you’ll receive an extra 10% off! Estimates are always free so call us today — 214-725-3464. We will make your home your castle. And I know you’ll have a smile on your face when we leave!
3-16-2016 Now that spring is here, it’s the best time update your home. Remodeling and painting inside or out can give your home that fresh new look it needs.
This is also the time of year when many people are thinking about putting their homes on the market. Realtors agree that this is the ideal time to sell before school is out for the summer. Even though it is considered a “seller’s market,” you still want to make your home stand out. Kim Patterson, president of the Greater Lewisville Association of Realtors, agrees that it’s important to boost your home’s curb appeal. “I would focus on making sure the yard is manicured, and the outside paint and wood look good. Trim trees so you can see the house, and make sure the fence is in good shape,” she said.
Interiors shouldn’t be ignored either. Updating your flooring, granite and adding stainless steel appliances can make your home catch a buyer’s eye. They don’t want to move in and have a lot of work to do! Ms. Patterson added that “it’s easy to lose perspective when you put your home on the market.” When updating your home, you need to take an objective look at it. Think about what it’s worth to a buyer, not what it’s worth to you, she said. Your favorite color schemes and designs may not be the “blank slate” the buyer is looking for.
At Castle Painting and Home Services, we can help you give your home curb appeal that will draw potential buyers. Whether it’s replacing wood trim, updating your fence or painting the exterior with a fresh coat of paint, we can make your home stand taller than the rest. We can also guide you in color selection, give you granite and flooring suggestions, and help with any other remodeling needs you may have. A realtor is your best friend when selling your home, but WE are your best friend when getting it ready to sell. Estimates are always free, so give us a call today – 214-725-3464.
3-9-2016 A milder-than-usual winter has brought heavy rains pouring down on us in the DFW area with more rain heading our way. These downpours can provide much needed nourishment for our foliage, but can also cause problems for the wood on our homes. Let’s think about why this can become a problem, especially with the climate changes in North Texas.
Before a tree is cut down, the wood is alive and its cells are full of water. But after the cutting and milling process, the cells slowly dry out and shrink. When the porous wood is exposed to rain, the cells reabsorb water and swell. When the Texas sun comes out, they shrink again. This movement is natural to wood, but it can cause gaps or curling when the boards are installed next to each other. Depending on how evenly the cells shrink and swell, it can also cause cracking and warping. Rain can also cause rot in wood because it creates moisture where microorganisms can flourish. If you have joints between your boards, they can be more vulnerable as water can collect in the joints. Shady locations that are slow to dry out can be at an even greater risk, even with weather-resistant species of wood.
This is not a problem that will correct itself. Wise homeowners will be aware of how the weather affects their home and take action to solve the problem before it gets worse. I recommend that you do a thorough check of your wood surfaces, looking carefully at siding, window frames, joints and areas that are close to the ground where the moisture lingers. If you have areas of concern, please call me, and I will be happy to inspect your home for damage. At Castle Painting and Home Services, we can provide you with a free estimate to make those repairs and give you peace of mind for years to come. Call 214-725-3464 today.
1-20-2016 Drab, dreary days got you down? Many people feel the “ho-hums” of winter with grey skies and brown, lifeless trees everywhere. One way to change your mood is to change the colors around you. There have been many scientific studies about how different colors have a dramatic effect on our moods.
According to Leslie Harrington, a noted expert on the use of color in both residential and industrial décor, “Color is a universal, nonverbal language, and we all intuitively know how to speak it. What color you paint your walls isn’t just a matter of aesthetics. It’s a tool that can be leveraged to affect emotions and behavior.”
Here are some color ideas the experts recommend:
Living room and foyer paint colors. Warm tones like reds, yellows, and oranges, and earth tones like brown and beige often work well in both the living room and foyer, because they’re thought to stimulate conversation.
Kitchen paint colors. Color consultants say that if you have fond memories of spending time in the kitchen when you were a kid, it might make sense to recreate the color scheme in your grown-up kitchen. If there’s no particular paint scheme you remember fondly, reds and yellows can be great colors in the kitchen as well as in the living room and foyer. But be careful if you’re watching your weight: in addition to stimulating conversation, color experts say that red may prompt you to eat more, if only subtly. “If you’re on a diet, you might want to keep red out of the kitchen,” Harrington says, adding that the restaurant industry has long recognized the appetite-stimulating power of red decor.
Dining room paint colors. Because it’s stimulating, red decor can be great for a formal dining room. In addition to encouraging conversation, it whets the appetites of your guests. “If your dining room is red, people may think you are a better cook,” says Harrington.
Bedroom paint colors. The bedroom is where you go to relax. Cool colors — blues, greens and lavenders — can be great choices here, because they are thought to have a calming effect. The darker the hue, the more pronounced the effect is believed to be. “Reds tend to increase blood pressure and heart rate and stimulate activity,” says Harrington. “Blue does just the opposite. That’s why we think of it as calming.”
Other rooms. As you walk through your home, think of the room’s purpose and use color to set the mood. Blues, greens, lavenders, and greys are calming, peaceful colors. Green is also the color of concentration, making it a great choice for offices or study areas. Reds and oranges get you moving in a workout room, but can also make you feel hot. For this reason, Harrington suggests that yellow-greens and blue-greens may be the best choices because, in terms of color psychology, they’re “happier.”
If you want your home’s colors to reflect positive feelings and bring your family out of the humdrums of winter, call Castle Painting and Home Services at 214-725-3464. Owner Clay Kinser will personally sit down with you to discuss your needs. Estimates are always free.