Deck restain-Skaneateles NY

This week Donigan Painting had the pleasure of refinishing a deck and rails in beautiful Skaneateles on the lake.  This job was a referral from another deck and smoke house we did down the street last summer.  Joe's restain included all the railing-spindles-stringers-joists.  Before we stained everything was hand scraped, sanded, washed-scrubbed to remove mold-dust-dirt and screwed secure.  After preparing the surfaces we applied two coats of Sherwin-Williams Super-Deck Solid White.  Here is how it turned out.

Bill Donigan
Donigan Painting
Syracuse NY 13208
315-313-3254
http://doniganpainting.webstarts.com/

Exterior Painting Syracuse NY-Tudor University

These past two weeks Donigan Painting had the pleasure of restoring and repainting a 1920's tudor located in the Syracuse University neighborhood.  These customers chose the A-Plan which included extensive sanding to feather out old buckling alligator skinned paint, thorough caulking and two coats of high quality Benjamin Moore Paint.  Since it is an older home built before 1978 lead safe practices included wet scraping, high mil plastic ground cover, specialty sanding tools and extensive cleaning with a hepa vacuum .  The prep work for this older home included washing dirt-dust off gently due to its stucco façade, hand scraping-cutting back loose paint, specialty machine sanding to feather in the scraped paint edges, oil priming bare wood, caulking seams-gaps, wood putty filling holes, glazing older windows.  A boom lift was used to reach peaks and other high points on this job.  Once the prep work was completed we applied two coats of paint that matched the existing colors in a low sheen and flat sheen.  The homeowners were very happy with the results and led to us staining their 100'+ of deck rail-spindles-stringers. This job also led to another repaint we will be doing around the corner from this home in a few weeks. 

Bill Donigan
Donigan Painting
224 Ross Park
Syracuse NY 13208
315-313-3254
http://doniganpainting.webstarts.com/

Strathmore California Bungalow Repaint Syracuse NY

Last week we had the pleasure of restoring a 1920's Syracuse gem on the west side.  The home had not been painted since 1980 and needed a lot of tlc.  Extensive prep work was needed in order to get the surfaces ready to accept primer, caulk and paint.  Most of the paint came off in large sheets and crumbled away.  Oil primer was applied twice to many areas that were down to the bare wood.  After priming we caulked gaps and seams with a 25 year latex siliconized caulk.  All areas were extensively protected to contain lead and thoroughly vacuumed to remove fine particles.  Loose clapboards were nailed down and some of the soffit molding was replaced(in the first pic the soffit mold was replaced after this shot was taken).  Two coats of high quality paint were sprayed and brushed into all the nooks and crannies.  On the two dormer soffits alone we used 3 gallons to super coat them.  The owners have lived here for 50+ years and said they couldn't be happier with the results.  This repaint came as a referral for work done on another home up the street.   

Bill Donigan
Donigan Painting & Remodeling
Syracuse, NY 13208
315-313-3254
http://doniganpainting.webstarts.com

Exterior Repaint Syracuse University

Last week we had gorgeous weather which made for great painting conditions in central NY.  This customer was a referral from a tudor home we painted across the street last summer on Berkley.  In this case we needed to fix a previous painters mistakes who did not prime or put enough prep work into the surface.  This caused the paint, which is Aura by Benjamin Moore, to fail faster than it should have.  It was obvious after walking around the house and scraping some test spots there was no primer applied and the cleaning was sub-par leaving chips and dust mixed in with this previous painters finish application.  In order to make it right we hand scrape the failed paint off, vacuum the surfaces, lightly sand, vacuum again, oil prime bare wood and apply two coats of Ben Moore Aura.  We used a lift to access the steeper parts of the houses siding minimizing any wear and tear on the roof and keeping the painters safe.  Here are some pictures of before and after from some rough parts of the home. 

Bill Donigan
Donigan Painting
224 Ross Park
Syracuse NY 13208
315-313-3254
http://doniganpainting.webstarts.com/

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Syracuse NY

Painting kitchen cabinets is a common repaint homeowners diy.  Buying new cabinets can be quite expensive so the alternative is to paint them.  Here are professional painting tips for someone who wants to tackle this type of project.  Typically repainting your cabinets will take about a week when all is said and done with dry times.

Right now we are on a kitchen remodel in Fabius NY where we are refacing the cabinets with paint.  Not all paints are created equal so knowing what to buy will save you from applying the wrong product.  Some people think slapping latex wall paint with a sheen on there does the job, it doesn't.  Cabinet resurfacing paint is made up of urethane-alkyd-acrylic components that provide a superior, hard, scratch free surface when applied correctly to specifications.  An example of improper application is using a latex primer and latex paint.  What will happen immediately is the primer will be a soft coat that provides poor adhesion and easily scrapes off with your finger nail.  This type of coating will wear out within the first year leaving you with dingy cabinets and a waste of time.  I will get back to the product side of it later in this blog.  So you're ready to begin now what?

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1.  Start by removing the cabinet doors and hardware.  The best practice is to keep your door hardware with its original door so that everything fits back together.  Or you may opt to update the pulls and hardware.  If this is the case the best thing to do is bring your old hinge to the store with you and compare it with what you are considering.  Pulls or the part you pull on to open it are standard for most cabinets.  In some cases you may have to wood putty fill screw holes to accommodate your new hardware.    Labeling and separating them will keep things organized and make reinstalling go smoother in the end.
2.  Hand clean the cabinets with soap and water to remove grease and grime.
3.  Sand the cabinets. Depending on the finish on your cabinets you will need to use anywhere from 120-200 grit to scuff the surfaces and remove the gloss finish.  This is a critical step that must be done thoroughly so that when you apply your primer it sticks.  If you have ever painted a surface and not sanded you may have already seen this play out, you'll be able to rub the paint off dried.
3.  Clean everything you sanded with a shop vac so that all the dust is removed.  Next go back over all cabinet surfaces with a wet sponge or rag and remove fine dust.  Cleaning all the dust off and out of the cabinets will keep your work area clean and help you avoid dirt and dust in your applications.
4.  Priming:  Depending on the level of the finish you would like to achieve will determine how you choose to apply your primer.  The choice's range from a brush to fine roller to spraying.  Brushing on the primer often leaves brush strokes which means more prep work between coats.  For your typical oak cabinet with a polyurethane finish you will need three coats of primer.  Laying the primer on thick is not recommended.  To achieve optimal results you will need to apply many thin coats until you can no longer see the original wood colors.  By doing it correctly you will save your self from the paint pooling in areas, sagging or drips.  This will also cut down on in between sanding time and mess.
5.  Once the wood is covered with primer you will need to sand again to remove orange peel finish, brush strokes, imperfections.  This time 180-200 grit will do the trick.  The idea is to get the surface as smooth as possible before you apply the finish coats.  Once again thoroughly vacuum and wipe down all surfaces same as before.
6.  Finish coats:  You are now ready to begin applying your finish paint.  In most cases using a fine nap cabinet roller will work best.  This is a roller designed specifically to apply this paint because once you've rolled it on it leaves little to no application marks once it has leveled out and set up.  There is a technique used for the best results when applying the finish coats.  Once you've loaded up your roller you want to roll it on till you no longer can here the paint spreading.  This may take you a little while to realize what you are listening for but once you get it it will provide that mirror like showroom finish. 
7.  Install cabinet hardware and pulls and rehang. 

These are a few tried and true practices that will ensure you get the high quality finish you are looking for on your kitchen cabinets resurfacing.  Keep in mind these are standard practices for the best results in this application.  Depending on your level of expertise and patience results will vary.  Like they say you can't rush a good thing and in this case it holds very true.  Dry times will vary for products so make sure you read carefully what they are and the conditions that must be met to allow the product to work correctly.  None of the steps above can be short cut or left out without a consequence.  So when you go and spend a few hundred dollars to reface cabinets make sure you follow these steps and the product specifications so that you don't waste your time and money.  When you are shopping for primer and paint make sure you buy a alkyd urethane primer and acrylic urethane finish paint.  The components in these type of products will outlast an enamel or latex paint for decades.  Good luck and happy trails with your project!

Bill Donigan
Donigan Painting
224 Ross Park
Syracuse NY 13208
http://doniganpainting.webstarts.com/

Pressure Washing Best Practices

Pressure washing has its pros and cons.  When it comes to your next project take the time to get it right the first time by reading up on best practices for pressure washing. 
Spring is finally here in central NY and neighborhoods are buzzing with work.  To the uninitiated pressure washing may seem like an intimidating process.  Many times I have been 2nd in line after the damage has been done to a homeowners property.  Once you zig or zag with a zero tip you have yourself a whole new can of worms to tackle.  Pressure washers name implies exactly what it does.  Typically you have around 3,000 psi (pressure a square inch) pushing the water out of the spray gun.  Your gas powered psi will vary at your big box store. Rental units are around 3000 psi give or take.  For heavier duty washing a gas powered washer that has 2000-3000 psi will get the job done. Electric pressure washers are good for cleaning cars, deck furniture and lighter duty applications. Here is a list of common projects for pressure washing that we come across and something's to keep in mind before firing it up.

1.  Decks:  If you have the pleasure of someone or maybe you putting paint on your deck you will notice in a short time it is peeling up.  Here is a great candidate for a pressure wash.  In my experience we've come across some sloppy decks that were painted sometimes multiple coats before the owner realizes that you stain decks.  In order to get it right the best thing to do is rip all the paint off.  It's a messy time consuming job but when you are done you will have a proper surface to apply your stain or sealant.  If your deck has been stained and is uniformly solid with no peeling your best bet is a deck cleaner.  There is no need to remove perfectly good stain.  An intact surface will cover even if you go from redwood to beige.
2.  Cedar Clap Board:  Many homes have or are being covered with cedar.  It's a softer wood so you have to be gentle pressure washing it.  First and foremost do not use a pressure washer as a scraper to take paint off.  It will ultimately make a bigger mess than what you start with.    If it is a home built before 1978 you may have lead paint buried in there and by going cowboy with your pressure washer you could be spreading lead everywhere causing more of a mess and a new can opening.  Using the correct tip size will dramatically reduce the chance of a zig or zag in this situation.  To remove dirt or mildew start your spray two feet away from the surface and move it slowly to around a foot for the best removal of grim with a 2-3 spray tip.
3. Stucco-Concrete:  If you have solid-sound surfaces using a pressure washer should not be a problem here.  Although if you have cracks or pitting you are going to want to be a little more cautious around these areas.  Water will get into the smallest crack on stucco and that leads to breakdown.  It is best to use a garden hose if you have surfaces that fit the poor condition criteria. Hitting it with a hose is much less pressure and if you grab a stiff bristle brush you'll be in business to get it done.  A lot of times the combination of a garden hose, stiff bristle brush and the proper cleaning solution will be all you need.  It's better to error on the side of caution with your stucco because unseen damage caused by the pressured water can show up as soon as we have a freeze and you notice a section of concrete on the ground. 

Before you start washing familiarize yourself with the three or four spray tips you have.  You can do this safely by trying each tip size out and watching the fan pattern being shot out of the orifice.  They will range from 0- straight shot capable of putting holes in just about anything to 4-with a 2 foot fan span and more of a mist.  Practice a bit first on something you don't care about and then have at it.  Practice makes prefect.  Good luck and don't shoot your eye out. 

Bill Donigan
Donigan Painting
Syracuse, NY 13208
315-313-3254
http://doniganpainting.webstarts.com/

Lead Paint Safe Practices Syracuse NY

If you live in the city or an older home around Syracuse that was built before 1978 there is a chance you have lead based paint somewhere under the surface.  There are simple test kits available at your local store that are easy to use inside or out.  Depending on the extent of your renovation it may be more practical to hire a pro to test it.  Children and your pets are most susceptible to the harmful effects of the dust created when removing lead based paints.  It is better to be safe than sorry when removing this type of paint inside your house or out.  In this case we will talking about removing exterior paint that contains lead.

Painting contractors performing this type of work must be certified. When it comes to the health and well being of your own it is important to consider the benefits of having it done correctly to minimize any exposure to lead dust.  Yes it is going to cost more to have it done correctly but what's more important:  quick and questionable or methodical and safe?  I choose safe and will performing this type of removal all spring and summer all over Onondaga County.  For instance my company will be removing large amounts of paint from my own home this spring and we have a 6 month old baby and dearly loved lab like many families.  In order to minimize exposure we follow procedures that contain, collect and knock down any dust during removal.  You are probably asking well Bill what is it you do exactly so here it is:

1.  We contain the areas we are working in by laying down very thick/mil  heavy duty plastic.  This plastic cover is extended out 10-15 feet from the house and securely attached with gorilla tape and staples.
2.  Windows are closed tightly and covered with plastic on the outside same as above.
3.  If the area we are working in is close to a neighbors property or there is abnormal wind we set up a vertical containment to prevent the dust and chips from blowing around.
4.  Before hand scraping we hose down the area we will be working on so dust is not an issue.  So when we are scraping the paint chips off no dust is created and it drops to the plastic without incident
5.  Once the area is done we wipe it down with wet sponges to remove any dust or dirt
6.  The paint chips are safely disposed along with plastic and any other materials used for removal.
7.  The area is thoroughly vacuumed with a HEPA Vacuum
8.  If you choose to have the paint sanded off we use a tool that sands/grinds it off while vacuuming it up into a HEPA Safe Vacuum
9.  FYI:  HEPA safe vacuums are specifically used because they are equipped to collect dust and debris without redistributing it out the back like your typical shop vac.  It's a closed system and they are not cheap.

By following lead safe practices and hiring a certified contractor for its removal you can rest assured your family will be safe during and after the project is completed period.  Be wary of the painter who does or says otherwise about these practices. 

Donigan Painting
224 Ross Park
Syracuse NY 13208
http://doniganpainting.webstarts.com/