Epoxy flooring is a creative way to coat your floors and make a safe, durable, appealing work space. Epoxy floors are growing in popularity, and it’s easy to see why: There are many benefits to installing epoxy flooring in your home, and really only one con.
The Pros And Cons Of Epoxy Flooring
Preparing Metal Surfaces For Painting
Metal surfaces are a common part of many interior and exterior painting projects. Outdoor metal fixtures, aluminum gutters, copper pipes, galvanized steel siding, wrought iron gates, window frames, boilers, and more, are all commonly found in households, and all require a fresh coat of paint from time to time. When you need to paint metal, adequate surface preparation will make all the difference in the quality of your paint job and in how long it lasts. In fact, without the proper preparation, even the highest quality paints and custom metal coatings will not last, and your hard work will be in vain. Our checklist will help make sure your painting project is successful, with long lasting results!
Step 1: Clean the surface.
Every type of surface should be cleaned before being painted, and metal surfaces are no exception. In exterior painting projects, metal surfaces are exposed to the elements, and likely in need of a thorough cleaning. It’s often best and most efficient to pressure wash these surfaces, giving special attention to areas of mildew, mold, or excessive grime buildup. Indoor metal surfaces may also require attention, but in many cases, can just be wiped clean with a cloth, or damp rag. If there is grime buildup, grease, or oils present, make a mixture of warm water and mild dish detergent and lightly scrub the affected area.
Step 2: Sand and scrape the surface.
Sanding and scraping the metal surface will make it smooth, uniform, and easier to paint. Any buildup or residue that was not removed during cleaning should be sanded away. Rust, likewise, needs to be sanded off of the surface. Begin by lightly sanding, and work your way to more intense measures. Scraping will remove excessive residue and rust, as well as any loose or peeling paint from the previous paint job. Avoid using power tools for this stage, since they can actually polish the surface, leading to problems with adhesion when it comes time to paint. If you must use a power tool to sand or scrape, be prepared to give the area an extra coat or two of primer before painting.
Step 3: Make repairs to the surface.
Small holes, dents, and gashes can all befall your metal surface. You’ll likely discover these damages during cleaning, sanding, or scraping. Most dents can be filled using an epoxy-based composite or epoxy filler. Larger holes and gashes will require heavier duty epoxy filler, possibly along with a mesh liner. After applying any epoxy or filler, sand the edges of the repair after they have dried so that the subsequent coatings will be smooth.
Step 4: Prime the surface.
The last step before applying paint is to apply the proper primer to the metal. Consider the substrate itself, and how you want the final topcoat to look and feel. Also consider the environment your metal surface is in, and what elements it may be exposed to. All bare metal will need to be primed with at least one coat, and the better you can specify the type of primer you need, the better results you’ll have in a finished product.
For example:
- If your surface will be exposed to moisture, avoid using latex or water-based primers. Moisture will easily soak through these primers and your paint job will need to be redone within a matter of weeks or months.
- If your surface is susceptible to rust, use a rust-inhibitive primer or rust converter or rust reformer.
- Even if you have not had issues with rust, if your surface is made of ferrous metal (metal that contains iron), we still recommend using rust-inhibitive primers or rust converters for metal surfaces that are exposed to the elements, as a way to safeguard against rust.
- For non-ferrous metals, and for surfaces that are not exposed to the elements, we recommend a galvanized metal primer, which will enable the paint coatings to better adhere to metal surfaces.
The Painting Craftsman Way
Metal surfaces can be tricky to paint, even when you take the necessary precautions and do the right prep work. If you’d rather not embark on a DIY project like this, find a good professional painting service and let a specialized team take care of your painting project! There are many good house painting companies in Jacksonville, but The Painting Craftsmen is the company to choose for the luxury coatings and paint job your home deserves. Our exterior and interior house painting teams specialize in preparing your metal surface for painting, and then applying smooth and even top coats, giving all surfaces the look and feel of true craftsmanship.
The Painting Craftsmen Is A Benjamin Moore & Angie’s List Certified Painting Company
Angie’s List has announced its first exclusive paint manufacturer relationship, selecting Benjamin Moore for this landmark alliance. Angie’s List is the venerable source that homeowners turn to in order to find the best service providers for their homes, and this relationship identifies Benjamin Moore as its paint manufacturer of choice.
Cabinet Refinishing vs. Cabinet Refacing vs. Cabinet Replacing – What’s Best For Me?
Changing your cabinets is an effective way to transform an entire room. You can paint the walls in your kitchen and replace the appliances, but if the cabinets are dated or drab, your hard work is in vain. Changing your cabinets adds character or warmth to your home, and adds value and curb appeal as well, if you plan to sell. Depending on your budget, your timeline, and your aesthetic vision for your kitchen, you can choose to completely replace the cabinets, reface them, or refinish them. The question is, which cabinet transformation method is best for you?
Is Wallpaper Making A Comeback?
Wallpaper enjoyed many decades of popularity before being eclipsed by paint as the wall covering favorite. Wallpaper popularity peaked in the ‘70s, and continued into the ‘90s, before falling out of fashion. It was then relegated to powder rooms, synonymous with outdated homes, and all but forgotten, perchance on purpose. Now, wallpaper is slowly making a comeback, but with a fresh approach.
Vote For THE PAINTING CRAFTSMEN In Jacksonville’s 2015 “Bold City Best” Contest!
The 2015 “Bold City Best” competition is gaining steam! The Florida Times-Union designed and launched this contest to give Jacksonville residents the chance to vote for their favorite restaurants, doctors, museums, hangouts, and more. This is the time to vote for all your Jacksonville, Florida favorites! One of the most popular categories is the “Home & Professional Services” category, where you can vote for the best painting service in town – The Painting Craftsmen!
Damaged Drywall – How To Patch It Yourself
The drywall in your home is subjected to damages of all kinds. Our walls get bashed by doorknobs, scraped and gouged by furniture, and riddled with dents and gashes, especially if there are kids or pets in the house. The good news is that repairing damaged drywall is easier than you might think. Take a look at our tips, head to the hardware store, and your walls will be looking great in almost no time!
Vote For The Painting Craftsmen In Jacksonville’s 2015 “Bold City Best”!
The Florida Times-Union has officially launched its “Bold City Best” 2015 contest! The “Bold City Best” lets Jacksonville residents vote on their favorite restaurants, shopping spots, doctors, law firms, and more. Best of all, there is a “Home & Professional Services” category, where you can vote for the best painting contractors in town – The Painting Craftsmen!
How Do I Vote?
Voting is easy! Registration is simple, and you can vote for as few or as many categories as you want. First, follow this link: http://contests.jacksonville.com/l/Bold-City-Best/Ballot/HomeampProfessionalServices. That will open the ballot right to the “Home & Professional Services” category. Click on “Best Painting Service,” and select The Painting Craftsmen, then click the red VOTE button and you’re done. If you vote without registering first, you’ll be prompted on how to register, and then you’ll need to submit your vote after registering.
If you’ve ever used our sister company, First Coast Home Pros, then you know what a clean house looks like. While you’re on the “Home & Professional Services” page, vote for them in the “Best Carpet Cleaning Company” category!
Vote as early as today, or anytime through August 16. The “Bold City Best” winners will be announced on September 27 via Jacksonville.com and the Florida Times-Union.
The Painting Craftsmen – The Best Painting Company In Jacksonville, FL
The Painting Craftsmen is known for our commitment to high quality work as well as complete customer satisfaction. Our painters are highly skilled with years of experience, and specialize in interior and exterior painting alike. We use the best paint and material possible, and our level of work is unparalleled in Northeast Florida. Homeowners throughout downtown Jacksonville and the surrounding suburbs and beaches all trust The Painting Craftsmen with painting projects large and small. When it comes to painting, we are the “Bold City Best”!
Make A Statement With The Paint Color Of Your Front Door
More and more homeowners are choosing to make their front doors pop with bright and unexpected colors. With this simple project you can transform the feel of your home, express your own creative side, and give an otherwise understated landscape a burst of personality. If you’re thinking of selling your home, a bright, freshly painted front door will massively bump up your curb appeal. Best of all, the entire project can usually be done using just one can of paint and a single weekend or less. It’s a simple, affordable, and fun way to perk up your home – no wonder so many people are doing it!
Should I Paint Or Stain My Deck?
Your deck is exposed to extreme elements all year long. Intense sunlight and UV rays, especially here in Jacksonville, Florida, fade wood and break down the lignin, or natural substance that holds together wood fibers. Humidity and heavy rains overwhelm wood with moisture, causing it to warp and crack as it then expands and contracts with changing temperatures. Wood that is unprotected or neglected is highly susceptible to these dangers, and will turn gray and eventually rot. The solution is to protect the wood with paint or stain, but which is better for your own deck?