Last weekend, Dramatic Changes Painting was a vendor at the MAC Events Home Show. Paired with the Maymont Flower & Garden Show, attendees received the benefit of two shows for their one entry fee! It was a wonderful event, with great vendors and some beautiful displays. There were full-scale gardens, stained glass creations, handmade furniture, one-of-a-kind bonsai trees, eco-friendly paint colors…You name it, it was there! Many vendors offered drawings for free or discounted services, and we were no exception — We gave away $300 toward painting services for homeowners seeking interior or exterior painting.

This weekend we’ll be at the Richmond Home & Garden Show, held at the Richmond Raceway Complex, representing over 350 vendors offering a variety of services. The show will be held from Friday, February 29th - Sunday, March 2nd. Parking is free, and tickets are $8 for adults, $2 for kids (children under 6 are free). For more information, visit the Richmond Home & Garden Show Website.

Perhaps we’ll see some of you there. Enjoy the show!

Whether interior or exterior, nearly all paint projects will require two or more coats of paint. The only time when one coat is required is if the new paint is the exact same color, as well as the same finish as the existing paint.

Using several coats of paint helps ensure a more even coat. If changing from a lighter color to a darker one, more than two coats may be needed, as well as a coat of primer. If several coats of paint are not used, there may be areas with little or no coverage, allowing the original paint color to be exposed.

 

Whether you are trying to sell your house, your original exterior paint is fading or damaged, or you are just in the mood for a new look, there are many good reasons to consider having the exterior of your home repainted.

Choosing the perfect color scheme for your home’s exterior is not as straightforward as it may first appear. There are several important considerations to take into account, which will ensure a great final product. Firstly, consider the colors that will be remaining on your home, such as the roof color, decks, or any brick or stonewalls or structures. Narrow your options by first finding out which colors will go well with these prominent, pre-existing features of your home.

 

 

A deck can add both beauty and function to any type of home. The true beauty of a wooden deck is experienced through a properly stained project. Over time, wooden decks lose some of their appeal due to harsh weather and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. The amount of longevity possible from a deck finish is dependent on the initial preparation, choice of deck stain, and the amount of exposure to intense sunlight and weather.

Having your deck re-stained every two to five years will keep it looking rich and elegant, no matter what conditions you may live in.  For decks in dire need of some TLC, it is recommended that the preparation of the surface include pressure washing and sanding.

 

When receiving a new coat of exterior paint, almost every home will have wood which has become rotten and in need of replacement. This wood-rot is caused by weather damage, such as rain, snow, or prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Some of the most commonly affected areas include siding, trim, windows, doors, sills, and railings. Other causes can also be to blame for wood-rot, including leaking plumbing or improperly installed gutters, etc.

Before any major exterior paint job, it is imperative to have any rotten wood replaced. Painting over rotten or damaged wood will only lead to further problems in the future, as well as further costs. Ideally, any rotten wood should be removed from the work surface, replaced, and then primed and painted to ensure quality appearance and function. In addition, if improper installation of other products (i.e. gutters, plumbing) is to blame for wet rot, these problems should also be addressed. It is also possible for your rotted products to be replaced with vinyl rot-resistant materials.

If you are considering having the interior of your home painted, then it is important to address any problems your drywall may have. Over time, drywall can become damaged in several different ways. These damages may be small, such as nail or screw holes, small cracks in the drywall, or gouges or scratches made by furniture. Some drywall repairs require more time and effort to repair, such as large cracks in the drywall due to settlement or water damage made by leaky walls, windows, or doors.

Dramatic Changes can provide solutions for any needs you may have involving drywall repair. Our staff is more than qualified to address any and all drywall issues found in your home. Most drywall repairs are completed by the painting crew upon arrival, and the price for these repairs is included in your original quote.

 

Wallpaper removal is one of those dreaded tasks which presents itself from time to time. Perhaps you have recently purchased a home which has wallpaper in one or more rooms, or maybe you had wallpaper put up in a room and now want to take it back down. Whatever the case, wallpaper removal can become a tedious, bothersome, and at times vexing chore. Many homeowners are deciding to do away with their outdated wallpaper to provide the interior of their home with the cleaner, more current look of freshly painted walls.

The problem with wallpaper removal is that one never knows exactly how difficult the task may be. For example, if the wallpaper was originally installed on bare, unprimed drywall, removing the wallpaper can lead to extensive damage of the drywall itself. On the other hand, you may start removing the wallpaper only to find another layer of the stuff underneath… and perhaps even more layers beneath that.

For these reasons, it is best to allow a professional team to remove any unwanted wallpaper form your home. The paint crews here at Dramatic Changes possess all the proper knowledge, equipment, and experience to ensure that removal of your home’s wallpaper will allow you to fully enjoy your home’s new interior.

When having your home repainted, it is important to understand the impact that a properly applied coat of primer will have on the final outcome of the project. This is especially true when applied to exterior paint projects. Primer allows for the paint to adhere better to the work surface, as well as provides the paint with longer and better durability.

A good coat of primer provides a foundation for the paint project and will provide visibly better results in the end. When changing the color of your walls, primer allows you to better cover the original color. Most importantly, primer adheres very well to the intended substrate, allowing the new paint to stick better and longer.

 

 

In most cases, latex paint is the best choice for your home. Generally speaking, latex paints are more durable than oils or solvent-based alternatives. Latex paints are less prone to yellowing over time, have longer color-retention ability, and withstand prolonged exposure to the sun better when compared to oil-based paints.

In addition, latex paints are more porous, allowing water vapor to escape from underneath the paint’s surface which in turn prevents blistering and flaking. Latex-based paints dry faster, have fewer odors, and are more easily cleaned up than oil-based paints. For most scenarios, latex paint is a superior choice to oil-based alternatives.

Many homes built before 1978 were painted with lead based paint. In general, the older your home, the more likely it has lead based paint. The federal government banned lead based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Dangerous levels of lead can be found in many common places, including homes in the city, country, or suburbs, in apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing.

Lead based paint has been used both inside and outside of the house, and can also be found in soil around some homes. Soil can pick up lead form exterior paint or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.