Dramatic Changes Interior Painting

Interior Painting Services

Site Preparation

Before beginning work on your project, we prepare the areas to be painted. We will move all the large furniture in your home as needed (room to room or to the center of the room). Drop cloths, plastic and tape are all used to cover floors, cabinets, furniture or other items. Moving the furniture and covering your belongings minimizes the risk of damage to your personal belongings.

Surface Preparation

One of the first steps to ensure a good quality interior project is making sure you prepare the surface for painting. We will calk joints between walls and moldings (where appropriate) to improve the appearence of your finished project. Drywall damage should also be fixed to make sure you are happy with your finished project. To find out more about drywall repair click here.

Paint Finishes

There are a variety of different paint finishes that you can choose for your walls or trim. Most walls are painted in a flat, matte, or eggshell finish. Flat paint is great for hiding blemishes in walls but it is not very cleanable. Matte and Eggshell finishes offer better cleanability than flat, but blemishes are more apparent. What is most important is that you base your choice on what is most important to you and how you want your home to look. Occasionally, homeowners will select a Semi-gloss finish for a bathroom or kitchen. Wood trim is usually painted in a Semi-gloss or Gloss finish.

Coats of Paint

Almost all projects require 2 coats of paint to ensure a quality finished project. Most of the time, we are changing the color and/or finish of the existing paint. The only time we would use only one coat would be if we are painting the exact same color using the exact same finish. Changing from dark colored walls to light or vice versa are a different story. Most paints will require a primer coat in order to make this kind of color change, but with some newer products on the market there may be some other options.

Oil vs Latex

Many home interiors still have oil based paint on the walls or trim. Most homeowners today are converting this over to Latex paint. Because of the environmental impact, we will not take on projects where the owner wants to apply new oil based paint.  We do provide a three step conversion process for those looking to convert to latex.  First all surfaces are sanded to break the paint surface.  Second, a coat of Transitional Primer is applied.  Lastly, one or two fresh coats of latex paint are applied.  The key to this process is the technology of the Transitional Primer.  These primers are specially formulated to solve difficult problems without the use of toxic and malodorous chemicals. 

Stained Trim

Stained trim was very common in homes decades ago and in many circumstances is still used today. However, most homeowners with stained trim are looking to update the look of their home by painting the trim. This process is very labor intensive to complete and is neither inexpensive nor foolproof.  Meaning that it is not a cheap project to complete and even done right it may chip at some time in the future.  Many homeowners take shortcuts and pay the price later.  Because we seek to be the best company do you business with, you will not see us take any shortcuts to complete your project.  The following paragraph outlines what we do to give you the best chance for success in completing this process.

We use a five step process to increase the chances of success.  First all surfaces are sanded to break the paint surface.  Second, all surfaces are degreased.  Third, all uncaulked joints are caulked.  Fourth, a coat of Transitional Primer is applied.  Lastly, one or two fresh coats of latex paint is applied.  The key to this process is the technology of the Transitional Primer.  These primers are specially formulated to solve difficult problems without the use of toxic and malodorous chemicals. 

Color

Choosing the right color is the single most important decision in painting a room. Some colors will make a room feel vibrant, some cozy, some airy and open or inviting. Because of the importance of color, we provide more details on another page of our website. To find out more, click here.

Decorative Painting

Many homeowners are looking beyond just a normal painted wall. There are some brave souls out there that choose to undertake the project themselves. For a more professional look and more complex finishes is best to have a professional handle the project. At Dramatic Changes we handle decorative painting in one of two ways. Our craftsmen have been trained in striping techniques (vertical and horizontal) and in the application of American Clay (a natural earth plaster-for more info go to our Natural Earth Plastering page by clicking here). For more intricate or complex faux finishes we can schedule a consultation with a faux finisher who is a true artist. If you would like us to help you with either project, please contact us today.

End of Project

Once the painting has been completed, your crew will review all of their work and make sure all lines are straight and other details have been completed correctly. They will also pick up all plastic or drop cloths used to protect your belongings. Wood floors will be swept and carpets will be cleaned using a small carpet cleaner. This will also be the time when you will review all areas to make sure you are completely satisfied with the way your home looks