The exterior is the first impression of a house. And the exterior entails the entire outside of the structure, not just the facade. If the exteriors are not impressive enough, the house will get a thumbs down by passersby’s and visitors alike no matter how well maintained and good looking the interiors are. Therefore, keeping an eye on whether your exterior paint has aged and needs redoing is very important. We spoke to Todd at Bel Air Gutter and Siding, who has immense knowledge about paint work too, to get more information on this.

The Signs

Fading Color: If the exterior paint color has faded significantly, losing its vibrancy and richness, it’s a clear indicator that it’s time for a fresh coat of paint.

Peeling or Cracking Paint: Peeling, cracking, or flaking paint is a sign that the current paint layer is failing and no longer protecting your home’s exterior surfaces.

Chalking: If you notice a powdery substance on your hand when you run it across the painted surface, it indicates that the paint is deteriorating and needs attention.

Water Damage: Water stains, mold, and mildew on the exterior walls can be signs of water infiltration, which can damage the paint and the underlying structure.

Wood Rot or Decay: If you have wooden siding or trim, signs of rot or decay indicate a need for immediate attention to prevent further damage.

Worn or Faded Areas: Areas that are exposed to high traffic, weather, or direct sunlight may wear faster. If these areas look significantly different from the rest of the exterior, it might be time for repainting.

Top Factors to Consider

Preparation: Proper preparation is crucial. This includes cleaning the surface, repairing any damage, and ensuring a smooth base for the new paint.

Color and Finish: Choose a color that complements your home’s architecture and surroundings. Consider the finish too; matte finishes hide imperfections, while glossier finishes are easier to clean.

Quality of Paint: Invest in high-quality paint. While it might be more expensive upfront, it will last longer and provide better protection against the elements.

Climate and Weather Conditions: Consider your climate. Harsh weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and high humidity can impact the durability of the paint.

Surface Material: Different materials require different paint types. For instance, wood, stucco, and metal may need specific paint formulations for optimal results.

Professional vs. DIY: Painting the exterior of a house is a significant undertaking. Depending on your skill level and the scale of the project, you might decide to hire professional painters.

Budget: Set a realistic budget that includes the cost of paint, materials, and labor (if hiring professionals). Don’t forget to include potential unforeseen expenses.

Timing: Choose a suitable time of the year for painting. Avoid extreme temperatures, high humidity, and rainy seasons.

Permits and Regulations: Some areas may have restrictions on exterior colors or may require permits for painting. Check with local authorities before starting.

Landscaping and Furniture: Consider protecting your landscaping and outdoor furniture. Cover or move them away from the painting area to prevent damage.

Curb Appeal: Remember that the exterior of your house is the first thing people see. A well-painted exterior enhances curb appeal and can increase the value of your property.

Long-Term Maintenance: Think about how easy it will be to maintain the new paint. Certain colors and finishes might require more frequent touch-ups.

Summary

Repainting the exterior of your house is an investment that not only enhances its appearance but also protects it from the elements. Regular maintenance and timely repainting can significantly extend the lifespan of your home’s exterior surfaces, keeping it looking fresh and well-maintained for years to come.

The post Signs Your House Needs Exterior Painting Redone appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

Here are some tips for you from our friends at Tree Services Annapolis.

Why Trim or Prune Your Trees

The Appearance of Your Trees

All tree lovers want to keep their trees in the best condition no matter the season. Without regular trimming and pruning, trees can look misshapen and unbalanced but also be unhealthy. To avoid this, you need to give your trees a haircut. Cut the bulky branches and thin out the limbs so they look great. Trimming and pruning helps increase the demand for a property.

Trimming vs. Pruning

Trimming can be done on trees but is typically done on bushes. With trimming, you are cutting the ends of branches to give the tree a shape and an aesthetic look. With pruning, you are cutting off branches or parts of branches for the health and the look of the tree. By doing too much trimming, you can have lots of small branches grow at the ends of limbs and make the leaves very dense. That might look good but can be bad for the tree by reducing air flow and increasing the chance of moisture retention and disease.

The Aesthetics of Your Landscape

Unwanted and uneven branches can prevent rainwater and sun rays from reaching the flowers and grass under your trees, inhibiting their regular growth as a result. To make sure that enough moisture and sunlight go through the tree branches, regular pruning is always necessary. It also reduces the chance of mold and disease by allowing more air through.

The Health of Your Trees

Without trimming and particularly pruning, overgrown and unwanted branches could make your trees weaker and there is also the question of survival. Pruning involves removing interfering, diseased branches. This process helps in keeping your trees strong and full of life with a healthy structure.

Safety

Regular tree trimming/pruning is also necessary for the safety of your property. In a severe rainstorm or heavy winds, the limbs and the branches could easily fall from above and harm your property, especially the roof. In worst case scenarios, your family members could badly get wounded. The existence of risky branches is another reason to trim your trees periodically.

Encourage Fruit Production

Healthy trees always provide healthy fruit. (Assuming it is a fruit tree) On the other side, dead branches and limbs are the perfect home of insects and pests that could damage your trees health.

Tree Trimming Tools and Techniques

The process usually requires loopers and trimmers though there are many other tree trimming tool. If you are going DIY to save money you would need a helmet, safety goggles, and gloves for protection. This is not a difficult task, just follow these steps –

1. Trim during the dormant period
2. Think about the right size of branches
3. Remove the weak branches only
4. Try to shape the young branches
5. Avoid pruning too far from the trunk or too close
6. Your first cut should be one foot away from the collar of the branch where it meets the trunk. Make the cut partway through the underside of the branch
7. Then move around 1” further out and cut through the branch’s top till the limp comes off. If you have done it right, you will notice a clean split between the cuts
8. Make your last cut through placing the trimming tools by the branch bark ridge near the trunk and cut downwards right outside of the branch collar. If you are handling a thinner branch with a narrow angle, keep cutting upwards from the bottom so that you do not end up damaging the branch collar.  

Good luck with your projects. If you need help, such as the tree being too big, contact a professional company. They will be cheaper than your hospital bills if anything goes wrong.

The post Tree Trimming – Why Is It Important & How to Do It? appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

Cleaning carpets is different than cleaning other objects or clothes like materials in your household. They are harder to clean and harder to keep clean. That is to say that you cannot trust just anyone or any company for cleaning your carpets. You must assign the task to a company that provides the best cleaning service for carpets. And here is the role of Annapolis Clean Carpet.

Services of Annapolis Clean Carpet

The company mainly provides its services in the greater Anne Arundel County of Maryland. Besides their base at Annapolis, the company also serves the Columbia and Baltimore areas. Some of the services from the company are:

• Carpet cleaning
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Water damage repair
• Drapery cleaning
• Upholstery cleaning
• Leather furniture cleaning

Why Annapolis Clean Carpet

Many companies provide cleaning services. Some of them are also specified in cleaning carpets. Then, why should you choose Annapolis Clean Carpet over the others?

Experience: Annapolis Clean Carpet is providing its services for over 20 years. Providing the region with this vast experience, they should be and are at the top of the cleaning services providers.

IICRC Standards: The company is a member of the IICRC. Therefore, they abide by the carpet cleaning standards as well as the other cleaning services.

Reliability: You will find and hear about many companies that do not show up at the time of their appointment for cleaning services. However, over the 20 years of their services, Annapolis Clean Carpet never faced the allegiance. They always proved to be reliable, and you can hope for the best from them in the future, too.

No Hidden Costs: Annapolis Clean Carpet does not charge even a little over their quoted price. You will find many suppliers who will offer cheap rates. After providing the service, they will demand more in the name of some previously non-mentioned hidden charges.

Friendly Service: For any household related service, you need a friendly supplier who understands your problems and solves accordingly. That is maybe the best part about Annapolis Clean Carpet that they bond with you with their professional and polite service.

Expanded Services

As a client-friendly cleaning service provider, the company has understood its clients’ other needs and took it seriously. As a result, they expanded their area of service throughout the past 20 years. Now, besides regular carpet cleaning, they offer some extraordinary services. Some of the services are-

• Upholstery cleaning
• Steam carpet cleaning
• Water damage control
• Drapery cleaning
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Pet stain removal

Conclusion

Getting a friendly service in your household is necessary. Moreover, when it comes to valuable items like your carpets, it gets more necessary. With Annapolis Clean Carpet, you can get a friendly and reliable service that you have been looking for.

The post Carpet Cleaning Service at Annapolis appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

Modern vinyl siding has been crafted to beat old vinyl siding, this is because they come in different colors, texture and many other details we shall discuss below.

1. Color Explosion

Vinyl siding is now available in different attractive colors to choose from unlike in the past where just a few colors were available. Some of the most interesting colors include warm orange, purple, red, yellow, teal, and green. The availability of color has seen most neighborhoods like Harford Furnace, Creswell and Fountain Green, explode with different colors. These color variants are available at very affordable costs.

2. High-End Options

Homeowners have now shifted to the option of using high-end vinyl sidings which come with a great range of finishes, widths, trim styles and seamless styles that perfectly interlock panels with colors. They also offer amazing features like temperature control in terms of insulation and cooling and protection from ultraviolet rays.

They come with warranties, minimal maintenance requirements and durability. They are very affordable despite the much they have to offer.

3. Paneling Styles

Panel siding is now available in different styles and sizes unlike in the past when they were available strictly in only one size. The availability of different sizes allows owners to mix, trim and match the different panel styles to come up with their unique look.

Homeowners can drive through their neighborhoods to check out the different styles available before they can make up their minds on what they would prefer for their homes.

4. Mixing of Materials

The mixing of materials is one very exciting trend. It is openly visible in the Watervale, Emmorton, Glenwood, Wakefield Meadows and other high-end home neighborhoods. The other materials with which sidings can be mixed with include fiber-cement, stone, brick, wood and stucco. These trends give homes a personalized look as well as a unique and individualized curb appeal.

A careful selection of materials will also save individuals from maintenance like purchasing protective materials. Some of the protective materials include water-resistant membranes, sealing agents and paint.

Comparison between Traditional and Modern Vinyl Siding

The two have a very wide rift between them because manufacturers have improved on the traditional vinyl to meet the requirements of homeowners and environmental concerns as well.

Environment Friendly

Most materials used currently are environmentally friendly and can be recycled compared to the past where materials like aluminum and asbestos could generally not be recycled

The Insulation Aspect

Higher end modern siding panels comes with an integral insulation feature that helps lower utility bills for heating and cooling. This however, was not the case in the past.

Their Design Process

Traditional vinyl panels used to be of one standard size and style this however, has changed and homeowners can now dictate what their exact needs are which directly affects the design process.

The post Trends of Vinyl Siding Designs appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

Don’t Pick the Paint Color First!

Matching the paint with the décor of the room is one of the most important things, and for that, you should decide on other things before the paint. Planning the purpose of the room, furniture and setting is what you should do first. This will help you in picking the colors that go with the entire room. It also narrows down your choices- so this is a good place to start.

A Dash of Inspiration

Don’t rush to the store just yet- get some ideas and get inspired. Browse through the likes of Pinterest and Instagram to get a look at themes that suit what you are looking for. But it’s not just the internet- even simple things like a set of curtains that you like can help you get that inspiration for choosing the right color palette. Every room can have a story to itself, and this is where you begin to write that story.

Reality Can Often Be Different-Time to Test!

Now that, you have significantly narrowed down your choices, you can get a couple of paint testers to see how that color will look inside your home. If you already have the lighting you want in your home, then this step will get you even better ‘clarity’. Leave the test areas on for a couple of days, and see the colors at different times get an idea of what they look like in different lighting conditions.

Almost all brands have testers available at a relatively lower price, and this will help you be more confident in your choice before you buy gallons of it. Also, what you see on catalogs and the internet will often look different in real life, so testers are an absolute must before you finalize the colors.

The Ceiling

Picking the right color for your ceiling deserves its attention, for it can do a lot to the overall feel of the room. If you have a higher ceiling and want to make it visually lower, then chose a color that is comparatively darker than the surrounding walls. That doesn’t mean really dark, just a couple of shades darker. On the other hand, to expand the room, select a color that is lighter than the surrounding walls.

For those who do not want too much color and prefer a hint of simplicity, you can go with shades similar to ivory for the ceiling, door trim, and the floor moldings. Similarly, you can go for different colors depending on the mood and décor of the room. Painting a house interior does not have to be a tedious or a very expensive process. With simple steps like the ones above, you can choose the right colors, make your home just the way you like it.

The post Selecting Paint Colors While Painting a House Interior appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

Lists

Irrespective of the size, before you undertake any landscape project, it is important to make a list of what you need. Begin by deciding what you want to do with space. Do you want to make a vegetable patch or a play area for the kids? The ultimate goal will define the landscape design. Don’t worry about these being the final lists. You can always make changes as you move along the requirement gathering and finalizing phase.

Location

The location of your outdoor space is equally important as it is dependent on the sun or the wind direction. Also, if you plan to use the space throughout the year then you have to consider the natural elements. So, before you decide on what you want to design use the planning phase to consider what options would fit the best considering the availability of sunlight and the intensity of the wind.

Small Beginnings

For beginners, it is recommended that you start small. However, this does not mean that you don’t create the entire plan on paper. You can have a complete and ready to kick-off plan of your landscape requirements, however, beginning with a small flower bed rather than an elaborate water feature. Small beginnings also allow you to tweak your plan as you go.

Focal Point

Rather than building a series of focal points, try and find a single one that will become the central attractive feature of your outdoor area. It can be a stunning plant, or a unique sculpture, or even a quaint birdbath. The rest of your landscape planning should be centered around it. As a focal point, make sure that it is a well thought out decision.

Scale

The key is to find a pattern. You can be repetitive without being boring. Try out different looks on paper at the planning and designing stage, and you are sure to find what suits the scale of the project that you are undertaking. Additionally, since the area will be developed in phases, make sure that similar elements come up together. This is especially true in case of shrubs and flower beds so that they bloom together.

Flexibility

Lastly, be open to change. Don’t make rigid landscape plans that are difficult to change as you work on the area. Not everything that looks good on paper will have a similar effect when completed in reality. Therefore, give yourself options during the planning phase itself. It will help you reduce project downtime, especially if materials are not available.

Landscaping can often prove to be an overwhelming activity for beginners. Therefore, if you spend enough time planning this activity, you can do much more on the ground in much less time.

The post Planning Landscaping appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing

This is the most popular type of roofing material as asphalt shingles are highly affordable. They come in two categories, namely, fiberglass shingles and organic asphalt shingles. While the first type of shingles is light in weight, organic asphalt shingles are heavier.

Pros

• An excellent option for fire protection
• Affordable

Cons

• Less life-span
• Cumbersome to replace

Wood Shingles

Wood, most certainly, adds the element of classic beauty to your façade and roof. Unlike wood shakes, wood shingles are machine cut and therefore, they have a smoother look and a uniform finish.

Pros

• Better insulation in comparison to asphalt.
• Environment-friendly as wood can be recycled.

Cons

• Are more prone to fire than asphalt.
• It can be expensive to repair or replace.

Metal Roofing

While metal roofing has always been around due to its durability, it is now seen as a roofing metal that is eco-friendly as well. It can come in a variety of looks and colors. Most common metal roofing sheets are manufactured using aluminum, steel, and zinc.

Pros

• Stylish, elegant, and long-lasting.
• Light in weight and durable.

Cons

• Metal roofing is one of the most expensive roofing categories.
• It can be noisier during heavy rains.

Roof Tiles

The age-old tradition of building houses with clay tiles is preferred even today. However, today these clay tiles come in concrete and fiber cement versions making them stronger and more durable.

Pros

• These tiles are fire-resistant
• Look graceful and enhance the aesthetics of your home if you have the right style home.

Cons

• Even the newer versions are heavier than most other types of roofing options
• These can be costlier than metal or wood tiles.

Natural and Vinyl Slate Tiles

Natural slate tiles are very durable, but they are heavy and will require additional structural support. They do come in a synthetic vinyl version that is lighter as well as more affordable.

Pros

• Easier to maintain.
• Eco-friendly as it can be recycled.

Cons

• Extremely heavy on the building.
• Needs proper installation else moisture can seep in.

As you can see from the list above, there is no shortage of options. So, before selecting a roofing material, be clear on what you require from it. It is good to be aware of the life-span that you are looking for and whether the material will be suitable for the climate or not. Also, depending upon your budget and specific requirements, you can find a roofing material that is the best match for your building needs. Remember that your roof is exposed to all elements directly, so choose wisely.

The post Roofing Material Pros & Cons appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

A good-looking house is your biggest investment. So, it’s not bad to spend for a fresh coat of paint for your house exterior every few years to maintain its look. However, it is not just looks. The exterior paint and caulking seals the exterior and prevents rot and water seepage. This prevents damage to the house and potentially expensive repairs.

 However, hiring a team to do a paint job may be expensive, so to save some bucks here are some tips on how to do it yourself. Just reading this will make you more knowledgeable so you can negotiate with painters better or know better how to check the job they did.

Keep in Mind Mother Nature

Understanding local weather patterns in your area is important when painting the exterior of the house. Consider painting during the dry season of the year, as paint needs to time to dry.

Inspect and Repair

Before grabbing that paintbrush and caulk gun, grab a notepad and inspect the outside of the house. List down what needs doing, and use those notes to create a plan on how to go about your painting project.

Before applying that fresh coat of paint, make sure to look for trouble spots and make necessary repairs. The first thing to do is to inspect if there are any peeling or flaking paint in the siding or trim. You can also check if there are rusted iron railings, compromised coating on painted metals, or powdery white residues on aluminum trims or sidings. These sections will be taken care of during your prep work.

If there are areas where mildew or mold has taken hold, get rid of them by scrubbing the area with a bleach solution. After scrubbing, let it sit for 10 minutes before washing away the suds and residue.

Also check for gaps in window sills and doors. Repair these gaps by applying a bead of caulk to seal them. This is important on the top and sides. In some cases, you want the bottom uncaulked so any moisture that gets in can find its way out at the bottom. But this depends on the position of the joint at the bottom. You might want to read a bit on caulking.

Last in your inspection list is checking for rotting wood on the exterior paneling of the house. Make sure to replace them before painting.

Prep work

Now that you’ve finished inspecting and made repairs, its time select your paint and prep.

Picking your primer. If you’re fresh coat of paint is of the same color as the old one, you don’t need to prime the surface. However, if you want a different color of paint, pick a primer with a vinyl sealer as the sealer will help both the primer and paint stick to the surface.

Picking your paint. You need a paint that bonds easily to rough surfaces and 100 percent acrylic latex does just that.

Considering your paint color. There might be restrictions on colors in your area so make sure you’re aware of these restrictions, if there are. When choosing a paint color for your exterior, keep in mind that vibrant colors fade faster than muted colors. Also choose a color that will complement the roofing and exterior stonework. A popular choice of color is the eggshell which goes well with any stonework or roof. You can take paint swatches and samples to see how the paint will look.

Gathering the painting tools. You can’t paint without any tools so gathering them is a timesaver. Some basic tools you need are paintbrushes, paint rollers or sprayers, painter’s tape, paint scraper, sandpaper, plastic sheeting, and drop cloths.

Scraping away flaking paint. A good surface ensures a good paint job so making the surface as smooth as possible is a must. Remove flaking or damaged paint using the paint scraper.

Smoothing out corroded metal. Using a sandpaper, smooth out corrosion on the metal surfaces. If the rust cannot be removed by sandpaper, use a rust remover.

Washing the exterior. You can make use of a power washer to wash the exterior of the house. This is done to remove any dust or flecks of old paint. If you don’t have a power washer, a good old rag and water and a bit of elbow grease would work. Or rent one from Home Depot or Lowes. Or buy one, they aren’t expensive and very useful.

Covering whatever is not to be painted. Sometimes, you just accidentally paint over those more delicate areas. To avoid this, line the trim areas like doors and window sills with painter’s tape. Using the plastic sheets, cover fixtures like outdoor lights to keep paint from splattering over them.

Let’s start painting!

You have inspected, repaired, and prepped. It’s time to paint! Most exterior paint jobs need two coats of paint. Although it may cost more, it can make your paint job last for a few years.

As mentioned earlier, you don’t need to prime the surface if you are using the same color of paint. But if you do, then paint a thin layer of primer on the exterior. Always start from top to bottom. Then, allow the primer to dry before adding another layer of paint.

When the primer has dried, you can now add the first layer. Depending on the size of your painting area, you can opt to use a paintbrush, a roller, or a sprayer. Again, paint from top to bottom. Keep the coat even by overlapping each stroke by 6 to 8 inches.

Let the first layer to dry, then add a second coat of paint. This will help make the exterior be more weather-resistant and not fade quickly. Paint from top to bottom to get a smooth coat and lessen the drips.

Now that you have painted all the big sections, it’s time for the finishing touches. Remove the painter’s tape and paint the doors, molding, fascia, and other details on the exterior. All you really need here is a good paintbrush and a steady hand. Take your time doing this part.

The post How to do Exterior Painting Properly appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.

The post Construction, Roofing, Siding, Painting Information appeared first on Construction, Roofing, Siding and Painting.