Category Archives: Newsletter

Beat the Blahs – Paint!

It’s a great time to update your home’s interior paint palette!

Changing the color of your living room, kitchen, bedroom or bath can brighten a room, give old furniture new life, and even redefine an existing living space. You can completely redecorate or just change the color her and there. Painting is a great way to bring in an entirely new look without a lot of fuss and disruption.

Paint and Protect

While it’s true that paint is a fantastic decorating tool, we tend to forget that the original reason for painting a home was to protect it against the elements. That goes for outside elements like wind and rain as well as indoor elements like… children and pets! Paint resists staining and damage from finger smudges, kitchen grease, as well as general wear and tear. Like taking your car in for a tune-up, repainting is a “tune-up” for your home that protects your investment.

In general most rooms need a new coat of paint every six to ten years. To keep your home in top shape, look around and ask yourself a few questions. If you say “yes” to one or more of the following, it’s time to repaint. Is the ceiling cracking, chipping, or peeling? Do the walls look grimy or greasy? Does the color look dull or filmy? Do you have any water damage on the walls or ceiling?

Choosing Colors

Once you’ve made the decision to paint, a contractor can help you decide what color and what kind of paint is best. Using deep, rich colors in large rooms makes them appear smaller. Using light, soft colors in a small room suggests spaciousness. A room facing north or east can be made to feel warmer using rose- or peach-tinted shades of white. Also, rooms facing south or west can be made to feel cooler with green- and blue-based whites.

Wallpapered Walls

If the area to be painted is covered with wallpaper, it must be removed first which can be a messy and time-consuming job. The walls must be washed to remove any paste or wallpaper residue. Only then can the walls be prepared for paint.

Latex vs. Oil-based Paint

The oil-based (alkyd) paints are used less and less for residential interiors and exterior painting. For most interior wall applications, a latex paint has many advantages. When painting trim, latex offers a finish that is non-yellowing. Latex also dries faster and can be cleaned up with just soap and water.

Whether you decide to paint the whole house, a room, or just a single wall, repainting will improve your emotional and physical environment. When done correctly, a quality paint job will bring enjoyment and increase the value of your home.

Contractors Checklist

Questions you need to ask when choosing a contractor:

• Are you licensed and bonded in the District of Columbia and Virginia as a home improvement contractor?

Ask for their licensing number. Remember, a contractor must maintain business and home improvement licensing in each state in which they are conducting business. A DC license does not apply in Virginia – likewise, a Virginia home improvement license is not valid in DC. The David Mahoney Painting Company is licensed and bonded in DC and Virginia. Our license numbers are as follows:

DC License Number: DC5946
VA License Number: 2705100635
EPA National Certification: NAT-50531-2

• Do you carry worker’s compensation as well as public liability insurance?

It’s the law; and we carry both. Did you know that most injuries result from step-ladder falls rather than extension ladders?

Here’s What Happened…

In Maryland a few years ago, two men were working at a height of less than 20 feet when their ladder board fell. One man died and the other broke both of his legs. If the contractor did not have insurance, the homeowner would have been 100% liable for the accident!
That’s a painful lesson in checking for insurance coverage! If your contractor employs day laborers or sub-contractors, make sure they all have insurance.

• Do you offer a warranty or any guarantees?

A contractor who is confident about his work has no problem offering guarantees. The David Mahoney Painting Company offers a three-year warranty on all work performed.

• Does your proposal detail the specific work and time lines?

Be sure you’re getting everything for which you are paying. Check for accurate timetables and job descriptions. Also, the proposal should indicate what grade of materials will be used because there is a big difference in price and quality among paints. Regarding contracts, I say, “When in doubt, spell it out.”

• Do you have references in the neighborhood (DC and Virginia) whom we may contact?

Advertising in a trusted local newspaper doesn’t mean the contractor is reliable. You’ll save money and much more when you check references as well as inspect work which the contractor has already performed. David Mahoney can supply you with many satisfied customers you can call as well as former jobs you can actually visit.

• How many years have you been in business?

Like anything else, a contractor who has been in business a long time has the experience necessary to do a better job. David Mahoney has been painting for over 37+ years, and his company has been in business since 1996. David has a proven track record that he’ll be happy to share with you.