How To
Questions to ask when Hiring a Painting Contractor
Are you in the process of getting painting estimates for a project at your home? Is this the first time hiring a professional painting service? Here are some important questions you should ask the estimator. Is your company licensed and insured? Some states require particular trades to be licensed. If a company is not trade…
Read MoreChoosing the right paint for a busy veterinary office
Last Fall, the Laytonsville Veterinary Practice contracted O’Connor’s Painting to re-paint the interior of their offices and exam rooms. Off I went in search to find the best paint product to use for the project. I needed something that offered durability, good coverage, was easy to wash and had a low odor. What I found…
Read MoreMore sanding, less dust
This past month I made the decision to upgrade our sanding system here at O’Connor’s Painting Service. It was a major investment, but I think a wise one that will help my painting customers and employees. After researching for months and asking all my fellow painting contractors what they recommended, I settled on purchasing a…
Read MoreA Trick for Priming PVC
Sherwin Williams makes an exterior/interior bonding primer that I used the other day at my own home in Laytonsville, Maryland to prime PVC. Being a very slick surface, PVC can be tricky to paint and have last a long time without peeling. As I was working with the Sherwin Williams bonding primer, I got a…
Read MoreOld paint cans hanging about that you want to get rid of in a responsible manner?
Whenever O’Connor’s Painting Service completes a job, any unused paint we leave with the customer with a description of where the paint was used in the house written on the can. These paints come in handy if there is ever a need for the homeowner to touch up a spot here or there years later.…
Read MorePainting Cabinets
Often a stain on older cabinets can start to look dirty and grungy. In an attempt to freshen older cabinetry, customers often ask me what it would take to paint over the existing surface. Here is a step by step explanation of the process O’Connor’s Painting Service uses to paint cabinetry. Remove old hardware. Note:…
Read MoreDeck Finish – Clear, Solid or Semi-Transparent Stain?
When I get a call to bid a deck staining job, often the homeowner asks me my expert opinion on whether to use a clear, solid or a clear semi-transparent stain. It all depends on the level of maintenance and investment you are prepared to commit to over the years. Clear finish deck stains only…
Read MoreTrying to Decide between Power Washing or Hand Cleaning Painted Surfaces?
Often it takes a trained professional painter to determine if the exterior paint of your house should be cleaned by hand or power washed and to what extent. Scenario 1 – Your paint job was done about two years ago and you decide to change the color. If there is very little mildew, you may…
Read MoreWaterbased Alkyd Paints Replace Oil
In the good old days, people used oil or alkyds paint because they liked the smooth finish on wood trim inside their home. But over time, paint companies have fazed out oil paint to help protect the environment. Fortunately a few paint companies are now carrying a waterborne alkyd enamel product. Here at O’Connor’s Painting…
Read MoreSwitching from an Oil-Based Interior House Paint System to a Latex System
Over the past several years due to government regulation in the Mid-Atlantic region, paint manufacturing companies have slowly phased out oil-based paints. Back in 2005 when the new regulations were starting to be phased in, you could even find painters and homeowner trying to stockpile oil-based products. Today when you go to any paint store…
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