Welcome to the start of the Exterior Season!
As our attention turns outdoors it's time to take a look at what needs to be done. Whether it's staining your deck and fence, or painting your home Daly's can help you complete those exterior projects on your list and get your outdoor spaces ready for summer fun!
With Exterior Season upon us it's time to take a look at the following:
- Check the overcoat your house has been wearing all winter
- Check for signs of peeling and cracking in the paint film.
- If there are nails that have worked their way out reset them.
- Wash, scrape, and then feather sand any worn areas. This will prepare the surface to be primed.
- Prime with a similar colored primer to your homes color. Priming your home with a similar color will help prevent a spotted appearance when you go to paint the surface.
When the primer has dried you are all ready to give your home a face-lift with a new paint job!
If you are not sure about doing the work yourself the Daly's Reference List is an excellent source for independent painters in your area.
Ask Robin
Robin Daly answers your decorating questions; if you have a decor problem just email her at robin@dalyspaint.com and she'll respond to you personally. Robin also makes house calls!
Dear Robin ~
Q) My south-facing living room is already starting to heat up from the sun. Besides the heat, I'm worried about my furniture and carpets fading over the summer. I don't want to sacrifice my view and live in a dark room all summer long. Are there any window treatment suggestions that WILL block the light and heat but WON'T turn my room into the Black Hole?
A) Yes! Not only that, they are stylish options as well.
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we don't often think that heat and light control are issues we need to consider. But when you factor in southern exposures, if your home is near the water or even upstairs rooms versus downstairs rooms (and the lighting differences between the two) - there are many situations where we need to control light.
In some rooms, you want to preserve views and this is where one of my favorite window treatments comes into play.
The shades are called Sun Screen shades. They are roller shades made from a mesh-type fabric called Solartrans which cuts glare, eliminates harmful rays, and maintains your view. Colors range from white all the way to black. Here's the funny thing: the darker the shade you choose, the more view you will maintain.
They incorporate quite nicely into both contemporary and traditional homes. Because it's a roller shade, the impact is minimized at the top of the window, allowing you to easily add top treatments if you wish. Or leave them alone for a super-clean look. They can even be motorized if you have extra large or hard-to-reach windows for added ease of operation.
The motor is incorporated into the shade structure, and we're not talking major wiring to get those installed. These are battery operated and the battery lasts 5-7 years!
Another of my favorites - Natural Grass Roman shades. Always a classic choice, and works in both traditional and modern applications. Many people pair these shades with silk side panels mounted on iron or bronze-finished curtain rods for a total pulled-together look. This is a great solution when you want the appearance of draperies without all the fussiness (plus we have a great collection of silks to choose from).
Other options you can look at: Top Down/Bottom Up shades, Silhouettes, even Wood Blinds and Shutters. Visit either of our stores to see our new window treatment display to learn about all the different options and find the shade that best suits your style. Or schedule an in-home consultation, we can get your home outfitted with style and solutions!
Tips & Tricks
"To Be or Not To Be" : Oil vs. Acrylic Exterior Primer
After washing the surface to be painted check the old film for chalky residue. If there is still a chalky film on the surface then it should be primed with an oil-based primer. We recommend C2 A900 exterior oil primer. If it does not have any chalking then a good exterior acrylic primer, C2's C300 primer, can be used. Let both dry completely before coating with your exterior topcoat.
As a rule oil takes longer to dry than acrylic. The average dry time for oil is 24-48 hours. For acrylic it is 8-16 hours. Dry times depend on temperature and humidity, which can lengthen times. To check if the primer is dry lightly sand a spot. If the primer doesn't clog the sandpaper you should be okay to proceed with your topcoat.
-Bill
Bill Davis is our Seattle Contractor Sales expert and a Daly's employee since 1977.
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Daly's will be holding a sale from May 15th to June 17th on Daly's Deck Stain! At only $29.95 a gallon this is a sale you can't afford to miss. (Daly's Deckstain normally retails for $38.85 a gallon. This sale applies to stock colors only.) |
Now through June 14th take advantage of Pratt & Lamberts "Unique Ideas" rebate and contest event. Receive up to a $5 rebate per gallon! Plus, submit a photo of your newly decorated room for a chance to win $5000 and a feature in the Pratt & Lambert Personal Expressions magazine! Click here for more details.
*For more decorating solutions and ideas don't forget to check out Robin Daly & Christian Ursino's column, The Design Files in the "Seattle @ Home" section of the Saturday Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
What topics would you like covered in this newsletter? Email me your questions or ideas at robin@dalyspaint.com. I write this newsletter about once a month, but I'm ALWAYS happy to answer your questions personally. Check out my blog at tintedperspective.blogspot.com.
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