Replace Rotted Wood and Repaint Home’s Exterior

August 1, 2013 By
Say No to Wood Rot!

Don’t let this happen to your home!

Wood damage caused by rot can result in big headaches for homeowners. It is a tough issue to deal with because it can occur in so many areas, such as the structural timber, eaves, garage doors, entry doors, window casings, and anywhere else that wood was used in construction. Wood rot is most often attributed to pests, like termites or carpenter bees, and/or excessive exposure to moisture. Wood decay fungi, which are a common source of the problem, can only grow on wood with a high moisture content.  That’s why the key to prevention is to  use paints, primers, and stains with moisture barriers.

Homeowners faced with wood rot will want to have an experienced professional assess the situation before proceeding with a replacement project. The root of the problem must be determined before any work takes place to ensure the wood rot is eliminated once and for all. Ongoing leaks or the presence of wood-eating pests are usually the culprits.

After the cause has been eliminated, the replacement wood should be primed on all six sides before it is installed. Sealing all 6 sides with primer, or “back-priming,” is necessary to hopefully keep this from happening again. Our painting professionals at Colour Solutions would be happy to discuss which products are best suited to your job.

Ongoing and preventative maintenance are also vital in keeping wood rot at bay. Cleaning your home’s exterior, along with re-caulking and painting every three to seven years is a step in the right direction. Exterior paints and stains are like your home’s coat of armor against the elements. Failing to paint or stain the exterior and trim on a regular basis can set the stage for further damage. It is vital to apply a sealant regularly to the timber used on decks and porch flooring so moisture and rot will not set in.

Take control of your preventative home maintenance by getting on a schedule with Colour Solutions painting company based in Wilmington, NC.  Don’t let your house painting go by the wayside – contact Colour Solutions for a free quote today! 910-686-3067

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6 Ways to Freshen Up Your Home’s Exterior

July 25, 2013 By

Freshen Up Your Home's ExteriorSummer is the perfect time of year for outdoor gatherings, and the perfect time to pay extra attention to your home’s exterior. Perhaps you went all out during the spring cleaning regime to get your home’s outside areas ready for family gatherings, barbeques, or lazy afternoons by the pool? By mid-summer, it’s often time to give it another go so everything will remain fresh and inviting through Labor Day. Here’s a handy checklist to ensure that your home is striding through summer, with its best foot forward:

1. Pressure Washing – Check exterior areas to see if a thorough pressure washing is in order. This is also a must-do activity prior to painting or staining.

2. Exterior Paint – Whether you decide to paint the entire exterior or just the trim, the summer is an excellent time for these projects. Warm mornings and more light in the evenings make it easy to work these projects into your summer agenda. Just read the labels of the products carefully to ensure that you are using them under ideal conditions. Or, better yet, call the experts at Colour Solutions and let them take care of your house painting projects!

3. Windows and Entryways – Pay attention to the windows and entrances. Have summer showers splashed dirt and grime on these areas? In spite of any spring-cleaning that was done, by mid-summer it’s likely time for an encore. Sparkling windows and clean entryways equal (almost) instant gratification.

4. Outdoor Furniture – The previous point holds true for outdoor furniture, grills, and outdoor kitchens. Give them all a good scrub down and see if any touch-up jobs are called for. There are innovative paints for both metal and plastic that can breathe new life into tired finishes. Protecting those surfaces by sealing them with paint also prevents rust, mold, and mildew. And…you may be ready for a little pizzaz-wouldn’t that old chaise look amazing with a coat of flamingo pink paint?

5. Deck Sealing – Is it time to reseal, paint or stain your porch or deck? The warm summer sun can speed up the curing process, which is vital to preserving the wood and keeping it looking great.

6. Decorations and Extras– Could your home’s exterior use a few extras? After the 4th of July, lots of “summer living” items are on sale big time. Surely you could use a few things such as: a new doormat, pretty pillows or cushions for outdoor furniture, solar walkway lights, wind chimes, a hurricane candle for your picnic table, or fresh blooms for your front porch containers?

Remember that the additional TLC you give your home’s exterior has big payoffs. Along with improving curb appeal, freshening things up also gives your home extra protection against the harsh moisture and humidity of summer.

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Add to or Improve Your Outdoor Living Space This Summer

June 27, 2013 By

Outdoor Living SpaceWhether you’re planning a big Fourth of July barbecue, want to enjoy the outdoors in the comfort and privacy of your home, or you need to make your place look great before putting it on the market, giving your home’s outdoor space some TLC can really improve its appearance and value. From refinishing your back deck to adding a cozy outdoor sitting area, Colour Solutions can provide a range of home improvement services to help transform your outdoor area into the perfect summer sanctuary.

Here are a few ideas for adding to or improving your outdoor living space:

1. Deck remodeling/painting/staining

Whether you want to completely remodel the design, or simply add a nice coat of paint or stain, enhancing the look of your deck can add a tremendous amount of personal appeal – not to mention boost its market value. During the summer, people tend to spend more time outdoors, so it makes sense to make these outdoor living spaces as comfortable and attractive as possible. Deck improvement projects can range from large-scale remodeling to simple paint and stain jobs, but whichever you decide to do, you’ll be glad you did it when you’re showing your home to guests or potential buyers. And even if you’re not the type to entertain and you aren’t planning on moving any time soon, you can still benefit from these improvements. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as lounging on your own private, newly improved deck!

Wood deck staining is relatively inexpensive, but can make an enormous difference in appearance. Not only that, but the right stain product can prolong your deck’s life and keep it protected from the harsh heat and UV rays of the summer atmosphere. Painting can have similar benefits, allowing you to further personalize the look of your home’s exterior and protect the material from damage.

Colour Solutions is proud to offer high quality painting, staining and refinishing services for your home’s deck structure. Give us a call today to learn more and to schedule a free consultation: (910) 686-3067

2. Outdoor fireplace or fire pit

Summer nights are perfect for sitting around a cozy fire. Why not create your own private sitting area, complete with a built-in fireplace or fire pit? Whether you want a large, opulent stone fireplace to complement your covered back patio, or you just want a simple fire pit in your backyard that you can surround with comfy outdoor chairs, you can add an element of warmth and hospitality to your outdoor space with one of these fireplace features.

Just remember, if you’re doing the project yourself, you need to keep safety the top priority. Make sure your fire pit is deep enough so that embers and tall flames can’t “jump” or spread to your lawn. And make sure, if you’re making a fireplace, that you allow for proper ventilation of the smoke. If you’ve never constructed an outdoor fireplace before, it may be wise to leave it to professionals and hire a contractor.

3. Sunroom/screened porch

One of the drawbacks to summertime (at least here in the South) is the presence of insects. Mosquitos, bees, junebugs, cicadas, dragonflies, and other small pests are more prevalent in the summer so having an outdoor space you can enjoy without the annoyance of these bugs can be really nice. If you’ve already got an outdoor patio, consider enclosing it to create a sunroom. You can add glass panels, sliding doors, windows, etc. to customize the design. While sunrooms tend to be a bit on the expensive side, they add a great deal of value to your home and can be enjoyed in any weather.

A more budget-friendly option would be to add a ceiling, some support posts and some durable screening material. Screened porches are nice because they allow the fresh air to circulate through the area and are less complicated to construct. You can also customize the design of your screened porch by adding some medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels to the bottom. This can further aid in keeping bugs, dirt and debris from getting through the screen and it gives the space a nice, finished look.

Be sure to contact the experts at Colour-Solutions in Wilmington for any of your painting, pressure washing, staining, or even carpentry needs this summer: (910) 686-3067

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5 Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home in Summer

June 20, 2013 By

Add Curb Appeal to Your HomeAre you trying to get your home looking its absolute best before putting it up for sale? Or perhaps you’re trying to market it as a rental property and you want it looking great so you’ll attract more visitors? Or, maybe you just want to improve your home’s curb appeal even though you aren’t planning on moving out any time soon! Whatever your motivations may be, summertime can be a great season for adding some oomph to your home’s exterior.

Here’s a look at 5 easy ways to boost curb appeal without having to spend a lot of time and energy.

1. Neat and Clean Windows (Keep them clean and free of cracks!)

Sadly, many homeowners forget to tend to their windows during their regular home maintenance. This is a shame because nice, clean windows can do wonders for both your home’s interior and exterior. It will make your home look brighter, more inviting, and it will help fill your rooms with natural daylight.

In addition to having your windows thoroughly cleaned (inside and outside panes), you should check around the window panes for cracks or other minor damages, either to the surrounding wood shutters or to the window glass itself. If you notice anything, go ahead and fix these issues now. If you see some cracks in the wood, make a quick run to the local hardware or home improvement store to get some wood putty filler and paint. Simply follow the directions on the putty for filling in wood cracks and then paint over the treated area once it has set. If you notice a crack in the window glass, you can pick up some waterproof silicone sealer. You’ll use it much like the wood putty – simply fill the crack or small hole with the sealer and smooth it out so that the sealer is flush with the surrounding glass. A putty knife or popsicle stick does the trick. Remember, this is a temporary fix and you’ll probably want to replace the window glass at some point.

If you’d rather not do these projects yourself, you can always contact us! Colour Solutions is pleased to offer comprehensive painting services to residential properties throughout the Wilmington, NC area. Additionally, Colour Solutions can handle a variety of other small home improvement jobs. Call us today for a free estimate. (910) 686-3067.

2. A Welcoming Front Entrance (Add some fresh paint to the front door, keep walkways and front porches swept and free of clutter, add some attractive house numbers)

When visitors come to your home for the first time, their first look at your home will include the entrance. A first impression is important, so spiffing up your home’s entrance should be a priority, especially if you’re planning on putting your home on the market.

To do this, make sure you keep your front entrance free of leaves, grass, dirt and other debris by sweeping regularly. You could also spend a few dollars on some nice, new house numbers to add to your home’s entraceway. You can find these at any home improvement store and they’re usually about $4 each.

Finally, adding a coat of fresh paint to your front door can be a powerful way to boost your home’s curb appeal. Just make sure you choose a color that complements your home’s exterior color. If you’re not sure about what color to select, you can always call us at Colour Solutions for paint samples. Remember, the way the colors will look on the swatches will be different than they way the color looks in natural sunlight. When comparing swatches, be sure to do it outside, standing near your front door to get the best idea of how the color will look.

While you’re at it, why not go ahead and paint your window shutters and some other small features? You mailbox could probably use some fresh paint and your window shutters would look great in a color that matches the new front door shade!

If you’d like to leave the painting projects to the professionals, feel free to contact Colour Solutions – Wilmington, NC’s home painting experts! Don’t think you can afford to hire painting pros? You might be surprised how affordable it is! And, if you’re only painting a front door, shutters, and other small areas, your bill will be much more manageable than if you were painting an entire house.

3. Neat Landscaping (Don’t overdo it, just maintain what you have)

People rarely enjoy doing yardwork in the hot, humid summer months. Here in the Southeast, most homeowners put off even the simplest tasks like mowing their lawn because the heat can be unbearable. Even though it’s tough, try not to fall behind on your lawn maintenance. Don’t worry too much about adding anything into the mix like extra flowers, shrubs or trees – the less you have to take care of the easier and cheaper this will be! Simply focus on maintaining what you already have in the ground and, if you begin to feel ambitious, maybe add a few small touches like solar powered landscaping lights or fresh mulch.

4. Mildew-Free Exterior (Power wash your home’s exterior to keep mildew at bay)

Pressure washing your home’s exterior is a quick, fairly simple process that will keep your home looking great for several months. A lot of homeowners choose the “do it yourself” method when it comes to pressure washing. While this can often save you a few bucks, keep in mind that pressure washing involves the use of chemicals to remove mildew and other bacteria that can accumulate on your home. If you plan to pressure wash your home on your own, be extra careful when handling the cleaning substances and when operating the device.

For those who might not have the time or ability to pressure wash their own homes, Colour Solutions offers professional pressure washing services at affordable rates.

5. Painted Porch & Porch Ceiling

Got a fabulous front porch? Show it off with a fresh coat of paint! And, while you’re at it, don’t forget the porch’s ceiling! It might sound strange, but having a nice, clean and neatly painted ceiling can add a whole other level of appeal to your porch. While some visitors might not take much notice of the nice, beautifully painted ceiling – potential home buyers will. When buyers view a home they’re considering, they look in all the spaces, nooks and crannies that your typical house guest wouldn’t dream of peering into. So, if you want to really make a good impression…don’t forget the ceilings!

Colour Solutions can provide clients in the Wilmington area with a variety of outdoor paint styles and colors that are perfect for porches. Speak with one of our representatives today to set up a consultation!  910-686-3067

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Classic Paint Colors Ideal for Wilmington NC

June 5, 2013 By

Historic Wilmington NC HomeOne of the greatest things about Wilmington is its colorful landscape – from the sandy browns and cool blues of the beach to the soft pinks and lush greens of downtown’s historic homes, Wilmington is a vibrant place with a great mix of color. If you’re thinking about giving your own home a classic Wilmington-inspired look, here are a few color ideas to consider:

Historic Colors
Some ideas: Confederate Grey, Honeysuckle Yellow, Soft Sky Blue, Candlewick Beige, Soft Rose

Locals and visitors alike are drawn to the beauty and charm of the Wilmington Historic District. The century-old buildings and old-fashioned homes make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, to the antebellum days of horse-drawn carriages and brick-paved streets. One of the coolest things about historic downtown is the abundance of beautifully restored homes. These homes are perfect examples of historic color. A quick stroll down any of the streets in the historic district, and you’ll see a variety of traditionally historic colors. From soft yellows to cool blues to hazy greys, Historic Wilmington’s color palette evokes the ambiance of the Old South while preserving the look of today.

Coastal Colors
Some ideas: Sea Foam Green, Sand Castle Beige, Driftwood Brown, Sea Glass Green

Coastal colors are typically soft, muted shades of green, blue and brown, but fortunately, you don’t have to be restricted too much when it comes to choosing a color that’s reminiscent of Coastal North Carolina. When you think about the colors of Wrightsville Beach, for example, you might also think about the brightly colored kayaks you’ve seen going through the channel or the bright blue roof of Bluewater Grill. You could even have the best of both worlds by choosing a lighter, more neutral color for your home’s exterior and complement it with some bolder, brighter color for the doors and shutters. Maybe a sandy beige exterior with turquoise shutters would help your coastal home “fit in.”

Bold Colors
Some ideas: Azalea Pink, Tomato Red, Wilmington Hammerheads Blue

Want to give your home a Wilmington-inspired color that will really catch people’s eye? Why not go bold? As most of you may know, Azaleas are a common sight here in Wilmington and are sort of a trademark for the area. The bright pink and vibrant purples of these shrubs’ flowers can evoke feelings of cheer, warmth and energy. (Just make sure your home owner’s association will approve such a dramatic color choice!) Likewise, bright reds are becoming a popular choice for homes, particularly for interior rooms and exterior accents like doors and window shutters. Choose a bright, hearty red – one that reminds you of a fresh summer tomato or bell pepper (common sights in many Wilmington residents’ gardens). If pinks and reds aren’t your favorites, why not go for the opposite end of the color wheel and pick out a bright, bold blue. A bright aqua blue would not only be pleasing to the eye, it would be a great nod to the local soccer team, the Wilmington Hammerheads!

Want more ideas for your home’s color makeover? Contact Colour Solutions today for a free consultation and project quote: (910) 686-3067.

Filed Under: Blog, Exterior Painting Tagged With: ,
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