Monthly Archives: February 2014

Put Your Best Bid Forward: 6 Key Steps to Winning Large-Scale Commercial Paint Jobs 1

by • Marketing and Business for Paint Professionals • Tags: , ,

The new complex was called Sierra Plaza. It was a three building complex downtown and sported great views of the skyline. The general contractor was taking submissions for both interior and exterior painters and the word throughout the business community was that he was from out of town and came with no prior allegiances. This was just the break the owners of Bruton Commercial Painting were looking for.

Bruton Commercial was a three year old paint company with fifteen painters and an administrative staff of five. The business had grown quickly in the commercial sector by being professional and offering high-quality work at a fair price. Even when Bruton Commercial wasn’t the lowest price bidder for a job, they often still won the business because of their great reputation.

“If we win this job, our business will double in size almost overnight!” Jerry Bruton and his brother Steve were excited about the possibility of winning such a large job. There was only one problem: despite their recent successes in the paint sector, their local business would be competing with large-scale commercial paint companies from all over the state, and neither Jerry nor Steve had any idea what it might take to win a job of this size.

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Amazing Paint Stories: The Challenges of Painting the Golden Gate Bridge Reply

by • Amazing Paint Stories • Tags: , ,

While paint may not be a common topic of conversation when it comes to famous landmarks, that’s definitely not the case with the Golden Gate Bridge. In the case of this iconic bridge, everyone has a tidbit to share regarding the herculean task of maintaining its signature color on such a massive scale:

“The Golden Gate Bridge is painted end to end each year!”  Not true. In fact, the current Maintenance Supervisor says that painting the bridge from end to end would take his team of 11 most of their career to accomplish.

“The Golden Gate Bridge was originally to be painted gold, but the planners ordered the wrong color.”  Not true either. The Army wanted the bridge painted with black and yellow stripes so it could be seen through the dense fog by ships. The Air Force wanted the bridge painted red and white like a candy cane so it could be more easily seen by airplanes passing over it. Ultimately, the color was decided by the original designer, who thought the magnificence of the structure deserved a unique color.

“The Golden Gate Bridge’s paint color and formula are closely guarded secrets!”  Also not true. The paint color is actually based on the anti-corrosion primer that came on the original steel and is known as “International Orange.” The specific formula is available on the bridge’s website and through Sherwin Williams, the manufacturer of the paint itself. More…

Brighten Up Your Work Space: Office Paint Selection in the Modern World 1

by • Tips and Tools • Tags: , , ,

Beige. Taupe. Ivory. Pearl. Khaki. Canvas. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to describe paint that isn’t white, but which isn’t quite committed enough to a specific color to be described as anything other than “neutral.” If you work in an office, you probably know exactly what we’re talking about. These paint colors are used in offices around the world and represent the nondescript middle ground between actual decoration and a disregard for appearance. However, if you’re a business owner, you no doubt care a great deal about your business and the space in which you work, so why would you succumb to the cliche of boring paint on the walls? What does that say about you? Your business? Your office?

Choosing paint for your office isn’t just about color. Depending on the work being done in the office, a paint selection can drastically affect productivity and morale. Furthermore, different work spaces demand different levels of durability when it comes to paint. Is your office a high traffic area where employees, carts, and deliveries may graze or brush walls on a regular bases? Or is it a large, open space with fewer surfaces needing to be painted? Is your office space energetic and busy or quiet and subdued on a daily basis? Here are some suggestions for choosing not just paint color, but gloss and quality as well, for your office space.

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Try Soundproof Paint for a Simple, Cost-Effective Alternative to Insulation Reply

by • Chemistry Corner • Tags: , ,

Kathy had to admit it: her son’s rock band was getting better. What started as a cacophony of electric guitars and kick drums now sounded like actual music whenever they played. The band was scheduled to play a high school talent show in just a few weeks, so the game room of her home had been turned into a rehearsal space. Kathy was very proud of the progress they had made, but at the same time she was hopeful that once the show was over, things would go back to normal and the house would go back to being quiet and peaceful. Yes, the band was getting better – but they were still so LOUD.

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5 Steps for Exterior Painting, from Surface Preparation to Ongoing Maintenance 3

by • Tips and Tools

That the rig was still working was a miracle in itself. The rust, corrosion, and dirt had long since discolored and disfigured the massive steel structure over the years. The owners didn’t properly appreciate that the wear and tear on the pump was affecting the daily yield of the entire system. Maintenance costs were creeping up as more nuts and bolts and cables and panels needed to be replaced. Thankfully, a colleague in the business suggested that rather than continue replacing parts and pieces of the rig over and over, they try a different track and try to protect the rig in the first place. After finding a reputable painter, they job began. It took some time to do it right, but in the end the humble oil rig in South Texas looked as good as new. More importantly, the rig was ready to withstand the heat and dirt and sun for the coming years.

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How Does Paint Dry? The Practical Implications of Paint Wicking for Professional Painters Reply

by • Chemistry Corner • Tags: , ,

Luis had been out sick for three days when he finally returned to finish the job. The client was glad that Luis was feeling better and eager to see the job finished. All that remained was touching up the wall near the trim. Luis had a steady hand and was sure the client would be excited with the final result.

However, after finishing all the corner-work and trim work, Luis started to notice that the paint appeared to be a different color than the rest of the wall. The difference was subtle and it was unlikely anyone, including the client, would ever notice. But Luis noticed, and it aggravated him. As he lay in bed ill for the previous three days, he had worried that this might happen. Some of the paint he applied today was actually going over the paint from earlier that had already dried. And that was causing a problem.

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Mix it Well, Mix it Right: How to Select the Appropriate Paint Disperser Reply

by • Additives & Instruments

When you’re a professional painter, choosing the right tools for the job is every bit as important as your paint skill. From knowing which type of bristle material is best to which type of clear coat gives the most protection and shine, the tools of your chosen craft are integral to your success.

So it’s no wonder that the people making the very paint you use – the chemists, mixers, and manufacturers – rely on a tool set that is every bit as varied and versatile as the tools you use when painting. From glossometers to spectrophotometers, from haze meters to grind gages, the tools and test measurement equipment used in paint factories around the world are how you know that the paint you’re using is as close to perfect as possible.

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Out With the Old: Tips for Color Matching Old Paint 1

by • Tips and Tools • Tags: ,

After six years of home ownership, my hallways and living room needed some touching up. We host parties with lots of guests. Our daughter plays with her toys. Two dogs run and play all day. It seems that “everyday living” in our home takes a toll on the walls, just as it does in homes all around the world. Over time, various nicks and spots and scuffs and streaks make their way onto the walls. The easiest fix is to simply paint over the imperfections and start the clock over until it’s time to touch up the walls again a few years down the line.

The records we kept when the home was built indicated the name of the paint manufacturer and listed the color as “Canvas.” Simple enough…away I went to the paint store to order a gallon of “Canvas” in a flat finish. An hour later I was back home and ready to work. With brush in hand, I addressed all the hallmarks of a home well-loved and lived in. There were scuffs left by tricycle tires against the hallway walls when our daughter was learning to ride. A chip where I’d bumped the wall while moving a coffee table years ago. One after another, I touched up and repainted all the little spots that add up over time. And in a few places that were simply dirty, I cheated and painted over that as well (even though I know better). Content with my work, I left the paint to dry for a few hours before checking on each spot.

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Pair Up: Finding Partners to Help Your Paint Business Grow Reply

by • Marketing and Business for Paint Professionals

“I know a perfect interior decorator who can help you…”

“We work with a printing company that would be great for producing the flyers you need…”

“Let me contact a colleague of mine…that new website design you need is right up his alley.”

One of the best ways to grow any business is to find partners to work with. Working with someone else that offers a different, but complementary, service to your offerings can help lead to better solutions for your customers and increased revenue for you both. While a vendor is a company that sells you a good or service for a flat fee, a partner relationship is much more organic. A partner is someone with common interests that can help you just as you help them in return, so your relationships with your partners will evolve and change as both of your businesses grow.

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Rise of the Machines – Paint Surface Preparation at the Harley Davidson Plant 1

by • Rise of the Machines • Tags: , , ,

Automobiles and motorcycles feature some of the most complex paint work anywhere. Not only do the coatings have to look great from bumper to bumper, the paint must also hold up well against sun damage, wind, and rain, while also preventing rust and corrosion of the substrate for years on end. Properly painting a car, truck, or motorcycle requires some of the most complex layering of paint and protective coating of any product or structure. But long before the first sprayer starts painting, the surface must be properly prepared. One of the world’s most popular motorcycle manufacturers, Harley Davidson, has a unique approach to surface preparation that blends robotic precision with human craftwork.

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