by Craig | May 2, 2021 | Wallpaper installation
We recently completed a project in the east end of Toronto that consisted of 7 separate accent walls, and the client was delighted. Here’s what we did:
How much wallpaper is too much?
The first question you might ask is, 7 different types of wallpaper in one house, isn’t that a little much? The answer is a resounding NO! The client employed the services of an excellent interior designer, and all the different wallpaper worked well together.
Master suite
There were 2 different wallpapers used in the master suite, one for the headboard wall in the master bedroom and another for the window wall in the ensuite bathroom
The master bedroom accent wall has a wonderful large scale botanical print, which really adds some punch to the room. The ensuite bathroom has a small geometric pattern. Geometric patterns are very popular in bathrooms, they can mimic the look of tile, at a fraction of the cost!
Spare bedroom
This accent wall continues the botanical theme. The wall is an alcove of sorts, with the bulkhead above. One clever thing the interior designer did was select a very matte paper. Why was this clever? There’s pot-lights in the bulkhead overhead creating a very angular light source, if the paper had any gloss in it whatsoever, it would show seams and any slight imperfections in the wall. The matte paper is much more forgiving in this regard.
Office
In this room we have a tree print that really plays with the light. The print is a little more glossy than the background, so it changes depending on the angle that one looks at it. That’s just one reason why pictures of wallpaper don’t do it justice, one needs to see how light plays off the different textures and levels of sheen, really cool paper!
Main Bathroom
In the main bathroom the client picked a chinoiserie wallpaper and had me install it on the wall opposite the mirror. It was a wise choice to install it only on one wall, the pattern has a lot going on and would have been a little too much if installed on all the walls.
Main floor accent walls
On the main floor we did 2 accent walls, one in the dining room and one in the living room. Since the main floor is an open concept it was essential that the wallpaper harmonized with each other. One way to do this is to select the same wallpaper for both areas. However, our client selected 2 types of wallpaper with the same colour, but different pattern. The best way to do this is to select 2 papers from the same collection which ensures that the colours will match.
Here’s the finished product!
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Master bedroom accent wall
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Master ensuite accent wall
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Spare bedroom accent wall
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Office accent wall
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Main bathroom accent wall
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Living room accent wall
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Dining room accent wall
In conclusion
If you’d like to introduce some pattern into your home, why don’t you have us install some wallpaper accent walls? Book a quote, We’d love to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty!
by Craig | Apr 14, 2021 | Uncategorized
Dear Valued Client,
As you probably are aware, a Stay-at-Home order was announced on April 7th. According to the regulations we are deemed an essential service and are allowed to continue, however we want to do so safely. Because your safety and the safety of our team are our primary concern.
Please review these safety protocols carefully and confirm that you agree before we book an in-person estimate or project start date.
We appreciate your business very much and thank you for your ongoing support during this challenging time.
In-person estimates:
We are available for in-person estimates but for the sake of safety let’s ensure the following:
- All of us will be wearing masks
- All of us will maintain a distance of 2m throughout the meeting
- None of us is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms; noone has recently come into contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive
We are also offering virtual estimates! We can discuss your painting project via Zoom, FaceTime or Google Duo
Project protocol
Should you wish to proceed with your painting and/or wallpapering project, we will:
- Arrive and complete the job wearing masks at all times
- Have hand sanitizer with us at all times
- Wipe down surfaces which we touch at the beginning and end of the day
- Maintain a safe distance from you at all times
In the event that a team member feels symptomatic, or has recently come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we will postpone your project and ensure that he or she tests negative and isolates for 14 days before returning to work. We will reschedule your project for the next available date.
What we require from you:
- Please wear a mask at all times in the presence of our team members
- Make arrangements for the home to be vacant, if possible. If not, please ensure we have the workspace entirely to ourselves
- Respect social distancing at all times
- DO NOT have any other trades in your home while we are onsite
- If you or a member of your household feels any COVID-19 symptoms, or has been exposed to someone confirmed with COVID-19, please advise us at the earliest opportunity so that we may reschedule your project
- If for any reason our team members do not feel safe while in your home, we will address the issue with you immediately. If the issue is not resolved, we reserve the right to vacate the home and reschedule the project
by Craig | Apr 7, 2021 | Wallpaper installation
So you’ve heard a lot about wallpaper these days. Why should you consider it fo your Toronto home?
There are many advantages to choosing wallpaper for some walls in your home, especially if you have the work done by a good installer.
What about the drawbacks?
“I’ve heard that wallpaper is difficult to remove, so although I’d like to wallpaper, I’m just not sure…”
This is a common concern that I hear about wallpaper. I fact, I’ve had my fair share of wallpaper removals that have been extremely time consuming. Why is this? In all likelihood the walls were not properly primed. The walls need to be primed either with an oil primer or a specific wallpaper primer in order for the walls to be protected when the wallpaper is eventually stripped. If the incorrect primer is used chunks of paint and plaster will come off when the wallpaper is removed, resulting in a lot of patchwork to make the walls smooth again.
Therefore, when selecting a wallpaper installer it is critical to make sure that they will prime the walls with the appropriate primer. If this step is done, when it comes time to remove the wallpaper and redo the walls, damage will be very minimal.
What are the advantages of choosing wallpaper over paint?
Design
There are far more design possibilities with wallpaper than with paint. If you can think of a design that you want on your walls, chances are that you can find a wallpaper that will fit the bill. Even if you can’t find a wallpaper that you like, there are places that will print a custom mural, making the design possibilities limitless.
Pattern
There are painters that can do striped walls, stencilled walls and other decorative techniques. However, for intricate patterns it’s hard to beat wallpaper. The 
patterns can be extremely intricate, far more so than a decorative painter can achieve.
Texture
This is where wallpaper really shines. Different levels of gloss in the design, different textures, rich velvets, woven materials such as grasscloth and silk, beads and glitter. It’s amazing what can be done! Pictures don’t tell the story here, textures really shine at different angles and in different lights.
If you’re new to wallpaper it’s okay to start small…
How about doing an accent wall in a bedroom, maybe a powder room? These are areas where you can have a touch of pattern, with wallpaper a little goes a long way!
So, if you’d like to liven up your walls with some wallpaper, why don’t you book a quote? We’d love to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty!
by Craig | Aug 11, 2018 | Uncategorized
Are you looking for a career in the trades with room to grow? At CAM Painters we are always looking to grow our team by hiring the best and the brightest!
In this post we’ll tell you what we’re expecting of our new hires along with the benefits of working at CAM Painters.
What are the benefits of a career with CAM Painters?
We are looking for payroll employees, not subcontractors. That means that we cover liability insurance and WSIB, wheras subcontractors have to provide their own.
Full time year round employees. When we find great team members we like to keep them busy year round!
We offer health benefits after 90 days of employment. It’s important that our employees stay healthy, so a portion of massages, chiropractic visits and others are covered.
Your opinion is valued at CAM Painters. We have regular team meetings where suggestions from our painters regarding processes, equipment and customer service can be discussed and implemented.
What we expect of our painters
Honesty
If you don’t know how to do something, or if you don’t know what’s expected of you, please ask. Different painting companies have different ways of doing things. So even if you’ve been painting for a long time, please ask about how we’d like things done. There’s no shame in asking questions.
Clean up after yourself
Cleaning up after yourself is essential when working in residential painting. In fact, it’s a non-negotiable, so leaving a messy job site is completely unacceptable. We provide the best customer experience in the painting business and clean up is one of those key areas that we differentiate ourselves.
Keep it above the line
Ownership
Accountability
Responsibility
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Blame
Excuses
Denial
As we work together, it’s most productive to keep it above the line. If there is a problem, what can you do to own the problem and what solutions can you offer to fix it? Can you be accountable to your coworkers and complete the tasks you have promised you would? Can you be responsible to show up when required?
Blame, excuses and denial are not productive at all. They halt creativity and give the customer a bad experience, which has ruined many businesses.
Some tips for the interview
Show up on time – this really goes without saying.
Be neat in your appearance. There is no need to wear a suit and tie, of course, but making sure your clothes are neat and you are well-groomed will go a long way in making a good first impression.
Print out your resume and bring it with you. It’s handy for us to have a printed copy of your resume to refer to, and take notes on.
Be honest with your answers – We’re not looking for a know-it-all, but we are looking for people humble enough to take advice and be willing to grow.
On your first day
If we decide that there is a good fit and we’d like to invite you to a training session and/or a jobsite there are a few things to keep in mind:
Ask questions – you are starting a new position, with a new company. Even if you’ve painted before, every company operates differently and has different systems and ways of producing work. There will be a transition period and asking questions will help accelerate your learning curve.
Come with a good work ethic – this gives us something to work with. If you are energetic and willing to get things done then we merely have to point you in the right direction. Without a good work ethic the old adage “you can’t steer a parked car” definitely applies!
In conclusion
We’re always looking for all-star painters and you can either be an all-star painter or have the potential to be an all-star painter. If you’re looking for a career as a painter, why don’t you apply? Together we can Transform Homes With Lasting Beauty!
by Craig | Jun 9, 2018 | General posts, Wallpaper installation
Wallpaper can be difficult to remove sometimes. Sometimes it does damage to the walls when it’s removed. In these cases can we wallpaper over the existing wallpaper in your Toronto home?
In most cases the answer is yes, if certain steps are followed so that the new wallpaper adheres properly to the surface.
First, Let’s see if the existing paper will come off…
It’s best if the existing wallpaper can be removed. If not, there are 2 layers of paper that have to be stripped the next time that the walls are either painted or papered.
At CAM Painters we have various tips and tricks to remove wallpaper so that it can be done in the most efficient manner. So it’s worth at least exploring removal.
READ MORE: How do I remove wallpaper in my Toronto home?
Is the existing paper smooth?
If the existing wallpaper has a texture, that texture can show through the new wallpaper. A heavier wallpaper can hide the texture of the previous wallpaper, so it’s helpful to choose something that’s a little thicker.
If the texture is very pronounced, it’s better not to take any chances and to strip the current wallpaper. With the help of some useful tools, like a steamer and putty knife, the wallpaper should come off quite easily. Sites like https://www.raise.com/coupons/home-depot can help you make a saving on DIY tools if you don’t have any appropriate tools already. These savings are also great if your planning to do other renovations in your home too because it means the money saved can go towards better quality products like paints, wallpaper or furnishings.
Is the existing wallpaper sound?
If the existing wallpaper is starting to lift at the seams or is bubbling, this could cause problems with a subsequent layer of wallpaper. Therefore, it’s best to remove the existing wallpaper if possible.
Here are the steps we take to install new wallpaper over existing wallpaper
- Any lifting or bubbling sections of wallpaper are cut out; We want to make sure that we have a firm base to work from.
- The existing wallpaper is coated with a high quality wallpaper primer.
- A visual inspection is done to the walls. Once the primer dries, bubbles can appear and seams can lift which were not apparent before. We want to make sure that we have a sound base to work from.
- If any lifting wallpaper was removed, these areas need to be spot primed.
- Any areas of wallpaper that have been removed need a thin layer of drywall patch to make the wall smooth and even.
- Once dry, the drywall patch needs to be spot primed.
Once these steps have been done, we’re ready to hang wallpaper, just like a normal wallpaper installation!
READ MORE: How much does it cost to wallpaper a room in my Toronto home?
So, if you have existing wallpaper on your walls and would like something new, there are a couple of different processes that we can use. These options are discussed with our clients and we can move forward based on what is both most durable and most cost effective.
So if you’d like to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty why don’t you book a quote?
