by Craig | Aug 25, 2017 | General posts, Pricing/Value
So you’re thinking of selling your Toronto home, you’ve looked at different home buyer companies such as We Buy Houses in San Antonio and now you’ve realised that it might be the time to update your house. Here are some painting projects that can pay big dividends in resale value! Obviously, if you can paint the place from top to bottom that would be the best for commanding top dollar in the real estate market, but that’s not always feasible. Sometimes you need to sell your house as fast as possible so don’t have time to paint everything. If this is the case for you then you may want to consider home seller financing as it could help you sell your home quicker, see https://www.amerinotexchange.com/selling-a-home-how-about-considering-home-seller-financing/ for more. But, if you’re happy for a quick paint job then here are our top picks for bang-for-buck projects when selling your Toronto home. If you do decide to sell, you may want to check out an independent home buying company such as We Buy Houses, who aim to make selling your home a smooth, stress-free process for you. However, if you own a rental property and need to sell it on, it’s not as simple as selling your own home. When selling this sort of property, it might be better to read this selling rental property guide on roofstock to understand the process better. However, the home might still need updating and redecorating.
Paint any area that is looking old or deteriorated
You want people’s first impressions to be that your home is clean and well kept, so if things are looking a little old and tired, freshen those up first. If the house is clean and fresh prospective buyers will assume that you’ve taken care of the place and be more willing to put in an offer. If you have some leftover paint that’s less than a year old feel free to use it to freshen things up. If it’s over a year old, it’s best to get some new paint.
Paint your wood panelling
If you have an older home, it might have dark wood panelling. If the panelling is painted a light colour it can really make the space look bigger and more open. This is especially helpful in basements which typically have very small windows and limited natural light.
Here’s a blog post on the how-tos of panelling painting:
What can I do with the wall panelling in the basement of my Toronto home?
Paint your kitchen cabinets
There’s no quicker way to update the look of your kitchen than painting the kitchen cabinets. This is way more economical than cabinet replacement in most cases. At the same time you can update the hardware (door handles and drawer pulls) too. With painting your kitchen cabinets the colour options are limitless.
Here’s a blog post on how we paint kitchen cabinets:
Paint or Renovate? What’s Best for the Kitchen in Your Toronto Home?
Paint your railings
Many people have dated stair railings in their Toronto home, these can updated with some paint! If you still have varnished railings in a dated lighter finish, you can transform them with a sophisticated 2-tone colour scheme as you can see in the blog listed below:
Toronto Home Stair Railing Transformation Project Guide
Painting can make the difference in selling your Toronto home
Many real estate agents will tell you that painting is one of the best things that you can do so that your house will sell quickly and for the best price. If you’d rather let us do the painting for you why don’t you book a quote? We’d be happy to transform your home with lasting beauty!
by Craig | Aug 21, 2017 | DIY, Interior Painting
Let’s say you’re looking at buying a house, but it’s got nicotine stains on the walls and ceilings. Or perhaps there are lot’s of cooking stains in the kitchen. Will paint cover over this? Will paint eliminate the smell?
Well, the answer to these questions is, it depends…
How extensive are the stains?
Nicotine smell gets everywhere! We can eliminate the smell coming from the ceiling, walls and trim. 
However, the nicotine smell can get into the carpet and other flooring, and throughout the HVAC system, so be sure to address these areas as well. This could result in needing your carpet to be replaced using somewhere like Carpet Now. Depending on where you’re based, it’d be good to search for a proper carpet cleaning service in this instance. If, for example, you’re reading this from the other side of the border down in sunny California you could try googling “Carpet cleaning in Aliso Viejo” to find your best options, or for those more native to Canada, try “Carpet cleaning in Toronto”, or “Rentable carpet cleaner.” There’s plenty of options out there to remove these stains, but for today we’ll focus on the ones on the walls. Why people smoke is beyond me. At least use a vape with the best 510 thread battery, it can even be used with more pleasant flavours or even cannabis. So in addition to painting, it would be wise to budget for having the ducts cleaned as well as replacing the flooring. In extreme cases, we can put a stain sealer on the sub floor before new flooring goes in, be it installed by https://cuttingedgeflooringservices.com/tile-installation/ or other companies.
Cooking stains generally are easier to deal with. Kitchens usually have hard surface flooring that is easy to clean, so cooking smells and stains can be eliminated with a thorough cleaning.
How do we deal with stains on painted surfaces?
If there is heavy staining we wash the ceilings, walls and trim with TSP, which is a bleaching agent, or Simply Green, which is a mildewcide. After we wash the stained areas we allow them to dry and then we apply a stain-sealing primer, which we’ll talk about next.
If the stains aren’t too heavy, we’ll go directly over with a stain-sealing primer, and we’ll skip the washing step.
Which stain-sealing primer do you use? Generally shellac-based primers work the best on stains, and we prefer Zinsser BIN. There are oil-based and latex-based stain-sealing primers, but we have found that they don’t work as well as shellac-based.
After we have completely sealed the affected areas with primer, then we can topcoat with whatever paint we choose.
What if I choose just to paint directly over the stains?
If you choose to just paint directly over the stains with either oil or latex-based paint, the stain will bleed through the topcoat. This basically means that the stain will show through whatever you paint it with, which is why we need to properly clean the surface and/or prime the surface to seal it.
In conclusion
Painting a house with either nicotine or cooking stains can be done, just be aware of the extra work involved and budget accordingly.
If you’d rather have CAM Painters remedy this situation for you why don’t you book a quote? We’d be happy to transform your home with lasting beauty!
by Craig | Aug 13, 2017 | Interior Painting, Pricing/Value
The cost of painting a Toronto home can vary widely, however, there are some ways to get the best value from your painting contractor, and here’s how….
Most of these suggestions come down to proper planning. If you can make your painting contractor’s job more easy, so that they can get it done in less time, then there should be a savings for you.
Plan ahead
Just as I was writing this blog post I got a call for wallpaper installation, which would take the better part of a week, based on what he told me. The person wanted me to come and do an estimate today (Sat Aug 12th). I proceeded to ask when he was hoping for the work to start and he said he needed it to start on Monday Aug 14th, 2 days later! This is a recipe for frustration! The chances of finding a reputable wallpaper installer who happens to have a week-long opening 2 days after looking at a job is very low, to say the least!
If you call a painting contractor and expect him to do the job on short notice, chances are that to accommodate you they have to move other jobs around and inconvenience some of their other clients. This creates extra work for the painting contractor and they usually charge a premium for last-minute work. However, with Fast Room Painting, you can be sure to get the room painted at an affordable rate.
In order to be on the safe side it’s wise to start gathering quotes at least a month before you actually want the work done, that way you can have a good chance of getting the time that you want.
If you can be flexible with timing you’ll get the best value
If you are able to be patient, it can pay dividends! Painting in Toronto tends to be busy in the summer and slower in the winter. If you have interior painting to do and can wait until the slower winter months, you can generally get the best value.
Here at CAM Painters if you book work for the slower months of December through March we’ll throw in some items for free to reward you for your patience. Say, for example we’re painting your entire room (ceiling, walls and all the trim), we’ll give you the baseboard in that room for free. 
Ensure that we have good access to the areas we’re painting
Another way to make sure you get the best value for your painting dollar is to ensure that we have clear access to the areas that we’re painting. Painting before moving in is always ideal, feel free to read about all the advantages here.
Empty rooms are the most ideal, however, not always practical if you’re residing in the home. However, the better cleared out the room is, the more efficient and less time it takes to paint. In terms of a furnished room, all the furniture should be moved to the centre of the room, so that there is at least 5 or 6 feet around the walls, and all pictures, etc. taken off the walls. If you, the client, does this work, you save the cost of having us do it, if we have to do all the work of moving your belongings then we have to charge for it.
In conclusion
As you can see, with some proper planning and a little bit of effort on your part, it’s possible to keep the cost of your painting project low, without compromising at all on workmanship or durability.
Why don’t you have CAM Painters over for a quote? We’d be happy to transform your home with lasting beauty!
It is no secret that a fresh coat of paint can add value to your property and make it easier to sell. But what can you do if the new property of your dreams is just outside of your current budget? You might want to consider taking out a bridging loan. If you would like to learn more about how bridging loans work, head to the Lending Expert website.
by Craig | Aug 7, 2017 | General posts, painting experience
Buying a home is an exciting time! The Real Estate Agents have done their job, your offer has been accepted, the deposit has been paid, the papers have been signed, and you’ve been able to sell your old home with people like Reali! Now what? Before moving in, make sure you make a list of local tradesmen in case of emergencies such as Absolute Draining & Plumbing, plus it’s the perfect time to paint your new house! However, it is important to visualise how you want your new home to look, and sometimes going straight in with the paint can be the wrong idea. Inspect if anything else needs doing, you can use the list of local tradesmen as a checklist, and make sure you consider if anything needs to be remodelled first. You can find many companies that will be able to help you online, but should you need one right away Click Here. Note: Remember before you begin painting, make sure you have repaired or fitted in anything that can cause damages to the surfaces you intend to be painted. This mainly includes things like electrical fittings, where if you look for a good electrician, to begin with you should not encounter any further problems and your home will continue to be freshly painted for the longest time possible! To check out good electricians try places like Home-Pro Electric (https://home-proelectric.com/on/guelph-electrician/) who offer great electrical services, making sure your home is painting ready!
Advantages to painting your Toronto home before moving in
Even if the house has been recently painted by the former owners, chances are that the colours they have chosen, while probably nice colours, are not exactly what you want. You want your colours to harmonize with your furniture and your own tastes, it’s your home now, why not make it your own?
First off, what are the advantages to painting a house before moving in?
Before furniture and everything else is brought in, the painter will have clear access to all areas of the house. Because there is no furniture to move, painters can get more done in less time, which results in a lower cost to the homeowner.
Also, there is no disruption to a homeowner and their family. When we paint a house where people currently reside, we need access in to certain rooms at certain times. Although we minimize disruptions through proper planning, there are lots of items for people to move, closets need to be emptied, for example. When painting before the move in, none of these disruptions exist.
We have painted many houses before the homeowner moves in and here are some tips to make the experience as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible:
Be sure to plan ahead
The summer months tend to be very busy for people moving in to and out of houses. As such, movers, 
painters and other contractors can book up quickly. If you’re going to move in these busy months it’s wise to plan and book these services far in advance. Conversely, you could plan your move in a less busy time of year and have easier access into a contractor’s schedule.
Use your visits wisely
Most times the purchaser gets 2 or 3 visits before the closing date. This is a perfect time to have a painting contractor in to look at the place and quote on your painting needs. CAM Painters offers online booking, but we realize that the visit needs to be coordinated with many different parties; the current homeowner, their real estate agent, you, your real estate agent, among others. Therefore, give us a call or email and we will do our best to prioritize your appointment time, given these circumstances.
READ MORE: A Great Painting Experience Part 1: The Estimate
Using one of your visits to get other trades in is a good idea as well. If you’re looking for recommendations CAM Painters has a carefully curated network of trusted trades that we’d be happy to share with you.
Be sure to plan enough time between closing and move in
Renovating, remodelling, painting and cleaning take time and it’s wise to plan enough time for these to be completed before your move in date. The last thing that you want is painters still painting while the movers are trying to move in your furniture. It’s wise to have an extra 20-25% of slack in the schedule to account for any unforeseen circumstances or any additional extra things you might want done.
Also, it’s best to coordinate the work so that only one trade is working in your house at a time. Many trades need clear access in your home to make sure things are done efficiently and properly, if not, one trade can easily disrupt the workflow of another.
Final Thoughts
Getting the painting done in your Toronto home between closing and moving in is an ideal time. Why don’t you book a quote with CAM Painters? Remember, if a convenient time isn’t listed, give us a call or email and we’d be happy to accommodate you! CAM Painters will Transform your new home with lasting beauty!
by Craig | Jul 29, 2017 | Interior Painting, Pricing/Value, Wallpaper installation
Are your children scared of going down in the basement? Do you jokingly call your basement a dungeon? Are you in desperate need of basement waterproofing bel air md? If you own an older home, chances are you have dark panelled walls in the basement.
Dark walls, combined with small basement windows and limited light make for a really dark living space! How can you make your basement more light and inviting? Here are a few ideas
Install more lighting.
Add a few more fixtures, whether that means installing pot lights, galvanized ceiling lights, or just using brighter bulbs in your existing fixtures. If you’re in the market of looking for new types of lighting for your basement, or in other darker areas of your home for that matter, then a small floor lamp can be a good choice in giving you and your family a sufficient amount of light. Just remember that if you’re not familiar with fitting lighting, always consult with a professional. You can find an example of a professional lighting company at: https://hometeamelectric.com/city-page/twentynine-palms/ but you may need to search for other companies closer to you.
Rip out your old walls and install drywall
Obviously the best solution for your basement walls is to install new drywall, this give your home the most up to date look, however, let’s weigh the pros and cons:
Pros: You end up with smooth painted walls
Cons: It’s both the most expensive and the most time-consuming option
Paint your panelling
Did you know that you can paint that dark panelling in your basement? What’s involved? First you’ll need to make sure that the surface is clean. Use a primer that offers good adhesion, one of our favorites for this application is Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer, or XIM UMA both of which are designed to stick to glossy and smooth surfaces such as panelling.
Pros: Very economical and you can paint it whatever colour you choose
Cons: You still have the ridges from the old panelling
Wallpaper your panelling
Once your panelling is primed you can have wallpaper installed over the top of it. In general, thicker wallpaper will work better in this situation that a thinner wallpaper would because the thicker paper hides surface imperfections better.
Pros: You don’t have to install new drywall to achieve smooth walls
Cons: The panelling needs to have been installed properly in the first place. If there are bumps, especially where the panels join, this could show through the finished product.
In conclusion
There is hope for your dark dungeon-like basement! If you’d like to paint or wallpaper your panelled basement walls why don’t you book a quote? We’d be happy to transform your basement with lasting beauty!
Many people have dated stair railings in their Toronto home, these can updated with some paint! If you still have varnished railings in a dated lighter finish, you can transform them with a sophisticated 2-tone colour scheme as you can see in the blog listed below:
