Many people like the look of old stained and varnished wood, especially in older Toronto homes. But what happens when some of it is damaged and needs to be replaced? Can the new wood be made to look like the old existing stained and varnished wood? Yes it can!
Here’s the process that we used to match new wood to old
We matched the stain at the paint store
We got a sample of the old wood and a sample of the new wood and took it to the paint store for matching. Patience is key with this process. Our paint store requires 48 hrs for a stain match.
We sanded the trim
In order to ensure that the stain is absorbed evenly into the wood we gave the entire surface a light sand. This opens up the grain and allows the stain to penetrate evenly into the surface.
Please note that we were staining oak, which is a very dense, hard wood. Because oak is such a dense wood conditioner is not needed, however when dealing with softer wood, such as pine, a wood conditioner is necessary. Wood conditioner is a clear base coat that evens out stain absorption.
We stained the trim
The stain that we chose was a rubbing stain, meaning that it is rubbed into the surface with a rag, rather than brushed on the surface.
When working with stain it’s better to apply two thin coats rather than one thick coat. If the stain is applied to thick it can dry blotchy, which we want to minimize, of course.
This particular wood took 3 coats to get to the colour of the existing old wood.
We varnished the wood
The stain needs a minimum of 24 hours before it can be varnished. This allows for proper drying of the stain before the final step of varnishing. We matched the gloss level of the existing varnish, which in this case was a semi-gloss.
The first coat of varnish absorbed in to the wood and resulted in an uneven sheen. So we ended up applying 2 coats which gave us a nice, even result.
In conclusion
We managed to get a fairly good result, with the new wood trim matching the old wood trim as close as could be expected. So If you’d like to keep the look of natural wood, but want repaired areas to look like existing areas, why don’t you have CAM Painters give you a quote? We’d be happy to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty!
At CAM Painters, we just helped a customer undergo a recent railing transformation. This customer had railings, posts, and stringers that were varnished and they wanted to update the look. They decided to go with a two-tone look – white spindles and darker handrails and posts. I’ll go through all the steps we did, along with the materials used.
Before
Before
First off let’s take a look at the materials list that was needed for the railing project:
Toronto Home Railing Project: Materials
Drop sheets
Plastic film
220 grit sandpaper
Tack cloths
White-pigmented shellac based primer
Brushes
Mini – roller cages and sleeves
Roller trays
The customer was having the carpet replaced as well, so here was the process that they used:
Toronto Home Railing Project: Carpet Replacement
The carpet was removed
They had us into paint when there was no carpet
The new carpet was installed
We came back and did a half hour of touch-ups
Toronto Home Railing Project: Painting
Step 1: We sanded the surface
Paint doesn’t stick as well to glossy surfaces which are prevalent with railings, so we gave everything a quick sand with a fine 220 grit sandpaper. This opens up the top layer of the varnish and allows the primer to penetrate deeper into the surface and create a better bond.
Step 2: We primed
We wanted to ensure that we had the most durable paint system that we could get, so priming was essential. Primer bonds to the railings surface and allows the finish coat to bond to it. An aggressive primer is needed to stick to a varnished surface because the varnish is so hard and glossy, so we chose white-pigmented shellac. Shellac bonds better than latex-based primers and even oil-based primers too, so it was the best choice in this case.
When multiple colours are used I like to put a marked up picture in our project management app for quick reference, so that all my guys know what colour goes where. It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and I think this is an instance that proves that saying right!
The new carpet was installed, and the carpet installers did a wonderful job. However, even though they were very careful, a little damage was done to some of the spindles and posts. So after they finished, we came back and looked over the entire project and touched up the areas which required touching up.
Not all Toronto home painting contractors are created equal, some are better equipped to handle larger projects than others. Interior painting on Toronto homes that are larger than 4000 square feet can be difficult. Here are some questions you should ask your painting contractor before undergoing the project. One being the concern of your possessions and furniture getting damaged by paint, you can look into the hiring of a company such as JIT Removals and Storage or similar, to remove and store your items while we paint!
Interior Painting Question 1: How many experienced interior painters do you have working for you?
Larger projects can drag on if not enough painters are working on it. If your interior painting contractor is a solo-prenuer or has only one employee it could take a month or two to paint your home.
At CAM Painters we currently have 4 experienced interior painters. For smaller projects, we run 2 crews of 2 painters and for larger projects, we combine the crews and run 1 crew of 4 painters. This gives us the flexibility to take on both large and small projects and get them done in a timely fashion.
Interior Painting Question 3: Can you show me some of the larger projects you’ve worked on?
Ask if you can see pictures of a larger project that your painting contractor has worked on. Ask for references for some larger homes that they have painted, contact those people and ask how their experience was.
An interior painting contractor that doesn’t have experience with larger projects won’t be able to produce those, and that will weed them out of the bidding process.
If you’d like a quote for your larger Toronto home, please schedule a quote. CAM Painters would be happy to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty!
If you’re looking to buy a property, perhaps with renovation (including painting) in mind, you can find great listings for home in Toronto at homeads.
When hiring Toronto home painters you want to select someone who will make you house look great–after all, it’s likely your most valuable asset and you want it to look it’s best. Here are a few things to keep in mind so that you have the best painting experience possible…
Toronto Home Painters Tip 1: You Generally Get What You Pay For
When calculating out how much to charge for your painting project a painter generally estimates the number of hours the project will take and then multiplies it by their charge rate. Paint and supplies are then added on to this figure to arrive at the price they give you, the potential client.
When one painting contractor is charging you less than another painting contractor here is generally what’s happened:
They are figuring that the job can be done in fewer hours
Their charge rate is lower, which generally means their labour rates are lower. A painting contractor using painters in the $20-$25/hr range is usually going to offer a higher quality job than a painting contractor using painters in the $15-$20/hr range.
They are figuring less for paint and supplies, which generally means a lower quality paint is being used.
Therefore, choosing the lowest priced painting contractor is not necessarily the best decision, because compromises have to be made to be the cheapest price.
Toronto Home Painters Tip 2: Proper Prep Work is Necessary
It takes time to properly set up a paint job. Floors must be covered and protected, furniture has to be covered with plastic, switch plate covers must be removed. All these things take time, but they are well worth it! Your house and its contents are valuable to you and as the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
Also, properly prepping ceilings, walls and trim by filling nail holes and other surface imperfections result in a better looking finished product. Using primers, when necessary results in a more durable paint job and a better looking end result.
Toronto Home Painters Tip 3: It’s Worth it to Spend a Little Extra Money On Quality Paint and Primers
A higher quality paint can be twice as expensive as a lesser quality paint. What do you get for that extra cost?
First, a higher quality paint from a reputable supplier covers better than the lower quality paint, which means that you get a better-looking result with fewer coats of paint, which saves labour cost.
Next, higher quality paints are generally more durable than their cheaper counterparts. You will save money by having to paint less often.
For most painting projects paint and supplies only make up 10-20% of the total cost of the project, so you’re far better to spend a little extra on the paint to save it on the labour cost both now and in the future.
Keep these 3 things in mind when choosing a painting contractor and why not schedule a quote with CAM Painters? We’d be happy to Transform your home with lasting beauty!
As the colder months start many people have the misconception that Toronto interior painting is best left for warmer times of the year. Let me clear up some of these misconceptions, and explain why they exist in the first place.
Toronto Home Painting Misconception #1: Paint Smells
First, in the winter months, you can’t open the windows to air the house out, so many of us take advantage of our home furnace if we have to open windows because of the paint fumes. Just imagine how cold it would be if you didn’t have access to a heating system in your home? Of course, your main aim could be to dry your paint as quickly as possible, and that’s fine, but you also need to take care of yourself, especially in the colder months. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your system will last for the duration of the winter, so making sure you get it serviced or repaired, with companies like Buric Heating and Air Conditioning (www.burichvac.com/colesville-heating-service/) can help to make sure that your home can be heated with warm air, without the worry of it breaking. What could be better than having a warm home, and fresh paint on the walls?
There was a time when oil-based paint was commonly used in the interior of a home. Oil-based paint has a long dry time, and it’s quite smelly as it dries. Even until recently most latex paints had a noticeable odor. Many people sensitive to odor opted to have their painting projects done during warmer months when windows could be left open. With the windows open the smell would air out quickly. Painting windows can sometimes be a hassle, especially if people have to make sure that they’ve timed their appointment at the correct time of year. This might be why some people have considered contacting a replacement windows austin company to replace their windows for energy-efficient ones that don’t even have to be painted. For some homeowners, getting windows like this might be beneficial as they won’t have to worry about airing their house out. Not to mention, their home would always look clean and well-maintained. However, before changing your windows, it might be worth having a look at a home window replacement guide to make sure you’ve found the best windows for your home. By learning about some of the different windows available, you can make sure that you’ve found the most practical windows for your home. This should keep your home safer and warmer throughout the winter.
Currently, we have a whole selection of low to no-VOC and low-odour products to choose from. In fact, most top-line paint from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore and others are low-odour. This allows us to paint in the winter months with the windows closed and very little “paint smell” is created. As well, with low to no-VOC paint little to no toxins are released into the air as paint dries.
Toronto Home Painting Misconception #2: Dry Time
Secondly, many people are concerned that paint takes longer to dry in the colder months than it does in the warmer months. In most cases, this is simply not true. Interior air in the winter is much drier than interior air in the summer. Furnaces give off a very dry heat, which actually causes paint to dry quicker than in the summer months.
Here’s a situation where dry time can be longer in cold weather: If a house is poorly insulated outside walls can be quite cold, and this can cause longer dry times. Usually, this happens in homes built before the 1970s that have not had the insulation upgraded. If we run across this, we’ll use quicker drying patching compounds and quicker drying paint as well as a fan or heater to speed up the drying process. Therefore, in the rare instance that we run across a home with poor insulation we can take steps to ensure that painting in the colder months can proceed without any compromise in the quality of the paint job.
Here is an advantage to scheduling your painting during the colder months. Since there is no exterior painting going on, painting contractors are generally less busy during these times of the year. Therefore, it’s much easier for a painting contractor to schedule the work in – there’s less of a wait time for you.
In fact, CAM Painters is running a promotion for work booked during the months of January and February 2017. If you book your project during these months we’ll give you 10% off to a maximum of $500. It’s a win-win, so watch the video below… and book a quote!
CAM Painters will Transform your home with Lasting Beauty!
Toronto is putting up condos like crazy! Unlike a single family dwelling, there are many rules that condo dwellers must abide by. These rules are designed to make living in such close proximity to your neighbor easier and more enjoyable. However, having tradespeople in to do work in your dwelling needs extra care and attention. After all, condos and renos do go hand in hand, but keeping in mind the needs and considerations below will help make the process all the more smooth.
CAM Painters has worked in many condominium buildings across the city.
Here are our tips to make sure that your painting project goes as smooth as possible:
Toronto Condo Painting Tip #1 – Property Managers
Get to know your property manager! They will be able to tell you about any rules and regulations that trades must abide by while working in condos, here is some information you should find out:
Working hours – most condos only allow trades to work between the hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Your painter needs to know this information so that they can plan their schedule.
Visitor parking – is visitor parking available for your painter? Some painters have vehicles that are too big for underground parking, if so, is there above ground parking available. If there is no visitor parking available the cost of off-site parking will be factored into the cost by your painter.
Moving elevators – Most condos will not allow contractors to take tools up to a suite without booking a moving elevator. These elevators have padded blankets installed on the walls to minimize potential damage. If this is a rule at your building or in your downtown toronto apartments please ensure that you’ve booked the elevator in advance for the painter’s start date. Also, tentatively book the elevator for the completion date of your work, so that your painter can get their tools out of your suite when the project is complete.
Toronto Condo Painting Tip #2 – Know Your Space
Many condo dwellers have to be very creative with limited space. Therefore, if your suite has an abundance of furniture in it try moving some smaller pieces into your storage locker, if possible.
Take into consideration that your painter will have to store tools in your suite over the duration of the job. Space needs to be made available for those tools. If the weather is good a spot on the balcony is ideal, otherwise, perhaps a spare bedroom or storage area could be used. Ask your painter how big of a space they need for tool storage. Some residences may have a ground area where storage like lp smartside sheds is able to be built, to help with storing important equipment/household items that can’t fit within the current home space. It is best to look around and see what you could do to support that additional storage, to help out with a myriad of things needed for the present and future.
Also, please reference my blog post about preparing for interior painting, which has helpful tips for both condo dwellers and people living in single-family dwellings as well.
If you want to Transform your condo with lasting beauty, why not book a quote? CAM Painters has worked in many condos throughout the city and would be happy to transform yours!
When working with stain it’s better to apply two thin coats rather than one thick coat. If the stain is applied to thick it can dry blotchy, which we want to minimize, of course.
We managed to get a fairly good result, with the new wood trim matching the old wood trim as close as could be expected. So If you’d like to keep the look of natural wood, but want repaired areas to look like existing areas, why don’t you have CAM Painters give you a quote? We’d be happy to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty!
