One of the things we’ve been doing more of the last few years is mural installation. Murals are a specialty subset of wallpaper and were traditionally very hard to source. They don’t just come in the form of wallpaper though. Some artists offer custom murals LA which are painted directly onto the wall, to show a beautiful image or text. Wallpaper is an easy option, but if you’re interested in getting a traditional route, contact an artist. Traditional paint stores with their books of wallpaper, just weren’t able to offer them. Now, however, with the popularity of online shopping, many websites specialize in offering wallpaper murals. In fact, some printers will make a custom mural from any digital image you can supply them!
What’s the difference between traditional wallpaper and a wallpaper mural?
Traditional wallpaper
The main difference is that wallpaper is a repetitive pattern, whereas a mural can be anything at all. Some popular murals can be city skylines, world maps, even a picture of a marble slab.
How to select a wallpaper mural
You want to make sure that the size of the mural will fit the size of your wall. If it’s too big for the wall you might lose some of the picture as it’s trimmed to size. If the mural is too small then it won’t fill the entire wall.
World map mural in a nursery
Therefore, you want to purchase a mural that’s bigger than the wall it’s going on. A good rule of thumb is to have at least a couple of inches of waste, but not more than a foot. Therefore, if your wall is 8’h x 10’w you’ll want something that’s in the range of 8’2″ to 9′ high by 10’2″ to 11″ wide.
Is there a different installation process?
Since there is no repetitive pattern to a mural, the picture is divided into numbered panels. The actual installation process is no different than normal wallpaper, in most cases it uses the same paste and the same techniques. However, there’s no room for error, because if a panel is ruined, there’s nothing to fix it with. Therefore, when it comes to the installation you want to select an experienced wallpaper installer, rather than a novice.
CAM Painters has taken on many mural installations and has the expertise to ensure your installation is done to the highest standards. Why don’t you book a quote? We’d love to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty!
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
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
_____________
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!
Unfortunately this is a more common experience in Toronto than it should be. Here’s how you can avoid this occurrence and find a reliable painter…
Here’s the backstory,
You found someone either through a recommendation of a friend, or perhaps on Facebook, or a lawn sign.
He seemed like a nice fellow when he met with you for the quote.
He gave you a price, you accepted it and booked in a start date.
The start date rolled around and no painter! No phone call, no text, no email – Nothing!!
Why would this happen in the first place?
First off, it’s very easy to call yourself a painting contractor.
Barriers to entry are very low, a vehicle, some brushes, rollers, roller trays and you can call yourself a painter. However, with such a low startup cost some people treat their “painting business” as a part-time hobby.
Many of these “painting contractors” will do cash only, so that they can avoid taxes and proper insurances, which places a lot of risk on the homeowner that hires them.
To sum it up, they don’t have much invested in the process, so it’s easy for them to quit on their customers and leave them high and dry.
How can you find a reliable painting contractor?
You can minimize the chance of this happening to you by doing your due diligence. How so?
Ask your painting contractor how many years they’ve been in business?
As a general rule of thumb, the more years someone has been in business, the more they are invested in the success of their business.
At CAM Painters, we’ve been in business for 16 years. We’ve invested thousands of dollars in equipment, so that we can provide a great customer experience.
People will always say good things about themselves, sometimes they can even get a couple of other people to say good things about them.
Look for reliable contractors with lots of social proof:
Make sure that they’ve got lots of Google reviews – not just one review from their mother! At CAM Painters, for instance, we currently have over twenty 5 star reviews and counting! Also remember that, in some cases, it is possible for businesses to remove a google review if it is inappropriate in any way. They shouldn’t be able to remove legitimate negative reviews, though. Therefore, Google reviews provide a good insight.
They’ve got video testimonials – and not just written testimonials because those can be fabricated. We’ve got a number of video testimonials both on our YouTube channel and our website
A reputable contractor will give a written proposal and back up their work with a written warranty
You want an agreement in writing, so that there is no gray area of “he said, she said”. At CAM Painters we have a written proposal that goes over every aspect of the job from start to finish.
A reliable contractor will offer a written warranty on their work. At CAM Painters we offer a 5 year written warranty on both interior and exterior projects, as well as one hour of free touch ups each year, so that your house always looks it’s best!
To sum it up…
If you do your due diligence when you select a painting contractor you can minimize surprises during the painting process, such as someone not showing up when they say they will, or any other myriad of missed promises.
At CAM Painters we strive to give an excellent painting experience from start to finish, so why don’t you book a quote? We’d be happy to Transform Your Home With Lasting Beauty!
Painting trim in your Toronto home and keeping it touched up should be a priority. It is an abused part of a home; vacuum hoses get dragged along the corners of baseboard, door frames and doors get constantly touched with hands, when vacuuming the head of the vacuum gets bumped against the baseboard. The paint job should usually be refreshed every few years to touch up any damaged areas.
A question that is commonly asked is, “Would painting the trim in my house be a do-it-yourself project or should I hire a professional?” The answer depends, if you have the time, proper tools and patience you can make it a DIY project, so let’s go through the process:
gloves (optional – but the paint we use is hard to clean off skin)
paint brush spinner (optional – but makes cleaning brushes and rollers easier)
Painting Trim in Your Toronto Home Step 1: Determine Whether You Have Oil or Latex Paint on Your Trim
A professional can usually look at the paint and determine whether it is oil or latex, based on how the brush marks look – latex paint dries with more brush marks than oil paint.
If you’re unsure, use the nail polish remover test:
take some nail polish on a rag and rub the trim
if the paint transfers on to the rag it’s latex paint
if the paint does not transfer on to the rag it’s oil paint
Painting Trim In Your Toronto Home Step 2: Degloss The Trim
Regardless if the trim is oil or latex, it is generally painted with a glossy paint. To allow the paint or primer to adhere better I’d recommend giving the trim a light scuff sand. All you want to accomplish is breaking open the top layer of the paint to allow the paint or primer to penetrate deeper.
Think of it this way, is it easier to remove a drop of paint from a piece of glass or from a driveway? The glass is glossy and doesn’t allow the paint to penetrate, the paint can easily be taken off with your fingernail. If that drop of paint lands on your driveway, you might never get it off because the roughness of the surface means that the paint penetrates deeper.
This is why the rougher the surface the better for paint adhesion and penetration.
Painting Trim In Your Toronto Home Step 3: Wipe Down The Trim
After sanding give the trim a wipe with a rag to remove the dust particles. The rag can be wet with water or denatured alcohol (if you don’t want to wait for the water to dry).
Painting Trim In Your Toronto Home Step 4: Prime The Trim If It’s Oil Paint or Varnish
Going back to step 1, if your trim is latex you can opt not to prime (although priming doesn’t hurt, either). However, if it is oil or if it is varnished wood, I’d definitely recommend a primer.
Here are a few primers that are appropriate for trim:
Tip: if you’re concerned with being able to keep a straight edge feel free to use painters tape – just remember: firmly press it down so the paint doesn’t bleed underneath and take it off as soon as the paint sets up to avoid damaging the surface underneath.
Painting Trim In Your Toronto Home Step 5: Paint The Trim
We’re now to the step where we paint the trim. I like to use the new hybrid paint products that are out in the market. These products have water clean up, but when they dry, they have the properties of oil paint.
A couple of these properties that I like are:
As they dry, the brush marks level out into a smooth appearance
When fully dry they are harder and more durable than latex paint
Here are a couple of paints that I recommend for trim:
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!
