New Technology, New Paint, New Life

In September of 2008 we began painting the Church of the Brethren on Main St. in Springfield Oregon. Painting the second story only, of all siding, and trim of this converted church. All of the old paint on the structure of the second story tested positive for Lead, which was cracking, peeling and falling to the ground. So began our largest learning curve on how to safely remove Lead based paint.

It would have been impossible to cleanly scrape flush, and smooth all failed paint edges on the church, because the wood underneath was also starting to fail. So, our first step was to scrape away any loose paint using OSHA, and EPA approved methods when dealing with the Lead paint. OSHA methods keep our employees safe, and EPA methods keep the public safe.

Our second step, was to prime the entire Church with XIM Peel Bond. Peel Bond is a thick water based primer that will bridge all old paint cracks and all old paint edges, preventing peeling in newly applied paint. Peel Bond applied thick enough, helps in creating a strong new substrate on the old siding and trim. This technique gives new life and durability to old substrates.

After 4 days of prep work we applied 2 thick and even coats of Forrest 100% acrylic exterior latex paint. First coat of paint was applied by sprayer then back rolled immediately after. Second coat of paint was sprayed only allowing a thicker glossier finish coat.

This project used 133 labor hours. After labor, paint, and materials the total job cost was $5500.00.

Using great prep work, great products, and 2 thick coats of paint, even the worst looking structures can be restored to looking great and lasting another decade.

From Chaos and Confusion to Balance and Harmony

This Client had to bear these walls for three years before they finally were able to change the craze these walls created in their lives. Imagine having to bear the clashing vibrational frequencies this combination of yellow, red, and grey/blue created. The red was a flat sheen, velvet, faux finish that had dirt and cobwebs clinging all over it. Not a wise choice for a kitchen. The yellow in the living room never had enough paint in the first place to achieve its fullest color and protective potential. Then to top it all off, the green bathrooms that matched the countertops didn't help out at all in combination with the red, yellow, and grey/blue colors of the other rooms.

They needed to fix this color problem and didn't know how, so they contact us since we offer free color consulting. After the estimated proposal was given the ok, we took half an hour and discovered the best color to paint 4 of their rooms (the kitchen, living, bath, and utility room) so they all matched with the rest of the home that is the grey/blue color you can see below. In the end we helped them choose this tan color that goes so well with every item in her home. What a difference color can make!

We even patched a 5" X 5" hole they didn't need in their bathroom anymore.

For this job we used Sherwin Williams Pro Mar 200, Egg Shell. We applied 2 thick and even coats of paint using professional brush and roller techniques on all walls in the kitchen and living rooms and on all the walls and ceilings in their half bath and utility rooms. For the budget we predicted 28.5 hours and it actually took 30 hours to produce. We only charged for the 28.5 hours of labor which came to a total of $1,165.00 for all Paint, Labor, and Materials. This budget also included time for sharpening the cut-in-lines of the grey/blue paint around the ceilings, door frames, and where 2 colors meet eachother.

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"Please Make Our White Walls Disappear"

We finished painting phase two of this interior home in January of 2010. Phase one was completed in March of 2009. 

We originally painted many of the rooms in this client's home along with their entire trim package (all of their interior doors, window frames, and door frames). At which point, we left the dinning room, living room, entry hallway, hallway to bedrooms and bath, and the guest bedroom white.

The homeowners were saving money at the time and happy with their white walls for a while. After nearly a year though, they decided enough is enough and called us to "get rid of the white."

Just look at how their trim pops out against the new wall color. 

At first these clients thought their red wall would be good to leave painted by themselves, but look closely and you can see where their pictures were handing. The walls significantly faded over a 5 year period of time. We applied a fresh coat of paint on this accent wall and it became alive and vibrant.

Check out this long list of pics and you will see an example of a couple of the many cracks we repaired in this home. Our methods of dry wall crack repair will prevent future cracking for many years to come, especially since this manufactured home is on a foundation unlike most.

On this project we used Forrest, Interior Satin Paint. Budget wise, this 2nd phase of painting their home took a total of 50 hrs. and was estimated for 52 hrs. This project involved painting all ceilings and walls in their guest room, living room/hall way's, their dinning room, and their computer room. The total price on this job came to only just over $2000.00 for all labor, paint, and materials.

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What a "Major Scraper" this Paint Job Was

This job was produced in August of 2008. It is the result on many years of neglect and abuse by the weather and overgrowth of plants and shrubs allowed to grow too close for too long.

The prep work on this project required us to use a razor scraper in combination with a flat tool to crevice behind the sheets of paint that came off of this home. We then used XIM's Peel Bond to bridge the paint ridges as best as possible.

We applied two thick and even coats of Sherwin Williams Super Paint using our unique application techniques. On the vertical siding, we back-applied the first coat using a 4" brush under the lip, then a 9" roller with a 3/16" nap to back roll the face of the siding, ensuring a tight stipple, for an even application,  look and feel. On the horizontal siding, we and back-rolled using a 9" roller with a 1/4" nap. Finally, all trim work and doors were then brush and rolled by hand with two thick and even coats of paint.

Total, the project took us 145 hours, was estimated for 136, and cost our client $5,610.00 for all paint, labor, and materials. This included extra charges for the addition labor we spent to fix a fair amount of dry rot issues.

A Large and Complex Lead Paint Job

This job was a interesting. The energy that went into covering all compliances for OSHA and the DHS were extensive. We painted the entire exterior of the Olive Condo Complex located here in Eugene, OR, on 16th and Olive. We also solid stained their parking and storage area to match the color of the condos.

The prep work was never ending. Luckily the water we sprayed on with a hose helped us remove the worst of the peeling paint. Looking at before pictures, you wouldn't think there would be so much scraping and sanding to do. This is another classic example of a cedar siding substrate that doesn't except the traditional oil and latex primers for very long before the poorer insulate qualities of this aged building and the cedar siding cause for premature failure.

We used XIM's Peel Bond on this job so we could maximize our hiding protection with it's unique product designed to fill and bridge cracks and paint ridges.

The Finishing paint was Benjermin Moore's Aura. An equivilant to Sherwin Williams Duration. A very durable and lasting finish, that coupled the great prep work and great paint will prevent the usual frequently reacuring failing paint jobs these larger commercial jobs are used to experiencing with the typical cheap paint job they are used to getting.

Total the job took nearly an entire month to finish with 5 people. There were many obstacles and tenants and other contractors to work around and with professionally. It definitely took longer than expected by a week or so, but we got it done and with no complaints or issues!

This project ended up costing our clients for only the labor and materials, approximately $20,000. They provided the paint.

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