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HOW TO REMODEL YOUR HOME WITHOUT BREAKING YOUR BUDGET

Posted on 27. Jan, 2012 by admin in Uncategorized

Painting the exterior of a home can be time-consuming and expensive endeavor . But if you are budget-minded — (who isn’t these days ), don’t despair . “A little creativity can go a long way towards giving your home a beautiful makeover, without breakingyour budget,” says Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute.

According to Zimmer, most of the time  repainting is spent on the walls.  Yet, on most homes, the walls are basically a canvas against which the more interesting architectural elements are showcased:  the doors, shutters, accents, and trim.  That is where the eyes focuses  when looking at a home.  It also is where you may want to invest your precious dollars for remodeling your home. . . that is with the presumption that the rest of the house is in good condition and does not need immediate painting.

To make the most of your efforts, take time to think over your makeover project.  Zimmer suggests that you take a walk around your vicinity , see which color combinations you like on your home, and  observe  how others have used color tobring to light their home’s best features.

“Then, look at your own home from the curb or across the street.  Determine the  components that are most interesting – maybe you have an unique l front door or entryway, or maybe some of the ‘fretwork’ or trim is especially ornate.  Painting those areas will give a big bang for your buck in terms of aesthetics,” says Zimmer.

Zimmer further added,  visit  your local paint retailer or  local decorating center and select color cards that resemble the  color you see  in other Singapore property homes, or that you find especially appealing .  When you get the cards home, envision those paint colors on your home’s special features.

To draw more attention to some architectural elements, you might want to paint them in a bold color or one that is in contrasts with your walls.  On the other hand, painting your doors, accents and trim in a tint or shade that is muted or complementary to your walls may give your home a more subtle, dignified look.  Either way, a fresh coat of paint on selected areas will enhance a modest investment.

Even if you want to paint only some special areas of your home, you  still  have follow four basic rules to get the best results, according to Zimmer

Rule #1: Take Time to Properly Prepare the Surface.

Before doing any painting, make sure it is free of dirt and “chalk”. Since you won’t be painting the whole house, you can simply scrub the surfaces by hand using plain soap and water, then rinse thoroughly. Next, remove any loose, flaking or peeling paint by scraping, sanding or wire-brushing. Finally, brush off the dust and get ready to paint.

Rule #2: Use Top Quality Exterior Paint.

If there is one rule that you ought not  to violate, this is it, says Zimmer. For  all  your exterior paint works , the best paint to use is a top quality 100% acrylic latex paint. It may cost a little more, but this type of paint has superior adhesion, so it will cling onto the surface tenaciously – that, in turn, will help prevent blistering, flaking, and peeling in the near future. And since 100% acrylic latex paint is also flexible, it will help prevent paint failures in a second way – by expanding and contracting with the surface below despite the change in temperatures.

Rule #3: Use High Quality Brushes and Tools.

Painting with superior quality tools will make it easier to apply a thicker, more uniform coat of paint to produce a better-looking painting job. Brushes should be springy and well-balanced. When working with latex paints, be sure that your brushes and rollers are made of synthetic materials. These will  hold their shape regardless of the amount of water they are exposed to.

Rule #4: Paint in the Right Weather Conditions.

Doing your painting in moderate conditions will help the paint form a tough, protective film that will keep your architectural elements looking freshly painted for years to come.  Ideally, you should paint on a day that is not too windy, when the temperature is between 70 and 85 degrees.  It is also  ideal  to refrain from painting surfacesduring intense heat. Surface temperatures can be up to 20 degrees hotter than air temps, and that could adversely affect the paint’s film formation.

Today’s challenging economy demands most homeowners to  be smart and resourceful when it comes to remodeling.  If you want to give your home a fresh new look without much damage to your budget, think about doing selective painting in your home’s special features.  It’s a great way to go.

Tags: Singapore property