With the turn in weather everyone is outside in their yard and working around their home. We of course are starting our exterior painting season and wanted to share with you some tips!

1. Pressure washing – this can be a dangerous undertaking. Often we see homes with carvings in the wood siding – step back do not get so close. As well assure your windows and doors are shut and check all of them once you are done to clean up any leakage. Also not a good idea if there are areas water can get behind the siding……

2. Caulking – use elastomeric paintable caulking to seal your home, do the vertical corners, seams and around windows and decks. Do not caulk the horizontal boards as this is to allow breathing.

3. Loose paint – scrape all loose paint, feather sand with an orbital sander and prime all bare wood with appropriate primer.

Knowing what is on your home now and then determining the best product to apply is key to not having paint failure.

Make sure you know even when hiring someone to do your painting! Often we see failure 2-3 years later and that company that did it is not longer around or it was students.

Your exterior is what protects the inside and is more important that people seem to believe.

Remember advice and estimates are always free – call Tanja 604-314-8178

The Outlook Newspaper gives North Vancouver readers the opportunity to vote by entering their preferances in a variety of businesses and services.

I was taken completely and pleasantly by surprise when I learned that Powell Painting was chosen as the #1 painting company!

I am grateful to those that took the time to enter our name and grateful to all clients we have served over the years.

I also owe thanks to the entire Powell Painting Team for without their efforts the win would not have been possible at all!

The Team humbly accepts the award and Powell Painting will continue to be open, honest and fair while striving to exceed client expectations.

As oil based paints have been the most durable for painting trim we have had a hard time justifying latex as a replacement as it requires you to paint more often, this is not better for the environment or your budget.

We are excited about the technology and leaps and bounds it is taking to create more low voc paint that is much more durable!

This will soon be our trim paint of choice;

Advance is truly an alkyd, not a hybrid,” said Carl Minchew, director of product development for Benjamin Moore, who explained that the new product delivers all of the performance virtues demanded of an oil-based paint, yet has other characteristics common to latex. “It’s practically an oxymoron that defies belief and is definitely history-making. Advance cleans up with soap and water and is as green as they come, with a low-VOC content of less than 50 grams per liter, well below the 250 to 500 count for most other alkyds, and with significantly reduced odor.”

Advance reflects Benjamin Moore’s advance on the technology in so many ways. A mineral versus petroleum formulation of the alkyd is one of the key differentiators between Advance and the acrylic-based hybrids. It is the mineral-based formulation that enables the water dispersion of the Benjamin Moore tints. And, of course, one of the tremendous advantages of the Benjamin Moore Gennex tints is that they are totally VOC-free, so Advance is authentically low-VOC even after the colourant is added, and regardless the colour choice, which numbers more than 1,800. Custom colour matching also is available.

Though alkyd paint typically is preferred for trims, doors, furniture wainscoting, chair rails, base moldings and cabinetry, Advance will likely win favour as a wall paint, as well, with a flat sheen and primer soon to be added to a range that initially includes pearl and high gloss. The application is easy, with excellent flow and leveling traits. Advance will stay whiter longer than conventional alkyds, and it dries to a hard, durable surface promising years of beauty.

“Advance is a painting contractor’s dream come true when it comes to alkyds,” said Minchew. “It’s also epitomizes Benjamin Moore’s unceasing dedication to develop paints and coatings that are responsive to the market’s evolving needs while preserving the well-being of our environment.”

Ask me more about it!