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5 Tips to Help Extend the Life of Exterior Paint

1. Choose the right paint

The first step to extending the life of your exterior paint is to choose the right paint for your needs. There are many different types of exterior paint available, so it is important to choose one that is designed for the climate you live in and the type of surface you are painting. For example, if you live in an area with hot, dry summers, you will need a paint that is specifically designed for those conditions.

2. Prepare the surface properly

The next step is to prepare the surface properly. This means cleaning the surface thoroughly to remove dirt, dust, and loose paint. You may also need to sand the surface to create a smooth, even finish. If you are painting over old paint, it is important to use a paint stripper to remove all of the old paint.

3. Apply two coats of paint

It is important to apply two coats of paint for the best results. The first coat will seal the surface and the second coat will provide the final finish. Be sure to apply the paint evenly and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

4. Use a primer

A primer is a type of paint that is applied before the topcoat. It helps to seal the surface and to create a better bond between the topcoat and the surface. Using a primer can help to extend the life of your exterior paint by preventing peeling and fading.

5. Protect the paint from the elements

Once you have applied the paint, it is important to protect it from the elements. This means keeping the paint clean and free of dirt and debris. You may also want to consider applying a sealant to the paint to protect it from the sun, rain, and snow.

Additional tips

Here are some additional tips to help extend the life of your exterior paint:

Paint in the shade. Painting in direct sunlight can cause the paint to dry too quickly and to not adhere properly.

Avoid painting on windy days. Wind can blow dirt and debris onto the wet paint, which can damage the finish.

Repaint every 5-7 years. This will help to prevent peeling and fading and will keep your home looking its best.

By following these tips, you can extend the life of your exterior paint and keep your home looking its best for years to come.

Mood-Boosting Paint Colour Tips to Spruce Up Your Home

Choosing the paint colour for your walls is one of the major decisions you have to make when building or refurbishing your home. While some already have certain colours in their mind, others are more thorough and careful when it comes to choosing the right colour.

Several scientific studies have proven that colours have a huge impact on our mood and overall health. This is the reason why choosing a wall paint colour should be carefully decided.

When choosing the right wall paint colour, a variety of factors have to be considered. This includes the existing furniture and decorations in your home and the kind of light that gets inside. And the most important factor – the combination of colours and decors should reflect your personality.

If you are having a hard time choosing the right paint colour for your walls, here are some tips to help you out.

Check your wardrobe

One of the tips we got from experts is to take out your favourite outfits – the ones that you love wearing the most. Choose one or two shades from your favourite outfits and use a colour chart to build a colour scheme by matching your outfit’s colours with the paint shades.

Choose inspirational paint colours

Another valuable tip is to choose colours that tell a story. Just like how colours are used to set the mood in a movie, different paint colours can also trigger different types of emotions. Always choose a colour that could make you feel inspired and relaxed.

Use a little experiential psychology

Some colours can remind you of things from the past and you can utilize them when choosing a paint colour for your walls. By choosing colours that could remind you of the happiest moments of your life, you can have those happy feelings recreated in your home.

Use colours to zone your room creatively

You can also utilize point colours to create zones or separate the areas in your room. You can use a certain colour to define the corner that you will be using as a study area and another colour for your relaxation spot. You can use colours creatively to make your room bigger, fresher, and more relaxing.

How colours look equates to how they feel

Nobody wants a rough surface under their toes or fingers. The same principle applies to paint colours. To create an ideal and relaxing space inside your room, you should choose paints with visual softness. These types of paints will make an ideal background and could go along with various types of decorations.

If you are still having a hard time choosing the paint colour for your next refurbishment project, contact us at Wallace Contracts for help. Our painting and decorating specialists offer expert advice and services to help you create your dream space.

Design trends in commercial offices to look out for in 2023

The world of commercial office design is constantly evolving, and in 2023 we can expect to see a number of new trends emerging. Some of the key trends to look out for include:

Sustainability: As more companies become aware of their impact on the environment, we will see an increasing number of offices designed with sustainability in mind. This may include features such as green roofs, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting systems.

Flexible workspaces: The trend towards flexible working, which has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to continue into 2023. As a result, we can expect to see more offices designed to be adaptable and easily reconfigured to suit the changing needs of employees. This may include furniture that is easy to move and reconfigure, as well as modular walls and partitions that can be used to create different types of workspaces.

Biophilia: The incorporation of natural elements into the design of commercial spaces has been on the rise for several years and will continue in 2023. This can include living walls, natural light, and materials such as wood and stone. The purpose of this is to provide a more pleasant and healthy environment for employees, which in turn can increase productivity.

Technology integration: The use of technology in the workplace is set to continue to grow in 2023. This may include the incorporation of smart building systems, such as automated lighting and temperature control, as well as the use of virtual and augmented reality to enhance the design process. The implementation of IoT also will be there, which allows to track and control building’s parameters and process, even remotely.

Wellness-focused design: The emphasis on employee wellness is set to continue in 2023. This may include the incorporation of features such as standing desks, fitness rooms, and outdoor spaces, as well as the use of colours, textures, and lighting to create a calm and relaxing environment.

Co-working spaces: Co-working spaces will continue to grow in popularity in 2023, as more and more companies embrace flexible working and remote teams. These spaces will often be designed to be open, collaborative, and filled with natural light, to promote a sense of community and creativity.

Comfort and Enjoyment: As people are spending more time in offices, designers are looking for ways to make the space more comfortable. This could mean adding more comfortable seating options, creating more break areas, and using plants and greenery to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Minimalistic: There will be a trend towards minimalistic designs with a focus on simplicity and functionality. This can include the use of monochromatic colour schemes and clean, uncluttered lines. This trend is driven by a desire for a less cluttered and more streamlined look.

These are just a few of the key trends that we can expect to see in commercial office design in 2023. However, as with any industry, the future is always uncertain and new trends may emerge. But one thing is for sure that the focus will be on providing a more sustainable, comfortable, and productive working environment for employees.

Painting & Decorating Tips That Could Add Value to Your Home

Making some changes and improvements to your home can give you a feeling of comfort and enjoyment. But while there are a lot of things you can do to change your home environment, not all of these can add value to your home.

If you are looking for a cost-effective and money-worthy update to do to your home, this article can help you. The list below are some painting and decorating tips that could add make your home more impactful and valuable.

Kitchen makeover

Referred to as the heart of the home, the kitchen is one of the most important areas of the home that needs to get a constant update. As it sets the tone for the entire house, a well-maintained and updated kitchen can increase your comfort and enjoyment. It also plays a huge role in the resale value of your home.

Doing some repainting or small changes in your kitchen cabinets and walls can make a huge difference and could impact your home’s value.

Fresh Paint

Besides updating the look of your home and making it more aesthetically appealing, fresh paint can also increase your home’s resale value. Although repainting is an investment, it can pay off in the end as it can make your house look like it has been properly maintained and taken cared of.

Use lighter shades of paint

If you are looking for a new colour palette for your home’s repainting with the goal to increase its value, going for a lighter shade will never fail you. Lighter shades have always been on top of the game when it comes to attracting attention and interest.

By using off-white and other neutral shades, buyers and visitors can easily envision their own colours and decorations by just having a look at your home. It can also provide them with the freedom to try out various decorating ideas.

Don’t forget your windows

The purpose of windows is not just to increase your home’s energy efficiency. It also plays a massive role in making your home look good and with the help of natural light, it is often the first thing that people focus on.

If your windows need an update, you have to ensure that they are well-balanced and have equal sight-lines. Also, as simple as getting fresh paint, highlighting the trim for colour, or investing in double-glazed windows are all effective in increasing the value of your home.

Wallace Contracts

Don’t know where to start with your repainting or redecorating project? Get help from the experts at Wallace Contracts. We offer a bespoke painting and decorating services for all sizes of properties.

Contacts us for enquiries.

How Painting Your Home Can Increase Its Value

Selling your property at a price that is more than when you bought it is one of the most satisfying feelings a property owner can ever experience. This does not only give you a sense of accomplishment with the fact that you have the ability to improve your home and make the right investments with the updates/upgrades you made, but it will also give you enough resources and confidence that you can also do the same for your new home.

Many owners think that adding a new kitchen, bathroom, garage, and other huge investments is the only key to increasing their home’s value. While the property market is very unpredictable and uncontrollable, there are so many things you can do to add value to your home and sell it for a great price. Even a few renovations such as sprucing up an unused loft space or changing the wall paints can make a successful home sale.

Let Painting Do Its Magic

A dull and colourless home exterior can easily put off the interest of potential buyers, whether they saw your listing online or in flesh. But a fresh exterior is guaranteed to put a smile on their faces.

Painting can add around 2% additional value to your home and a pretty or spruced-up exterior adds another 2% to its price.

One of the sure ways to increase your home exterior’s value is to paint the walls with pastel colours. These colours can blend with the street and at the same time make your property look unique and interesting in the eyes of potential buyers.

But while it has been proven that a painting can make a difference in your home’s value, you can add more value to your home with the right kind and colour of paint.

How the Right Painting Selection Can Boost Your Home’s Value

One of the biggest factors when buying homes over the recent years is the energy efficiency of the building that it overtook other factors such as space, light, and character features.

Staying in a house that does not retain heat during the winter season or paying a huge amount on energy bills doesn’t sound interesting at all. To make your home sellable, you need to point out its energy-saving features – and the paint could be one of them.

Investing in a wall coating is a little more effective and attractive to buyers. This type of specialist painting is not only aesthetically pleasing but also protects and boosts the energy-saving performance of a building.

As soon as the wall coating is applied to your walls, you will notice a huge difference almost in an instant. The moisture that usually seeps through the masonry surface will drain off and the heat on the walls will start to stay longer. The dirt that usually sticks to the walls very easily will now just wash away.

If you are looking to put your home on the market, investing in a wall coating will surely make a difference.

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Areas We Cover

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For projects over circa £10,000 we offer services Nationwide.