Written by Sam on September 22, 2021. Posted in Helpful Tips

Door Colour and The Property’s Value

During travel restrictions and lockdowns, updating our home’s interior has been the favourite pastime of almost everyone in the past year and a half. Right now, with things starting to go back to normal, people are starting to focus on the outside appearance of their home.

To assist those who are looking to make their homes exterior more appealing, Dulux published the Great British Exterior Trends Report. This initiative of the company aims to help consumers by gathering insight on the latest outdoor design trend in the UK.

As we all know, making improvements to our property’s exterior is one of the easiest ways to make your property more attractive and valuable. Over the last five years, the keyword “house exterior” along with other terms related to property development, has received more than 71,000 Google searches monthly.

As for the overall exterior trend search results, “outdoor wood paint” is at the top with over 12,000 monthly Google searches, followed by uPVC door paint, brick paint, white masonry paint, and more.

When it comes to choosing a paint colour, grey holds its spot as the top colour choice for property owners. White made it to the second spot on the list of the most popular choice for all regions across the country.

However, this Google search data is not in agreement with what people search on Instagram. On IG, the hashtag #pinkhouse currently tops the record with over 279,269 images showing on the app, while #greyhouse has only about 70,000 to show.

This Instagram record may have been greatly dominated by influencers who use pink houses as their background when taking pictures to upload on social media. This trend can have a positive impact on houses with pink doors, as it can generate the interest of multiple consumers, resulting in a higher bidding war that could possibly go up to £20k.

How Trends Affect Property’s Value

Instagram plays a huge role in today’s property aesthetics trend as most people find design inspiration by going through the hashtags on the app. Among the top exterior trends on Instagram is the all-white exterior – an irrefutable fact since white colour has always been visually impressive and is suitable for any type of property.

According to the data analysed by Dulux Weathershield, the colourful exterior wall trend has grown the most over the past few months and is expected to increase further over the next few years. Next to the colourful exterior wall, the garden decking trend is also growing with a 437% search increase expected in 2021. Third on the most popular trend is “front door”, as more and more people are now wanting to make their homes stand out.

Written by Sam on August 10, 2021. Posted in Helpful Tips

Tips in Painting Your Home’s External Walls

The beautiful weather during the summer season makes it the perfect time to do some painting on your home’s woodwork and exterior walls. But we all know that painting is not an easy task and requires the right amount of planning and execution to get the job done well. If you plan to perform a DIY painting on your external walls, here are some helpful and practical tips to help you do it like a pro. External Walls Prepare the walls When we say prepare, you have to clean your walls and make them free from debris, dirt, and stains. Treat any patches of algae or mold, and wash the whole surface with clean water to ensure a quality and long-lasting finish. Repair cracks After cleaning the wall surface, it is time to repair any cracks and holes using wall fillers. Fixing holes can provide your walls with a smooth, perfect finish. Another vital thing to do is prime the walls, especially if your walls have shiny or porous surfaces. The primer will make sure that the paint adheres properly to the wall surface. It also seals all the unstable areas. Choose the right protective paint Choosing the right paint product is necessary for quality and long-lasting paint. You should consider not only the aesthetics but also if the paint is capable of protecting your walls against weather damage and mold growth. A perfect finish usually needs two coats of paint. However, you may need three coats if you are painting over a strong shade. Rough surfaces may also need double the amount of paint than those on smooth, even surfaces. External Woodwork If your woodwork has been previously painted, remove all the old paints and flakes, and sand the surface. After that, prime the wood surface to prevent rotting and fungi stains. Fill cracks and holes to get a smooth and seamless finish. Apply two coats of undercoat. If you are painting on metal, it is recommended to apply a metal primer first. The primer will serve as protection from rust. For woodworks, applying a primer is recommended if you are using a paint colour that is much lighter or darker than the original. This would help new paint to adhere better to the surface. Lastly, apply two coats of paint on the woodwork or metal. Wait for the paint to dry, and you are good to go. A DIY exterior wall or woodwork painting may not be easy, but following these guidelines will help you achieve a high-quality and smooth finish that will last for a long time. Call our office today and get more information on how we can help you with your refurbishment project. Our telephone number 01782 810 220 is open to taking calls during weekdays. You may email enquiries@wallacecontractsltd.com to get in touch with us through email. You can also utilise the contact form and Facebook chat available on this website to contact us.

Written by Sam on September 1, 2021. Posted in Helpful Tips

Kinds of Paint Problems and How To Fix Them

Some minor paint problems are easy to deal with and do not require repair as they are barely noticeable. However, other paint issues are too visible and need immediate attention to avoid the situation from worsening. This blog will tackle some of the most common paint problems and how to solve them.

Blistering/Bubbling – This problem can appear on any painted surface, including metal, wood, plaster, and drywall. Heat and moisture are the two common culprits of blistering paints. This can happen when the paint is exposed to intense sunlight or heat or if a newly painted surface is exposed to rain, water, or high humidity.

Solution: Determine whether the cause of the problem is heat or moisture. If it is because of moisture, solve the problem by fixing plumbing problems and increasing ventilation. If heat is at fault, remove blisters and the underlying paint. Prepare the surface and repaint it, making sure that the temperature is 90º F.

Cracks and Flakes – These paint problems usually start from tiny, vein-like lines and grow into huge dry flakes. This is a typical result of insufficient surface preparation or applying a very thin coating. It could also be a result of improper application or years of use.

Solution: If the damage is not yet extensive, you can perform some DIY repair. You can remove all the cracking and flaking paint, clean and prime the surface, then repaint the spots that need repair. Suppose the problem is too extensive and you don’t have the confidence to perform a repair. In that case, you can call a reliable painting contractor to do the work.

Peeling – Both interior and exterior walls can be affected by this problem, and the primary reasons are improper surface preparation and application. It could also be a result of excessive moisture.

For interior surfaces, excessive moisture from the basement and foundation is the most common culprit. But it can also be a result of bad habits in cooking and showering. As for exterior walls, clogged gutters, leaky roofs, and interior moisture can be the reason for peeling paints. Solution: If the problem affects your internal walls, solve the problem by improving your property’s interior ventilation. As for outdoor surfaces, you can have the issue fixed by removing the peeling paint, preparing the surface, and repainting properly.

Chalking usually occurs during the hot, sunny season and is visible mainly on flat, pale-coloured paints. In some cases, chalking is after a long time as exposure to weather changes causes paint pigments to be released in the air. Another more common reason is the use of low-quality or interior paint for an external surface. Over-thinning of paint before the application can also cause this to happen.

Solution: This problem can be easily solved through power washing and treating the surface with a TSP solution. Rinse properly after applying the TSP solution and wait for it to dry thoroughly before applying a new and high-quality paint intended for outdoor surfaces.

Written by Sam on June 17, 2021. Posted in Helpful Tips

Use These Colours to Transform Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the hub of a home. This is where we gather together to share sumptuous meals and create meaningful memories together by cooking and preparing meals as a family. The kitchen is also where we bring our friends and guests to share meals and good stories. If you have been getting tired of your old kitchen design, it is time to show your kitchen some love by transforming it into a new welcoming space that you, your family, and guests will love spending time in. There are plenty of ways and design selections for a modern kitchen. But in this article, we will share a few colour schemes that you can use to transform your kitchen.

Brave Ground

Dulux Colour of the Year for 2021, Brave Ground, is one of the most versatile colors to match with any other colours. This neutral shade with a warm undertone will make a great option when repainting your old cabinets or shades. With this colour, your kitchen will look like an entirely new space without the need to redo the whole area.

Pastel

If you want your new space to look minimalistic and elegant simultaneously, pastel colours are your best options. These muted tones will make a good choice if you don’t want your kitchen to look flashy. You can achieve a warm and modern kitchen space by pairing pastel colours with rustic accessories, minimalist furniture, and darker accents.

Dark Purple

For a unique and modern-looking kitchen space, dark purple is your way to go. This bold colour palette blends perfectly with complementary shades. You can use it to accentuate neutral colours, making your kitchen look unique yet not overwhelming.

Olive green

One of the most versatile colours on the planet, there are plenty of design selections to go with the green colours. For example, you can create a timeless kitchen design by pairing the colour green with pastel or any other shades of colours.

Vibrant green

If you want a kitchen space that catches attention and makes an outstanding first impression on guests, adding a touch of vibrant shade of green on a corner or accessories is the easiest way to pull it off. Aside from being a head-turner, the vibrant green colour can also help you relax and focus, perfect for those who enjoy preparing meals after a tiring long day at work.

Teal

Teal has been a popular choice as a kitchen colour these days, especially for creating a bold style statement. This rich dark tone can create an elegant and warm kitchen atmosphere when accentuated with gold and metallic decorations.

Soft Grey

If you want to transform your kitchen into a stylish and simple space, you can never go wrong with soft grey. This calming colour palette looks best when paired with bright accessories and white shelves and cabinets.

Warm yellow

If you want to show your creativity and cheerfulness in your kitchen space, you can easily show it off by adding bright, warm yellow colour on your kitchen accessories and accents. To make it stand out, you can pair this vibrant colour with light and dark colour combinations, such as white and dark grey.

Monochrome

The combination of white, black, and metallic colours can create a modern yet classic look. If you want to go for a classic and elegant look for your kitchen space, bringing in metallic accessories to match your white walls and black furniture is the sure way to do that.

Wood tones

Since time immemorial, wooden features have been the staple of kitchen decoration. However, in this modern time, you can still embrace the old-fashioned way of decorating using wooden features while adding some modern touches, such as painting knobs and other accents with white and adding metallic arts to complement your wooden countertops or shelves.

Light pink

Using light dusky pink paint on your walls is another way to give your kitchen a fresh new look. Create a lovely and elegant kitchen space that you and your family would love to spend time in by adding rustic accessories and wooden and metallic accents to pair with your pink walls.

Written by Sam on August 20, 2021. Posted in Helpful Tips

Spruce Up Your Little Living Room with These Helpful Tips

Sometimes, decorating a small living room can be tricky. The lack of space and awkward corners make it pretty challenging to decide on the layout and design and figure out which part to change. But since the living room is the center of the house and your social space where you receive guests, it is crucial to make the space welcoming and comfortable. If you are running out of ideas on updating and improving your living room, here are simple and practical ideas to help you achieve a stunning living room design.

Use angled tables for awkward spaces

Round tables take a lot of space, thus it is not advisable to use in small areas. Instead, exchange your round tabletop with an angled table as it can provide you with more space in your living room.

Use shelves for storage

To avoid clutter and save space, you can incorporate shelves as storage for your decors and possessions. This will make your living room more spacious, especially if you paint the shelves with the same paint colour you used on you walls.

Consider swapping your sofa with armchairs

Since sofas take a lot of space, they are less suitable for smaller areas. So instead of using sofas, consider using armchairs instead. They do not only provide more floorspace, but they are also flexible, so you can rearrange them from time to time.

Use a white colour palette

Since the white colour reflects more light, your small living room will look more spacious. However, to avoid a plain-looking living room, you can use monochromatic accessories and decorations.

Go for soft grey colour

If using white colour is not to your liking, soft grey colour is another excellent choice. Adding a blue undertone to accentuate the soft grey wall will create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere, and will make your living room more welcoming no matter what time of the day.

Use a large soft rug

Using a soft and large rug is an excellent way to bring a warm and cosy atmosphere to your living room. It can also make your guests more relaxed and comfortable.

Make use of the windows properly

Bringing in natural light does not only create a comfortable living room, but it also promotes good health. When decorating your living room, make sure that the windows are free of clutters that could prevent bright light from coming in.

Consider metallic decorations

Using well-chosen gold accents and metallic accessories will not only make your living room look elegant, but it can also create a brighter atmosphere.

Use low seating sofas or chairs

Using low seating furniture will make a great choice if your home has a low ceiling. This will maximise your living room’s headspace and will make it look more spacious. Need help in transforming your living room? Call our office today and get more information on how we can help you with your refurbishment project. Our telephone number 01782 810 220 is open to taking calls during weekdays. You may email enquiries@wallacecontractsltd.com to get in touch with us through email. You can also utilise the contact form and Facebook chat available on this website to contact us.