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Interior painting, Exterior painters, Contractors, Deck Staining

Winter Exterior House Painting

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Atlanta has a temperate climate.  All four seasons represent themselves with green springs, hot summers, colorful falls and cold winters.  One of the best parts of being a painting company in Atlanta is that we can perform exterior painting all year long.

Obviously, we can’t paint outside during rain or freezing temperatures but those conditions usually don’t last more than a few days at a time.

The reason that we can paint outside during the winter is because paint manufacturers have formulated their exterior coatings for low temperature application.  For instance, Sherwin Williams Emerald, Duration, SuperPaint and A-100 all can be applied in temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit.   35 degrees is the surface temperature, not the air temperature.

Because GreenWave Solutions focuses on quality instead of production, we don’t push the low temperature limits of the paints.  Even though the paint says it can be applied at 35 degrees, you must determine many factors when painting in winter.  An important factor other than temperature is daylight.  If the paint doesn’t have time to set before sunset, surfactants leaching becomes a real problem.

These obscure, but important, details are why you should hire a professional to perform your exterior house painting.

Call GreenWave Solutions to schedule your free estimate – 404-549-7776

Atlanta Residential Commercial & Exterior Painting, Atlanta Painting Company, House Painters, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Buckhead, Roswell, Marietta, Milton, Decatur

Hey Atlanta, It’s time for Exterior House Painting

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Winter is over, pine pollen is over, April showers are over and that means it’s time for exterior painting and staining.  It’s also time for a bunch of fun things, but since we are a painting company that is what we’ll focus on.

The U.S. has experienced an economically turbulent decade.  The 2000’s began with one of the largest construction booms we’ve seen and was followed by an equally significant crash.

During the boom, 10’s of 1000’s of homes were built in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Milton, Sandy Springs and the rest of the metro areas.  Most of these home were painted using inexpensive, construction-grade paint which lasts only 5-6 years.

It’s been 10 years and it’s there are thousands of homes around Atlanta that need a fresh coat of some high quality paint.  GreenWave Solutions was founded by Atlanta natives that understand the elements that our home’s must stand up to and we are ready to help get everyone’s homes fresh and beautiful.

Our skilled painters specialize in applying all of the new ‘green’ coating and know get the most of the space-age acrylic resins.  GreenWave Solutions’ exterior residential painting projects both look beautiful and last a long time.  We are so confident in our work that we warranty all of our projects.

If you want an entirely new color scheme or just want to refresh your exterior, GreenWave Solutions can help.

Call us today for you free estimate at 404-549-7776 or fill out our contact form.

GreenWave Solutions offers painting services in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Brookhaven, Duluth, Grant Park, Inman Park, Buckhead,Milton, Midtown, and more!

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Roswell – Spring Painting Special

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We are finally getting warmer weather, budding trees and blooming flowers!

GreenWave Solutions is kicking Spring off with a positive attitude and would like to spread the good vibes by offering a painting special to all residents and businesses in Roswell.  We are taking 15% off on all interior and exterior painting, deck cleaning and staining, pressure washing, drywall repairs, siding replacement, wallpaper removal, rotten wood replacement, floor refinishing, and more.

The fresh air and beautiful weather puts everyone in a good mood so why not make your house feel the same way with a fresh coat of paint or a new look?  Spring is the best time of year to get everything freshened up and GreenWave Solutions is here to help.

To make everyone happy with a wonderful Spring mood we are offering this special to all residents of metro Atlanta.

GreenWave Solutions is proud to serve the greater Atlanta area including Alpharetta, Brookhaven, Buckhead, Chamblee, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Vinings and more.

GreenWave Solutions is the best painter Sandy Springs has to offer.

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Interior, exterior, painters, deck staining, wood repair, wall paper removal

Professional House Painting services in Chamblee, GA

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Chamblee, GA is included in GreenWave Solutions’ expanded coverage area.  This means that Chamblee businesses and residents will enjoy the same high-quality, green painting and home improvement services that have made GreenWave Solutions a fixture in Atlanta’s high-end contracting scene.

In order to kick of our 2013 expansion to Chamblee, GreenWave Solutions is offering a 15% discount for all Chamblee painting projects until June 1st, 2013.  This includes interior painting, exterior painting, deck staining and sealing, carpentry and wood repair, drywall finishing and any other premium GreenWave Solutions service.

Call or email us today to schedule your free estimate!

Office: 404-549-7776

Email: info@greenwaveforever.com

 

GreenWave Solutions is Atlanta’s first green painting contractor and the best painters in Chamblee GA.

We also serve Atlanta, Alpharetta, Buckhead, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Decatur, Grant Park, Inman Park, Johns Creek, Marietta, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and more.

GreenWave Solutions – Simply the best painters in Atlanta

Interior painting, Exterior painters, Contractors, Deck Staining

Marietta House Painting Services

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GreenWave Solutions is expanding its coverage area to Marietta for 2013.  This means that Marietta residents will have access to the same premium painting services that Atlanta has enjoyed for 8 years and counting!

Our painting services include interior, exterior, residential house painting, deck staining, wood repair and replacement, wallpaper removal, popcorn ceiling texture removal, window replacement and more.

Marietta is an historic and diverse suburb of Atlanta.  Homes range from very old to very new.  Our professional painters are skilled at beautifying both.  From stucco to siding, GreenWave Solutions does it all.

In order to kick off our Marietta house painting services the right way, we are offering a 15% off Winter special on all interior and exterior house painting in Marietta until May 1, 2013!

Call today to get your free estimate – 404-549-7776.

Thanks for reading.

GreenWave Solutions is a premium painting company in Marietta.  We also serve Atlanta, Alpharetta, Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Decatur, Grant Park, Inman Park, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and more.

GreenWave Solutions – Simply the best painters in Atlanta

Interior and Exterior Painter in Dunwoody. Professional Painting Company.

What is Mud Cracking

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Have you ever done painting or drywall repair work and everything looked good when you were done, but upon returning the next day you were greeted with cracks (like in the picture above)?

This is called mud cracking.  It gets this name because it so closely resembles the cracking mud in a desert or dry river bed.  Ironically, the scientific cause is the same for both occurrences.

The cause for mud cracking is applying to thick a coat of paint, drywall mud, etc.  When you apply a coating at a milage rate that is thicker than for what it was designed, it causes problems as it dries.  Drying is the simple process of moisture leaving the coating.  When a coat is too thick, the outside layer that is exposed to air begins to harden as moisture is still trying to escape from the inside.  The escaping moisture causes the outside layer to expand and crack.  When the moisture get out, this outside layer contracts back to its original size, but the cracking can’t be undone.

Mud cracking is more prevalent in coatings that dry hard with little flexibility like drywall mud and enamels.

How do you avoid mud cracking?

Preventing mud cracking is the easiest strategy.  Be patient.  If the paint isn’t changing the wall color with one “normal” coat, then you are going to have to do another coat.  Trying to pile it on the wall so heavy isn’t going to magically help the paint’s hide.  It will only leave a sloppy, uneven, finish with a high probability for mud cracking.  The same goes for trying to use drywall mud to fix large, deep holes.

I know that us men don’t like reading instructions, but being a real man includes knowing when you don’t know stuff.  It’s like the old cliche` of asking for directions.  I’d rather stop, ask for help, save my time, gas, and stress instead of proving that I’m a “real man” by driving around like a moron for hours.  Also guys, I don’t care if you painted when you were in college 30 years ago.  Just like computers, phones, and cars, technology has also changed paint products.  Read the directions!

How do you fix mud cracking?

Okay.  So someone didn’t follow directions and the mud cracking has already happened.  Here’s how you fix it.

Sand it smooth and touch up where necessary.  This can be more difficult than it sounds.  Drywall mud is pretty easy because it is made to be sanded, however, if you are using an industrial enamel that is designed to be hard as metal, get your power sander ready.  Also, wear safety glasses and dust masks when you sand this stuff.  Breathing all of that crap is bad for you.

I hope that this has answered any questions you have about mud cracking.  Feel free to email us if you need any help.

By 

President of GreenWave Solutions, Atlanta painting company and Dunwoody house painters.  GreenWave Solutions offers painter services in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Brookhaven, Duluth, Grant Park, Inman Park, Buckhead,Milton, Midtown, and more!

Stain Product Warning: Semi-transparent Stains are Horrible

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I like to keep my product reviews positive, however, I must be honest and objective to provide value to my readers.  I want to discourage all humans from ever using a semi-transparent deck stain (STS).  This is not manufacturer specific as I have never seen any semi-transparent deck stain look good, even when applied by professionals in perfect conditions.

If you go into any paint store that has a trained and knowledgeable staff (typically not a big box) and ask them if they recommend a toner or a STS product, they will tell you to use a toner.  If you push and ask them why, they will tell you things like the toner looks better or some customers complain that the STS didn’t look good, etc.  They are just being polite because the manufacturer of that STS signs their paycheck.  I can be honest.

Semi-transparent stains suck.

This is a product that really shouldn’t exist.  The philosophy is to provide consumers with more product options, but that shouldn’t mean terrible options.  When it comes to painting, consumers already have a plethora of options, each boasting that it is the best.  It must be incredibly overwhelming for a “non-paint” person to walk into a paint store and know what to buy.  The following narrative of a husband and wife choosing a stain is common and reveals the allure of the dreaded semi-transparent stain.

Wife: I want a solid color stain so that the deck that matches the accent color of the shutters and doors.

Husband: We already have enough color and we paid extra to use the better wood for the deck.  Why would we cover the grain that you thought was so pretty with a solid stain.  Let’s use a toner that brings out the wood’s natural beauty.

Wife:  I changed my mind.  The toner looks boring.

Husband:  What about this semi-transparent stain?  This is perfect.  We can choose a color, but you can still see the wood’s grain.  We get the best of both worlds.

Wife:  That is perfect!  Let’s go to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate semi-transparent stains!  We can say it’s your birth and get free ice cream.

I hope they enjoy the Cheesecake Factory because the fun will be over after they put that STS on their deck.  The idea of STS is good.  You use color to enhance wood’s natural beauty.  The problem is that semi-transparent stains are either too semi or too transparent which results in an incomplete and uneven appearance.  I worked for Sherwin Williams for 5 years and have operated GreenWave Solutions for 5 years and the most common complaint I got was about semi-transparent stains looking bad.  Customer’s being unhappy with STS is so common that we will not use semi-transparent stains on any project, even at a client’s request.

I have done this long enough to know that no matter how well you apply them, they always look bad and I don’t want people thinking that GreenWave Solutions does work that looks hideous.  Clients think they want a semi-transparent stain, but what they really want is a colored toner.  That is where I steer my clients that ask for STS deck products; to colored toners.

I’m sure that there are some people that think semi-transparent stains look great and they are entitled to their opinions.  There are also people that think “Honey Booboo” is a good show.  Some people just have bad taste.

Please save yourself, your painting contractor, and your paint store a lot of headaches and don’t choose semi-transparent stains for your deck staining projects.  Instead, use a toner that has the color you like.  And remember, because all wood accepts stains differently, DO A SAMPLE TO SEE IF YOU LIKE HOW IT WILL LOOK BEFORE DOING THE WHOLE DECK.

Good luck and remember that GreenWave Solutions is the best painting company in Dunwoody.

By 

President of GreenWave Solutions, Atlanta painting company and Dunwoody house painters.  GreenWave Solutions offers the best painter services in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Dunwoody, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Brookhaven, Duluth, Grant Park, Inman Park, Buckhead,Milton, Midtown, and more!

Interior and exterior painting tools used by professional painters, Atlanta Painting Company, House Painters, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Buckhead, Roswell, Marietta, Milton, Decatur

How to Choose a Roller

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I was helping my cousin do some interior painting this weekend and realized how little the average person knows about proper painting techniques.  Oftentimes I struggle to think of topics about which to write because I can’t think of anything that people don’t know.  I guess I have been over thinking it.  I’m going back to the basics for my readers.

How to choose a roller

When choosing a roller, there are three factors that you must define:  nap composition, roller quality, and nap length.

Nap Composition

Nap refers to the fur on the roller.  Composition refers to what the nap is made of.  When choosing what type of roller to use, you need to know what kind of coating you are using.  Alkyds, acrylics, polyurethanes, and lacquers all require a different roller nap.  You use specific rollers for some coatings because the stronger chemicals can cause the nap to melt.  Also, using a roller designed for the coating causes the paint to load and release better, which yields a better finished product.

Manufacturers label the packaging to specify for which coatings are compatible with the roller.  A sure fire way to choose the correct roller composition is to choose your paint first and then choose a roller that works with it.

Roller Quality

Not all rollers are created equal.  Like with most things, the adage “you get what you pay for” applies to rollers.  The difference between cheap and expensive rollers boils down to two characteristics.  Cheap rollers tend to lose more hair while painting.  These hairs end up on whatever you are painting and dry in film.  This is ugly and unprofessional.  In addition to this, the nap on cheap rollers typically doesn’t offer good release which renders a less smooth finish.  The only time I recommend using the cheapest roller available is when you are painting something where quality is not a factor – like a dog house.

Professional painters Trick of the Trade:  Before using any roller, put the roller on the frame and wrap it with painter tape.  Remove the tape before you start painting.  This pulls out the loose hairs and prevents them from ending up on your substrate.

Nap Length

Nap length is the last factor you must determine when choosing a roller.  Nap length is measured in inches and range from foam, mohair, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″ and more more.  What determines the length of the roller nap is how rough of a substrate you are painting.  If you are painting something super smooth like glass, then you should use a foam roller.  If you are painting something very rough like stucco, use the longer 1″ nap.  By using the right size nap, you ensure that you apply an adequate film of paint and get the smoothest possible finish.

I hope that this answers any questions about how to choose a roller.

By

President of GreenWave Solutions, Atlanta painting company and house painters.  GreenWave Solutions offers the best painter services in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Dunwoody, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Brookhaven, Duluth, Grant Park, Inman Park, Buckhead,Milton, Midtown, and more!

GreenWave Solutions is the best painting contractor in Atlanta.

Work from professional house painters in Roswell

Roswell House Painting Specials

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Fall is coming and with it comes holiday parties, family gatherings, and house guests.   While seeing your family and friends is a fun and joyous occasion, nothing is more irritating than you in-laws’ opinions of ability to maintain a house hold.  We all know what I’m talking about; the murmurs and “looks.”

The most cited reason for not painting during Fall and Winter is the weather.  This is a logical objection because traditional paints don’t perform as well as during cold and wet conditions.  Technology has changed this.

The new generation of paints and coatings are developed specifically for harsher climates.  Paint manufacturers design new products with the weather in mind because an all-weather paint allows them to sell product all year long.  During R&D, they test these products to stand up to the harsher winters of the northeast and midwest.

This works out beautifully for us in the south.  Our winters are like spring compared to New York’s.  Consequently, GreenWave’s Roswell house painters are able to paint the entire year still delivering the uncompromising quality that our clients expect.

We understand that the holiday season can be expensive, and to help, GreenWave Solutions is offering Fall painting specials.

Throughout Fall, we are giving 15% off of all Roswell house painting services.  Call to schedule your free estimate today!

By: Daniel Macris, President of GreenWave Solutions, the best house painters in Roswell.

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Painters in Alpharetta and House Painting Services

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GreenWave Solutions would like to tell the residents of Alpharetta that we are serving the Alpharetta area.  This means that Alpharetta now has access to the best painting company in Georgia.  Our Alpharetta house painters are the same skilled and experienced professionals that has made GreenWave Solutions one of the most trusted names in painting during the last 6 years.

GreenWave Solutions specializes in residential painting, commercial painting, interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet staining and painting, and more.  Call our Alpharetta painting division today for a free estimate.

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Mention this article and receive 15% off any painting service over $1200 (good through 2012).

Professional house painters and painting services, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Buckhead

Exterior Painting Application Methods

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What is the best way to apply paint?

This is another one of those questions that can only be completely answered with the question, “What are you painting?”  In an effort to keep this article from turning into a book, I will answer this question for the homeowner who is getting residential exterior painting.  We will assume that the house is previously painted and the paint is not peeling, cracking or having any other coating failures that will require getting into primers and more advanced painting techniques.  The paint is just oxidized, faded, and it is time to repaint.

Houses are usually constructed from either wood, brick, siding, stucco or a combination of these compounds.  Despite a few exceptions, a high quality exterior acrylic paint will work on any of these substrates provided the existing coating is in good condition.  Paints designed for stucco are thicker and have more elastomeric qualities in order fill hair line cracks and allow for movement.  Some paints designed for wood are self-priming to prevent tannin bleed.

So what is the best way to apply paint to the exterior of your home?

Some painting contractors boast “all work done by hand.”  While this sounds wonderful because of the allure of “handmade” and “handcrafted”, it is not really the best way to have things painted.  Here are the pros and cons of hand brush application of paint:

Pros:

  • No over spray or mess
  • Get into tight areas without having to tapes or cover with plastic or paper
  • No need for respirator or mask
  • Fast, easy clean up

Cons:

  • Slower (higher labor costs or more time painting)
  • Thinner coating of paint (Will wear out and need repainting sooner)
  • Uneven finish (brush marks shows)
  • Manufacturers recommend spraying most coatings

 

The other option for exterior house painting is by using a professional spray machine.  I don’t mean a Wagner paint sprayer you get from Lowe’s for $100.00, I mean a professional Graco, SpeeFlo, or Titan machine that can cost anywhere from $1000.00-$30,000.00.  Spraying paint using the right machine, gun, and tip will render a smoother more even finish than brushing by hand.  In some instances, like painting stucco or applying wood stains, it is necessary to back roll the coating after spraying it on to push the paint into textured surfaces.  Here are the pros and cons of spraying paint (assuming that a skilled professional is using the equipment):

Pros:

  • Thicker layer of paint (lasts longer)
  • Smoother finish and appearance
  • Faster (saves labor costs)

Cons:

  • Creates over spray so protecting eyes, nose, mouth, and property is required
  • Uses more paint due to thicker coating and over spray loss

As a professional painting contractor, I encourage spraying paints whenever possible.  It just renders a better final product.  There are some situations where spraying paint is not feasible due to population, wind, laws, etc.  If you have any questions about painting send the professionals at GreenWave Solutions an email and we will be happy to help you.

 

By:  Daniel Macris

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GreenWave Solutions is the best painting company in Atlanta.  We specialize in interior painting, exterior painting, residential and commercial painting, wall paper removal, deck staining, cabinets and more!  Call us for an estimate.