Frequently Asked Questions

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Do you offer more services than painting?

Yes. We also perform repairs, staining, wallpaper, pressure washing, new trim and specialty moldings.

Do you move furniture?

Yes. We move furniture, blinds, curtains and hanging pictures. We only ask that you move breakables or any priceless family heirlooms.

What time of year can you paint exteriors?

Exteriors can be painted as long as the overnight temperatures stay above 35 degrees. On average exterior painting in Maryland is performed from the third or fourth week of March to the first or second week of November. 

Do you require a deposit?

No. We never ask for a deposit. We never want the customer to feel behind in the process. We want the customer to feel comfortable that they are only paying for work that has been completed and approved.

What brand of paint do you use?

We use Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. We are licensed with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC# 145488) and registered with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General as a Home Improvement Contractor (PA187972). Insurance verification is available upon request.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Check and cash.

Can you put latex over oil or oil over latex? 

The answer to your question depends on whether you are talking about primer or finish paint.

The most common primers are oil and acrylic latex. You can use an oil primer on a latex or oil finish. The new acrylic latex primers claim to adhere to an oil finish - as long as you sand the oil finish really well. In my experience, an oil primer is best over an oil finish. Once a primer has been applied (oil or latex), you can top coat with any finish (oil or latex).

Finish paints are also mainly oil or latex. An oil finish can be applied to an oil or latex finish. A latex finish can be applied over a latex finish but not an oil finish. Once again, the new acrylic latex paint & primer in 1 claim to adhere to an oil finish, you just have to sand the oil finish really well. We recommend priming an oil finish with an oil primer for guaranteed adhesion and durability of a latex finish.

*Something to be aware of - oil based primers and finish paints are being minimized due to environmental regulations in some states. Products may no longer be available in large quantities, if at all, so check with your local paint suppliers for more details.* 

Is primer needed to cover dark colors?

No, depending on how light the new color is, it might just require an extra coat for proper coverage.

Primer 

Primer is used for adhesion and stain blocking. Proper adhesion can be needed for painting certain raw substrates like tile, drywall or stained trim and cabinets, switching from an oil-based finish to a latex finish or for very shiny surfaces. 

Sheens 

There are a number of sheens to cover a wide variety of looks and needs. Sheen is just another word for shine. How shiny do you want your finish to be? More shine means more durability, but also more light reflection. Light reflection can be bad depending on the look you are trying to achieve, and the higher the light reflection the more blemishes it will show. Here's a list of sheens in order of least shiny to most shiny. 

Flat - Little to no sheen. Best for ceilings (sometimes sheens are needed on ceilings for moisture or cleaning reasons). Gives your walls a muted look. Not as washable. Higher grade flats are more washable but they are not true flats. If you look closely they have the tiniest bit of sheen which really makes them a Matte finish.

Matte - Is more washable than flat without adding much sheen.

Low Sheen - Is a little more washable and shinier than Matte. This sheen is equivalent to new, or fairly new, vinyl siding.

Eggshell/Satin (sometimes called low lustre)- Is about halfway between Flat and Semi-gloss. These sheens are mostly found on Kitchen, Bathroom and Laundry room walls. Anywhere that water, soap, etc. might splash. They are also used on walls where you may need to clean up after children or ceilings where there's a lot of moisture or possible food splatter.

Semi-gloss (sometimes called medium lustre)- Is what you will find on most trim (doors, door frames, baseboards, etc). It has a nice shine and is washable. This sheen is also used to paint Kitchen cabinets and sometimes walls that might need to be regularly cleaned.

Gloss and High-Gloss - Shiny and very shiny. These sheens are typically used for surfaces that need to be extra durable, like automotive shops, or for people who simply like the shine.

Please keep in mind that not all paints come in all of these sheens. 

To make things simple, these are the basics...

-Most ceilings are Flat

-Most walls are Flat or Eggshell/Satin

-Most trim is Semi-gloss