Paint Types & Quality

Thinking about what paint type, color and quality you want for your renovation or new build can be quite overwhelming.

Likely the easiest of the three is choosing a fantastic color.  So what happens after that decision is made? With plenty of choices to choose from, you’ll want to know the differences of each and how they might work for your space.

Paint Types:

  • Matte Paint – The most common of interior paint. With no shine or sheen, matte paint is ideal for ceilings and walls. It can take more than one coat to get the color solid and can be applied with a roller or brush. The main con of matte paint is its ability to mark easily; cleaning and touch-ups will be a regular occurrence.
  • Matte Enamel – Much the same as matte paint, matte enamel can be applied in the same way and has similar uses. The main difference is that matte enamel tends to be far more durable, making it an excellent choice for kitchens. Less touch-ups makes this paint ideal for homes with kids or pets.
  • Satin – A great choice for walls that will need to be cleaned more often, satin paint has a soft sheen and smoothness with a finish somewhere between matte and gloss. Not ideal for walls with imperfections due to its tendency to show imperfections.
  • Eggshell – With an extremely subtle shine but without the smoothness that comes from satin, eggshell paint hides those imperfections we don’t want seen. Often it can be applied with just one coat and is the perfect choice for most interior walls.
  • Semi-Gloss – Most often used on trim, semi-gloss is a popular interior paint. It is easy to clean and offers a hard finish suitable for heavily used areas. Being a shiny paint, semi-gloss will show more imperfections and will take longer to dry.
  • Gloss – A high shine paint that is one of the most commonly used interior paints besides matte, gloss can be used on most any walls. As with semi-gloss, gloss paint takes the longest to dry and shows all the imperfections on a wall.

The quality of the paint you choose can also make a huge difference in its use:

The main components of paint are Pigments, Resins, Solvents and Additives. These ingredients give paint its color, binding agent, carrier and added “extras”.

Higher-Quality paint will last longer and cover better. It has more total solids (pigments and resins) and fewer solvents than lower-quality paint. A higher-quality paint will leave a thicker, tougher film after the solvents have evaporated. Resins (binders) are plastic-like ingredients in paint that bind together to create a film. Higher-quality binders last longer & resist peeling, wear and blistering.

Lower-Quality paint has less solids and more solvents. Opposite of the higher-quality, once the solvents evaporate, the thinner paint film left behind doesn’t cover as well and is far less durable. Money and time will be spent repainting to achieve the look and performance of a higher-quality paint.

Finding the perfect distributor:

We have been working with Spectrum Paint on many of our renovation and construction projects. From excellent customer care to highly reasonable prices, Spectrum have been a huge help with all of our paint and coating needs.

“Spectrum is proud to be one of the largest distributors of paint for PPG Pittsburgh Paints and Benjamin Moore Paints in the nation.  These companies are among the oldest, most respected names in the business and are leaders in today’s paint technology.  Spectrum also distributes lacquers, stains and specialty coatings from other manufacturers in order to provide our customers a broad and complete offering of paint and related products.”

We highly recommend Spectrum Paint for their knowledge and expertise of all things paint!

Give us a call or message if you’d like to freshen up your space today.

2019 in Reflection

As this year comes to an end, we wanted to take a look back at some of our favorite projects and on-going work through 2019. It’s been an amazing year with many memorable times had. With the new decade approaching, we are taking this opportunity to reminisce while looking forward to what 2020 will bring us!

The Lofts at Sterling Mill certainly won many of our hearts over the year. With its historical beauty and amazing transformation, we really enjoyed being a part of and watching this building come back to life.

As well as taking on these larger projects, we also thoroughly enjoyed the smaller residential work we completed. From master bathroom remodels, to getting homes market-ready, each job has been unique and fulfilling.

Our continuing work with our Multifamily communities keeps us busy and determined to be the best. Completing pet grooming spas, interior repositions, service work and much more. We thank the Camden and Greystar communities for their trust and faith in us. Expanding our local work into Charlotte, NC with Camden’s South End and Greystar’s Matthews Reserve and Crosstown in Chapel Hill.

We have much hope and excitement for what 2020 will bring. A new decade that will open doors for our continued growth and to provide excellent service and quality work to our present and future customers.

Happy New Year!

Adapting your Home for a Senior Loved-One

Moving a loved-one into your home and becoming their full or part-time caregiver is a huge undertaking. It can lead to some major adjustments for you and your family, which will likely include home renovations or updates.

Making this transition as smooth as possible will lesson the stress and frustrations that could arise during this situation. Independent living products are constantly being designed and built to benefit both seniors and their caregivers. These products allow seniors to handle their daily lives with little to no assistance with optimal safety in mind.

Things to Consider

  • Downstairs Bedroom Addition or Renovation: Having a downstairs bedroom is often the most important need for the situation. Stairs are usually one of the hardest thing to manage for the elderly. An office space can easily be converted to a well-equipped bedroom. Having a brand-new addition onto your home may be the only option if room is sparse. Adding bed-rails to the bed will aid in independence at night & morning time.
  • Accessibility: A Threshold Ramp is easy and safe to install. They come in many sizes and configurations and are the most cost-effective solution for accessibility. If stairs in the home are unavoidable, a Power Chair-Lift can be installed.
  • Bathroom Modifications: Adding Grab-Bars is essential; they provide support and stability when it’s needed for independent & safe bathing/toilet needs. Additional recommendations include Elevated Toilet Seats with arms, non-slip safety mats for floors and tub/shower, bath/shower chairs or benches and hands-free faucet controllers.
  • General Remodeling/Equipment: Other things that may be helpful or needed could include a Hospital Grade Bed, door-way widening for wheelchair access, tray tables for eating, dressing aids, Power-Lift Recliner and security cameras for general peace of mind.

Taking this huge step to care for a loved-one is a wonderful, selfless act. Let us help take the burden of renovations & modifications off your hands by being the one trusted source for all your renovation or remodeling needs.

Contact us any time for a FREE consultation and quote to get the process started!

Why Obtaining a Permit is Important

You’ve decided it’s time. You’ve researched, planned and you’ve found the best contractor out there (us!). The next step in the process is filing those permits and waiting on their approval.

So why is this step one of the most important in the entire project?

Firstly, any contractor worth hiring will make sure it’s known upfront if getting a permit is required. Secondly, the reason a permit is imperative comes down to these main points:

  • It’s the law: Any work that requires a permit is made so by City Ordinance. Failing to get such permits can lead to removal of the project and/or other costly remedies. Always follow the law.
  • Saves Money: Work done without permits and inspections is subject to Property Insurers refusal of coverage due to damages etc. You never want to be without  insurance in case of the worst happening.
  • Protects Property Value: Remember that your home or business is an investment that you don’t want to decrease in value. Not complying with the codes adopted by your community can have a big negative impact on your investment.
  • Improves Safety: Your permit is key for the safety and welfare of you, your family & friends or any future owners of the property. Mandatory inspections and checks of the project aid in the contractors work and act as a system of checks to result in the safest project possible.
  • Makes Selling Property Easier: When it’s time to sell and move on you’ll be thankful that permit for sure! Nothing slows down the sale of a property more than invalid permits. As an owner, you are required to disclose any repairs or improvements made and if permits and inspections were obtained. Financial institutions will more often than not refuse to finance a purchase without proof of a final inspection, requiring you to tear down the addition, leave it unoccupied or do costly changes and/or repairs.

P&R Property Consulting Group are very knowledgeable in the permit process. We make it as simple as possible and will keep you updated on the status of the permit throughout the project.

So whether a permit is required or isn’t, we will make sure the experience is as smooth as it can be and walk you through the entire process along the way!

Contact us TODAY for your FREE quote.

How to Survive Through a Kitchen Renovation

There’s nothing quite as disrupting to our everyday life as having your kitchen remodeled. Removing your means of cooking homemade meals can not only be frustrating, it can also be costly.  The average time-frame for a full kitchen renovation varies greatly depending on different factors, but you can pretty much guarantee at least a month or two. Trying to stay sane during this hectic time can really take a strain on even the most patient of people!

The key is to plan ahead and know your limitations. Recognize that this is temporary and the end result will be worth it. With that in mind, here are some tips to make the process easier and take as much stress away as possible.

Plan Meals Ahead: This is essential for a smooth-running environment! Start planning meal ideas and gathering recipes that are easy to prepare and cook. Prepare freezer meals that can be stored in a garage deep-freezer or at a neighbors house. Fast-food is going to become your friend whether you want to accept it or not, but making wise choices can help alleviate some of the guilt. Set aside funds in preparation for the added expense of eating-out so the cost isn’t too much to bear.

Create a Mini-Kitchen: A life-saving idea that isn’t too hard to achieve is to set-up an area in your home with cooking & kitchen essentials. You’ll need a table, some storage (plastic drawers & cubbies work well) and easy-to-work with appliances (mini-fridge, air-fryer, microwave, toaster oven & instant-pots are great options). Use your storage area to keep paper-products, utensils, cooking supplies and spices in place. Keep a trashcan next to the space for easy clean-up and prepare to use plastic/paper plates & cups for this short time (the less washing-up created, the better!).

Breathe: Yes, this seems simple, but living through a kitchen remodel can be very trying and super-stressful! Take a breather, Remember this is temporary and the end result will be totally worth the struggle.

We’ve done many kitchen renovations over the years and enjoy them immensely. Give us a call or send us a message any time for a FREE consultation and quote!