Archive for category: Latest News

Starting a new business can be daunting. Jonathan Zawacki, owner of Hands on Painters, knows this all too well. He started his first business called Jonathans Odd Jobs way back in 1996. Three years later Hands on Painters, Inc. was in full swing. Over the next  23 years Jonathan has hired, trained and employed hundreds of painters, dozens of which have gone on to establish successful painting companies themselves.

Arising from a mutual need, Jonathan is now partnering with some of these past individuals to provide a solution to retaining current employees and bringing back the best who had left. Under the HOP Senior Tradesman Program, only superior-HOP trained painters are eligible. These individuals have been chosen due to their complete understanding of the quality preparation, integrity and painting execution that Hands On Painters expects. 

“This is a win-win opportunity for all. These business owners get the benefit of our advertising and administrative resources and we maintain some of our most talented  painters…AND our customers get quality workmanship!” says Jonathan.

These Senior Trandesman are fully  insured and backed by Hands on Painters!

Buildings built before 1978 are likely to contain lead-based paint. This paint has a heavy mercury-like substance that has been identified as a public health hazard. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put guidelines in place that help regulate the renovation of older homes that may contain lead paint. In April 2008, the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) was adopted to improve how painters and other contractors approach work in these older buildings.

Companies with an EPA lead-safe certification have been specially trained to ensure that lead-based paint removal and handling is conducted in a way that is safe to your family. Hands On Painters is proud to be an EPA Lead Certified contractor!

Selecting paint colors for the exterior of your home can be fun and exciting. However, for historic homeowners, the decision is often more complicated. It’s often helpful to know what the original colors were and then research what is historically accurate. A good place to start is the year your home was built. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most paints were mixed in small batches using naturally found earth pigments; reds, yellows, and greens. After paint production was industrialized, the pallet for exteriors became more bold and ornate; purple, burgundy, yellows and bright greens.

When deciding to paint a Victorian home, there are two common mistakes. The first is to paint it white as white has the potential of covering the details that are important in this period. The second is to paint too bright, as bright colors and the contrast between adjacent colors is too great. It is important to mention that light, or white, trim colors were not commonly used until the 20th century.

Here are a few general things to remember when choosing paint for your Victorian Home;

1. Highlight architectural elements by using breaks between colors.
2. Avoid stark contrasts and excessive highlighting of small architectural details.
3. Use a transition color to break-up light and dark colors.
4. Use darker colors at the bottom and lighter colors at the top of an architectural element.

It is important to note that Victorian is a term that covers lots of different styles. Elements include carved columns, gables, gable posts, scrollwork, porch railings, spindles, brackets, ornate molding, and gingerbread trim. Each call for specific techniques to paint effectively. Luckily, Hand On Painters specializes in painting historic homes.

Ceiling paint is often thought of as a necessity, and not a design choice. For decades, white has been considered not only the best but also the safest choice. Fads come and go, generally there are four easy ceiling painting solutions.

#1 White flat is the choice for all rooms big or small, tall or short, bathrooms or kitchens. The reason is white flat paint touches up easily when small repairs need to be made, it also hides imperfections, goes with every color and shows nice contrast. Light painted ceilings make walls feel higher and rooms more open, “frames” color walls and draws attention to architectural features like crown molding.

#2 Add a darker color to a ceiling. This can add excitement and drama to a room. It can also make rooms with high ceilings seem more intimate. It’s often effective for a bedroom or bathroom where you want to relax and linger. Generally, it is not recommended for heavy living areas.

#3 Paint your ceiling slightly lighter than your walls. We suggest selecting a color that is 30% lighter than your wall color to compensate for how indirect light hits the ceiling surface.

#4 Lastly, choose to paint your ceiling the same color as your walls. This can be a real timesaver. No cutting in or masking, less paint needs to be purchased and it help hide odd wall angles.

When it comes to finishes, we do recommend a flat, but higher-sheen paints may be appropriate in some small kitchens and bathrooms. Higher sheen paints do show more surface flaws, but can be wiped clean much easier. One of our consultants can help you raise your expectations for ceiling paint options!

At Hands On Painters we pride ourselves on our commitment to providing only the highest level of customer satisfaction. We know that a great painting experience is something you will want to share with family, friends and neighbors. 

As a Thank You for your confidence, we would like to send you a $25 Gift Card for every referral you make! Here’s how our program works. Locate and print out the Referral Form in the DISCOUNT & REFERRAL section of our website, fill it in and pass it on to someone you want to recommend to us. Once a Hands On Painters representative makes contact and provides an estimate, they will send you your $25 gift card! But that’s not all…we will do this for every referral you make, provided an estimate is given! It’s a very simple way of saying “Thank You”!