There are 3 categories of paint pregnant women could be exposed to: latex, oil and enamel. The degree of harm that these paints could cause isn’t exactly predictable, but there are a few ways to measure the toxicity of paint during pregnancy:

1. Chemicals in the paint
2. Exposure to the paint

Most house paints today have met the state health and safety requirements, but if you are going to paint or be exposed to paint while pregnant, it is important that it be Low or No-VOC paint. Normal latex and oil-based paints can contain harmful solvents and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) that pose possible long-term problems for the kidneys, liver, or the central nervous system. Therefore, stay away from any oil-based or toxin-filled paint; any paint that has a strong odor is probably filled with VOC’s.

Using zero-VOC paint is the best way to ensure you are creating a safe environment for you and your child. No-VOC paints are ideal for parents seeking a child-safe, eco-friendly nursery. Not only are no-VOC paints safer to use, but they are also virtually odorless and easy-to-clean. Natura® by Benjamin Moore and Harmony® by Sherwin Williams are both great zero-VOC, nursery-safe paints.

While it may be a mother’s instinct to “nest” and prepare the nursery perfectly with fresh paint, exposure to paint should be minimal. Painting with a NO-VOC paint should be okay, but any other painting could be considered harmful for pregnancy.

Here are a few tips for painting while pregnant:

• Protect your skin by wearing gloves, long pants, etc.
• Be certain that the room and house are well-ventilated; open windows and turn on fans.
• Don’t eat or drink in the painting area so that you don’t accidentally consume solvent or chemicals.
• Limit the time you spend on the project and take frequent breaks from painting.

If you want to play it safe and avoid the painting process altogether, call Bear Mountain Painting for a free estimate at 678-455-2887. It is our pleasure to serve you.

photo credit: disneybaby

The first step to take in painting is to measure how many square feet of surface you will be painting. Professional painters can very easily calculate square footage, so if you would like an accurate measurement, contact a local painter for a free estimate. If you measure yourself, make sure you over-calculate a little for each wall and ceiling to make sure you get enough cans of paint and primer to cover all the areas.

Next, you have to figure out what color and type of paint you want to use. Do you want semi-glossy paint or a flat matte finish? Flat paint is mainly good for bedrooms, ceilings, hallways or areas with low traffic since it stains easily and doesn’t hide imperfections. Satin paint works well for multi-purpose rooms. And Semi-gloss paint is very useful for rooms with high-traffic (such as kitchens and bathrooms) since it has a nice sheen, resists dirt and grime, and is easy to clean.

The next step before painting is to prepare your walls. This process involves sanding uneven paint spots, filling holes in the walls, taping and priming. When the primer dries, you can begin the actual process of painting! When you paint, be sure to thoroughly and evenly apply the paint on each surface.

If this process seems overwhelming for you, we will gladly paint your home! Call us at 678-455-2887 if you have any questions or if you would like a free estimate.

A great and inexpensive Summer interior decorating style is to keep your main walls white or ivory and decorate with complementary or contrasting colors, such as:

• yellow and turquoise
• periwinkle and yellow
• tangerine and teal
• lime green and light orange

This technique is great for keeping a room simple and light, but personalized and modern. One of our favorite color combos this year is yellow and light turquoise. These two colors evoke a cheerful and “beachy” summer atmosphere.

Different ways you can accent with these colors is to:

• install chair rail and paint the higher wall an accent color
• create an accent wall
• paint some items as accent pieces (such as a end table, lamp-stand or vase)
• or use items like pillows, throw rugs or curtains for adding accent colors

If you would like our help with color consultations or help with achieving this “summery feel” give us a call at 678-455-2887 for a free estimate.

What are your favorite summer color schemes? Let us know in the comments!

Before choosing a brush, you have to first consider what paint you are using and the surface you are painting. Here are the different types of brushes and what they should be used for:

• Natural Bristle Brush: Paint brushes with natural bristles are meant for oil-based paints. Natural bristles will soak up water and go limp in water-based paints.
• Synthetic Brush: Newer synthetic brushes are made of nylon, polyester or a combination of both, and are meant for water-based or latex paints. Although you may use a synthetic brush with oil-based paint, it will result in a lower quality finish than if you use a natural brush.

There are two categories of preservatives used by house painters and homeowners alike: sealers and stains.

• Sealers are typically translucent and come in completely clear and tinted varieties.

Clear sealers have no colorant, but they absorb deeply into wood and work as a waterproofing agent. While clear sealers are useful in preventing cracking, they do not block UV rays, so your wood deck will still fade over time. For effective protection, professional painters recommend reapplying this product once each year.  This type of protection will also build up over time with multiple applications.

Tinted sealers work similarly to clear sealers, but have more protective characteristics. Because tinted sealers have some colorant added, they are more resistant to UV rays and do not fade as quickly as clear sealers. This is the most common product used on most decks, since it provides good protection against graying and cracking while allowing the natural grain of the wood to show through.  The darker the color of the tint, the more protection against graying the product provides.  Tinted sealers usually last 2 years on decks, and up to 4 years on vertical surfaces such as fences or railings.

• Stains are closer to paint than sealers in the way they function. While they do slightly absorb into wood, stains remain closer to the surface and create a film barrier. All stains have water-repelling properties built in, but they also provide more coloration to outdoor woodwork. Stains range from semi-transparent (clear enough to see the wood grain) to dark solids; they can come in nearly any color, and typically last 3-5 years.

Semi-solid stains are much like semi-transparent stains, except that they have a deeper color and show less of the natural wood grain. They provide longer protection and can also be tinted in nearly any color.

Solid stains are practically indistinguishable from paint; the primary difference is that solid stain doesn’t have a sheen or reflect light. Providing a thick, colored film, solid stains can be made to match or coordinate with the colors of your home siding. Just like paint, they must be applied in two coats, and they typically retain their strength and color for 4-5 years.

One final consideration in choosing a deck preservative is whether to use oil or latex/water-based products. We recommend using latex products since they are better for the environment, are easier to apply and clean, and are less likely to grow mildew.

Bear Mountain Custom Painting offers professional painting services throughout northern Georgia. As an experienced painting contractor, we have the knowledge and skills to protect your deck and home exterior. We gladly service the Atlanta and the surrounding regions of North Georgia.

Throughout the seasons, sunshine, moisture, wind, and cold temperatures cause great damage to our exterior woodwork. Exposure to these elements often leaves us finding rotten boards in our siding, trim, decks, fences and railings. Sometimes a small patch of rotten wood can be cleaned out like a cavity, then filled and repainted. Usually, however, the best solution to rotten wood is to replace the board.

Rot in wood comes primarily from water intrusion, warmth, absence of light, and lack of fresh air circulation. Mold spores get in to wood with water, for example, when rain runs through a crack or crevice of wood it can produce mold by carrying particles of dirt which can turn into mold. When mold is in an optimal environment (such as a moist wood crevice), it starts to spread by way of mycelium (threads of mold branching off from the parent colony). Damp or untreated wood can also easily become home for termites and critters that can quickly deteriorate wood.

Not only is mold and rotting wood detrimental to your home and exterior woodwork, it also can be hazardous to health. Therefore when you have rotting wood, replace it as soon as possible. In an effort to economize, homeowners sometimes try to replace only the rotten portion of a board. This is not ideal because it creates more seams in your woodwork, and each seam is both a visual flaw and a possible leak point where more mold can be produced.

Bear Mountain Painting is a family owned painting company serving North Georgia that also provides carpentry repair services. We can replace rotten wood siding, trim, deck boards and railings. We can upgrade old windows and doors, and even remodel a bathroom or kitchen.

Now is a great time of year to repair your deck and exterior wood work before the festivities of late Spring and Summer begin.

Call us at 678-455-2887 for a free estimate, or contact us online.

• Sunlight – Sunlit surfaces can be up to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. This can cause rapid acceleration of the paint curing process which could result in wrinkles and bubbles forming in the paint. Try to paint around the house so that you are always working in the shade, this will let allow the paint to adhere properly and give you the added bonus of more comfortability.
• Humidity – Sunny weather doesn’t always mean dry weather. High humidity can cause paint to turn blotchy or show color differences in the film, so it is best to paint in low humidity. Also if air is too humid, the solvents in the paint may evaporate before water or oil does, causing paint to cure prematurely which will result in paint system failure.
• Rain – Painting should never be done within 24 hours of a rain storm. Painting on wet surfaces can trap moisture which will foster the growth of mold and mildew. Check the weather before you begin painting; if it rains shortly after you paint, before the paint has cured, it will produce streaks and blotches on the painted surfaces.
• Wind – Like sunshine, wind can cause paint to dry too quickly which causes improper paint adhesion and prevents optimal paint formation. Wind can also stir up dust, dirt, pollen and other contaminants that not only disturb the paint finish, but can promote growth of mold and mildew.

Ideally, temperature for painting should be about 70 degrees with humidity around 50%. However, if you pay attention to the elements and paint when weather is mild, you should end up with a beautiful and quality finished product.

To extend the life of your paint job, use the highest quality 100% acrylic latex paint. High quality paint can last up to 5 years longer than regular paint. Paying a little more for high-quality paint is the easiest way for you to save money on painting long-term.

Have you had any experiences you’ve learned from by painting in bad weather conditions? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

For a free estimate, call Bear Mountain Painting at 678-455-2887. We serve Atlanta, Gainesville and the surrounding areas of North Georgia.

Psychological:

1. First of all, our eyes can play tricks on us. The scientific word for this is Metamerism. This phenomenon is when a color looks different to the viewer under different circumstances. When selecting paint colors, our eyes automatically compare colors to the surrounding shades and colors. Look at a color individually either by paint-sampling or by using large single swatches for a true impression of a color’s value.
2. When choosing a color for an already painted room we might also psychologically compare the prospective color with the current color. If you hold up a paint chip to a dark blue or red wall, the color will automatically change to your eye. This is another effect of metamerism. For a true representation of a color selection, look at the color against a white background or against your trim color.

same color, different sheen

Environmental:

1. Light significantly affects color, both the type of light and amount of light can change how a color appears. Natural light, incandescent, fluorescent, LED and halogen lighting will all slightly alter the way a color appears in a room. For instance, some lighting will cast blue tones whereas others might cast yellow tones. Therefore, it is very important to choose a color in the prospective room’s natural lighting.
2. Sheen (the type of finish you choose) also affects the color. Flat paint has a chalky appearance, absorbs light, and can make a color look slightly lighter than the swatch color.  Glossy paint will typically make a color look darker because the sheen reflects the light, causing the color to be darker. An Eggshell or Matte finish generally stays very close to the swatch color because it neither reflects nor absorbs light.

Call Bear Mountain Painting if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a free estimate. We service Atlanta and the surrounding areas of Northern Georgia.

Here is why exterior painting should be first on your Spring to-do list:

1. Springtime weather is the most comfortable in which to paint outdoors. Also by painting in mild Spring weather, you will get a longer lasting paint job. Paint adheres better to surfaces in moderate weather and will form the most durable and protective finish. Too much sun or wind will cause the paint to dry out too quickly and to age faster.
2. Painting should come before gardening; otherwise mulch, flowers and plants will get messed  and trampled in the painting process.
3. Spring will get busier and busier, so to get a good quality painting job done, you should start the project before the end of March. Also, graduation parties and spring company should be an incentive to spruce up your exterior paint.

Additionally, you’ll feel better about knocking out all the smaller yard projects once you’ve finished the biggest one.

For a free estimate, call Bear Mountain Painting at 678-455-2887. We can take the load of painting off your hands, so that you can get to the other projects on your list, yet still have a beautifully finished home.

Whether someone hires a painting contractor or does the project him/herself is a matter of preference and capability. Some are gifted at home improvement projects and others are happy to hire a contractor to the job. Regardless of what type of person you are, it is important to understand all that goes in to a thorough repainting job.

Often people underestimate the painting process, but there are many details to a quality painting job. Here is everything you don’t have to worry about when you hire a painting contractor:

1. Safety. Painting can be hazardous work, from working on ladders to dealing with solvents, dust and flammable products. Reliable contractors are trained to handle every painting situation meticulously and carefully.
2. Health. Many older homes still have lead-based paint in the walls, which can cause serious adverse health issues if not handled properly when scraping walls and preparing surfaces. Bear Mountain Custom Painting is a certified lead renovation company; we are able to remove lead without harming the residents of a home.
3. Surface preparation. Preparing surfaces is one of the most crucial steps in painting. Well-prepared surfaces will wear the paint better and will elongate the life of a paint job.
4. Paints & Painting. Professional contractors will know the latest products and will be able to discern which will work best in your home. Also, professional companies will have all the tools to complete your project thoroughly and efficiently.
5. Cleanup & Disposal. When you hire a professional contractor, they are in charge of the preparation AND the cleanup process. You don’t have to worry about dealing with paint residues, leftovers or other hazardous products.

If you are a skilled “do-it-yourselfer” and feel confident that you can complete your project successfully, then tackle the project wholeheartedly! Feel free to call us if you have any questions.

If you end up deciding to hire a contractor, just be sure that the contractor you choose is reputable, licensed and insured. Look at their website, reviews and testimonials to verify they put customers first and their work is high-quality.

Bear Mountain Custom Painting is dedicated to providing quality painting services to the residents of Atlanta and the surrounding cities of North Georgia. We are fully licensed and insured as well as EPA-certified. Give us a call at 678-455-2887 for a free estimate.