House Painting, Painters in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Roswell, Buckhead, Sandy Springs

What are VOCs in Paints?

Intelligent people agree that global warming is real.  While its exact causes are unknown, scientists say that greenhouse gases are contributing to it.  Whether or not greenhouse gases are causing global warming, we can all agree that they are bad for us to breathe.  The chief cause of greenhouse gases are volatile organic compounds (VOC).

These compounds are organic chemicals with low boiling points.  Because of the low boiling temperatures, these chemicals convert into a gaseous state in normal conditions.  They typically are toxic and flammable.

Here is an everyday example of what this means.  Water has 3 states; solid, liquid, and gas (please don’t comment about plasma).  Water is solid at 0 C and below, liquid between 0-100 C, and gas at 100 C and above.

Instead of water, let’s look at toluene.

Instead of the vapor pressure of 100 C, toluene’s is 25 C.  This is cooler than room temperature.  Because of this a bucket of toluene will emit vapors in cool temperatures.  Unlike water, these vapors are toxic to humans, animals, plants, and the ozone layer.  Toluene is a solvent common to many industrial coatings and epoxies.

Why are the VOCs in paint?

Paints contain VOCs because of the chemicals that act as the paints solvent.  Solvents keep paint in liquid form until you use it.  That is why paint smells while it is drying and then stops smelling.  The fumes come from the solvents leaving the paint.

The reason that so many paints use toxic solvents is because that is all that technology had allowed for a long time.  Paints that used water as a solvent, like acrylics and latex, were not so durable as paints that used MEK, lacquer, and stronger chemicals as solvents.  This is just one of those “life isn’t fair” things like “why is the most delicious food the least healthy?”  God has a twisted sense of humor, I guess.

The good news is that scientific advances have made acrylic resins compete as good as their more toxic counterparts’.  By replacing the resin package, scientists are able to make awesome paints that use water as the solvent.  That is how paint manufacturers develop “0-VOC” paints that perform better than VOC heavy coatings.

Thanks science!

By

President of GreenWave Solutions, Atlanta’s first and best green painting company.  GreenWave Solutions offers the best painter services in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Brookhaven, Duluth, Grant Park, Inman Park, Buckhead, Midtown, and many more!

Interior and exterior Brookhaven painters and professional painting company.

How to Paint a Bathroom

This “How To” article is easier than wallpaper removal or popcorn removal.  We are going to learn how to paint a bathroom.  When painting a bathroom, the most important decision is what type of paint to use.

Bathrooms are unique rooms because they are high traffic and wet conditions.  The paint in bathrooms must be durable enough to withstand the traffic, but also water-resistant to stand up against steam from showers.  The simplest measure of determining durability of interior paints is sheen.  The higher the sheen, the more durable the coating.

In the old days, satin was the “go to” finish for baths.  Satin has lower sheen than semi-gloss but is more durable than flats.  With the advance in coating technologies, manufacturers have developed “washable flats” and matte finishes.  Washable flats and matte finishes have an angular sheen closer to a flat with durability that surpasses semi-gloss.  These finishes are typically reserved for premium quality lines of paint.  All major manufacturers have this finish as part of their product line.

Matte finish paints apply the same way as other those with other sheens.  Due to the high quality nature of these paints, they usually apply better than other paints.  Many have exceptional hide and are self priming.  GreenWave Solutions uses Sherwin Williams’ premium lines Duration Home and Emerald.

After you have chosen which paint you are going to use, it’s time to start painting.

To see how professional contractors do interior painting, see our “How to paint a room” article.

The easiest way to paint a bathroom or any other room is to hire a house painting contractor.  GreenWave Solutions has been Metro Atlanta’s premier painting company for over 8 years.  We specialize in interior painting, exterior painting, and all other residential and commercial painting.  Our goal for 2012 is to be the best painters in Alpharetta.  Our service area isn’t limited to Alpharetta.  We service Roswell, John’s Creek, Milton, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Brookhaven, and most major Atlanta suburbs.

Call today to schedule your free estimate.

By: GreenWave Solutions, the best house painters in Alpharetta.

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Atlanta Wallpaper Removal, Roswell, Alpharetta, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Chamblee

How to Remove Wallpaper

We are going to tackle one of the most tedious and annoying jobs for do-it-yourselfers – wallpaper removal.

Anyone who has removed wallpaper knows that it is a horrible experience.  The scraping is horrible enough, but after it is done, you are left with dirty damaged drywall.  Then you learn that refinishing walls is harder than it looks on HGTV.  After that you get to have fun priming and painting.  I can’t tell you that there is secret to make wallpaper removal easy, but I will tell how professional painters do it.  Here we go.

1. Gather all you materials.  This is list of almost everything you need (there may be other items that I take for granted because I see this all the time.  Please don’t send me hate mail if I forgot something).

  • a steamer
  • scrapers
  • construction paper and plastic
  • painters tape
  • sponges and rags
  • wallpaper removal gel or solution (optional)
  • powder drywall joint compound, “mud” (45 minute)
  • mud pans
  • finishing knives
  • paint brushes
  • rollers, frames, pole
  • sand paper and pole sander
  • dust masks and eye protection
  • alkyd or shellac based primer
  • paint

2. Prepare your work area.  Cover floors with the construction paper.  Try and close off the area using the plastic.  This is for keeping the dust contained.  Remember to close any intake ducts or turn off HVAC.  Take off switch plates, electrical outlet covers, and anything else that’s in way.  This process is annoying, but you will be glad you did it at the end.  It controls dust and makes clean up MUCH easier.  Trust me.

3. Time to start removing the wallpaper.  If you are using wallpaper scorers and gels, follow the manufacturers instructions.  If you have a steamer, start steaming.  I recommend using a scoring tool to make holes in the vinyl layer.  This helps the heat and steam get through the paper for better release.  This can go two ways; either the paper is going to comes off in nice big pieces or small ones.  Pray for the first option.  Use your scraper to get under the paper and GENTLY scrape the paper and adhesive from the wall.  Try your best to avoid gouging holes in the wall.  The more damage you do during the removal, the more difficult refinishing the wall is going to be.  Keep a bucket of warm water and wipe off the wallpaper adhesive while its wet.  This also will facilitate next steps.

4. By now you are ready for a break.  Take a break, eat something, drink a beer and let the walls dry.

5. Refinish the walls.  This can be tricky.  Make sure you mix the drywall compound using the ratio on the bag.  Only mix small amounts at a time.  Using your finishing knives, apply a THIN layer of mud over the areas that have damage or are rough.  The trick here is too use as little finishing compound as necessary to bury imperfections.  Remember the more you put on, the more you are going to have to sand off to achieve a professional finish.  Also, it is much easier to apply a thin 2nd layer coat having to sand down a even a 1/4 inch of excess.  Putting too much joint compound is one of the most common rookie mistakes.  After the mud dries (about 45 min depending on temperature and humidity), sand it down.  I recommend 150-220 grit paper.  Wear a dust mask and even goggles.  It is going to be disgustingly dusty.  That is why we made a barrier with plastic and closed intake vents in step 1.  Drywall dusts really sucks.  I’ve seen projects where people forget to turn on HVAC and the dust gets sucked up and blown through an entire house.  Not cool.

After you have sanded the walls, refinish any areas that need more work.  After everything is dry, take a damp rag or sponge and wipe all of the loose dust from the walls.

6. Take another break.

7. Now that you have smooth, clean walls you are going to prime everything that had wallpaper on it.  I recommend using an alkyd or shellac based primer for this.  Wallpaper adhesive is a water soluble, starch based product.  Using a waterborne primer can sometimes reactivate the glue and cause problems for the paint.  Alkyd and shellac based primers are going to have higher VOCs and typically have bad fumes.  Get fans blowing and open windows because these are bad to breathe.  Use a respirator if you have one.  Keep kids away, too.  They will have plenty of time to damage their brains in college.  The good news is that these products do dry quickly so the fumes dissipate quickly.

8. You’re almost done.  All that’s left is the easy part – painting.  Everything should still be prepared from priming so painting is super easy.  Choose your favorite paint and color and paint.  If you are using a dark color, have the paint store tint your primer so that one coat of paint will cover adequately.

Congratulations!  You have successfully removed and repainted a wallpapered area.  You also learned why so many people opt to call professional painting companies to do this job.  Doing it yourself can save you money, but the hassle and stress may cost you your sanity.

GreenWave Solutions specializes in wallpaper removal.  We remove residential and commercial wall coverings.  Call us to schedule your free estimate today!

GreenWave is also the best interior house painters, exterior house painters, and house painting company and serves Atlanta, Alpharetta, Brookhaven, Buckhead, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, Grant Park, Inman Park, Johns Creek, Duluth, Milton, Roswell, and most major suburbs.

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

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Atlanta Interior Painting

Interior House Painting Specials for Autumn

Autumn is here and the cooler weather has come with it.  The shorter days, cooler weather, and Halloween decorations mean its time to get ready for the holidays!

GreenWave Solutions wants to make sure your home looks its best for the holiday parties and family gatherings.  Whether you want a brand new color scheme or just a freshening up, we have everything you need.  We offer color consultations to help you choose the perfect color scheme for your home.  Our professional painters specialize in using the new, low and zero VOC paints that don’t release toxic fumes and look beautiful!  We take the extra steps to ensure that your home, floors, and furniture are protected during painting.

We are having our annual Autumn specials.  GreenWave Solutions is now offering 15% off interior house painting services.

If your interior looks good, but your exterior needs some TLC, we also offer 15% exterior house painting for a limited time.  Call and schedule your free estimate today!

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interior and exterior painters.

House Painters in Sandy Springs, GA

Autumn in the South is one of the most beautiful times of the year.  The leaves change color, the weather cools down, and the football tailgates and cook outs fill the weekends.  The weather is perfect for spending time outside.  Since you are outside more often, you may notice that it is time for home maintenance.

Whether its pressure washing, rotten wood replacement or exterior painting, GreenWave Solutions is the best at restoring your home’s beauty.  Our professional painting crews take the utmost care when painting your home.

GreenWave Painters are not only experts at exterior painting, but also interior painting specialists.  We take every precaution when painting inside your home.  We cover floors and furniture to protect your property.  All of our painters are trusted GreenWave employees – no random day laborers.

We know that the upcoming holiday season brings expenses so we are having our annual Fall Special.  For the rest of the year, Sandy Springs residents will get 15% off all house painting services (some restrictions apply).

Call or email us to schedule your free estimate.  GreenWave Solutions also offers custom gutter installation services.

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

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Interior and exterior house painting professionals. Painters in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Brookhaven, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Marietta, Duluth, Chamblee, Norcross, Milton, Cumming

Now Hiring Painting Estimator

October 2012

[Atlanta, GA] GreenWave Solutions is hiring an estimator for residential painting services in Atlanta.  Make your own schedule!  Earn $800-$1500/week working  20-40 hours/week.

Job Description:

This part/full time position is an outside estimating position.  You will be given warm, call in leads for interior and exterior painting services.  Upon receiving your leads, you are responsible for scheduling appointments, estimating the project, and closing the sale.  We provide the leads, training, insurance, and the professional crews to complete the project.  This is a commission based outside sales position.

Requirements:

– Clean cut, professional appearance and attitude

– Reliable transportation

– Mobile phone

– Self-motivated individual

– Positive attitude

– Applicants may require background checks and drug screenings

Preferred Qualifications:

– Experience in construction industry

– Knowledge of paints and coatings

If you are interested in applying for this position, call or email GreenWave Solutions using the contact form on our website.  Please attach a resume/CV and a brief description why you would be a good fit at GreenWave Solutions.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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

House Painting Specials in Buckhead, GA

Everyone in Atlanta knows that the best holiday parties are in Buckhead.  Whether in a pristine mansion or a historic ranch, Buckhead has a wide array of homes.  Whatever type of home you own, GreenWave Solutions is here to make sure your house looks its best for all of your holiday festivities.

Our professional color consultants will help you choose a color scheme that will have your guest saying, “This is beautiful.  How did you pick these colors?”  Combining this with our experienced house painters produces high quality results that our clients have grown to expect.

If you interior looks good, but your home’s exterior needs freshening up, GreenWave’s painters specialize in applying all the new acrylic-based paints.  These paints have the same low VOC characteristics as latex paints with unsurpassed durability and cold weather application.  These paints have been designed for cold and damp weather application so that residential and commercial painters can work during the entire year.

Because we know that the holidays can get expensive, we are offering 15% off all house painting in Buckhead during Fall.  Call and schedule your free estimate with professional painters in Buckhead today.

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

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John’s Creek Residential Painting Specials

Autumn is officially here and with it comes the fun of holiday parties and family gatherings.  And with parties and gatherings comes house guests.

Don’t you want your house to looks its best when decorated for the holidays?

GreenWave Solutions is here to help.

Our painters in John’s Creek specialize using the next generation of paints and coatings.  These coatings are designed for superior application, even during the Winter months.  Since Atlanta winters are so mild, GreenWave’s painters are able to deliver the highest quality house painting in John’s Creek all year long.

Because we understand that the holidays can be expensive, we are offering 15% off all house painting services, including interior painting and exterior painting.  So don’t wait.  Call and schedule your free estimate today!

By: Daniel Macris, President of GreenWave Solutions, the best house painters in John’s Creek.

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Work from professional house painters in Roswell

Roswell House Painting Specials

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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Alpharetta House Painting Specials

As summer makes way for fall, the days get shorter and the weather gets colder and wetter. This doesn’t mean that painting season is over. It means that painting conditions change.

Many of the new coatings have been developed specifically for cold and damp weather application. When manufacturers design new products, they create products that can withstand the harsh winters of the northeast and midwest. Compared to those climates, Metro Atlanta seems like a tropical paradise. This is only good news for Alpharetta house painters.

Because these revolutionary coatings are designed for such harsh climates, GreenWave Solutions’ house painting crews are able to work throughout the entire year and still do the professional jobs that our clients expect.

So whether you are getting your house ready for holiday visitors or have just been putting off the paint job, now is the time to get this off of your “To Do” list.

We understand that the holidays can be expensive, so we are offering a 15% off special on all Alpharetta painting services.  Call today to schedule your free estimate!

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

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