1. Repair Damages – Start by thoroughly inspecting your deck for any signs of damage. Loose boards, rotten wood, popped nails, rough surfaces, or splinters pose safety hazards for you, your family, and guests.  Address these issues by either undertaking a weekend DIY deck refinishing project or enlisting the expertise of good local painting contractors.  A good professional painting service like The Painting Craftsmen can efficiently remove rotten wood, replace damaged boards, and otherwise get your deck repaired and prepped for summer activities.
2. Deep Clean – After cooler temperatures and seasons of unuse, mildew, insect nests, or dirt are likely accumulating on your deck’s surface. A deep clean is essential to remove these issues and to improve your deck’s appearance and even prolong its lifespan. Consider pressure washing the boards to remove stubborn grime and debris.  You can either rent a DIY pressure washer and use the appropriate cleaning products or hire a reputable pressure washing service in your area.  The best painting companies, including The Painting Craftsmen, can provide pressure washing as part of their service offerings in conjunction with exterior painting.
3. Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint or Stain – Is the paint peeling or the finish cracking on your deck? Applying a fresh coat of paint or stain not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also provides vital protection against the Florida elements. When coatings fail, moisture can seep into the wood, leading to rot and structural damage.  Entrust this task to the best painting company in your area to ensure optimal results.  Professional painting and deck staining services, such as The Painting Craftsmen, offer high-quality workmanship and exceptional customer service. By investing in professional deck refinishing, you’ll extend the lifespan of your deck and maintain its beauty for years to come.

The best way to ensure your deck is ready for summer is to call on the best painting company in your area and trust the work to highly trained professionals.  There are good painting contractors nearly everywhere, but The Painting Craftsmen is the best professional painting company Jacksonville FL homeowners trust with their homes and outdoor spaces.  We’ve offered our deck refinishing services to countless customers throughout the region, including Atlantic Beach, Ortega, Fleming Island, Jacksonville and beyond, and we’d love to take care of your deck refinishing project as well!

The post Professional Deck Refinishing for Summer first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

• Check for Damage – Check your deck thoroughly, including all boards and railings, corners and steps. Plan to repair rotten wood, splintered or warped boards, rusted hardware, loose boards, etc.  If you have the tools, the time, and the know-how to handle all deck repairs, you can generally get the deck spruced up in a single weekend.  If you have reservations about taking on deck repairs, call on a good painting contractor in your area and let their deck refinishing team take care of it.
• Deep Cleaning – After making the necessary repairs to your deck or fence, dive into the deep cleaning. Any mildew, mold, insect nests, salt, and grime needs to be banished, typically through high quality pressure washing.  You need the right combination of water pressure, cleaning solutions, and skill.  If this seems overwhelming, remember that good painting companies are prepared to offer pressure washing services in tandem with their deck refinishing services.
• Paint or Stain When Needed – Investigate your deck boards to find out the condition of their coatings. Paints and stains do more than just make your deck look good – they also protect your decking from the elements and enable them to look and function better for longer.  If your deck is fading, or if the topcoats are peeling or not protecting as well as they should, it’s time for a fresh coat!
• Call in the Pros – Oftentimes, the best tip for getting your deck into great shape is to find the best painting service in your area and hire them for the job! Great painters know how to repair rotten wood or replace boards, sand and install decking correctly, deep clean the surface to prepare them to receive topcoats, and then apply the paint or stain perfectly.  Let the professional painters get to work on your deck and rest assured everything will be done well, and you can relax and spend your valuable time doing anything else.

Here in Northeast Florida, the deck is often the center of everything, not just in summer but nearly all year long.  Keep your deck, dock, pergola, and fence in great shape with help from the best professional painting company!  The Painting Craftsmen is the best professional painting service Jacksonville FL homeowners trust with their property.  Our customers in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fleming Island, San Marco, and throughout Jacksonville know us for our commitment to quality and outstanding customer service.  When it comes to getting your deck in great shape, put your trust in us!

The post Deck Refinishing Pro Tips first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

1. Repair Damages – Take a good look at the surface and edges of your deck. Are any boards loose?  Is any wood rotten?  Have any nails popped, or are there any areas of rough wood or splinters?  Any of these things can be dangerous when you and family and friends are enjoying the deck, so these problems need to be addressed.  Plan on a weekend deck refinishing DIY project or call on one of the best local painting contractors and tell them you need a team of deck refinishers to remove the rotten wood, replace damaged boards, and get your deck back into shape.
2. Deep Clean – Is mildew or mold growing anywhere on your deck? Or has dirt and sand been building up for far too long?  Often the first part of giving your deck a “facelift” is to pressure wash the boards.  You can rent a DIY pressure washer and invest in the right cleaning products, or you can call a highly rated pressure washing service in your area and leave the job to the professionals.  We recommend First Coast Home Pros pressure washing team to our Jacksonville FL customers, and they love the results!
3. Fresh Coat of Paint or Stain – Is the paint peeling on your deck? Have you noticed cracks in the finish?  A fresh coat of paint or stain is one of the best ways to make your deck look great, but it’s also an important way to protect it from the elements.  When the coatings fail on your deck, they will crack and peel, causing moisture to get in and absorb into the wood.  This will cause wood rot, and your decking will be in trouble.  The ultimate way to give your deck a facelift and protect it is to call the best painting company in your area and let the professionals take care of your deck.

You deserve to enjoy your outdoor spaces year-round, and the best local deck refinishers help make that happen!  The Painting Craftsmen is the best deck staining service Jacksonville FL residents trust with their homes.  We’ve provided high quality work and outstanding customer service to homeowners throughout Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Mandarin, and Riverside who call on us for exterior painting, interior painting, garage flooring installation, cabinet refinishing, and deck refinishing.  We’d love to help keep your home and patio looking great!

The post Fall Facelift for Your Deck first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Your deck is exposed to extreme elements all year long. Intense sunlight and UV rays, especially here in Jacksonville, Florida, fade wood and break down the lignin, or natural substance that holds together wood fibers. Humidity and heavy rains overwhelm wood with moisture, causing it to warp and crack as it then expands and contracts with changing temperatures. Wood that is unprotected or neglected is highly susceptible to these dangers, and will turn gray and eventually rot. The solution is to protect the wood with paint or stain, but which is better for your own deck?

Deck Staining Pros & Cons

A good quality stain will soak into the wood and fill the microscopic gaps that would otherwise become filled with moisture from rain or humidity. The stain will penetrate the wood grain and seal it, making a barrier against moisture. If the stain is tinted, it will shield the wood from UV rays, and the more pigment a stain has, the more protection it will provide. Stain also does not chip or peel, so though it will fade as time goes by, your deck won’t become riddled with pesky peeling paint. The downside to staining your deck is that the choice of stains can be overwhelming, so here’s a brief primer on the major types of stain:

• Clear Toner: Clear toner contains almost no pigment, so the color and grain of the wood will show through the toner. It does not provide as much UV protection as stains with deeper pigmentation, but it does still protect against moisture, and does not peel. We recommend recoating clear toner every year.

• Semi-Transparent Stain: Semi-transparent stain contains enough pigment to change the color of the wood, but will not cover or hide the wood grain. It protects against UV and moisture and does not peel. We recommend recoating semi-transparent stain every 2-3 years, but this can vary significantly depending on factors such as surrounding conditions and use.

• Semi-Solid Stain: Semi-solid stain contains more pigment than semi-transparent stain but less pigment than solid color stain, so it effectively blocks sunlight and UV rays. It partially covers the wood grain, but will not peel. We recommend recoating semi-solid stain every 2-4 years, but this can vary significantly depending on factors such as surrounding conditions and use.

• Solid Color Stain: Solid color stain looks like flat paint. It covers wood grain but does not hide the texture, and provides a strong shield against UV rays. It forms a light film, and may peel if not properly applied. We recommend recoating solid color stain every 5-7 years, but this can vary significantly depending on factors such as surrounding conditions and use.

Deck Painting Pros & Cons

The high solids content in paint helps to form a thick, opaque film on the wood’s surface that shields it from UV rays, resists moisture, and hides imperfections. If you choose to paint your deck, we recommend a high quality water-based latex porch and floor paint, which will do a better job than oil-based paint in flexing with the wood as it expands and contracts with the elements. The downside to painting is that it will eventually begin to peel. Even the best paint jobs will not last too long in the intense Florida climate of high heat and humidity and heavy rainfall.

Deck Refinishing DIY

Staining or painting your deck might sound like an appealing DIY project. However, for many homeowners it ends up being a vastly larger project than they had in mind. The first stage is to pressure wash the surface. You’ll need to clear away all patio furniture and potted plants, and rent a good quality pressure washer. Rented pressure washing equipment is costly and can be dangerous, but it’s necessary for cleaning all mildew, loose or rotten wood fibers, and peeling paint or leftover sealant from the surface so that the new paint or stain can penetrate and adhere properly. The surface also needs to be completely dry, so wait 2-3 days after pressure washing, or longer if it rains. While the surface is drying, check for rotten boards that need to be replaced with new lumber, or loose boards that need to be secured. Collect and purchase the supplies you need, including brushes, rollers, tarps, and the paint or stain itself, and you’re ready to go to work!

Refinishing your own deck seems like a weekend-long project, but more more often than not it takes much more of your time and money than planned. In the North Florida summer heat and blazing sun, this task can grow exponentially worse, fast. The best thing you can do is find a good deck refinishing company in your area and hire a team of experts!

The Jacksonville FL Deck Refinishing Experts

Your deck is one of your favorite features of the house, especially now that summer is here. If it needs a fresh coat of stain or paint, The Painting Craftsmen has the team of experts for the job! If it needs more than a coat of stain, we’d love to help with that, too. We specialize in getting your deck ready for you to enjoy, so if you have rotten boards that need to be replaced, or if the surfaces need intense pressure washing and sanding, we are the professional deck refinishers for you. When our team is finished, you’ll never want to leave the deck! If you live in Riverside Avondale, Ortega, Ponte Vedra, along the beaches, or anywhere else in Northeast Florida, call on the best deck refinishing company in town. We’re ready to start refinishing your deck so that you can enjoy summer to the fullest.

The post Should I Paint Or Stain My Deck? first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Give Your Home’s Exterior a Facelift

While you didn’t have to contend with the cold, harsh weather that our neighbors to the north went through this winter, having a home in Florida does present some of its own unique problems. Living in what is considered a tropical area with hot summers, long rainy seasons, high humidity, and no dry season to speak off, the outside of your home does take a beating. It is more than likely your home’s exterior could benefit from a little extra attention this spring.

The hot sun can damage the exterior of your home and cause paint to chip or peel. Stained surfaces may fade and even start to flake. Stucco surfaces may be in need of cleaning or repairs from cracks or blistering. You may have even noticed the growth of mildew around the outside of your home from the humidity.

Left unchecked, this aesthetic damage can worsen into damage to the external structure of your home. This is where the skilled professionals from The Painting Craftsmen can help restore the beauty of your home by:

• Refreshing the exterior of your home with our stucco repair, deck and fence refinishing, pool deck coating and pressure washing services.
• Painting or staining your home with specialized paint or stains meant to withstand UV rays and moisture damage and inhibit the growth of mildew.

Freshen Up Your Concrete Patio for Summer Pool Parties

If you are like most Floridians, you probably enjoy spending a lot of time cooling off in your pool during the summer. However, your concrete patio pool area may need some TLC before the season starts. The Painting Craftsmen offers the services that your patio needs!  We offer:

• Concrete Stain Pool Deck Coatings
• Acrylic Concrete Pool Deck Coatings
• Paver Sealing and Cleaning
• Concrete Crack Repair
• Settled Paver Re-leveling

If your concrete pool patio is looking a little dingy, now is the time to have it cleaned to remove any stains or mildew that may have accumulated over the winter or repair any cracks in the concrete and uneven pavers. Combine services to have your pool deck look like new!

Get Your Wood Deck Ready for Summer Entertaining

Decks are built to enhance the quality and quantity of your back yard usage.  Wooden decks do not always have a long life because they are exposed to harsh elements like sun, rain, and humidity every day.  Wood rot is often the culprit as indicated by faintly cupped deck boards that hold puddled water.

Refinishing a deck can add years to its life, even those that are in a serious state of disrepair.  The professionals at The Painting Craftsmen offer rotten wood repair, complete deck refinishing and staining services using only the finest materials.  Homeowners are able to choose from clear protective finishes, stain shades that will complement their home and landscaping materials, or solid paint colors that will accentuate the surrounding colors.  The Painting Craftsmen experts evaluate and replace any boards that are deteriorating with new lumber prior to refinishing or staining any deck to help make your investment last longer, while protecting it from mold and mildew growth.

Take time now to clean up and replace your pool patio or wood deck furniture so that you are not rushing around later on when you are getting ready to entertain. You may need a little time to find just the right piece of furniture or accent pillows that will help you achieve the look you want for your patio or deck area. Add some colorful plants to make the area more welcoming and increase its appeal.

Don’t Forget Your Fences!

Are your fences becoming an eyesore because they are in need of repair or maintenance? It is amazing what a good cleaning can do to improve the look of your wood fences. Consider having your fences pressure washed to restore some of their original beauty. By having a clear protective finish or new stain applied, you can give your fences a new look and extend their usefulness.

Does Spring Make You Think of Gardening?

One of the benefits of living in Florida is that no matter what time of year it is, you can always have something beautiful growing around your home. However, depending upon the type of plants you want to have you may encounter some challenges because of the nature of the soil in the area. One way to avoid this is to stick with native plants that do well in our area. There is a wide variety of annual/perennial flowers, groundcovers, shrubs and trees in which to choose.

You can depend on the expertise of The Painting Craftsmen when it comes to improving the appearance of your home both inside and out. We can help you get your home ready for the season with our wide range of services tailored to keep your home looking its best.

The post How to Love Your Outdoor Space Again first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Spring is the perfect time to make changes to the home. New color brings fresh light and energy into the space, revitalizing you for spring. The palette trends in 2014 are taking a turn to colors with a fresh, energetic, and sophisticated mood. Soft blues, greens, yellows and lavenders will be the colors to keep in mind when creating designs for your homes spring remodel.  A spring remodel doesn’t have to be as intensive as it sounds! Our professionals are ready to help you, no matter how big or small the project you want. If you can visualize it, we can make it happen.

Create a space that is uniquely your own, starting right at front door. The front door has become a unique space for homeowners to experiment with color. Bright reds, purples or yellows on the front door are a perfect way to welcome guests into your home this spring. Brightening up the faded color of your fence will also instantly make your home look refreshed. Combine these two updates with the landscaping project you’ve been planning and the neighbors will all take notice. If you are considering a more drastic change to the exterior of your home, we can help! The Painting Craftsmen specializes in exterior painting and staining services on almost any material. Our services are great solutions for stucco, wood siding, cedar shake, brick, trim, shutters, vinyl, gutters and more. Our professionals are experts in knowing which painting and prepping techniques to use that will last against Florida’s extreme weather, keeping it beautiful for years to come.

After this long winter, swimming in your pool is probably more tempting than ever…unless of course the deck could use a little TLC. After years of use, every pool deck starts to look dull and dirty. We offer several pool deck services such as concrete stain coatings, acrylic concrete coatings, paver cleaning and sealing and concrete crack repair. No doubt your pool gets a lot of use during a Florida summer, so let us help to keep it looking beautiful summer after summer, year after year.  The wooden deck might have suffered during the winter months, as well.  The late spring is the best time for wooden deck repairs , as the summer heat will create a brutal work environment.  For more information about our pool deck or wooden deck services, click here.

Having a fresh, new exterior will make you proud to come home to it every day. However, the interior may be even more important to you.  The difficult thing with choosing a color scheme is that this time next year, you might already be over it. Careful consideration must go into the colors you choose for the rooms in your house, since you will be forced to look at it every day. It may seem like an overwhelming task, but there are several free color tools available online to help you pick the right ones.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when picking a color for your space:

• Just as you buy clothes based on color and pattern, decorate your home with colors and designs that you feel comfortable and look good in.
• Just because a room is small, don’t shy away from bold colors. Choose personal and comforting colors over a pale color just because you are hoping to make the space appear larger.
• Color schemes are trending towards becoming more eclectic. Create a room with layers of colors versus making every design aspect match perfectly.
• Try surprising color combinations to refresh the look of your home.

The good thing, however, is that the color isn’t permanent! We also offer wallpaper removal services, cabinet refinishing and textured ceiling repair for all those previous decorating decisions you are now questioning.

The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. Families congregate after work and school to share stories about their day and friends gather around the dinner table on weekends making memories for the years to come. If your kitchen isn’t providing a comfortable, enjoyable atmosphere you may want to consider the interior painting services and cabinet refinishing services offered by our pros.  The dream kitchen you pinned on Pinterest isn’t as far from your reality as you may think. The cabinets are the centerpiece of the kitchen and whatever you envision in your home’s most important room, we have the services to make it happen. The benefits of our cabinet refinishing services include: unlimited color and finish choices, cabinet staining and lacquer finishing, hardware updating and replacement and cleaning and touch-ups. For more information and a full list of benefits, click here.

When you think wallpaper, do you imagine your great aunts green, floral wallpaper in the guest bathroom? Think again. Custom wallpaper is making a comeback, in a big (and improved) way. Wallpaper is now a popular way to compliment your furniture and decor while adding pattern, texture, depth and interest to the room.  Hanging the wallpaper is where the real conflict arises. Our team of experts understands that preparation and an eye for detail are key factors when it comes to completing a successful wallpaper project. Here are a few ways to incorporate wallpaper into your home’s spring redesign:

• Apply wallpaper between the kitchen cabinets and counter tops to create a decorative, inexpensive back splash.
• Add wallpaper on the back of a glass-front cabinet or bookshelf to add depth and eye catching detail.
• Dress up the formal dining room with wallpaper as the background, a decorative accent on one wall or below the chair rail.

Spring is the perfect time to start these interior and exterior home upgrades that will invigorate you and your home. Instead of daydreaming about the changes you’d like to make, call us for a free estimate.

The post Why Spring is the Perfect Time to Make Changes first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Now is the right time for re-staining your deck, just in time for hosting all the picnics and barbeques you want. You can enjoy the spring sunshine and make it a weekend project. You will have the satisfaction of having done something around the home yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it. Every time you use the deck, you will feel the thrill of having done something for your home. Refinishing a deck is a simple task, and can be done in a weekend.

Picking the Product

Many experts feel that one of the best products for staining the deck is a solid stain. That’s because it offers the most UV protection from the sun’s damaging rays. It is essential to choose a good quality stain that will withstand the rigors of the climate when it is exposed to it. In places where the summers are hot and the winters are cold, or there is excessive humidity and rainfall, it is essential to select the best protection possible. If you choose a good stain for your staining of the deck, there is a good chance that it will last for several years before maintenance coats are required.
Timing

Choose the time for the refinishing carefully. The weather should be relatively mild, with the days not-too-hot, as this will make the stain dry out too quickly, and the nights should be not-too-cold or damp as this will hinder the drying process. You have to prepare the deck by giving it a good cleaning and fixing any loose boards or driving in any nails and fasteners. Scrub the deck with a thick-bristled brush, dipped in a commercial cleaning product or one part bleach and three parts water. Any stubborn mildew or stain has to be treated appropriately, maybe with a pressure washer, before you start the staining process.

While applying the stain, use a brush with synthetic bristles for an acrylic based product and a brush with natural bristles for alkyd based stains. Paint the vertical parts like posts and railings first, before moving on to the actual boards. If you are using a roller, also use a brush later to work the stain into the wood grain, and apply a minimum of 2-3 coats, letting your deck dry between coats. Remember the sides and the ends of your deck planks, or else your deck will look like a work in progress.

If you live in a hot and humid place like Jacksonville, Florida, then your deck will need a bit more love and care. If you don’t have the time to do the staining yourself, you can employ an agency such as The Painting Craftmen that provides cleaning and refinishing at reasonable rates. Your deck will look professionally finished and it will be money well-spent.

At First Coast Home Pros., we love being of service to our customers and go all out to ensure that they love our work. This work commitment and ethics has helped us to gain a good reputation in the communities in and around Jacksonville, Florida, which has helped us to win many awards. Our mission is to be the first and only company to enter your home for any cleaning or fixing service you need. We offer the full range of residential and commercial services. So call us today for a free and no-obligation quote!

The post When Is The Best Time To Refinish My Deck? first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Your deck is a viable extension of your homes living space, it is a place to relax or entertain.  In the summer time, it becomes your homes outdoor sanctuary for families, making a great place to share a meal, play with kids, or sit back and relax.  To keep this special haven in good condition from the inside out it needs proper maintenance, and that means resealing is a necessity to keep moisture out.  By refinishing your deck you are sealing out the moisture that causes rot and extending the life of the deck.

We are experts in deck refinishing and staining on any deck, fence, latticework, or dock. First Coast Home Pros offers full customization of your deck refinishing needs including:

•     Staining
•     Painting
•     Two-tone finishes
•     Composite resurfacing
•     Board Replacement

At The Painting Craftmen, we pride ourselves in taking the time to understand what you want you’re deck to look like so that you’re deck will not only hold up for years, but also that you will be proud of the way it looks.  We care about your deck and want to help you maintain its quality for as long as possible.

The post How’s your deck holding up in this summer’s heat first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.