October and November bring some of Jacksonville’s most favorable weather for exterior home painting. Temperatures are moderate, summer humidity begins to ease, and frequent afternoon storms become less of a factor to plan around. That gives exterior house painters better conditions to prep, paint, and allow coatings to dry properly. And after months of Florida sun, rain, and humidity, your home’s exterior may be ready for a little attention. 

Why Is Fall a Good Time to Paint a House in Florida? 

Exterior paint performs best when the weather cooperates. Jacksonville’s fall temperatures are much easier to work around than the intense heat of summer. And rainfall typically becomes less frequent as we move into late fall, creating longer stretches of dry weather for surface preparation, painting, and curing.

This matters because quality exterior paint jobs depend on exterior factors. Surfaces need to be clean and dry, and the paint needs appropriate conditions to adhere and cure correctly. Painting in extreme heat, high moisture, or immediately before rain can interfere with that process and contribute to adhesion or finish problems.

What Happens If You Paint Your Home’s Exterior in the Wrong Conditions? 

Painting at the wrong time can shorten the life of an otherwise good paint job. If the surface is too hot, too damp, or exposed to rain before the paint has properly set, you may end up with issues like peeling, bubbling, uneven coverage, or poor adhesion. In some cases, those problems might not show up right away, but become noticeable months later as the coating starts to fail. 

That’s why, in addition to the temperature on painting day, experienced exterior house painters pay attention to surface moisture, drying time, direct sun, and the day’s weather forecast. 

A job done right means using these cues to decide when and where to paint, so every coat has the best chance to perform the way it should. 

Does Your Home Need Exterior Painting? 

You don’t necessarily need to wait until paint is falling off the house to start thinking about a repainting project. Take a walk around your home’s exterior and look for:

• Faded or noticeably uneven color
• Peeling, flaking, bubbling, or cracking paint
• Cracks or damaged areas in stucco
• Exposed or weathered wood
• Gaps or deteriorating caulk around windows and doors
• Signs of moisture damage or wood rot
• Trim, shutters, or doors that look worn compared to the rest of the exterior

A Great Exterior Paint Job Starts Before the First Coat

The difference between a quick paint job and professional exterior painting usually comes down to preparation. At the Painting Craftsmen, every project begins by evaluating what the surface needs. Depending on your home, that may include pressure washing, removing loose paint, repairing damaged areas, caulking gaps, addressing rotten wood, and priming when necessary before any coats are applied. 

From there, the right paint and finish are selected for the surface, followed by careful application to siding, stucco, trim, doors, shutters, and other exterior details. 

Jacksonville Stucco Deserves Extra Attention

Stucco is everywhere in Northeast Florida, and small cracks, blistering, or damaged areas should be addressed before any exterior painting job begins. Otherwise, moisture may find its way beneath the surface and turn a cosmetic issue into a larger repair problem. 

Our team at The Painting Craftsmen can complete small stucco repairs before your exterior painting project, including matching the existing texture.

Don’t Forget Your Exterior Wood

Trim, fascia, doors, shutters, fences, and other wood surfaces face the same Jacksonville sun and rain as the rest of your home. 

When painting outside wood, peeling coatings, deteriorated caulk, or damaged wood should always be addressed before a new paint or stain goes on. If rot has developed, repairing the affected wood first gives the new finish a sound surface to adhere to.

The same attention to detail our team is known for applies whether you’re refreshing painted trim, planning exterior home painting, or staining other wood surfaces around your home. 

Give Your Home a Fresh Start This Fall

Schedule a free, no-obligation estimate with our team of craftsmen. We’ll take a closer look at your exterior, talk through any repairs or preparation it may need, and help you plan a paint job designed to look beautiful and hold up to Jacksonville weather. 

Call or text 904-507-5700 or email contact@paintingcraftsmen.com for a free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to paint a house exterior in Florida? 

For Jacksonville homeowners, fall can be an excellent time for exterior painting because temperatures are moderate and the summer rain patterns begin to ease. The exact timing still depends on the weather forecast, surface conditions, and the paint products being used. 

How do I know when my house needs to be repainted? 

Peeling or cracked paint, fading, deteriorating caulk, exposed wood, and cracked or blistered stucco can all signal that it’s time to have your exterior evaluated. 

How soon after rain can you paint a house exterior? 

In general, you should wait at least 24 hours after heavy rain before painting, and longer if the surface is still damp. Porous materials like wood and stucco can hold moisture longer than vinyl or aluminum siding, so the most important thing is making sure the surface is completely dry before painting. Painting over trapped moisture can interfere with adhesion and lead to peeling or other finish problems.

The post Fall Is the Best Time to Paint Your Home’s Exterior in Jacksonville — Here’s Why first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

The first part of any exterior house painting project is lots of prep work.  You’ll need to scrape, sand, caulk gaps, etc., but before you do any of that, there’s an important prep work step that cannot be skipped: pressure washing.

Many homeowners wonder, do I really need to pressure wash my house before painting?  What are the benefits of power washing a house before it is painted?  Here’s why it’s important to pressure wash your home before painting it:

1. Remove Grime – Pressure washing your home removes grime and buildup. Cobwebs, mold, mildew, insect nests, mud, sand, and salt are all removed with a high-quality pressure washing job, particularly when done by a good professional pressure washing company with the best quality equipment.  If you don’t power wash your house before painting, you’ll paint right over the dirt and debris, which can cause the coatings to fail.
2. Remove Old Paint – Pressurized water and cleaning solution will remove not only dirt and insect infestations, but also loose and peeling paint. When this peeling paint is washed away and removed by pressure washing, it will make it much easier for you to do subsequent prep work of scraping and sanding.
3. Review Repairs – After pressure washing your home’s exterior, all grime and loose paint will be removed, and you’ll be left with a “blank slate”, ready to prep and paint. Just as importantly, good pressure washing will reveal any areas of your house that are in need of repair prior to painting.  You’ll be able to more easily see rotten wood, holes, gaps, warped wood, rusted nails, and other areas that will need to be handled as part of the prep work.

Don’t skip the pressure washing.  Pressure washing cleans debris away from your home and gets it ready to receive primer, paint, or stain, and ensures those topcoats will adhere better and last longer.

Exterior house painting is a big project, and most homeowners opt to find the best local painting contractors to do the job.  Great painting companies employ great painters who know how to complete the multitude of prep work required, including pressure washing, and ensure the exterior painting looks great and is done correctly and thoroughly.

There are many great painting services in Northeast Florida, but The Painting Craftsmen is the best painting contractor Jacksonville FL homeowners trust with their homes.  Our commitment to quality and our eye for detail make us the trusted painting company in Mandarin, Ortega, Riverside, Southside, and throughout Jacksonville and the Beaches.  Give us a call and let’s get started planning your exterior painting project!

The post Prep Step You Cannot Skip first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

• Easy – High quality cabinet refinishing companies make it easy for you to get the look you want for your kitchen. All you need to do is find the best local cabinet refinishing service, book a free estimate so you can meet with a member of the team and describe exactly how you want your updated kitchen cabinetry to look, review the estimate, and schedule the work!  Good painting and cabinet refacing companies take care of everything for you.  If you want new knobs and drawer pulls, we’ll order them for you.  If you want a specific color, we’ll get it mixed exactly how you want it.  All you need to do is let us know what you want, and we’ll take care of it!
• Affordable – Custom cabinet refinishing is the cost-effective way to redo your kitchen. A total renovation can cost a lot of money, especially in the current market where materials – in particular building materials – can be hard to locate, expensive to procure, and slow to be delivered.  Save money by calling on a high-quality professional cabinet refinishing company and let the craftsmen create the feel of a new kitchen by simply refacing or refinishing your cabinets!
• Total Customization – When you hire a good cabinet refinishing service to update your kitchen cabinets, you are in control of the outcome. Great cabinet refinishers provide total customization, which means you choose the paint or stain color, the design details, the hardware, everything.  More and more homeowners are choosing cabinet refinishing because they can customize the look they want for their own kitchens.

There are many great cabinet refinishers in the area, but the best cabinet refinishing company Jacksonville FL homeowners rely on is The Painting Craftsmen.  We specialize in cabinet refinishing and have honed our skills to perfection.  Give us a call and let’s get started on your kitchen cabinet refinishing project!

The post Easiest Kitchen Redo first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Benefits of painting brick:

• Fresh Appearance – If you find the brick on your house to feel drab, dated, or dingy, nothing will be better than a coat of fresh paint. Cover that dark or soot-stained fireplace with a warm white or neutral and fall in love with it!  Or hire a good painting company in  your area to coat the brick exterior of your home with gray, beige, or any color you want so that you can finally make your home your own.
• Uniform Look – Each brick is different, sometimes including its texture, color, hue, or size. If these discrepancies are bothersome to you, a coat of paint will give the brick wall or feature a uniform appearance.
• Easy to Clean – Painting over brick creates a smooth, polished surface that’s much easier to maintain and keep clean than the porous and rough texture of unpainted brick.

Downsides of painting brick:

• No Going Back! – Once you paint over your brick feature, fireplace, or exterior, there’s no going back.  It’s not like painting wood furniture or something that you can “strip” or peel off if you don’t like the look.  If you’re not crazy about the brick siding on your house, first consider if a good pressure washing will make it look more pleasing, or consider painting the wood trim, or even changing the landscaping before you go full throttle and paint over the brick.
• Repainting – Once the brick is painted, like any surface, it will need to be repainted as part of its maintenance.
• Prep Work – Painting brick can be a taxing job. It requires extensive prep work and can call for specially formulated paint and supplies.  Most homeowners who decide to paint their brick homes check out the best painting contractors in their area and choose a good professional painting company to do the work!

If you’re thinking about painting the brick on your home, you’ll want to call on a highly rated painting contractor for the job.  There are many great painting services throughout Northeast Florida, but The Painting Craftsmen is the best painting company Jacksonville FL residents choose when it comes to painting exteriors.  We’re committed to serving our customers in Riverside, Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, Atlantic Beach, and Jacksonville with the highest quality service, and we’ll tackle your painting job with the same passion, skill, and attention to detail.

The post Painting Brick first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

1. Determine the general tone you desire. Do you want a bold or dark color, or a neutral?  Do you want to stick with generally the same tone that’s already on the wall, or start fresh with a vibrant new color?  If you have a general idea of the value, intensity, and hue you want before you head to the paint store, you’ll be less likely to be overwhelmed by the color selection.
2. Use an app. There are many apps that allow you to upload a picture of your house or room and then apply different colors to the image to get a general idea of what the area would look like in a certain color.  These apps can be very useful, especially if you’re going into the repainting project with no idea what color to choose.
3. Confer with a professional. All the best professional painting companies offer help with color selection.  If you’re not sure what color will look best on your home’s exterior or in a particular room, and you don’t want to hassle with an app, call on a good local painting contractor and get input from the pros who work with paint every single day!
4. Choose your top picks. Zero in on your favorite colors and pick up swatches from the paint supply store.  Or you may choose to order a small sample can of each of your top color options.
5. Put color on the walls. Tape the swatches up on the wall, or if you ordered samples, apply a small amount of each color to the walls.  It’s best to apply the swatch or paint sample to several areas in order to see what the paint looks like in daylight, shade, next to certain objects, etc.  You need to get an idea of how the color will behave in all settings and scenarios.
6. Get second (or third) opinions. Once the swatches or paint samples are up, call in family members and trusted friends to help make the decision.  If you need yet another opinion, you can call on a local professional painting service and trust the pros to offer sound advice.
7. Make your decision! Once you’ve gone through these steps, it’s time to make your final decision.  Choosing which colors to paint your living room, bedroom, kitchen, or exterior is a big decision, but don’t get hung up on it.  You may need to just find the color you love and get painting!

More and more Northeast Florida homeowners are choosing to call on professional painters when the time comes for a fresh coat of paint.  The Painting Craftsmen is the best painting company Jacksonville FL homeowners rely on for repainting the exterior, applying a fresh coat to the interior, refinishing cabinetry, and more.  Our technicians are highly trained and skilled painting contractors with a passion for doing high quality work and taking care of customers.  Our customers in Ortega, San Marco, Southside, Riverside, and along the Beaches love the work we do, and we know you will too!

The post How to Test Paint Colors first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

1. Clean & Remove Dust – Prior to painting nearly any surface, you’ll lightly sand the surface in order to help the new coating adhere. In the case of preparing shiplap to be painted, you’ll want to be careful and take extra time to remove as much dust as possible from the grooves between the shiplap boards.  If you don’t clean the grooves, they’ll be trickier and more time consuming to evenly coat.
2. Prep Nail Holes – If nail holes are visible in the shiplap siding, remove any dust from around them and fill them with paintable caulk. When the caulk has dried, lightly sand the areas and wipe away the dust.  As you roll the paint, take note of the nail holes and be sure the areas are getting coated evenly.  If they aren’t you may need to re-caulk and re-sand them.  With shiplap siding, smoothness is the look you want!
3. Roller & Artist’s Brush – Use a roller to evenly coat the shiplap boards and use a small paintbrush, sometimes called an “artist’s brush” to paint inside the grooves between shiplap boards. When painting panels or shiplap, pay close attention to the grooves to be sure no area gets skipped.  Once you pass over the shiplap with your roller, use the small brush to make sure paint gets into every crack and crevice.

Different types of siding require different skills and even different types of material, and shiplap siding is no different.  Many homeowners in our area, including Ponte Vedra, Riverside, San Marco, Fleming Island, and the Beaches, choose to skip the hassle and call on a highly rated professional painting company for their interior painting projects.  The Painting Craftsmen is the best painting contractor Jacksonville FL residents trust with their homes, and it’s because of our commitment to quality, our attention to detail, and our devotion to our customers.  If you’re ready for a high quality paint job, call on The Painting Craftsmen!

The post Painting Shiplap first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

The best way to remove paint from flooring, furniture, or other surfaces, is to carefully and thoroughly wipe it away with a painter’s rag or old cloth as soon as it happens, while the paint is still wet.  Once the paint drops dry, they’re harder to remove.  When paint spills onto concrete and hardens, it can typically be safely removed with a household cleaner and a stiff bristled brush, causing no damage to the surface.  However, many other household surfaces require greater care in removing dried paint without damaging the material.  For example, if you need to remove dried paint from linoleum and vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring, wood furniture, natural stone, and certain other surfaces, approach the project very carefully.

Use these steps as a guide when you need to remove paint from surfaces around your home:

1. Manufacturer’s Guides – Always consult the manufacturer’s instructions before applying a cleaning product or using a tool on the surface. Certain solutions can void the warranty, so always check the product’s guidelines before embarking on a paint removal project.
2. Start Simple – It’s best to start with the smallest step, such as the gentlest cleaning solution, and work your way up. In the case of dried paint removal, this can mean starting with a mixture of warm water and a few drops of dish soap, rather than a harsh cleaning chemical.  Even when removing hardened paint, avoid using alcohol, mineral spirits, or other harsh chemicals, as these are very likely to cause damage to many household surfaces.  Similarly, try using a plastic scraper like a spatula or credit card to remove dried paint rather than using a metal putty knife blade, steel wool, or other aggressive tool which will likely scratch and damage the surface.
3. Test Area – Anytime you are going to apply a cleaning solution, even a simple one, always test the mixture in an inconspicuous area of the surface to be sure that the product does not cause any damage to the surface.
4. Patience – To preserve your flooring, furniture, and other surfaces while cleaning up after an interior painting project, you’ll need patience and some “elbow grease” to safely remove dried paint. By avoiding harsh chemicals and abrasive tools, it may take longer to remove the hardened house paint, but it will be worth the wait because you’ll have protected your home’s surfaces.

When planning your next interior painting project, call on a great professional painting company to get results you love.  There are many good local house painters, but The Painting Craftsmen is the best professional painting contractor Jacksonville FL homeowners choose for their exterior and interior painting projects, cabinet refinishing projects, and more.  Our customers in Mandarin, Riverside, San Marco, Atlantic Beach, and throughout Jacksonville love our commitment to high quality work and outstanding customer service, and we’d love to provide the same for you!

The post Removing Paint from Surfaces first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

1. Supplies – First, there are a few supplies you need on hand for any great paint job, including trim painting: sandpaper or sanding blocks (100- or 120-grit), putty and knife, painter’s tape, dropcloths, paint brushes, paint try and/or pail, and of course the paint itself (high quality interior latex paint).
2. Clean – You’ll need to clean the surface of the trim or else your hard work will be in vain and the paint won’t apply correctly. Use a dry cloth to wipe away spider webs and dust.  Follow with a damp cloth to clean away grime buildup.
3. Sand & Make Repairs – After cleaning, go over the trim with your sanding block or sandpaper. The purpose of this is primarily to dull down any shine, but it’s also good to smooth down any imperfections.  If you see nail holes, dents, or cracks, fill them with the putty and smooth them over as you go.
4. Painters’ Tape – Painter’s tape plays a key role in achieving crisp, clean lines in your paint job. Take the time to apply long strips of painter’s tape, usually at least several feet long, and press the tape firmly onto the wall next to the trim you’ll be painting.  Be sure to press hard so the tape adheres firmly and evenly to prevent trim paint from seeping onto the walls.
5. Coatings – If you’re painting bare, unpainted wood trim, you’ll need to first apply at least one coat of high-quality interior primer. Let the first coat dry, and if you still see bare wood, apply a second coat.  Once primer coats have dried, finish with a smooth coating of high quality interior latex paint.  You can pull up the painter’s tape while the paint is still wet.

Once you’ve applied your final topcoat, just stand back and admire your good work!  It’s amazing what a difference a great trim painting job can make to the look of the room, and thought it’s careful, time-consuming work, it’s well worth it when you see those crisp, clean lines and bright white trim!

Great local painting companies can take care of the interior painting for you, too, including all trim work.  There are many good Jacksonville FL painting companies, but The Painting Craftsmen is the best choice for high quality work that will last.  Our expert interior painters are known for their eye for detail and precision as well as efficiency, and we’re the trusted painting contractor to homeowners throughout Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Riverside Avondale, San Marco, and Mandarin.  We specialize in high quality coatings and great customer service, so if you’d like the job done right, call on The Painting Craftsmen!

The post Pro Tips for Painting Trim first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Here are tips from the best local painting company – us! – to help you can find the best exterior paint colors for your house:

1. Style – Think about the style of your home and whether you want colors that reinforce that style. For example, Riverside Avondale neighborhoods have many Craftsman style homes, which typically incorporate warm neutrals and earth tones.  San Marco and Miramar neighborhoods include midcentury modern homes and Spanish colonial style houses which are often painted white or cream to complement terra cotta roof tiles and dark ironwork accents.  Beach houses along Ponte Vedra or Atlantic Beach are often more contemporary in style and would look great in color schemes of light, airy neutrals or seaside hues that reinforce this style.  Many house styles incorporate 3 colors – the main color, trim color, and an accent color, and homeowners often like to research the style of their houses and then choose colors that enhance it.
2. Unchangeable Elements – Be sure to consider the parts of your home and property that are permanent, or at least cannot be changed easily. You’ll want to find a paint that does not clash with the color of your roof, or brick pavers, or stone accents you intend to keep.  Also consider the landscaping, particularly any flowering trees, to be sure you choose colors that will go well with the natural elements that surround your home.
3. Setting – Consider your own neighborhood and street. If you are part of a homeowners’ association, you may need to review any rules or restrictions that pertain to house paint.  Even if your neighborhood is not part of an HOA, there may be bylaws about house color that you should review before hiring a good Jacksonville painting company to paint your home.  If you’re neighborly, you’ll also consider your neighbors’ preferences.  If you’re planning to sell your home in the future, you’ll also consider the tastes of others and steer yourself away from particularly bold or daring choices.

For more help choosing the best paint colors or color schemes for your house, you can always work with a highly rated painting contractor to find the right colors!  All the best Jacksonville FL painting companies can provide color consultations, and employee technicians who understand paint, including which coatings work best on which surfaces, and which colors will look great on a house of any style.  There are many great Jacksonville FL painting contractors, but for true craftsmanship, outstanding customer service, and a high-quality job that will last, call on The Painting Craftsmen.  Let us turn your house into your dream home!

The post 3 Tips for Exterior Paint Color first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

1. Bold Walls, Pale Ceiling – If you like going bold and have painted your walls a bold color, paint your ceilings a much lighter hue of the same wall color. Paint supply stores can add white to your wall paint color until you reach a tone you love for the ceiling.
2. Single Color – In the right conditions, namely in a room with a large window and high ceiling, paint all walls and ceiling – trim too – the same color to create a bold and striking look.
3. Above Trim – If you have a picture rail or chair rail, paint a darker tone below the rail and choose a paler hue of the same color above the rail and on the ceiling.
4. Blue Like Sky – Pale blue is a popular alternative to white, in part because it’s reminiscent of blue skies. If your walls are white or otherwise neutral but you’re looking for a pop of color, try a pale shade of blue or bluish green.
5. Yellow for Warmth – Painting your ceiling a yellow tone can add instant cheer to the room. If your kitchen has white cabinetry and walls, add a lively pop of color with a yellow ceiling.  Or to make a den or family room cozier, a pale gold or yellow tone on the ceiling adds warmth to the entire room.

When it comes to choosing wall paint and ceiling paint, your options truly are endless, and that can become overwhelming.  When you find the best painting company in your area, though, you can trust the professionals to take care of you throughout your project, including helping you select the paint colors and sheens you want for each room in your home.

The Painting Craftsmen is the best Jacksonville FL painting company and the trusted professional painters serving Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Mandarin, Riverside and Northeast Florida.  Our highly trained technicians have an eye for detail and a passion for remaking your home into the home of your dreams.

The post 5 Ceiling Paint Alternatives first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.