NORTH PINE PAINTING
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 Simply the best in painting for Bellingham WA.
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The Basics of Low-VOC Paint

8/20/2013

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If you've been shopping for paint recently, and if you're even the least little bit concerned about health and/or the Washington natural environment, you probably have noticed that many paint brands are now advertising theirs as being Low VOC (or even Zero VOC).  It appears to be the direction most paint companies are moving, and since we are often requested to use Low VOC paints by home and business owners, I thought it might be helpful for you to have a basic understanding of what this designation means.

"VOC" stands for Volatile Organic Compound.  An organic compound doesn't mean it's green; in chemistry 'organic' means that it is carbon-based, which usually means fossil fuels (i.e. petroleum and coal).  Volatile means that this compound is somewhat unstable in its state - meaning over time liquids convert to gases, some more quickly than others.  A good example of this is aromatherapy, where volatile essential oils such as peppermint and rosemary are used.  A volatile oil when exposed to air quickly gives off a scent. 

This volatile quality is highly desirable in aromatherapy, not so much with paint, and for two reasons.  First, some individuals are highly sensitive to scents and fragrances, and the mere odor of paint fumes - regardless of any health issues - are annoying, irritating, and in some cases produces a serious reaction such as an asthma attack.  The second reason is that some organic compounds can be hazardous to health, and their volatility means that they are more easily absorbed into the body when they are in the air.  An inert organic compound which doesn't give off fumes - left in place - usually isn't hazardous.  Good examples of this are lead and asbestos.  If lead and asbestos are undisturbed, there is little or no health risk.  It's only when they are ingested (lead) or breathed in (asbestos) that they cause problems.  Some paint components fall in this category.  Hence the development of Low VOC paints.


Paint can give off VOCs while being applied, as it is drying and over time.  Another thing to keep in mind is that lack of odor is no guarantee of lack of a VOC as some chemicals are odorless, even though they are producing irritating or even toxic gases.  That's why utilities put an odor-causing substance in natural gas, because of itself it has very little detectable odor.  Finally, even though a paint can's label may indicate its VOC content falls within the voluntary guidelines for a Low VOC product, if you have that paint tinted at the store, you're adding additional VOCs in the pigment which changes the overall VOC content of the paint. 

If VOCs in paint are a concern to you, ask us about using a Low or Zero VOC paint on your next interior painting project.  We also do our best to minimize odor by maximizing ventilation during application, and choosing paints which provide the best coverage with the least amount of paint.   Both of these techniques help to minimize the amount of VOCs which end up in your home, and in your lungs. 








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Why Buying Discount Paints Can Be No Bargain

8/19/2013

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These days most people are trying to save money where they can, and taking advantage of sales and deep discounts can be a good idea - usually.  I'm a fan of discounts for the most part, except when it comes to paints.  Whether you're doing it yourself or hiring a professional painting contractor such as North Pine Painting for updating your Bellingham home, choosing cheap paints is usually a bad idea, and here's why. 
  • Inexpensive brands - generic, off-label, etc. - don't cover as well as the premium paint brands such as Sherwin Williams (my favorite).  That means to get the same coverage as a higher-quality paint, you're going to need to buy more of the bargain stuff.  You'll probably end up spending as much in the long run, and since it will take more coats, it will take more time.  If you're doing it yourself this is really important - you won't actually save money and it will take longer than you originally thought. 
  • Cheap paint doesn't wear as well.  It could be less resistant to scrubbing and most likely will need to be repainted soon.  Also, if you're using a paint with any depth of color, cheaper paints often fade faster, so you'll quickly lose the look you loved at first. 
  • Professional painting contractors usually get a discount anyway - a professional painter can probably get the good stuff for what you're paying for the cheap paint. 
  • Sometimes great deals can be had on closeouts of name-brand paint, but you've got to ask yourself the question, 'If it's so good, why are they closing it out?'
I understand the value of a dollar - I work for my money, too.  That's why I endeavor to help each customer find the most economical paint choice.  Cost shouldn't be the ultimate factor - value is more important.  It may cost you a little bit more up front for the paint, but in the long run you'll be glad you skipped the cheap stuff.  I guarantee it.





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Sometimes Doing Things the Old Fashioned Way is the Best

8/15/2013

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I've been hanging wallpaper and vinyl for nearly 30 years.  I learned from a master craftsman who was close to retirement but looking to pass his art on to someone who would follow in his footsteps.  He taught me a lot, mostly about taking the time to do things properly the first time, and to do it well.  Part of what I learned from him was that having the right tools and knowing how to use them can make all the difference.  So you can imagine my dismay when I found out that my favorite wall covering tool has been discontinued. 

I've used the same brand of  wallpaper seam smoother for many years.  I tried others - some cheaper, others more expensive, but none worked as well as the Wal Wiz.  My most recent commercial  project involved hanging almost 5000 yards of commercial vinyl, and that's a lot of seams.  The Wal Wiz isn't an expensive tool, but it works well and feels comfortable in my hand.  After smoothing thousands of seams with this implement, the motions are almost instinctive.  But the edges wear down eventually, and I go through them quickly on a big job like this.  My stock was getting low, but I couldn't find any locally.  My paint store rep tried to find them and couldn't.  He suggested another brand, but it was just too flimsy for me.  I looked online, and every site that advertised them noted it was out of stock.  An inquiry to Zinsser, the manufacturer, revealed that the Wal Wiz had been discontinued.  So I've been calling places all over the country who carried them in the past to see if I could buy up the remaining stock.  Eventually those will be gone and I'll have to find something new.  So far I haven't found a suitable substitute. 

That seam smoother reminds me of many things in my business.  Those old tools worked well, but it seems like everyone has a newer solution, and the old way of doing things is difficult to find.  It used to be that contractors mailed signed estimates to prospective customers; now digitally-signed emails are the norm.  A live voice on the end of a telephone has been replaced with an automated answering system.  Estimating software has taken over for a calculator and experience. 

At North Pine Painting we do things a little differently - the old-fashioned way, mostly.  Rarely do I give an estimate on the phone - I'd prefer to come out and look at your project and talk things over with you.  If you call my office, you'll reach my wife, who runs the administrative end.  You can contact me by email, but I always give my customers my cell phone number so they can talk directly to me when it's important.  And it's my belief that a computer program can't ever take the place of skills gained from years of hands-on experience.  If that's outdated, that's just fine with me; it's the way I prefer to do business.  And it must be okay with my customers, because over the years I've hardly ever  needed to advertise - word of mouth keeps me plenty busy.   That doesn't mean I'm technology-shy; after all, I am blogging here!  Plus if you'd prefer an email estimate, I can handle that, too.  After all, the old-fashioned way meant putting the customer first.  And that's how I do business. 

In the painting and decorating business, technology is changing things, just as it is in all industries.  But at North Pine Painting we're not about to let technology take the place of good, old-fashioned customer care and craftsmanship.  If that's what you're looking for in a painting contractor, give me a call.  And if you've got a good substitute for the soon-extinct Wal Wiz please let me know. 

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Welcome to Our New Site!

8/12/2013

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So many people have asked me for my website that I figured it was time to set one up, so here is our first effort.  After having been in the painting and decorating industry for nearly 30 years and relying mostly on word of mouth, I have had to accept the fact that in today's digital age many people interact online, and that's probably where I should at least be somewhat visible.  It's much easier for my to wield a paintbrush or hang a strip of wallpaper than it is to navigate the internet, so I trust you'll bear with me as I get my web legs.

It's my intention that this blog can be a spot where I'll share everything from industry trends to wall care tips to project highlights.  If there's something you'd like to see me cover, please fill out the form below.

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