http://www.abpainting.com/blog/ en joel@adavidcreation.com Copyright 2013 2013-05-20T03:40:30+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/should_i_paint_my_garage_door_l.a._painting_questions http://www.abpainting.com/blog/should_i_paint_my_garage_door_l.a._painting_questions#When:03:40:30Z One of the most prominent features of most homes here in the Los Angeles area is the garage door (or more often, doors!). Because they are such a large surface, these doors play a large part in creating the overall look of your home exterior. That's why it's important to keep your garage doors looking great! So, the question is, "Should I paint my garage doors?" If your garage doors are made of wood, there is no reason to hesitate in painting them. Especially if you can see any places where the paint is beginning to fail, it is vital that you have your garage doors recoated soon. If your doors are stained rather than painted, the same principle applies. Should Metal Garage Doors Be Painted? If your garage doors are steel or aluminum, there may be a reason to hesitate before painting them. The reason is that they come from the factory with an extremely durable finish, sometimes called "baked enamel" or "powdercoat." This factory finish will normally last for a long time and require very little maintenance. However, if you paint over the baked enamel, it will need to be maintained every 5 to 10 years. That said, if your house is in need of updating for some reason, it will probably be worth it to you to paint your garage doors. There are several reasons someone might do this: the existing paint is wearing out (chalking, rusting, peeling). the house has been repainted, and the garage doors no longer match. the house looks drab with too much of the same color, and the garage doors could provide an attractive contrast. you are ready for a change in the look of your house, but you are not ready for a complete repainting. Whatever reasons you may have for wanting to paint your garage doors, A. Allbright Painting is here to help. We provide reliable, top-notch painting services to Valencia and the whole Los Angeles region. Contact us for a free estimate for garage painting and much more! Design Tips, 2013-05-20T03:40:30+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/using_farrow_and_ball_paint_in_an_old_hollywood_apartment http://www.abpainting.com/blog/using_farrow_and_ball_paint_in_an_old_hollywood_apartment#When:20:34:19Z Another Hollywood Painting Project.  A little while ago we got a call from a young woman who had just leased her first apartment.  She just moved here from out of state to pursue her acting career.   The apartment building is located in the foothills right below the Hollywood sign and looks to be built sometime between the 1930s or 1940s. I must admit I was a bit surprised when I found out that she wanted to use some of the finest paint around called, Farrow and Ball for her apartment that she was only leasing.  Most young adults don’t spend the $85 - $120 per gallon for painting their apartment.  More typically, the clients we see using F&B Paints are designers and homeowners on the west side that care about the quality first and not really about the cost.  Like this project we painted in Hancock Park.  I quickly understood why this young professional client wanted this premium high-quality paint once we started talking about color.  Farrow and Ball is known for their rich and beautiful colors that have a unique depth that can only be found in a paint that uses the best pigments around and she knew that.  She came equipped to our appointment with this little scrapbook of magazine pictures and articles, all organized by categories.  Her vision was clear.  She knew what she wanted and Farrow and Ball had the perfect colors for her apartment.  All Farrow and Ball paint is color mixed with accuracy overseas at their factory in Dorset, England and then shipped here in the United States.  This is much different than how most paint is mixed here.  The Los Angeles Farrow and Ball showroom is located on Melrose Avenue and it has just recently been remodeled.  It showcases some of their latest wallpapers and paint colors.  The sales team there is super helpful and we love sending our clients there for an upper level of service.  We know about this level of service because we experienced it firsthand when they were such gracious hosts during one of our A.Allbright speaking events where we were invited to speak about color and painting to a group of elite estate managers at the F&B showroom.    News, 2013-05-18T20:34:19+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/recipients_of_national_humanitarian_award_a.allbright_painting http://www.abpainting.com/blog/recipients_of_national_humanitarian_award_a.allbright_painting#When:21:29:56Z When you are serving someone in need, the best recognition or reward is the surprise and joy on the faces of the recipients; we ask for nothing more. Nevertheless, it is also nice to be recognized! Joshua Abramson, President of A. Allbright Painting, is pleased to announce that his company has been awarded the 2013 National Humanitarian of the Year Award from the PDCA (Painting & Decorating Contractors of America). This award is primarily in recognition of their annual Paint-it-Forward charity event, where they give away a free painting makeover each year to a deserving family or non-profit organization. Not only has Josh put significant effort into this exciting event here in the Santa Clarita Valley / Los Angeles area, but he has also spread the word and encouraged other paining contractors to do the same. Paint-it-Forward or similar events now also take place in Oregon, Missouri, Illinois, Connecticut, New York and several other states. A. Allbright’s commitment to community goes beyond the Paint-it-Forward event, however. They also hold an annual Paint-it-Pink campaign, which raises funds to help those affected by breast cancer. Their Paint-it-S.M.A.R.T. project provides mentorship and job training for teens of single parents. They also support other community initiatives on a one-time or spontaneous basis as they have opportunity (such as when several painters and office staff volunteered their time to paint an animal shelter). At A. Allbright Painting, they believe in community, and also in helping the painting trade as a whole.  That is why Joshua Abramson is invited to speak and teach around the country to other painting contractors.  Joshua Abramson says, “I’m always filled with joy when another painting contractor shares with me the story of their first Paint-it-Forward event.  It means so much that the work we do isn’t temporary, but rather leaving a legacy. When I first started my business, others gave so unselfishly to me, and it's in that spirit of gratefulness that I love speaking and teaching at the PDCA conventions and other trade events by Sherwin Williams, Dunn Edwards and Glidden Professional Paints.” A. Allbright has served the Los Angeles area since 1987, and they look forward to many more years of continuing to do so. If you have any ideas on how we could further engage the needs in our community, feel free to contact us by phone or through our website. Company News, News, 2013-05-11T21:29:56+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/when_you_see_this http://www.abpainting.com/blog/when_you_see_this#When:02:30:23Z When you see this A.Allbright van in your community, it's a promise!  When you see an A.Allbright team member wearing his or her company uniform, it's a promise!  It's not just a logo; it's a promise of the A.Allbright Experience!   We train and work hard for our clients to experience "happiness" first and foremost.   We hear too often that people were unhappy with their last choice of contractor to work in and around their home or business.  Typically, we hear they were disappointed with low-quality craftsmanship and/or frustrated when the job took too long.  The only way we have found to avoid these concerns is to commit to exceptional quality, exquisite attention to detail, and to stand behind the work we produce.      This is what we at A.Allbright, Inc. have been doing successfully for over 25 years:  Painting Happiness • We will promptly return all telephone calls • We will start & finish your project on time • We will maintain a neat, clean work environment • We will provide a total commitment to all details • We will stand behind our work • We pledge an assurance of high quality Sincerely, Joshua Abramson - Cheif Solutionist News, 2013-05-06T02:30:23+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/do_i_need_a_painting_contractor_with_lead_safe_certification http://www.abpainting.com/blog/do_i_need_a_painting_contractor_with_lead_safe_certification#When:02:05:13Z One quick search for painting contractors on the internet or in a phone book will quickly overwhelm you in a rushing tide of names and numbers. That’s why it’s important to know what to look for in a residential painter, and how to filter your choices down to the few best options. Some painting contractors have this Lead-Safe badge from the EPA – is this something you should be looking for? How Do I Know if my Home Has Lead Paint? Unfortunately, lead paint was the standard residential paint for a number of years in the United States. If your home was built prior to 1979, there is a good chance it has lead paint on the walls. Especially in homes built before 1960, the likelihood of lead paint is very high. Often, the lead paint is now buried beneath several newer layers of paint that have been added since. What Are the Risks of Lead Paint? Lead dust from old paint can be released if the old paint layer is disturbed. This could happen because of the scraping and sanding typically associated with remodeling or repainting. This lead dust settles on objects all over the house. The highest risk is to children under 6 years old, who are always touching everything and putting their hands in their mouths. Lead poisoning can cause brain damage of various kinds, and also produce high blood pressure, hearing problems, muscle and joint pain and other serious problems. How Can a Lead-Safe Painting Contractor Help? In order to earn Lead-Safe certification from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), a painting contractor must complete rigorous training. This training covers the risks and dangers of lead, as well as the protective equipment and safety procedures that are needed in order to deal with lead paint safely. A Lead-Safe painting contractor will ensure that all of your redecorating is completed in a way that keeps your family completely protected from lead exposure. Los Angeles Area Lead-Safe Painting Contractor Based in Valencia, California, A. Allbright Painting has earned and maintained Lead-Safe Certification. It is important to us to keep our staff and painters educated and prepared in all of the best painting practices, including chemical safety and other residential painting issues. If you have any questions about house painting, or about lead paint safety, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to serve our Los Angeles community in any way we can. Company News, 2013-05-01T02:05:13+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/teaching_others_how_to_paint http://www.abpainting.com/blog/teaching_others_how_to_paint#When:13:36:33Z I'm often asked "Why do you spend time teaching other painting contractors best business practices when you are so busy running your own painting company?"   I'm not sure how to answer that other than I'm grateful to be able to.  For those of you who don't know, I'm often invited to be the key speaker at regional and national conferences by Sherwin-Williams, Dunn Edwards and Glidden Professional paint companies, including our trade association (who would have guessed that?)  When I first started my painting company in 1987, I was very young and didn't know much.  I joined our trade association, the PDCA and tried to learn what I could about how other ran their businesses.  I was always so grateful when someone would spend a few minutes with me.  They would share their knowledge and what they've learned over the years.  I'm reminded of guys like John Peek, Michael Chism, Kevin and Brian Nolan and how they would come along side me and share their best business practices.  I would ask myself, "why do these guys take the time to share all this?"  I guess now that I'm on the other side after being in business for 25 years and several learning lessons later, I've realized I need to give back as passionately as they did and continue to. Below is an unexpected benefit that comes along with giving back.  I received an email this week from a fellow painting contractor after he attended the Residential Repaint Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah that was put on by Sherwin Williams. "Josh, I wanted to thank you for coming out to Utah today. I was impressed with what you had to share, in fact I took 6 pages of notes, 4 of those were on what you taught. I will keep this short,  I struggle estimating with confidence and the little exercise you had us do opened my eyes a lot. I also took away a lot from job costing and advertising. But it was what you shared about the "Primary Aim" that moved me to writing this. Thank you very, very, much. May God bless you in your family and business."   - Ben  News, 2013-04-26T13:36:33+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/electrostatic_painting_commercial_residential http://www.abpainting.com/blog/electrostatic_painting_commercial_residential#When:20:59:09Z One of the fun parts of being a professional painter is getting to use cool tools! One of the most advanced and amazing technologies that we use is the equipment for electrostatic painting. This amazing process uses electricity, magnetism and pressurized air to create a smooth, even finish on metal surfaces. While electrostatic painting is typically used for commercial painting projects, it can also be used in residential painting. How Does Electrostatic Painting Work? Like other kinds of spray painting, electrostatic painting uses pressurized air to vaporize and propel the paint towards the surface being painted. Here is the interesting part, though: the paint particles are also given a negative electrostatic charge. And what does that do? 2 things… First, when all of the paint particles have a like charge, they repel each other like magnets. This means that the paint flows in a very evenly distributed spray. Even better, though, is this part: the metal surface that is being painted is given a positive electromagnetic charge. This attracts the negatively charged paint particles, so that even paint that “misses” the target will be drawn back to the metal surface! Electrostatic painting is an ingenious system for painting metal surfaces. Since the paint is attracted to the metal, there is very little overspray, and the paint is pulled even into hard-to-reach spots, like edges, corners, crevices and the reverse side of the painted object. Where Can Electrostatic Painting Be Used? In commercial settings, there are hundreds of uses for electrostatic painting: - Gym and school lockers - Bathroom stall dividers and doors - Pipes - Railings - Office furniture - Fire escapes - Machinery - And so on Electrostatic painting can also be used in homes, for items such as: - Metal furniture - Metal gates - Metal rails and stairs - Other metal fixtures Here at A. Allbright Painting, we offer dozens of different painting services for residential and commercial applications. Call us or browse our services to find out more! Based in the Santa Clarita Valley, we service the Los Angeles area. Painting Tips and Tricks, 2013-04-16T20:59:09+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/church_painting_project_in_santa_clarita_ca http://www.abpainting.com/blog/church_painting_project_in_santa_clarita_ca#When:05:39:22Z Though our work is commonly called “commercial painting,” we often paint for organizations that are very non-commercial in nature, from charities to animal shelters to churches. One example of such a project was a church we did some painting for in Santa Clarita: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, on Orchard Village Road. The scope of our church painting project on this occasion was a storage building which needed some cleaning, restoration and painting. After a brief cleaning, we were able to use a coat of premium flat latex paint to freshen up the color, which was the same color as the previous one. We also painted the eaves in the same color, after applying a full priming coat. The fascia, doors and patio cover were all painted in white, exterior latex paint, which made a great compliment to the walls. The last part of this job was to spot prime and repaint the metal bars which protect the windows. These had suffered some rusting over the years, but they are now thoroughly treated and protected from further rust. On an exterior painting project like the one we did for this church, there are a number of items we automatically include. Pressure washing, scraping and sanding are the best ways to remove dirt and any failing paint. We use specialized caulks to repair splits in wood or stucco, and then prime any surfaces where bare wood, patching or metal are apparent. We scuff any glossy surfaces, to make sure they will accept the new paint layers, and of course, we carefully cover all plants and non-painted surfaces to ensure a spotless cleanup. If your church or other religious structure is in need of painting services, A. Allbright Painting would be delighted to serve you. We are respectful and courteous of your facility, especially in the case of buildings that represent your faith. We strive to provide premium service in every aspect of our work, ensuring that you are delighted with our painting services. Painting Projects, 2013-03-31T05:39:22+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/springtime_paint_colors http://www.abpainting.com/blog/springtime_paint_colors#When:04:19:32Z We are loving the longer days and the bright new flowers and at the same time appreciating the cooler weather.   We at A.Allbright Painting have put together some remarkable color palettes to help homeowners and business-owners work with color and create beautiful spaces.  These color palettes will help you through the process instead of leaving you overwhelmed and confused.  Each A.Allbright palette has an individual name and the colors within it adhere to the mood the name suggests.  For instance, ‘Malibu’ instantly speaks of sea and beach and affluence.  The Malibu color palette corresponds with that mood.  A lot of times, we find that clients choose color based on a place they’ve been or how they feel when they see images of places they want to go.   Our Mineral color palette really seems to evoke a spring-like feeling with its fresh color combinations of Lime Stone, Patina and Yellow Diamond to name a few.    The A.Allbright Mineral Palette represents strength and natural beauty working harmoniously together.  Have you ever picked up a river-washed pebble or a stone wet from the rain and noticed all its colors? Its just one of the many minerals that’s the earth beneath our feet.  This Collection reflects some of the most perfect colors of nature.  Let us know what you think of this color palette? News, 2013-03-23T04:19:32+00:00 http://www.abpainting.com/blog/what_color_should_i_use_on_my_house_exterior http://www.abpainting.com/blog/what_color_should_i_use_on_my_house_exterior#When:09:22:02Z When choosing colors for your home exterior, there is not a single “right way” to do it (though there are undoubtedly some wrong ones!). As an exterior house painter, A. Allbright Painting is happy to provide a few tips on how to choose colors for your house. Just remember, in the end it’s not about what the experts say—it’s your house; choose what you like! One of the best ways to begin is to just start looking around at other people’s home exterior as you drive around. Keep your eyes open for ideas that you like; use your cell phone to take pictures of ones that stand out to you, so you can remember. Pay special attention to other homes in your area. You don’t need to do the same thing that they do, but you don’t want to clash either. Also take note of homes that are built in a similar style to yours. Houses that are constructed in the same architectural style usually have certain colors and designs that tend to look good on them. Another way to choose exterior house colors is to use online photo sites, like Pinterest or Houzz. Houzz is an especially effective source of ideas, since you can search through the photos very efficiently, and everything on the site is especially for home design. As you see ideas you like, you can create a collection of your favorites. Here in the Los Angeles area, the most common colors are shades of brown, gray and tan. These neutrals are a safe choice (though not very creative), looking good on just about any home. If you stay with these classic tones, the way to distinguish your home is by creative and careful use of bold accents. If you walls are a lighter color (and they probably should be), then go with darker colors for the trim. Again, the typical choice is to go with darker neutrals: gray, blue-gray, khaki, brown, and so on. Feel free to diverge from these classics, and you will really draw attention to your home exterior! The place to really be distinguished is on the minor details, like your front door, or the window shutters if you home has them. One common rule of thumb for color design is 60-30-10. That means that 60% of your home is one dominant color, 30% is a complimenting color, and 10% is a standout accent. Your front door is the best place for a rich blue, a deep red, or another pop of color. When you choose your exterior painting contractor, they can also help you with your color choices. For example, we here at A. Allbright offer a professional color consultation service, so that you can exchange ideas with an expert, and end up with a color scheme that makes your home the envy of the neighborhood! For more advice on choosing colors for your home exterior, or to get a free estimate for exterior painting services in the Los Angeles area, contact A. Allbright Painting today! Design Tips, 2013-03-22T09:22:02+00:00