FAQ
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Lead Paint
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How do I know if I have lead paint?If your house was built prior to 1978, chances are it has lead paint on it. A lab test can be done if you want to make sure.
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How do you deal with lead paint?
There are procedures set by Lead Paint Ordinance on how any work involving lead paint is to be done. These procedures are worked into our approach to the painting work and our painters are trained on all the necessary steps to take. We start with having a containment barrier to ensure that the paint chips do not go where they’re not suppose to, that being onto your or your neighbor’s property, or the inside of your home.
We clean up daily and bag the paint chips for proper disposal.
For more information on lead paint call 1-800-424-LEAD
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Are you EPA lead certified?Yes, our company is Certified, and we only use certified subcontractors on jobs that require them.
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Paint
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What kind of paint do you use?We use the only professional quality paints from Sherwin Williams, unless the customer requests a different brand.
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What is Low or No VOC paint?
The Environmental Protection Agency states that, to qualify as Low VOC, latex paint must contain no more than 250 g/L and 380 g/L for oil paint.
The term No VOC or Zero VOC for the paint is actually a misnomer. The No VOC labeled paint will actually contain some (less than 5 g/L) VOCs. Adding pigment to the paint will likely add another 2-5 g/L to the total.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of low sheens?
They provide even light reflection and give the surface a softer, more uniform look.
They don’t highlight surface imperfections like higher sheen paints, so they usually don’t require as much surface preparation (like patching, texturing or sanding) prior to painting.
They are much less likely to show “lap marks”, so they are generally easier to apply and touch up than higher sheen paints. (When one painted section dries before the next section is painted, the two sections won’t flow together into a uniform film, resulting in a “lap mark.”)
They don’t need to be sanded or de-glossed before repainting, unlike higher sheen paints.
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How do you maintain interior paint?
Interior paint typically gets dirty in many situations: hand prints around switches and knobs; splashes in kitchens and bathrooms; marks on hallways and corridors; “soot” accumulating above electric lamps and other heat sources. Removing dirt before it accumulates not only improves appearance, it reduces chances of it getting permanently embedded in the paint film.
Check for dirt periodically and assume it will be present in and near cooking areas (airborne cooking oil) and at all places at hand height. Always initially clean the surface with a mild detergent using a sponge or a soft cloth. Resort to harsher cleaners only when necessary, recognizing that alkaline cleaners can dull the sheen or gloss of oil based paint. Abrasive cleaner will burnish nearly any paint and will dull the gloss of satin, semigloss and gloss products. Washed surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly because residual cleaner can interfere with adhesion of paint applied later.
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What are VOCs and why do I care?All paints, varnishes, and solvents contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Exposure to VOCs can trigger asthma attacks, respiratory problems, eye irritation, nausea, or dizziness. Because of these health concerns, a number of paint manufacturers have introduced Low or No VOC paint alternatives.
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What are sheens and what are the different types of sheens?
Sheen refers to the light reflectivity of the painted or varnished surface. There are varying degrees of sheen, from no sheen to high gloss. Though some paint manufacturers may refer to their paint sheens by different names, generally, from lowest to highest, paint sheens correspond to these reflective degrees:
- Flat finish
- Eggshell finish
- Satin finish
- Semi gloss finish
- High gloss finish
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of high sheens?
They have better stain resistance, so they resist dirt pick up and stay cleaner longer.
They have better scuff and wear resistance, so they’re good for high traffic areas and on surfaces that are handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.
They have better moisture resistance, which makes them ideal for surfaces and areas that are frequently exposed to high humidity levels.
They tend to highlight any surface imperfections.
They are harder to touch up than lower sheen paints, because the higher sheen tends to highlight the slightly raised surface of the film where the touch up was done.
They usually need to be sanded, de-glossed or primed prior to repainting, to ensure good adhesion of the new paint.
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How do you maintain exterior paint?On a regular basis you should walk around the exterior of your home looking for dry rot, water penetration, cracks, and chalking. About once a year it is a good idea to pressure wash your home to remove the accumulation of surface dirt.
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Our Services
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What other services does your company provide?Groovy Hues offers Power washing services for almost any exterior surface. In addition, we offer Gutter Replacement and Shutter Replacement.
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What are your crew hours?We generally work M-F, 8-4:30 We can do work at other hours if needed, but these are our standard working hours.
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Can I leave when the crew is there?Yes, most people we work for are not home while work is being performed. We are licensed and fully insured so you are free to go to work or run errands during your project!
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How will my property be protected from paint during a job?On interiors, after you have removed your delicate items, all areas or remaining items, will be covered with clean drop cloths or plastic sheeting. On exteriors, shrubs and surrounding areas will be protected so that no evidence of paint splatter or paint peelings remains.
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What is I want to change something or add additional work while the job is ongoing?Please let our office know about it or feel free to contact your estimator directly. Most of the time it is more cost-effective for us to make a change or do additional during the course of the project than to have us come back after the project is complete.
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How long is the painting process?The process can take as little as 4-5 days from the time we connect with you. However, the actual timing will depend on the condition of your paint surfaces, the type of work required, our schedule and weather conditions if the project involves exterior work. During your consultation, we will evaluate your situation and provide an estimated completion time.
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Do I need to move everything from the rooms before you paint?We prefer that you take all smaller personal items out of the rooms and then we will cover all furniture or items that are not being painted prior to beginning the process.
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Hiring a Painter
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What should I look for when hiring a painter?There are several items to consider but at the very least, check that they are licensed, insured, experienced and capable of completing your scope of work.
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Why do bids from painters and paint companies vary?The cost of a job is usually determined by the level of thoroughness, attention to detail, and quality desired. It costs more to properly prepare a surface for painting than to just pressure clean and scrape the surface. The majority of the cost of painting is in the surface preparation and the labor involved in the application of the paint and not the actual cost of the paint itself. As with most other industries, generally you get what you pay for.
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