Brownstone Molding Painter

There is something to be said for natural wood – the warmth, history, grain, original, the genuine article. As wonderful as that all sounds, old trim with a dark stain can dull a space, especially molding which has multiple coats of old gel stain on it. The new owner of this brownstone was understandably conflicted between restoring the wide, solid molding to its former glory and brightening the space with new paint.

The good news is that freshly painted trim in this classic style – broad, thick, substantial molding with rosette corners – retains the architectural character while freshening the room. High quality, solid wood casings like these are just as beautiful dressed in white because the grooves, corner rosettes and panels below the windows retain their sculptured style.

Gel stain is a wonderful, oil-based, varnish product. It is thicker than traditional wood stain and rests on the wood rather than being absorbed into it. It does, however, present a challenge to the most professional of painters when it no longer fits the overall décor scheme. Sanding is step two – protecting floors and anything else in the room or adjacent spaces is always step one. It takes considerable sanding to work through the gel stain and/or scuff it enough to accept the appropriate primer which serves as a bonding agent between the newly prepped trim and its bright new paint coats. We completed this job on a tight deadline for the new owner’s move-in date, and the radiant result quite perfectly exudes a stately style.

Not what you want to see

Water-based vs. Oil-based Paint

Watching paint dry or watching grass grow is fairly harmless albeit incredibly boring. A more dramatic – or alarming - way to pass the time is watching paint peel in large pieces should you discover that you have painted over oil-based paint with water-based paint. It’s not so far-fetched to buy a gallon of paint and put on a coat or two with the hopes of selling your home faster for the fresh look, until the fresh look takes on the bubble gum look - blistering, stretching out and peeling off. Ooops.

While it may seem that picking a color of paint is the primary task, actually choosing the right paint precedes that. Knowing what kind of paint is already on a wall, trim, table or whatever it is you are planning to paint narrows your choice quickly. Durability plays into paint choice, as walls do not need a durability factor as high and reliable as trim, which gets touched much more often. Oil-based paints are frequently selected for trim because they have a hard, non-porous coating when dry. Walls are usually painted with water-based paints. You can paint oil-based paint over water-based paints, but not the other way around. At least not without sanding and scuffing and/or applying a proper bonding agent first.

Our experience with paints, bonding agents, oil-based products, primers, water-based paints, sealers and more is available to you for the asking. While we can certainly fix bubble gummy errors like in these photos, we strongly suggest you call in our experts before taking matters into your own hands. The Paintworks professional painters get the job done right every time, with the right paint, equipment, brushes and rollers. There are particular kinds of brushes and rollers to use with different paint products, along with various methods of cleaning them. When you want the job done quickly and correctly the first time, well, call on us. You can watch the paint dry, and we assure you that the fresh look will be just that, a fresh look of smooth paint in the color(s) of your choice.

Fixing trim/doors after wrong paint was used on top of oil based paint

High Rise Manhattan Home Painting

NOMAD or NoMad denotes “North of Madison Square Park,” while literally it means “a member of a people with no fixed residence who move from place to place, often seasonally.” So, here we have a couple purchasing this amazing high-rise condo in NoMad who are not nomads. If anything, they are nesters who wanted their new home freshly painted. While bald eagles, known for their high, large nests, are also not especially nomadic for returning to their nests each year, these aeries are found only 50 to 125 feet off the ground. This stunning property on the 37th floor is around 518 feet high, using 14 feet per story measurement.

It’s a challenge to stay focused with views like this, but we did it. We put down recycled brown paper to protect the floors and went to work patching and spackling so each coat of paint would be perfect. The living room sports Benjamin Moore’s Simply White, and the blue hue is named White Satin for its gentle undertones of a pale sky. “Evoking the shimmering beauty of a dragonfly's wings, this deep shade of blue-green is playful and full of energy,” so states the benjaminmoore.com website regarding this rich greenish-blue color. What a place to call home, a fixed residence that redefines a room with a view.

Residential Painting Pros

There’s Murphy’s Law that anything that can go wrong will, and even the best laid plans of mice and men can get skewed. In some cases, home buying and relocation consumes tons of time and thinking of all the things that need to be done in the right order might be a tad overwhelming. With this architecturally-significant Prospect Heights brownstone, time was majorly scrunched for interior painting to welcome the new owners. The job required professional level experience with such exquisite trim detail in a multi-level home and fast turnaround.  

Experience like ours means we have perfected time efficiency, acute attention to detail, proficiency of application, quality workmanship and expert paint knowledge and skills. Protecting the floors and windows and anywhere paint is not to be is always the first part of our job strategy. Then there’s making sure the paint is high quality, blended thoroughly and applied with the appropriate tools in the most efficient manner. If these folks are not motivated to head to the park, they will be quite content in their ultra-attractive, professionally-painted brownstone home interior.