Protect Trim and Stairways from Your Pets

Is your home décor going to the dogs? Planning updates to your home around dogs or other pets? Wondering what will help new applications of paint hold up to your furry friends?

Your pets are loved and lovable parts of the family, but there’s no question they can cause more than their fair share of wear and tear on your house. Flooring, trim, and stairs are some of the more susceptible areas of your home prone to scuffs and scratches. You might not even think an upgrade or new coat of paint is worth it. 

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make your efforts pay off. 

Oil

Oil-based paints aren’t as easy to work with, and may not be the best choice for very inexperienced painters, but they offer a very clean finish and stand up great to typical wear from pets. 

Gloss

Selecting a finish in the glossy category for your trim or stairs will do a lot for durability and clean-ability. The sleek look adds considerable slipperiness to the painted surface, however. 

Additives

Available wherever paint is sold, paint additives are purchased separately and mixed into paint producing varying effects. Additives which add non-slip texture to your painted surface are a great choice to make your stairs safer for pets and people. 

Poly

It’s an extra step you might not be excited about taking, but adding a layer or two of polyurethane to your stairs or other high traffic areas will save you from extra work or unsightly wear long term.  

Following these tips as you choose paint and other materials to improve your home will help your painted surfaces last longer under the pressure of paws and will likely be safer for your pets and family. 

If you have more questions about pet-friendly painting practices, give us a call at Mussio Painting, your local painters in Ann Arbor. With us, your satisfaction is guaranteed as we treat your home like ours!

How to Eliminate Stubborn Smoke Odors with Paint

Moving to a house previously owned by smokers? Trying to get old smoke odors and stains out of your walls? Wondering if paint will help with smoke odors?

The smells and stains left behind by years of moderate to heavy smoking are among the biggest turnoffs to guests and homeowners. The remains of a tobacco habit left in a house aren’t easy to get rid of, either. But it’s possible with a little elbow grease and the right supplies. 

Follow these 4 steps for effective results in your home!

1. Dry Clean

Using a tool referred to as a dry cleaning, chemical, or soot sponge, you’ll be able to buff away some of the staining and lingering odors on walls and ceilings. The dry cleaning sponge is a go-to cleanups after a fire and is surprisingly effective. 

2. Wet Clean

If staining remains after dry cleaning, take to your walls with a wet cleaning solution. For moderate staining, you’ll be served well by a warm vinegar and water solution, equal parts water and vinegar. For heavy stains, you might want to resort to TSP for cleaning. 

3. Prime

If you don’t usually prime before painting, this is not the time to skip it! Applying two coats of odor-eliminating or stain-blocking primer will help assure your stains and odors don’t creep back into the house. Make sure you give each coat ample time to dry!

4. Paint

After adequately priming the walls, it’s time to paint! Choose high-quality paint and apply two coats as you would normally paint a room in your house. 

It might be tempting to skip right to step 3 or 4, thinking several coats of paint and primer will hide the stains. But smoke stains and odors have a tendency to bleed through new coats of paint when they aren’t properly cleaned first. Following all 4 steps above will give you the best chance of success. 

If you have major smoke stain to deal with, or would rather leave this important job to the pros, give your local painters in Ann Arbor a call. At Mussio Painting we treat every home as our own and your satisfaction is guaranteed.