What Color Should You Paint Your Exterior Trim?

Are you having a hard time picking out the right shade for the trim on your exterior?

Are you second guessing what looks good?

Did you know that your sash color can be repeated on your front door and porch steps?

According to Better Homes & Gardens, “Choosing trim colors is tricky. These tips will come in handy, and they work well for most house styles:

• Paint all vertical and horizontal trim elements in the main trim color.
• Window and door frames look better painted in the principal body color. The same holds true for cornice brackets.
• As a general rule, window sashes and shutters are the darkest parts of the color scheme. As a result, the windows seem to recede into the facade.
• The sash color can be repeated on the front door and on the porch steps.
• Storm windows should be the same color as the sash.
• It's best if ceilings under the eaves are painted in the body color, while the entire cornice --the trim that faces outward -- is almost always painted in the trim color.
• If your house is two or three stories tall and you want more than one shade of the principal body color, it is tasteful to apply the darkest shade on the first floor, medium on the second floor, and the lightest on the third floor. 
• Gutters and downspouts should be painted to make them as inconspicuous as possible. On a frame house with olive trim and a light green body, for example, the gutters would probably be olive to disappear against the olive cornice, but the downspouts would be painted light green to correspond to the adjacent siding.”

Still need help deciding on a color for your trim’s exterior? We can help you make a decision that will transform the look of your home! Imagine how beautiful your house will look with the professional touch from our local painters in Ann Arbor.

Get the Job Done Right The First Time! Call Local Painters in Ann Arbor!

Call the best local painters in Ann Arbor today at (734) 995-2646 to arrange an appointment with Steve Mussio. He will personally meet you on your property to discuss your project needs, expectations, and concerns and give any suggestions at your request. No job is too big or too small for the best local painters in Ann Arbor!

How to Give New Life to Your Outdoor Furniture!

Is your outdoor furniture faded?

Does it look outdated?

Are you unable to invest in new furniture right now?

We want to help you save some cash this summer to go on that vacation you’ve dreamed of. Here are some summer saving tips that will help you give new life to your outdoor furniture:

1. Restore old wood
2. Paint faded metal or plastic lawn chairs
3. Reupholster lounge chairs
4. Update worn cushions 
5. Adapt pieces to fit the season’s needs

Following the above tips can help bring back the life of your outdoor furniture! Do you want more ideas? Try websites like Pinterest and Houzz.com for more ideas and inspiration.

If you decide you want to revamp your entire house this summer with a fresh coat of paint, we can help with that too! We’re the experts when it comes to interior and exterior painting services. "Our attention to detail" is one of our strongest qualities. 

Call the best local painters in Ann Arbor today at (734) 995-2646 to arrange an appointment with Steve Mussio. He will personally meet with you on your property to discuss your project needs, expectations, and concerns and give any suggestions at your request. No job is too big or too small!

Different Qualities of Paint: Premium Vs. Super Premium vs. Ultra Premium

Do you buy only paint of a certain quality?

Do you know why certain paints are better than others?

Are you wondering what each quality of paint is meant for?

Most can get the job done. However, there are different paints for different needs. You wouldn’t use the same paint outside as inside your home, would you? What you choose depends on your needs!

What’s the difference between premium, super premium and ultra-premium? Here’s the skinny on different advantages of certain paint from local painters in Ann Arbor:

1. Resistance to stains 
2. Scrub-able
3. Better coverage
4. Smoother finish
5. Mildew resistant

The higher you go on the premium scale, the more pronounced these advantages can be! 

Painting a kitchen? You’d want to go with one that is resistant to stains to help fight against the results of a food fight in the dining area. 

Painting your child’s room? You may want to go with a paint that is scrub-able, especially if you happen to be raising a future Picasso! Walls are not an ideal canvas, and it’s nice to know you can clean them after your little genius does his or her work.

Painting your bathrooms? You want to make sure you choose a paint that’s mildew resistant! Steamy showers can produce a growth of mold and bacteria on your walls and ceilings. By using certain cleaning materials on mold and mildew over time, your paint will fade if you use a lower quality paint. 

Can you imagine the possibilities of using paint created specifically for a certain part of your home? We can too! Make sure you choose the right paint for your appropriate needs.

Contact the best professional local painters in Ann Arbor, Mussio Painting! You’ll be amazed how our work will transform your home! (734) 995-2646

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. 

Zero VOC Technology-Emit Zero Volatile Organic Compounds

Are you concerned about the indoor air quality in your home?

Are you planning a spring painting project?

Are you worried about your health due to the toxic fumes paint releases into your home?

Paint can potentially expose you to toxic fumes, however, new technology emits zero volatile organic compounds! Now you don’t have to worry about potential health hazards and your family can be kept safe. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.”

Benjamin Moore now offers the greenest paint on the market called Natura Waterborne paint! Check out some of the features:

• Now Certified asthma & allergy friendly
• Zero VOC
• Zero Emissions (measured at 4 hours after application)
• 100% Acrylic
• Provides a durable, washable film
• Spatter-resistant
• Unlimited color selection
• One hour recoat for quick return to service
• Self-priming on most surfaces
• Voted 2015 Product of the Year

Professional Local Painters in Ann Arbor

Contact the best local painters in Ann Arbor, Mussio Painting! We provide many references who will confirm the excellent quality you’ll receive from one of Ann Arbor’s top painting companies. Our path to success is based on being laser focused on incredible detail. If you’re not completely satisfied with the job, the owner, Steve Mussio, will make sure they make it right.

Call Mussio Painting in Ann Arbor today at (734) 995-2646. You’ll be amazed how our work will transform your home!

What Causes Paint to Fade?

Are you not satisfied with the look of your paint?

Are you not satisfied with the look of your paint?

Is your paint starting to fade?

Are you wondering what could cause paint to fade in your home?

According to Sherwin-Williams, there are many possible causes for fading paint, including:

• Sunlight. As the coating ages, the fading can become more noticeable. Slight fading is acceptable, provided it is gradual and uniform so as not to be noticeable. Excessive chalking of the paint film will cause colors to appear lighter.
• Interior-grade colorants used outside will fade.
• Adding more tint to the coating than is recommended.
• Significant sunlight exposure. Interior coatings may also fade if exposure to sunlight is prolonged.

Solutions

• Clean your walls as needed and repaint the surface using paint that’s fade-resistant!
• Use curtains, shades or blinds to block the sunlight beating on your walls.
• Prepare the surface! Spackle, sand, and prime!

If you’re considering having your house painted, our local painters in Ann Arbor can help you! Our reputation is “second to none” in business! Steve, the owner, is intense about perfection. He is consistently on site, making sure the job gets done to ensure that you’re 100-percent satisfied.

If you’re in the Ann Arbor area and would like a free evaluation and estimate for interior painting, exterior painting, deck refinishing, drywall repair, or anything else your home might need, please contact our local painters in Ann Arbor at 734-995-2646.