As spring approaches, homeowners often look to spruce up their exteriors with fresh paint. However, many contractors tend to fill up their schedules once the weather warms, making it difficult to find a time for your project.
But what if there was a way to get your exterior painting done much earlier in the season? The answer lies in choosing the right paint—one that can be applied in winter conditions.

The Perfect Solution: Element Guard® Exterior Paint
If you’re eager to get ahead of the spring rush, consider using Element Guard® Exterior Paint from Benjamin Moore. This innovative paint is specially formulated to perform exceptionally well in challenging weather conditions, including high moisture and colder temperatures. Unlike traditional paints that can only be applied in optimal temperatures and low humidity, Element Guard® allows you to have more flexibility when you paint.

Why Act Now?
Winter is a great opportunity to rethink and refresh your home’s exterior. By using Element Guard®, you can ensure that the weather won’t hinder your paint job and jumpstart your project before the inevitable spring rush begins.
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As soon as the temperatures rise and the flowers begin to bloom, many homeowners will be searching for contractors to refresh their exteriors. By painting now, you can avoid the long wait times that come with a crowded calendar.
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Benefits of Early Planning

1. Availability. Many contractors will already be booked once the season is in full swing. By scheduling your project during the winter, you’ll have a wider selection of contractors to choose from.

1. Quicker completion. Beat the rush and complete your painting project earlier in the season, allowing more time for you to enjoy your refreshed home.

1. Superior finish. Element Guard® Exterior Paint not only ensures durability but also a smooth, even finish that will stand the test of time.
2. Market-ready. If you plan on selling your home during the busy spring and summer real estate seasons, painting now ensures you can get your home on the market as soon as you’re ready without contractor delays.

Tips to Ensure a Successful Painting Project
Before you dive into your project, be sure to:

• Plan your colors. Take some time to choose a color scheme that will elevate your home’s exterior curb appeal and protect its value.

• Hire the right contractor. Do your research and find a contractor who has experience working with cold-weather paints and conducting necessary repairs before painting to bring your vision to life.
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Find Your Paint at Color Wheel
Why wait for brighter days when you can schedule your project today? If you’re ready to take the plunge and give your home a fresh look, contact Color Wheel to discuss your painting project. Let us help you ensure your home is ready to shine when spring finally arrives!

Your front door is the centerpiece of your home’s exterior, and a fresh coat of paint can give it a new life. Whether you want to switch up the color or simply freshen up the existing one, painting your front door is a great DIY project.

However, to ensure a smooth and long-lasting finish, it’s crucial to follow a few essential steps. Here are our top tips for painting your home’s front door, including how to prep, when you can close it after painting, and how long it takes for the paint to dry.

Prepping Your Front Door
Before you dive into painting your front door, thorough preparation is key. Follow these steps to ensure the best possible results:

1. Clean the door. Start by cleaning the door thoroughly with mild soap, water, and a sponge. Remove any dirt, grime, or grease that may interfere with the paint’s adhesion. Rinse well and let the door dry completely.
   
2. Remove hardware. Take off all hardware, such as doorknobs, locks, and hinges, to make painting easier and prevent accidental paint drips. If removing the hardware is not an option, cover it with painter’s tape for protection.
3. Sand and smooth. Use sandpaper to lightly sand the door’s surface. This will create a rough texture for the paint to adhere to. Sanding will also smooth out any imperfections, such as chipped paint. Wipe away any dust left from sanding when you’re done.
4. Patch and repair. Inspect the door for any cracks, holes, or dents. Fill them with a wood filler or an appropriate patching compound. Once dry, sand the patched areas to ensure they are even with the rest of the door’s surface.
   
5. Prime the door. To enhance paint adhesion and improve the overall durability of your paint, apply a thin coat of primer. Pick a primer compatible with the door’s material (wood, metal, or fiberglass). Let the primer dry completely before painting.

Choosing the Right Front Door Paint
Now that you have properly prepped your front door, it’s time to paint! Choosing the right paint is a crucial step to ensure the results you want.

Choose high-quality paint in a color that will complement your home’s siding, garage doors, porch, or any other elements you’d like to consider. You’ll need weatherproof exterior paint that can handle the daily use that front doors typically experience, so it should be resistant to scratches, scuffs, and fading.
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Semi-gloss paints are most popular for front doors, but it all depends on your unique style. Just remember that flat or eggshell paints can be less durable and show more damage.

When Can I Close the Front Door After Painting?
It’s important to allow the paint plenty of time to dry before closing the front door. Closing the door too soon can cause the paint to smudge, stick, or pull away from the surface, ruining your hard work.

The exact drying time will vary depending on humidity, temperature, and the type of paint used. As a general rule, wait at least two to three hours before gently closing the door.
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However, you may need to leave your door open overnight or for at least 24 hours to ensure complete drying and prevent damage to your new paint job.

How Long Does It Take for a Front Door to Dry After Painting?
While you can usually close the front door after a few hours, remember that it will take longer for the paint to fully cure and harden. This curing time depends on the type of paint used.

For example, latex or water-based paints typically dry faster, taking around one to two days to dry completely. On the other hand, oil-based paints require more time to dry, often needing two to three days or even longer.

To prevent damage to your door’s fresh coat of paint, avoid touching or placing objects against the door until the paint has fully cured.

Find Your Perfect Paint at Color Wheel​
Is it time to paint your home’s front door for a fresh look? Find your perfect paint at Color Wheel. Our team can help you find the right exterior paint brand, color, and finish to refresh your door and make a great first impression. Stop by and see us today!

Wallpaper is certainly in the spotlight with dramatic patterns, tasteful hues, and easy application. However, what happens when you have old wallpaper in your home that you want to remove, whether you want to paint or apply new wallpaper?

Although removing old wallpaper can seem like a headache you’d rather avoid, we have some tips and tools here for you to safely and effectively remove wallpaper without damaging your walls or your sanity. Some painting and wallpaper contractors will provide this service, but you can do this yourself!

There are several types of wallpapers out there.  Here is a list of the most common:

• Wallpaper with or without a vinyl coating
• Solid Vinyl with a synthetic or fabric backing
• Solid Vinyl with a paper backing
• Wallpaper with a strippable backing

Find Out If Your Wallpaper Is Removeable​
Before you get started with removing wallpaper, find out if your wallpaper is peelable or strippable. These are generally wallpapers manufactured in the last 10 years that easily peel off, leaving a paper backing on the wall or strip off completely without water or chemicals.  If your wallpaper is older, it’s best to assume you’ll need extra tools and supplies. Bring a piece of your wallpaper by Color Wheel so we can help determine what’s needed.

Determining if your walls were prepared before the wallpaper was hung is critical.  Wallpaper primer prevents the adhesive from soaking into the drywall or plaster behind it, which allows for easy removal. Unfortunately, this step is often skipped.

Plan Accordingly with Time and Tools
Proper planning will make your wallpaper removal job that much easier. If your wallpaper was not applied with primer or is not peelable, chances are it will take you the better part of a day to remove wallpaper in just one room.

Removing non-peelable wallpaper can be messy and takes time. Remember, the longer the wallpaper has been there, the harder it may be to remove. Therefore, it’s essential to plan and prep your space before getting started.
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Tools and supplies you may need:

• Wallpaper Stripper Concentrate and a bucket
• Scoring Tool to break the surface and allow remover to dissolve the adhesive
• Wallpaper Shaver and extra blades
• Drop cloths
• Painter’s tape
• Towels

The drop cloths, towels, and painter’s tape will help you protect floors, trim, outlets, and vents, although it’s still wise to turn off the electricity in that room and move furniture before getting started.

Let’s get started​
Use the Scoring tool, punch small and shallow holes in the surface of the wallpaper.  You can do the entire room ahead of time or work in smaller sections.  It’s kind of fun but your arm may get tired. Older children may enjoy doing this so put them to work.

Mix the wallpaper stripper concentrate according to the instructions on the container.  Mix smaller batches if you’re not planning to remove the entire room at one time.  There’s no rush.

Apply the solution, working in a small area, to the surface of the wallpaper and wait the recommended amount of time in the instructions.  If you hurry, the stripper will not have time to do its job.  Working in a small area first, will allow you to see how it’s working and when to start shaving.  Try a 3’ x 3’ square.

The wallpaper may be able to be removed in full sheets depending on the prior wall prep and the type of paper.  Pull gently in a diagonal direction, SLOWLY!  Never pull fast as you may tear off the surface of the drywall underneath. If this works, skip the next step and do a little happy dance.
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If you’re not dancing, we recommend using a wallpaper shaver which protect the wall surface from gouges and to more easily scrape the wallpaper off.  Putty knives are too thick and narrow to do this efficiently. It’s important to change the blades regularly. As you’re working, if it seems like an area is harder to remove, you probably need to change the blade.

Using a sprayer for the stripper can also help you properly saturate the wallpaper—often, a rag or spray bottle won’t do the job. Remember to do one section at a time, as the sections should not dry out before you can attempt to remove them.

Don’t Forget to Clean Your Walls
Your job isn’t done once the wallpaper is removed. You’ll still need to clean your walls, as paste or glue may be left over on the drywall or plaster. A sponge and stripper help remove any most of adhesive on drywall or plaster. You may need to patch a few areas before sanding and priming for new paint or wallpaper.  Apply a coat of a quality primer before painting, we recommend Benjamin Moore’s Fresh Start in most cases.

Contact Us for Wallpaper Help
Color Wheel can help you pick the perfect new paint or wallpaper for your space, as well as assist you with choosing the right tools for your next wallpaper removal job. Contact Color Wheel today or stop by and see us and we will be happy to assist you!