Drywall is used to make the walls and ceilings on the interior of a house. Drywall is a panel made out of gypsum plaster and is pressed between two thick sheets of paper.  Drywalling can be a complicated process, which is why many people opt to hire professionals instead of doing it by themselves.  However, if you do plan on drywalling by yourself, there is quite an extensive list of tools to gather before you get started. Below are the basic tools you will need, separated by tool type.

What tools do you need for drywall?  Check out the list below:

Cutting Tools

– Basic utility knife to cut the sheets

– Extra blades because drywall dulls the blades quickly

– Drywall T Square for making square cuts

– Drywall saw for going around obstacles

– Keyhold saw for cutting around electrical boxes

– Circle cutter for round cuts

Drywall Lifts

– Drywall lift to load a sheet onto and crank it to the ceiling. This rig holds the sheet in place while you nail it to the joists.

Fastening Tools

– Drywall Hammer

– Drywall Screws

– Screw Gun

Finishing Tools

– Taping Knives

– Mud Pan

– Pole Sander

– Sanding Pad

– Sprayer for applying texture to the ceiling

Miscellaneous

– Tape measure

– Compass for drawing circles in the drywall to accomodate light fixtures

– Dust mask

– Pencil

Continuing Problems

If you continue to have problems dry walling  you should seek professional help.  Use TalkLocal to be put in contact with reliable construction businesses.  You don’t have to do any work! Simply input your problem and availability and within minutes your should be connected to someone who can help you out.

When it’s time for a change in your house what’s the best way to achieve it?  Repainting your rooms can give your home a completely different feel.  You can go from plain white walls to ones that pop with pomegranate red or sea foam green.  A little bit of color change can truly brighten up your home.

How do I figure out how much paint I need?

The amount of paint you will need depends on a variety of different things.  Whether you are doing multiple coats, the quality of your paints, the amount of space you need to paint, if you are also painting the ceiling, etc.  In order to calculate the amount of wall space you need to cover, you should multiple the length of the wall by the height by the number of walls.  You should then have a total square foot area for the walls.  You can also factor in the ceiling by multiplying the length of the room by the width.

Finding the right type of paint

Each gallon of paint will list the amount of square footage on the side of its label.  It all depends on the quality and number of coats you plan on applying.  Higher quality paint will have more coverage with less coats, and it will give off an overall better look.  Buying lower quality may save a few bucks initially, but you’ll be paying for it in the long run by having to repaint.

How much paint do I need for a 12 x 12 room?

A typical gallon of paint has the ability to cover 400 square feet of wall space.  Most of the time, you will apply two coats.  A 12 x 12 x 8 room is about 350 square ft., not counting the ceiling.  This means that you will need two gallons, maybe a little more if you are planning on painting the ceiling as well.

If you do not want paint your house on your own, hire a professional.  Use TalkLocal today to be connected to multiple reliable local painting businesses within minutes.  Simply input your problem, location and availability, and almost immediately, you will be connected to someone who can help you out.

Dry rot can make the appearance of wood pretty unsightly, and in order to fix the problem you have a couple options.  Depending on the damage, intensity and pervasion of the rot, painting over it can be an easy and quick solution.  Continue reading for more information on painting over dry rot.

Painting over dry rot can not only cover up the damage, but also serve as a quick fix for several years.  If the wood you are dealing with has been rotting for a while though, painting over it may not last long.  If the wood is too damp or moist, the paint may not stick for long, and within a couple years it may start to peel.

If the damaged wood is too pervasive, the only viable option may be to replace the wood affected by the dry rot.

If you plan to paint, try using TalkLocal to locate a professional painter who can help you out quickly.  This painter will be able to asses the damage and suggest the best possible option for your wood.  TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reliable painters within minutes.  All you need to do is enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and TalkLocal will contact multiple companies in your area who will then call you directly, ready to help.  Save time and stress from searching through directories and phone books for the right, most affordable painting contractor, and let TalkLocal do it for you.

How often to repaint interior walls depends on the quality of paint and the wear and tear of the particular room.  In general, you should expect a good quality job done by a professional paint crew under good conditions to last from 7 to 10 years.  However, many factors can cause paint jobs to decrease their longevity and lose their luster.

Quality of Paint

The most influential factor that determines how long your interior paint job will last is the quality of paint used.  There are many types of interior paint and features, such as the degree of splatter, the abrasion resistance, and volatile organic compounds.  The more expensive paints will usually have more abrasion resistance and little splatter, which makes both application easier and the lifetime longer. Ultimately, the quality of paint and therefore the lifetime of the paint job will depend on your price point and how much you’re willing to spend.

Smoke

The nicotine in cigarette smoke is extremely difficult to remove because porous surfaces such as walls and ceilings easily absorb the chemical.  Furthermore, nicotine is actually water-soluble so it can bleed through latex paint and penetrate into the woodwork beneath it.  Likewise, a fireplace used on a regular basis or without a properly functioning dampener will release smoke into the room.  Any type of smoke will dull and stain the paint job, effectively decreasing the longevity of the paint job.

Amount of Traffic

The amount of traffic that a room will have a strong influence on the longevity as well, since high traffic rooms will have greater chances for abrasions and paint chipping.  Higher quality paints will be able to resist higher levels of abrasion, which is especially important for children’s rooms and playrooms.

Each home will have different conditions and as a result, the amount of time before you need to repaint the interior of your home can vary drastically.  The most effective way to figure out how often you need to repaint your home is to call in professional painters to evaluate your current situation and give you a precise answer.  TalkLocal can make this extremely easy, allowing you to quickly and easily connect to high quality local painters and professionals in a flash.

Looking for a painter is hard, especially if you are on a budget. Painting costs vary from region to region and are difficult to calculate. Don’t worry, there is a way to estimate your painting costs and fit them into your budget. Remember you can only estimate the costs; various situations may arise that will increase predicted costs. Include some extra money in the budget for unexpected situations.

How to Estimate the Cost of Painting a House:

The pricing model for painting jobs are measured in square footage. Trim pieces are measured by linear feet and doors are measured by individual units. Before estimating, include the price of the painting, materials, and labor. Add them in after the estimate.

1. On a piece of paper, diagram columns or sections of your house that are being painted. An example would be wall, doors, etc. Use this diagram to record measurements.

2. Measure each room (exterior or interior) and the type of painting (walls, ceilings, etc.) separately.

3. For ceilings, deck, fences, and walls, multiply the width and height to calculate the square footage. For trim pieces such as baseboards, measure the length and adds them together.

4. Add results of the type of painting together for the entire painting job.

5. Find a pricing guide for your area for a type of painting job and create an estimate of the job. For doors, the prices double if painted on both sides.

6. Mark up the estimate by 20%, which is the common painting company markup.

These steps can hopefully give you an accurate estimate of your paint job. To locate a local painting service, use TalkLocal. If the estimate is way over your budget, consider holding off on the non-essential parts of the paint job or wait until your budget can accomodate it. You can also try haggling the price with different painting services.

Painting your house can be a huge undertaking and you often have no choice other than to bring in some professionals to help you with the job.  If you want to get the best results, you need to shop around to find the best painter for the job, which can be a daunting task in itself.  Choosing a painter for your home used to mean pouring through the yellowpages and calling up different companies, or searching through the myriad of websites returned by a web search.  Luckily the days of blind searching are coming to an end with Seva Call.  Their free search engine will put you in contact with a reliable local professional painter within minutes, without all of the hassle of performing a manual search on your own.  Just enter a brief description of your problem, availability and location and Seva Call will directly connect you to someone who can help.

With Seva Call, you’ll be talking to a professional 90 seconds after your request goes out, so you should be prepared to discuss the details of the painting job beforehand.  There are a couple important things that you will want to bring up with the painter while getting a quote in order to ensure that they are the right match.

First, you should have a good idea of which areas in your home you want painted, and of any work that you want to be done before the painting actually starts. This includes any new molding installation, drywall repair, or new windows or doors.  Once you know what the job entails, you should decide what color of paint you want to use.  You can pick up color samples from any home, hardware, or paint store.  Having an idea of the color and type of paint that you want will help the painter to make suggestions to fit your exact specifications.

After you’ve figured out the details of the job, you should be ready to use Seva Call.  Once your search goes out you will be matched with up to three local professional painters, each of whom will call you directly.  You can set up times for each company to come and give you a quote for the job, and choose the service you feel comfortable with that gives you the best deal.  Seva Call chooses the painters you are connected with based on ratings, reviews, and many other factors, you so can rest assured that you will be dealing with tried and true professionals who are able to fill your request.

Spruce up your living room with a fresh paint color—or two. Two-tone paint colors are a simple, yet attractive way to enhance the look of your living room. Choosing harmonious two-tone paint colors for the living room can be tough, so read below for foolproof color schemes. Then, brush up on some popular paint designs for two-tone living rooms.

Color choices

Analogous color schemes are comprised of colors that lie next to one another on the color wheel. For example, blue and green are analogous colors. More specifically, robin’s egg blue and teal are also analogous colors. An analogous color scheme is a subtle way to enhance the dimensions of a room. Usually, there is one dominant color and one supportive color in an analogous color scheme. For example, you can have terra cotta as a dominant color and cream as a supportive color.

Complementary color schemes are comprised of colors that are across from one another on the color wheel. For example, yellow and violet are complementary colors. Complementary colors should be balanced throughout the room because of their high contrast. Use complements to accent details in the room. You can also choose furnishings that match the complementary colors to fill out the room better.

Designs

Top-bottom

Some people use two-tone paint colors to make living rooms with high ceilings more proportional. The top half of the wall is painted one tone and the bottom half is painted with the other. The color change breaks up the tall appearance of the wall.

Wall-wall

Color changes can be used to bring focus to one part of the room. With this design, each wall is painted entirely with either of the two tones. The combination of designs is flexible; some people paint just one wall a different color to bring attention to the wall décor or brighten that side of the room. Others paint the ceiling a different color to make the room seem bigger.

Single stripe

Bring attention to the two-tone color choice by painting a thick stripe of the alternate color across the middle of the room. This is a bold and interesting way to showcase both tones. The stripe also makes the room more unified because it runs around the entire room.

Regardless of your color choice or design, utilizing two-tone paint colors is an easy way to add style to your living room. You can get started right away by hiring a local painter through TalkLocal. Just submit a service request on TalkLocal’s website to talk with a high quality painter in minutes!

Textured ceilings can be tricky to paint evenly, but it is not as hard as you may think. Using the proper tools will make this task much more simple. The tips provided below go over how to paint a textured ceiling.

Tools

A roller with an extension handle is the best tool to paint a textured ceiling. A thick-nap roller will give you full coverage over the irregularities over the textured surface. You will also need a roller pan and paint.

Prep the room

Make sure you prep the room so that you do not damage any furniture or the floor. Remove all furniture and cover the floor with drop cloths or tarps. Blue painters tape will help you cover any trims, door handles, frames or light fixtures.

Prime and paint

Prime the ceiling before you begin painting to ensure that you use less paint and the paint will last longer. After you prime, paint a cut line with a paintbrush on the ceiling where the ceiling meets the wall. After you have done this, you can use your thick-nap roller to paint the rest of the ceiling. Apply the paint in a zig zag followed by straight line motion. Paint one layer at a time and wait for the layers to dry between applications or else texture will peel away.

You may also spray paint your textured ceiling. The advantage is that you can guarantee even coverage in all the nooks and crannies of your textured ceiling. However, with spray paint you risk getting more paint on furniture and floors, so take extra caution.

TalkLocal can help connect you with the best-rated painters in your area. Learn how to use TalkLocal today!

Think about painting a room but not sure which direction you’d like to go? Gray walls give any space a modern touch. The right accent colors for gray walls will give this neutral color some edge.

Red or cranberry tones give a wonderful pop and breathe life into your room. A rusty red accent wall or red decorations will give your room look a sophisticated and elegant look.

Blue or turquoise accent décor will bring a serene appearance to your room. A blue vase or blue plates are peaceful, calming colors.

Yellow, although not as common, matches perfectly with gray walls. A yellow sofa or yellow glass decorations bring sunshine into your neutral-walled space.

A regal violet accent makes any room more fun and adds a royal tough to your space. Try a gray room with violet bed sheets! Lavender accents also create a cool and contemporary ambience that will help you relax.

Pastel accent colors complement the neutral gray because they are softer on the eyes. If a cheerful yellow accent is not your style, try a soft pastel.

Mixing accent colors is captivating in gray-walled rooms. Blue and green mixed accent colors will freshen up your room by bring the sky and grass into your space. Black and white accents will add a clean, classic look to your room. What is your favorite color? What mood are you trying to set in your space?

The possibilities are endless with gray walls. Once you’ve decided on your accent color, use TalkLocal to connect you with the best-rated painters in your area. Learn how to use TalkLocal today!

Some rooms are unfortunately stick with bad lighting. However, this doesn’t mean you should settle for poor ambience. A well-lit room can boost your mood and increase productivity, so consider these tips if you are wondering how to brighten up a dark room:

·      Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs that have a higher light out put. “Soft white” bulbs produce a warm light whereas “daylight” bulbs produce a cool and vivid light. As an added bonus, CFLs use less energy than incandescent light bulbs.

·      Fill the room with light-colored furnishings like a white chair or pillow.

·      Add a lamp or two.  Browse sites like Etsy for unique lamps that can double as artwork. Lamps that can be displayed closer to the center of the room will be able to light a room better than ones that are shoved into a corner.

·      Add wall lights to areas where light is more often needed such as inside a closet or near cabinets.

·      Open curtains whenever possible. Sunlight is a easy and free way to brighten up any room. If you want more privacy, invest in some sheer curtains that still allow sunlight to shine through.

·      Add mirrors to reflect the light in the room. Mirrors also make a room appear bigger.

·      Change the detailing in the room using brighter colors. Even small adjustments can transform the look of a room. Try replacing light switch plates or fan blades to give the room touches of fresh color.

·      Repaint the walls. A variety of color choices can brighten and expand a room. Check out color suggestions here (hyperlink to “colors paint to use for rooms with no windows). TalkLocal can match you with a high quality painter in minutes. Just fill out a request form online to talk with painters who can help transform your room.