Painting House Mr. Bean Style! :)))

How to Camouflage your TV

One of the first things to see when you walk into a living room is a big, bold TV. Although many electronics are being designed with colours that fit into your home’s decor, TV’s are still and always will be, big black rectangles. We all have them. It is a standard and expected centre-point around which the family life rotates. But it does not have to be!

Check out these ideas from Christine Hanlon, design editor at “Style at Home” on how to camouflage your tech.

Project of a Month - JUNE 1

We were called to re-paint this Cremorne house after previous traders messed up the job. It was not that straightforward.

House was painted with Murobond Paints. As I mentioned in this article, the common problem I found with smaller brands is that tinting is not very consistent. Each drum of paint had slightly different colour (sometimes quite different!). Keeping colour consistent along the building’s long facades was a big challenge!

Dulux Waste Paint Hardener

Dulux EnviroSolutions Waste Paint Hardener is a new environmental product from Dulux. It works in a similar way as a substate used in Dulux Enviro Wash System.

Simply pore a powder into any left-over water based paint or timber finish. It will turn paint into solid no-toxic waste in just 2 hours. Paint Hardener available from Dulux paint stores and hardware stores, like Bunnings or Mitre10.

As with any new and unique products the price is still quite high. It cost nearly as much to harden paint as to buy it. But we rarely throw paint away. We give left-over paint to clients for future touch ups or use it as a base for a colour matched jobs. Still, we now keep a box of the Waste Paint Hardener in every OL’PAINTING car. So it’s here when we need it.

Low VOC paint – PROS & CONS

As I mentioned in this article low VOC paints are a great product. I strongly believe that in a close future majority of paints will be low VOC. But being a relatively new section of an industry VOCs paints are not perfect. Below are the main pros and cons of low VOC paints:

PROS

1. Non toxic & non allergic
With allergies and asthma being so common low VOCs provides a healthy solution.
2. Minimal smell
Sniffing paint is not usually a pleasant sensation. Low VOC paint has minimal smell.
3. Safety during project
Significantly quicker drying time and recoating means unit doors will be opened for much less period of time.
4. Easy touch up
Water-based enamels are non-yellowing (unlike conventional enamels). Left-over paint can be used to touch ups for years. Brushes are easy to clean up with water.

CONS

1. Paint tint contains VOC
This is the most upsetting part. The darker the colour – the more tint you need and the more VOC it gets. So for better benefit stay with white or off-white colours.
2. Poorer coverage
You will need more coats of paint to change a colour and this may blow off the budget. If you stay with the same colour – you are safe.
3. Higher price
Add about 50% extra for material coats. But from Ol’ Painting experience the extra cost per unit usually under $100.
4. Environmental
'Low-VOC' label does not necessarily mean it is environmentally preferable. We have to consider the entire manufacturing process and its' environmental impact.