Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Commercial Projects Keep Rolling In!

In the past few days, Paint Tech Custom Finishes, Inc. has secured two new commercial projects with contracted revenues exceeding $25,000.00. Both projects have very short schedules therefore increasing the profitability.

The first project, a Cole Haan outlet store located in St. Augustine Florida, consists of interior painting of walls, ceilings and doors as well as commercial grade concrete floor coating and the hanging of wallpaper. This project is scheduled to begin September 18, 2008.

The second projects, an Aeropostle retail store located in Tampa Florida also requires interior painting of walls, ceiling and doors and is scheduled to begin on September 22, 2008. This contract was obtained from Cahill Construction of Columbus Ohio and furthers Paint Techs relationship with the GC.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Paint Tech Custom Finishes Secures Tampa Contract

Cahill Construction, Inc of Columbus Ohio has awarded yet another painting contract to Paint Tech Custom Finishes, Inc . The project, an Aeropostale retail clothing store, is located in Tampa Florida and has an expected start date of September 1, 2008.

"September is looking good for us, very good. We have three new commercial projects scheduled for the month as well as numerous residential repaints, both interior and exterior." stated operations manager Bill Fenblake. Mr. Fenblake went on to say, "Cahill Construction is a very important client of ours and we plan to continue a long business relationship with them."

At a team leader meeting in in St. Augustine today, management fought off Tropical Storm Fay in order to hear the news of the contract signing and further information of the expansion plan for 2009. Team leaders have been involved with the expansion plans as "they are the ones who keep the company running like a well oiled machine..." as stated by Vice President, Ken Worthington.

New contracts are always good news, but with the expected expansion banking on commercial contracts, this contract is great news for Paint Tech.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

How to choose your paint colors

How to choose an exterior paint color:

Choosing a paint color can be overwhelming because of the variety and selection nowadays. Exterior paints are formulated differently than interior paints. They will withstand nature's elements so first be sure to choose a high quality exterior paint first!

Color choice is an individual preference but here are some guidelines to start with.

Use a color wheel or color visualizer (on the left) or a fan deck (from Paint Tech Custom Finishes or local paint store) to get some starting ideas .

Consider your neighbors colors, you do not want to choose the same colors but maybe choose one that will complement or harmonize with your neighbors colors.

Pick out at least three colors that you prefer (remember trim and door color).

Consider the colors of existing structures like your roof, stone and architectural accents.

Remember light colors will make your home seem larger, darker colors smaller.

Brighter colors will fade over time especially in the Florida climate, so keep that in mind.

Darker colors will absorb more heat that lighter colors.

Always buy a sample before purchasing gallons of paint, it will save you time and money.

Ask the paint pros at Paint Tech for help or with any concerns you may have!


Interior paint can bring a room to life. Color is the least expensive way to personalize your home.

Color can create a mood:

Yellow's oranges and reds are warm

Greens, blues and purples are cool

Lighter colors like white and pastels make a room feel bright, open and airy, use these in a smaller area

Darker colors like red, brown will make a room feel smaller and cozy, use these in a larger area

Remember to consider your furniture and any large fixtures that are in the room.

Still having trouble with your color choices? Call the painting professionals at Paint Tech Custom Finishes Inc at 904-501-8120 or visit us on the web at www.paintech.biz and utilize our free color tools.

Commercial Painting Spurs Company Growth

Paint Tech Custom Finishes Inc is proud to be one of the most sought after painting contractors in the state of Florida, both for commercial and residential painting projects. Over the past year, we have experienced a rapid increase of "Invitations to Bid" commercial painting projects, helping to strategically position our company for a break away growth spurt.

Commercial painting services have become a substantial revenue generator for our company. In the first quarter of 2008, commercial painting accounted for 38% of revenue, an increase of 23%from the 2007 first quarter revenue of just 15%. It is expected that the 2008 yearly revenue for commercial services will surpass that of 2007 by 27%.

Currently, corporate officers are developing an expansion plan to be presented to their board of directors in St Augustine Florida on November 3, 2008. The plan is expected to cover issues from service division restructuring to expansion financing suggestions.

Speculation of adding one or more new service divisions has been fueled by recent "closed door" talks with a local trim carpentry company and a meeting that is scheduled in early September with a struggling flooring contractor. Both trim carpentry and flooring services are not currently offered by Paint Tech Custom Finishes Inc.

Bernie Stabb, CEO and president of Paint Tech Custom Finishes, Inc. recently spoke to employees at a monthly safety meeting and stated "We are considering a few changes. Some more drastic than others, but all beneficial to our company, our employees and our clients."

For now we can only speculate changes that may or may not be made at Paint Tech Custom Finishes Inc but one thing is for sure. Paint Tech Custom Finishes Inc has experienced growth in this downed market and anticipates further growth in the year to come.

Why Hire A Professional Painting?

Before you decide to "do it yourself" or hire the least expensive painter you can find, here are some points to consider that suggest the lowest price may not be the best value.

Safety:

Painting can be hazardous work, whether it’s working on a ladder or dealing with solvents and dust. Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about these problems.

Health:

If your home was built before 1978, it was almost certainly painted with lead-based paint, which can cause serious health effects when it is scraped or sanded in preparation for repainting. Professional contractors will take appropriate steps to protect you. As of June 1, 1999, remodeling contractors, including painters, are required to furnish EPA produced pamphlets to their customers before they begin a job that involves disturbing lead-based paint. Professional painting contractors will understand and be willing to follow the recommendations on this pamphlet.

Preparation:

Getting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right.

Knowing Paints and How to Apply Them:

The choices today are more complicated than just oil or latex, and professional contractors will know what works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job.

Cleanup and Disposal:

Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.

How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Project:

Once you have decided to contract with someone to do a particular painting project, how do you go about selecting the right person or firm? Do you make your selection on price, size of company, years in business, or other criteria?

To locate the names of reputable contractors, there are many sources of information. Some of these sources would be friends, relatives, architects, decorators, yellow pages, trade associations, local "quality- oriented" paint supply stores, local web sites and newspaper advertisements. However, these sources can only give you limited general information. In order to make an educated decision, you need some specific information about any person or firm you are considering hiring.

Always ask if the contractor is licensed and insured. Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their certificates of insurance. They should provide bonding information (if the job is large enough to require such) and documentation of safety training and compliance programs.

Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted, methods and extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment procedures. Knowing the total scope of the work enables you to carefully evaluate the different bids you may receive with the proper information and keep them on a level playing field. The contract serves to protect both you and the contractor.

Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees treated you professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be from projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, these projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done.

Discuss any guarantee or warranty programs the contractor may offer. Ask about the manufacturer's warranty on the products to be used on your project. Remember you are looking for long-term durability from the paint job. The use of high quality products is as important as the selection and performance of the contractor.

Ask your potential painting contractors if they are members of any trade associations.

Good contractors are very eager for your business. They are also very proud of their craftsmanship. Once you have made your selection, step back and give the professional room to execute the project. You have both done your homework, so give the professional the opportunity to meet and exceed your expectations. Remember, as with anything else in life, you get what you pay for. If you want high quality and reliable service, be willing to pay the price that comes with it. Good luck with your painting projects.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Painting Benefits

Think you’re ready to put your home on the real estate market and sell it? You may think you have completed your mental checklist of getting your house ready for the real estate market and the public, but have you considered all the things you can do—and the things you should get rid of, too—to increase the value and worth of your house beforehand?


Getting Your Home Ready for the Real Estate Market

Some of these considerations include generally “spiffing” up your home to improve its overall look; getting rid of unpleasant odors, unsightly stains, and unwanted bugs; making any and all necessary repairs to fix everything that is broken or not working properly; cleaning the house from top to bottom, especially the bathrooms and the basement; de-cluttering and reorganizing the house; making your home look more attractive and appealing on the inside; cleaning your gutters; and increasing your “curb appeal” by tidying up and fixing your yard and increasing the overall attractiveness of your house from the outside.


Painting to Benefit Real Estate Appreciation

One way to up your “curb appeal” factor is through exterior painting. Painting is also often highly recommended for the interior or your home, as well, before you put it on the real estate market and have potential buyers scrutinizing your every crook and cranny.
Painting your house—both inside and out—can greatly benefit and enhance the real estate appreciation of your home, and will increase buyer appeal and potential and your chance to sell your home at the price you want.


Exterior Painting to Increase Your Home’s Worth

When sizing up a home from the outside, one of the biggest indications of whether or not a buyer will consider seeing it is the exterior paint job. A poor color choice or color combination, a poor paint job, or old and peeling paint will more than likely turn potential buyers away, or cause interested buyers in putting a low bid on your home—lower than you know it is worth.
Take some time and invest some money into repainting the exterior of your house. Not only will it up its real estate appreciation (increase the value of your home—what it’s worth), but a good paint job will actually help to attract more potential buyers who are willing to offer a price more closely matched to what you are looking for.

Make sure to choose neutral and complementary colors when shopping for paint for the outside of your house. Neutral colors are important, because they appeal more to the masses and give you better resale. Make sure to also select a primer and to take the necessary time to do a top-quality job, something that will look good and something of which you can be proud.


Interior Painting to Increase Your Home’s Worth

Next, think about the interior of your home. While the exterior paint job is important for the outer look and curb appeal, the interior paint job is just as if not more important for real estate appreciation as well as for increasing the appeal of your home, thus attracting more potential buyers.

If your home has already been painted (with attractive yet neutral colors) in the recent past and is essentially wallpaper-free, you may not need a new paint job. However, if the paint job is old, if the colors are too bright or otherwise questionable, and if it has busy wallpaper, it’s time to invest in a new paint job.

An old, peeling paint job says you don’t take care of your home and looks unattractive. Too-bright colors are sometimes a turn-off. Neutral colors appeal to the masses. You don’t want to be known as the owners of “that house with the bright purple and orange bathroom,” do you? Most people don’t like busy wallpaper, or wallpaper at all. Remove it first, and then paint. Select some primer as well as fresh, high-quality paint in appealing, neutral (and matching) tones, and get to work.

Another way in which interior painting can help with the real estate appreciation of your home and its overall appeal is in the case of having a small room. Some homes have that one room that is so small it almost seems like a closet. If this is the case with your home, consider a new paint job in a light-colored, neutral tone. Light-colored paint will help to make any small room look substantially bigger, not to mention brighter.


Real Estate Painting Benefits, Conclusion

If you don’t have the time or think you can do a good enough job, and you have some extra money, consider hiring a professional painting company for either the exterior painting or interior painting of your home, or both.

Painting the inside and outside of your home is definitely a worthwhile consideration and an investment of time and money if you want to increase its real estate appreciation and attract more potential buyers who are willing to pay the price you feel your home is actually worth.