How to Paint a Front Door

If you’re looking for simple ways to beautify the front of your house while also protecting it, painting your front door should be at the top of your list. Whether for resale or for your own enjoyment, a newly painted front door boosts curb appeal and gives the whole house a fresh look. Because front doors bear the brunt of weather extremes, painting the door increases its durability and extends its lifespan.

Basics of Painting a Front Door

Nearly any front door that is made of wood, fibreglass, or steel can be painted. Many exterior front doors are sold unpainted and otherwise unfinished, with the expectation that the owner will paint it. Front doors with peeling, cracking paint can usually be successfully refurbished and re-painted.

Prep Work

The key to an attractive, long-lasting paint job is to thoroughly prepare the door. The door should be cleaned, sanded, patched where needed, primed, and then painted. Painting over peeling paint, dirt, dust, or cracks and holes will significantly reduce the paint job’s lifespan.

Removing the Door

Ensure a great front door paint job by removing the door from the hinges and painting it flat on sawhorses. Painting the door horizontally reduces drips. Additionally, removing the door gives you access to the hinge-side and bottom edges of the door.

Front Door Paint

Oil-based paints take longer to dry than water-based latex paints, stretching this from a one-day to a multi-day project. Plus, oil-based paints and related tools must be cleaned up with paint thinner or mineral spirits. However, oil-based paints are more durable than water-based paints and help to reduce brush marks.

Water-based latex paints are easy to work with and they easily clean up with water. Unlike oil-based paints, latex paints can be found in low- or no-VOC form, making them green and eco-friendly.

Semi-gloss or glossy paint sheens offer better clean ability. If you value the look of flat or matte paint for a more contemporary look, just know that they scuff more readily than glossy paints. For flat/matte doors, it helps to have a can of paint on hand for quick spot touch-ups.

When to Paint Your Front Door?

Schedule your painting project during warm, dry weather since your house will be open and exposed. Start early in the day since you need to lay down a second coat of paint before re-installing the door.

If you want to replace the door the same day, paint the exterior side and the four edges first. Then, if you run out of time to paint the inside of the door horizontally, paint it after it has been re-hung.

Should I use Primer before I paint?

Using a primer before you paint is a great way to improve the quality of your paint job. You don’t need to prime your surface in all situations, but used properly, a primer can make all the difference.

When You Should Use a Primer?

Priming before you paint isn’t always necessary, although there are occasions when priming your surface can help you achieve a perfect, professional finish.

Here’s when you should prime before you paint:

Your walls are brand new. All new plasterboard needs to be sealed with a primer before it is painted.
If your existing paint job is dry and chalky. Paint becomes chalky as it begins to breakdown. In this case, you’ll need to wash the walls thoroughly, and apply a suitable primer to create a smooth surface for the new paint to adhere to.
If you are painting over oil based paint with acrylic paint. Acrylic paint won’t adhere properly to oil based paint unless an acrylic primer is used.
If you have mended cracks or holes. New plasterboard should be sealed with a primer.If you walls are currently dark, and you want to paint them a light colour. The primer will help cover up the dark hue, so your new, light paint will show up brighter.

The Benefits of Using a Primer….

Painting a primer on your surface is a simple way to improve the finish of your paint job, and make it last longer. In most situations you can achieve better results with one coat of primer and one coat of paint, rather than two coats of paint.

Here are few benefits of priming your walls before you paint:

Priming will ensure your colour is rich and vibrant. Primers can hide the colour you are painting over – even dark reds and blues – so the old colour doesn’t alter the new colour.
Priming will create the ideal surface for paint to adhere to. While paints are rich in pigment, primers are rich in resin. This means paint can cling to primer more effectively than old paint. Primer also evens out your surface, so you can achieve a consistent finish.
Primers can prevent stains. Primers seal the surface, and therefore block out stains so they can’t ruin your paint job.
Primers can increase the longevity of your paint. Primers can help prevent peeling, cracking and blistering. They will also ensure the paint colour doesn’t fade.

Painting a home with VJay walls?

The second most common question Paintway are asked, is “How can I paint VJ boards?”

Homes in Toowoomba with V Jay Walls are very common – they are mostly seen in older style Queensland homes – most people underestimate the work it takes to paint and prepare these types of walls. FEAR NOT! It can be done with some patience and preparation, and hard yakka!

It is important to ensure that your home is not painted with lead paint. If your home was built prior to 1970, and you know it hasn’t been painted in the last 20 years, speak to Paintway Toowoomba before you begin painting. In all cases, if your home hasn’t been painted since the 1980’s we would still advise having it checked. Lead was used in a smaller percentage in paints until the 80’s.

Preparation is KEY!

The very first job when painting VJ boards is to thoroughly prep the area. Start by giving your walls a light sand. The sand will ‘rough up’ the face of the wall which will give the paint a better surface to stick to. Once the sanding is completed, give your walls a wash down with sugar soap which is available in hardware shops and supermarkets.

Essential to ensure a seamless finish, you need to fill the gaps. You need to fill the gaps of the VJ to ensure even paint coverage. A word on fillers, use a flexible filler as the VJ will expand and contract with the weather. Dry weather and the board will contract, wet weather and it will expand. Be sure to wipe off any excess filler with a damp cloth, and take care of your fingers when applying.

Choosing the right brush is also key to cutting down the time it will take, First you will need to purchase a long nap roller like the 3/4″ nap above, a short nap roller like the 3/8″ or 1/4″ above and a good quality brush. If you want to paint the walls quickly and effectively this is the best brush combination to do the job. Also often use a mini roller. If you have a steady hand, a regular brush will be fine for cutting in, but if not purchase a brush designed for cutting in.

First paint the wall with the long nap roller, the longer nap will allow the paint to get into the grooves of the VJ, then straight after, follow with the short nap roller to smooth out the texture of the paint. Continue like this around the room until you have completed your first coat, allow to dry and follow the same method for as many coats as you need to ensure even coverage.

Christmas 2022

Have you completed your Christmas shopping? Paintway have been “wrapping up” (Pardon the Pun? hehe) all of our Christmas gift shopping over the past week, but I still have a few gifts left on my list. We have been so busy this month, it will feel great to have our shopping and gifts all set to go so we are ready to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

Paintway would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄 and would like to take the opportunity to thank you all so much for your business in 2022.

We would like to leave you with one more Painting Tip for the Year.

Thinking of painting your home and want to know the paint colour trends forecasted by the interior design experts for 2023? As professional painters we see the trends and know what works. Trends in interior design are as cyclical as those in clothing and furnishings. The good news is that updating your walls is practically as simple as updating your wardrobe.

Its all about making Changing Colours inside your home can have a great impact on your mood. Which is precisely what is necessary as the world emerges from the pandemic’s gloom. It’s for this reason that one of the new colour palettes has been selected: to give us a much-needed boost of energy and positivity.

If you are planning a house makeover, ensure you hire a QUALIFIED Painter to redecorate the interior paint, if you are trying to decide what colour to repaint your newly constructed or renovated home, Just call us and we can help you with all those decisions.

Merry Christmas Toowoomba 🤶🏻

Are you already starting your Spring Cleaning?

Don’t forget to Give your home a Spring spruce up Also!

Spring is one busy season! We suddenly find great reserves of energy and start cleaning our homes, planting our vegetable gardens, and rearranging our wardrobes with bursts of activity that would put a colony of overachieving worker ants to shame.

These energetic springtime activities are worthwhile, but we think you should squeeze in one more thing at this time of year. It’s a great idea to have a look at the condition of the paint on both the interior and exterior walls of your home. Spring is a perfect time to change colour, with the added bonus of adding another layer or two of protection to your exterior walls just in time for the hot and harsh sunny season. Of course, you’re busy doing other things and we don’t expect you to undertake a major painting project on your own. We’ll do it for you, but it’s up to you to get in touch with us sooner rather than later.

Spring is probably the best time of year for repainting your home. In this climate, the paint dries quickly and forms a perfect base on the surface for top coats. There is less moisture in the air and more daylight hours, so the paint is more likely to stick and the chance of failure decreases. Leaving it till summer to paint, with all that humidity and sticky heat, not to mention frequent downpours during thunder storms, really is a recipe for a less than perfect painting project – and at Paintway , anything less than perfect is just not good enough.

If you have one eye on the real estate market, with the other eye on paint colour charts, then you’re probably aware that the market has peaks and valleys during the year. Spring is considered its high point, so if you’re planning to list your home and take advantage of greater numbers of potential buyers coming into the market, it’s time to act. Paint and spruce up your property now, then schedule an open house…a house that looks brand new, thanks to the transformative effect of a repaint both inside and out.

Whether you’re getting your home ready for market, or just eager for a colourful change of scenery, now is the time do it. Spring’s climate provides optimum painting conditions, and perfect results. When it comes to choosing colours, companies like Dulux and Taubmans will give you plenty of inspiration and ideas by showcasing the latest colour trends, and we can advise you as well.

We’re experienced in selecting the best product, colour and finish for your unique needs and purpose. And although we specialise in Queenslander style homes, there’s nothing we can’t paint. So, go ahead and pick our brains! But do it soon. A spring repaint is bigger than a spring clean, so get in before the rush and enjoy a new-look home this summer.

Exterior Paint Colour Trends To Make Your Home More Modern

The exterior colour of your house is absolutely crucial to the overall attractiveness of your house. With people’s tastes forever changing, it is important to repaint your house to fit new trends. When selling your house, it is important to give your house a fresh coat of paint- increasing the property value and overall appeal to buyers. The fresh residential paint symbolises to your buyers that you value and take care of your home- which means that if the property will maintain its value in future years.

However, with trends forever changing, it can often be difficult to decide what colours you should consider painting your home. We at Premier Painting, commercial painters based in Sydney, are leading the game in residential painting, with our top-notch quality and customer service. We understand the impact a coat of paint can make on your home and are truly passionate about our craft. We have created a list of trends in 2022 that buyers are looking for, and that you should consider giving a go!

Contrasting shades of grey

Often referred to as a timeless classic, by painting your home white, contrasted by two darker tones of grey, it gives your home a modern element whilst also retaining its character. Modern homes aim for a clean aesthetic, however, can sometimes come off as lifeless. By repainting your home with modern colours, it ensures that your home maintains an elevated look whilst maintain its classic features. To accentuate these features even more, you should highlight architectural details with the white, contrasting everything else with darker tones of grey. When using this type of colour palette, you should only use three to four different colours, as this achieves a more minimalistic and modern look.

Earthy with Warm whites

The main trends in 2022 are contrasting natural looking colours with white. Having colours such as wooden brown contrasted by a warmer white, gives your home an almost calming effect. Pure whites can often be too harsh in regard to exterior paint. On the other hand, a warm or shaded white plays into the natural element of the brown and gives off a more sophisticated look. These natural colours convey to others that your home is “cozy” and pairs perfectly for homes in the suburbs with more greenery around. You do not want your home to stick out from the environment but add to it.

Faded greens

Although painting your house in more pronounced colours may not be for everyone, for those who desire a dash of colour, a muted or faded green is the perfect trend to capitalise on. Faded greens pair perfectly with brick houses, that need a little bit of colour to accentuate its features. Consider painting your door or window frames- which, when complimented with the brick walls, highlights the surrounding environment.

Should I Paint my House Before Selling?

If you’re thinking about putting your house up for sale but it’s looking a little bit too ‘well-loved’, there are several ways to spruce it up. Tired, old homes can be given a makeover with a simple fresh coat of paint. This can not only make your property look more modern and appealing, but it can also potentially increase its property value. Both interior and exterior paint jobs can lead to great Returns On Investment (ROIs). A newly painted home will be worth more and it may also attract a higher number of buyers. So, should you paint your house before selling? Here are some painting tips to get you started.

Painting the Property’s Exterior

The importance of a good first impression on buyers cannot be emphasized enough. And the first impression that potential buyers have of your home is its exterior. It’s vital to make sure that the front of your home is as well-presented as possible. Badly maintained homes or those with a distasteful paint colours will be off-putting to buyers and may well cause them to offer a lower bid or simply look elsewhere. By painting the outer walls of your property, you can increase ‘curb appeal’ and make your home stand out from the neighbours’ houses. Neutral colours are generally recommended because they will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Although bold colours can be exciting, they may fall out of fashion or make your home stand out for all the wrong reasons. You can play around with colour by painting the trim a bolder shade, to make your property really pop.

Benefits of Painting the Interior

Making a good first impression with a tidy exterior is important, but the interior of your home should be given just as much attention. Peeling paint inside your home will signify to buyers that you haven’t taken good care of the property and that there may be other problems lurking below the surface. Wallpaper usually turns potential buyers off as well, because it often features busy patterns and makes the house seem outdated. We recommend choosing light, neutral colours for both the interior and the exterior of the home. This is because light colours can open up even a small space, making it appear brighter and larger. Neutral colours can also allow the buyer to visualise themselves living in your home. This helps to de-personalise the property and create a clean slate. We advise against painting entire rooms in bold colours, for the same reasons as above: they go out of fashion or tend to stand out for the wrong reasons.

Painting Tips

If you do decide that your property could benefit from a fresh coat of paint, be sure to take care of it before you take photos of the Property. For the cleanest, most efficient painting job, you may wish to hire a professional. They will have the equipment and experience to get the job done right. You could also decide to take on the painting yourself if you have the time and the inclination to do so – or even split the job half and half. For example, you could do the interior walls yourself to save money and then hire a professional to take care of the trickier areas such as the exterior and ceilings.

Before painting, you’ll want to smooth over any blemishes or cracks in the surface. Using putty or plaster will give you a good, clean finish. A quality primer can also provide you with a smooth area to work on. Although this may seem like a time-consuming step, primer can make a big difference in how professional and clean your finished walls appear. Primer allows you to apply a more even coat of paint, saving you time and money on additional coats.

Be sure to use drop-sheets, and masking tape on all the areas where you don’t want the paint to get to. It’s a messy process and the last thing you want is to have to spend time cleaning up dried paint after you’ve finished.

If you decide that you don’t need to paint the whole house, the property might at least benefit from a few touch-ups in weathered areas. Outer regions such as the front door and window sills can take a beating from constant sun and moisture. Extensive sun exposure can cause the paint to blister or buckle in these areas.

Whether you prefer to paint the exterior, the interior, or both areas of your home, you’ll find that creating a fresh new look can be a worthwhile investment. The clean look of fresh, neutral paint can increase your property value and make your house more appealing to a wide range of buyers. A good paint job helps show buyers that you care about your property and that it will serve them well in the years to come. This can lead to a great ROI when you achieve a sale.

Lake Annand Toowoomba

We recently Gave the Picnic Area’s Around Beautiful Lake Annand a new lease on life!

Everything was stripped back, cleaned and a new long lasting coat of new Paint was applied to all the Benches and Gazebo.

Lake Annand is one of Toowoomba’s feature parks. It includes a large man-made pond that has been landscaped into an attractive water area including a fountain.

The tranquil man-made lake is a focal point of the park and, combined with the lush green lawns and gardens surrounding it, makes for a beautiful park outlook.

Barbecue facilities and children’s play areas make the location a popular one for picnics, get-togethers and small events.

Common House Painting Mistakes

Do-it-yourself painting can be a way to save money on house painting. But you need to do your homework first. As you want the end result to look like a professional house painters job. Painting is a great way to give your home a face-uplift, and DIY painting is one way to achieve this. We always see the same common mistakes people make when undertaking the house painting themselves.

Most of these mistakes people make during the painting process are avoidable; all you need to do is to pay attention to the small details before starting the paint job and during the painting process.

Below find the DIY mistakes outlined by our experienced painters; they will help in your next DIY paint project.

1. Avoid Choosing the Wrong Colour

Did you know that most of the common painting mistakes happen before you start painting? One of them is picking the wrong colour; it is advisable to choose a paint colour based on a colour swatch. Most clients get frustrated when looking for the best colour. You visit the store and buy your preferred colour, but the final look differs from the colour you initially picked. Light plays a major part when looking at colours!

Always ask the paint store for a mix of the sample paint, take it home, and try it out. Paint experts will advise that you observe it in both artificial and natural light.

2. Over-brushing is not a Good Idea

When undertaking your interior painting on cabinets, doors, or any other woodwork, avoid too much brushwork. This strategy will help achieve the smoothest possible finish. After loading your brush, immediately cover the area with paint. After that, apply one or two strokes to level it off. Avoid brushing the same spot when the paint starts to dry off. That will only cause brush marks and ridges.

3. Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures like Queensland summers or Melbournes winters are not the right atmosphere for any paint job. Avoid any exterior painting during the heat of the day or conversely a cold morning.

Painting on a hot surface is not a good idea; the paint will dry faster before spreading it evenly. Sometimes the colour can slough and bubble off. Always avoid the direct sun when painting and know the best time to paint your home.

4. Cover Everything before Spray Painting

When you decide on DIY, never underestimate the power of sprays from paint sprays and spray cans. Always cover everything with thin plastic. In case you are working outdoors, avoid spraying on a windy day. The spray may end up on the neighbour’s property.

5. Surface Prep

Before you start your DIY paint job, it is crucial to prepare your walls or ceilings. Remember to remove any flaking and peelings surfaces. Scrape any glossy surfaces before applying a fresh coat of paint. It ensures that you end up with an evenly painted surface. Avoid the mistake of painting on unprepared surfaces, and the result will be an uneven paint job.

6. Do not Use the Wrong Finish

When you choose the wrong paint sheen or gloss for your DIY, it will not deliver professional work no matter how good you are. Below are some tips to help avoid that:

When the surfaces are not perfect, avoid using any high sheen. That glossiness will only maximize the problem, and light-reflecting will bring out all the defects. In case you decide to use gloss sheen or semi-gloss, ensure that the surface is well prepared and smooth enough.

If you are using different sheens and the same colour, always label your cans. It will make your DIY easier and avoid any mistakes until the paint dries.

7. Avoid Rookie Mistakes

There are two common mistakes that rookie DIY make:

Leaving the lid off after opening the paint can; the main problem is that anyone can step on the lid and spill paint all over. The other reason to avoid leaving the lid off is to keep the paint clean and prevent it from drying out. You will prevent mixing colours up.

Always lock your pets; if you forget to, they may end knocking the paint cans or putting paintbrushes in their mouth. It is the best trick for any DIY project.

8. Avoiding having your Roller Touch the Floor

In case you are painting new walls before installing the skirting, always leave an unpainted strip that the skirting will cover. When you paint close to the floor, the roller might pick some dirt and spread it across the wall. When painting over any ceiling, test a small section. If the texture looks fine, you can continue with the painting on the whole ceiling.

9. Wash Your Brushes

After the DIY project, you will be exhausted, do not leave the brushes in the garage to clean them later; it is a bad idea. Protect your tools by washing the brushes immediately with water and dish detergent. Ensure you wrap the brushes in airtight aluminium foil or plastic wrap. After cleaning, store them in the original packaging to maintain their shape.

Take advantage of Toowoomba’s Housing Boom with a fresh Coat of Paint!

Queensland’s property market is almost as hot as one of our classic sweltering summer days. In fact, the housing market grew three times more than expected in 2021. And the prediction is that Toowoomba house prices will continue to grow in 2022, outperforming all other Australian Regional cities. The Queensland governments population counter estimates one person is moving to QLD every 11 minutes. These new Queenslanders will be looking for a home to buy and with a 25% increase in interstate migration most buyers are cashed up and ready to buy.

Queensland House Prices

The median Toowoomba house price is $695,000 increasing 25% in 2021. Market conditions and potential buyers mean this current market is probably the best in Toowoomba’s history! With interstate borders now open this brings fresh interstate buyers to compete with local buyers. So if you are looking to sell and take advantage of a hot-selling market you need to make your home stand out and get the best price possible.

Real Estate Agents Say Best ROI is Fresh Paint

Curb appeal should not be underestimated in adding to the homes final sale price. Buyers first impressions make a big difference and if your exterior paint is flaky and faded they will minus thousands from their offer. But keep in mind in a hot market, sellers should not overcapitalise on renovations and home improvements before putting the house on the market. Real Estate agents will tell you the best way to spruce up your home is a fresh coat of paint. Buyers like walking into a home and to see clean, freshly painted walls. It is the most cost-effective way to add $$$ to your property price without investing too much.

Painting a home before selling is great ROI and can add anywhere from 3% to 15% to the house value. Both interior and exterior paint jobs can lead to great Returns On Investment (ROIs).

2022 Paint Colour Trends

Paintway can show you the latest 2022 paint colour trends and help you select the best paint colours to sell your home. Often it’s neutral colours, but don’t be fooled that means it’s an easier choice – there are hundreds of shades of white! Areas have their own styles for example the Gold Coast favours a Hamptons look.

Do I Need to Paint my Home Before Selling?

Buyers see the exterior of your home on arrival, it forms their first impression and can go a long way in making up their minds on buying your home. If your home exterior paint is flaking, patchy or generally looking tired this is an excellent area to spend money on to sell your home faster. People especially buyers imagine this as a big job and expensive but it can be done quickly and help add excellent value. And compared to your home’s value it’s a small investment. If your home is a Queenslander, exterior paint is very important as it’s a major drawcard of these beautiful homes. For brick homes, look at your gutters, window frames and the front door, with a new coat of paint on these the look of your home can be changed drastically. It’s a small renovation that packs a punch!

Don’t Forget About The Deck

Cast an eye over your deck, verandah, timber screens, timber balconies and timber railings. These areas are used daily and suffer from wear and tear, making them look tired and worn. Spending some money on these areas will help your home stand out to buyers, as they will see the attention paid to the area and know your home is well maintained. We can provide deck sanding, finishing, repair and maintenance to your decking or verandahs. Let the buyers envision themselves relaxing on the deck with a drink in hand – not sandpaper in hand!

Book Now and Get Ready For Selling

The Toowoomba market in 2022 going by all the expert predictions will continue to grow at an amazing pace. So if you are going to join the list of Queenslanders getting excellent returns on selling then follow the advice of the experts and get a fresh coat of paint to increase the price even more!

We are also Registered Real Estate Agents and can take care of BOTH Factors PAINT & SELL!