Toronto (August 12, 2025) — For the first time in its 176-year history, Zinsser — the industry’s trusted authority in primer — is naming a Colour of the Year: White.

Yes, it’s White. But not just any white. The original. The foundation. The essential first coat that makes every other colour look its best. While paint brands compete to crown the next new hue, Zinsser is shifting the spotlight to where every great paint job actually begins: the primer. Because before you see navy blue walls, sage green cabinetry or terracotta trim, there’s a Zinsser moment you don’t see – and that moment is White. Zinsser’s 2026 Colour of the Year doesn’t just join the trend cycle – it primes it.

“We’ve been setting the stage for colour trends for generations and we’re excited to be a part of the Colour of the Year conversation,” says Martin Fuchs, Senior Brand Manager at Zinsser. “While everyone else is preparing to pick 2026’s hottest colour, we chose the essential one that makes them all possible. Primer doesn’t  ust prep the wall; it preps the story. No colour truly pops without primer and no primer delivers like Zinsser.”

reflects more than 175 years of technical expertise, innovation and trusted performance. Since 1849, Zinsser has led the industry with forward-thinking solutions, earning its pride of place as the go-to primer for professionals and discerning DIYers alike. And speaking of DIYers, priming is the essential first step that too often gets skipped — and it shows. If a wall isn’t in perfect shape, if they’re making a bold colour change or simply wanting the best colour payoff, longest-lasting finish and most professional-looking result, starting with primer is always the right choice. Skipping it can mean uneven coverage, poor adhesion or faster wear — risks no DIYer wants after all their hard work.

Zinsser primers are formulated for more than just coverage; they’re built to solve problems before they surface. Rich in resin and steeped in technical precision, each formula delivers performance where it matters most:

• Adhesion: With exceptional bonding capabilities, Zinsser primers grip to even the trickiest surfaces: tile, glass, laminate, and glossy finishes. That same tenacity ensures the top coat adheres beautifully and resists chipping, flaking or peeling over time.
• Block, Seal, Hide: From water marks and nicotine stains to tannin bleed and more, Zinsser primers don’t just mask; they contain. A number of specialized formulas also block odours and help inhibit the growth of mould and mildew, preserving both surface integrity and indoor air quality.
• Coverage That Stretches Further: Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Primer delivers standout flow and leveling, translating to more square feet per gallon and fewer coats required. Better performance means better for the budget and fewer compromises, too.
• Fast Drying Efficiency: No time wasted. Zinsser B-I-N® Primer dries in as little as 15 minutes allowing for same-day finishing and fast-moving projects without sacrificing quality.
• Cold Weather Resilience: While others stall in the cold, Zinsser keeps going. Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Primer performs in temperatures as low as 1.7ºC and B-I-N® Primer can handle freezing conditions down to -17.8ºC to extend the painting season in every sense.
• Versatility That Earns Its Place: From wood and drywall to plaster, metal, masonry, vinyl and mixed materials, Zinsser primers are formulated to perform across a wide range of substrates and conditions. Nail heads, patchwork, multi-surface moments — covered, cleanly and completely.

From problem-solving prep to serious surface protection, Zinsser primers perform with purpose. And with a trusted line-up that includes Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Primer, B-I-N® Primer, Cover Stain® Primer, Odourless® Primer, Covers Up® Primer, Mould Stop® Primer and Odour Killing® Primer, Zinsser offers award-winning solutions for virtually every challenge — fast, flawlessly and without fuss. Zinsser primers are available at more than 2,000 retail locations across Canada including The Home Depot, RONA, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire and other leading paint and hardware retailers. To learn more about Zinsser’s 2026 Colour of the Year, visit https://campaign.rustoleum.ca/zinsser-colour-of-the-year and follow @rustoleumca on Instagram.

The post Zinsser Names Its First-Ever Colour of the Year As 2026 Countdown Frenzy Begins first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

These projects are perfect for giving your home a fresh new feel, whether you’re preparing to host or just want to enjoy your surroundings a little more.

Here are Sharon’s 3-day-or-less home projects that deliver big results:

1. Decked Out in a Day

Give your outdoor deck the love it deserves as warm weather approaches, with Woodluxe® Exterior Stain. Designed to be fast-drying and durable through all types of weather, so you can stain it on Saturday and host a BBQ by Sunday.

2. Colour Drench your Doorway

A quick and simple way to transform your home’s exterior is by colour drenching your front door. The Regal® Select Exterior Paint line provides a variety of bold colours perfect for summer, that can change your home’s curb appeal.

3. The One-Room Reno

A fresh coat of paint can completely revitalize any space, and Regal® Select Interior Paint makes it easy with its smooth, durable, and fast-drying formula. Just pick a room, choose a color, and go!

You don’t need to tear down walls or spend weeks renovating to make your home feel refreshed and inviting. With the right products and a bit of planning, these quick upgrades can breathe new life into your space, proving that even small changes can make a big impact.

The post Weekend-Ready: 3 Easy Home Upgrades You Can Tackle in Just Three Days first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

By Andrew Joseph

As you are aware, there is a global supply chain issue resulting in shortages of things such as automobile tires, computer chips, and even food.

Within the North American professional paint industry, there continues to be a shortage of paint and paint supplies.

And while the easy reason of why there are shortages is to point a finger at Covid and government shutdowns—it is a real reason—other global factors continue to play a role, too.

Yes, demand is far outweighing supply as the pandemic has seen more people at home—whether by choice or by circumstance—and while staring at the walls have decided to do something with the walls either with a new coat or two of paint or a complete renovation.

Unfortunately, plans for home renovations et al have been slowed by an inability of some professionals to get their hands on enough paint. Supply chain disruptions have caused paint manufacturers to have difficulty in procuring enough ingredients to produce the wide gamut of hues typically offered in the years BC (Before Covid).

Unfortunately, plans for home renovations et al have been slowed by an inability of some professionals to get their hands on enough paint. Supply chain disruptions have caused paint manufacturers to have difficulty in procuring enough ingredients to produce the wide gamut of hues typically offered in the years BC (Before Covid).

Another concern has seen some manufacturers complain about the inability to get hold of new paint cans—plastic or metal.

However, the biggest culprit is the supply chain disruption of a key paint ingredient, Titanium dioxide (TiO2).

Unfortunately, large amounts of this white powder come from Russia and Ukraine, and the former is economically sanctioned, while the latter has had its ports blocked or demolished by the invading military.

Ukraine was the sixth-largest exporter of TiO2, annually providing about five percent of the world’s supply—some 470,000 tonnes. Russia was the third-largest exporter.

With shortages come a higher realized asking price for TiO2.

Ukraine was the sixth-largest exporter of TiO2, annually providing about five percent of the world’s supply—some 470,000 tonnes. Russia was the third-largest exporter.

With shortages come a higher realized asking price for TiO2.

So what’s the big whoop? TiO2 is a primary ingredient in industrial paints and coatings because it:

• has high hiding power, providing an economical solution for industrial paint manufacturers;
• produces low-haze, high-gloss coatings;
• is used in oil-, solvent-, and water-borne paints and coatings for exterior applications;
• aesthetically helps provide high brightness and a neutral tone in whites.

While paint supplies dry up, the high demand for rollers, brushes et al continued to outpace manufacturer ability to keep up, decimating stockpiles. For professional painters, getting hold of the general things needed in the day-to-day job became difficult.

Paint Supplies Direct www.PaintSuppliesDirect.ca, however, continues to help customers find their paint supplies with a quick and affordable turnaround.

Paint Supplies Direct www.PaintSuppliesDirect.ca, however, continues to help customers find their paint supplies with a quick and affordable turnaround.

Dan Blohm, the owner and sole employee of Dan Blohm Painting and Handy Man Services of Kitchener, Ontario has been painting since 2016 after his 32 years of full-time employment in the auto industry crashed with a plant closure.

“I didn’t want another real job, so I started painting for myself,” said Blohm, only half-joking.

He said that before supply issues hit in 2020, he only dealt with a local store in Kitchener for his Benjamin Moore paints.

“I only had to put in the order a couple of days before I needed it,” he recalled.

But when the supply chain issues became problematic for his supplier, those two days turned into two weeks.

“I had to get my order in a couple of weeks before the job started to make sure the products I needed were available on time,” he said. Although that worked for a while, an inability to provide for his customers quickly enough led him to seek out a better solution.

“I now use Paint Supplies Direct for 90 percent of my painting tools,” Blohm noted. “I buy all my rollers, roller cages, brushes, tape, tray/trim pail liners, plastic, spackling, gloves, and probably more stuff can’t remember.”

“I now use Paint Supplies Direct for 90 percent of my painting tools,” Blohm noted. “I buy all my rollers, roller cages, brushes, tape, tray/trim pail liners, plastic, spackling, gloves, and probably more stuff can’t remember.”

For him, being able to order online has been a convenience, and noted that the prices are reasonable—usually “cheaper than box stores.”

But the key point for Blohm has been timing. “Shipment times have been consistent, usually within a week. Even during [the worst of] the pandemic, they were fantastic, with zero product or delivery issues.”

He was also impressed with the customer service he received. “I’m a one-man painting company and am treated like a big company” citing how John of Paint Supplies Direct has sent thank-you emails for his orders and responded quickly to answer his questions.

He said that although he had a couple of order mix-ups owing to his fault, Blohm was impressed with how quickly Burke responded to his concerns and ensured the order was correct.

“I will continue using Paint Supplies Direct because they continue to offer fantastic, friendly, and professional service.”

“I will continue using Paint Supplies Direct because they continue to offer fantastic, friendly, and professional service.”

We also received high marks from Kim Boomer, Project Manager with LIBCAN Properties-Restoration-Contracting of Truro, Nova Scotia.

We should point out that both LIBCAN and RSR Painting Limited of Guysborough, Nova Scotia, were asked their view of how the companies worked around the supply chain issue—unfortunately, we did so the week Hurricane Fiona barreled into the province. We are sure both companies have their hands full helping out the good people of Nova Scotia.

Only Boomer was able to provide us with details of her workaround to the supply chain issues. Hint… it involved Paint Supplies Direct.

Her company engages in the upkeep of the many residential/commercial rental properties (duplex, 4-plex, 6-plex, apartment buildings) it owns, and the maintenance of them, and supplies emergency fire and flood restoration for the Truro and surrounding areas.

“We provide maintenance on all of our apartments, as well as others that we manage on behalf of third-party owners doing interior/exterior building envelope repairs, plumbing/electrical repairs, and complete renovations of units when needed, including drywall, painting, flooring, trim work, windows/doors, siding, roofing.”

Also pertinent—especially now—LIBCAN does restoration following fire and floods, removing all damaged building envelope materials, as well as household contents before doing complete repairs to original or better condition.

Now with 12 full-time employees and one part-timer, LIBCAN, owned by the very involved Sam Abushenaf, has been a part of the area’s rental business for over 20 years but has only been a major player in the restoration side since 2015.

She said that when the supply chain issues hit, the availability of supplies shifted from week to week.

“One week you couldn’t get plywood, then you couldn’t get plumbing pipe, electrical panels, or trim paint,” she said with a hint of exasperation. “There always seemed to be something on the shortlist.

“We quickly realized that we needed to get ahead of the game, by buying ahead of our needs and buying in bulk. This took a lot of anticipation of what we would need months ahead of actually needing it.”

“We quickly realized that we needed to get ahead of the game, by buying ahead of our needs and buying in bulk. This took a lot of anticipation of what we would need months ahead of actually needing it.”

She said that when she started with the company in 2020, she wanted to limit the number of trips made to the hardware store for single items—things that impinged upon their ability to do the physical work.

“The question I asked is, what are we buying a lot of, but buying it individually? What can we buy in bulk, and get better pricing on? This set the list for what we need to keep on hand that our crew could take from our shop in the morning, and not need us to make stops at local stores.

“Some of these items were tray liners, roller refills, caulking, brushes. I looked for an online supplier of bulk paint supplies and quickly found Paint Supplies Direct.”

From them, Boomer said LIBCAN typically purchases tray liners, roller refills, caulking, brushes, sanding blocks, floor protection, and tapes.

“I typically have my order within the week, and that has been consistent since we started with them,” related Boomer, adding that they will continue to order from them.

“The service has been wonderful,” she stated. “I get check-ins every once in a while, which I greatly appreciate.

“Paint Supplies Direct has never made me feel like a number, which lines up with the way we conduct our business with our clients and our staff.”

For all your paint and paint supply needs, www.PaintSuppliesDirect.ca has you covered. PP

The post War + Covid = Paint Supply Chain Issues first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

Interview by Andrew Joseph

As we all know, growing one’s painting business from the ground up can be fraught with multiple challenges, such as trying to find a proper work/home life balance, or growing too quickly without the ability to cope with the demands. It’s something that Chris Hobbs had come to realize firsthand via his Collingwood, Ont.-based company Hobbs Home Solutions Inc. In the painting industry since he was 16, the forward-thinking Hobbs was trying to sock away a few bucks to put himself through college, but necessity soon had him going into the painting business for himself three years later in 1999, and has seen his company ride the waves, both high and low. But thanks to installing a proper management system, and gaining a new perspective with his young family, he is looking forward to seeing Hobbs Home Solutions continue to grow again. In this exclusive Pro Painter interview, Hobbs avoids painting himself into a corner and lays it all out for us on how work and life can marry to live happily ever after.

Q: How did Hobbs Home Solutions get started?
A: I first discovered the world of professional painting when I was 16-years-old. I wanted to earn some money to pay for future education at college, but there wasn’t much work available in the area. But, I found an ad in the local newspaper for a painter’s labourer paying 50 cents over minimum wage, and was ecstatic to not only find a job, but one that paid more than student minimum wage. By the time I was 19, I realized that I wasn’t enjoying Computer Science, and dropped out of college. This is when I actively started looking for a position in the painting industry as I had previous experience and knew I could make decent money while I tried to figure out my life. I ended up in a position with a hot-tempered painting company owner – unheard of, right? It only took a couple months working with this company before his customers started asking me why I was not self-employed, as I was already managing and completing projects from start to finish. I was 20 years old in 2000 when I started looking into and building my own company “Radiant Painting Solutions”. I started operating as a sole proprietor under Hobbs Home Solutions in 2010, then incorporated in 2015 after I realized I should have incorporated years earlier. I don’t have an education in “owning a business”. I just jumped in head first.

Q: What benefits are there to being based in Collingwood, as opposed to a big city?
A: There are some very tangible benefits operating a trades business in the area. We have incredibly beautiful landscapes, the Georgian Bay and the best ski slopes in Ontario. Torontonians have been visiting and vacationing here for years, with Collingwood being just two hours north of the smog-filled congested city. This Toronto crowd spends large amounts of money to own/build second and third residences. The huge chalets and properties in the area need all sorts of trades to build and maintain them. It appears Covid-19 has only increased this demand as people want to leave the hectic life of the city to pursue a cleaner, slower paced one here in beautiful Collingwood.

Q: What type of projects does Hobbs Home Solutions undertake?
A: Basically, we will take on any project – large or small – if I feel that there’s a profit to be made. Our main source of work is from large, local custom builders who supply me with multiple paint projects every year. As I mentioned previously, there are some great properties in this area that attract many wealthy and powerful people. We have been working on the food magnate “McCain Georgian Bay Compound” for years, and plan to be there for many more. It’s an amazing experience to be snowmobiled/barged/hovercrafted/helicoptered in to a project and spend the night on private islands, in beautiful mansions. We have also completed projects for media magnate Conrad Black, ex-NHL player Scott Thornton, wealth management guru David Hyma, and other very wealthy and powerful people.

Q: As a family-man, how do you maintain the work/home life balance?
A: My wife and I have three young children – the oldest being nine – which means that the work/home life balance is a constant and major challenge. Because I’m self-employed, it means never being off the clock, or so it seems. I strive to be home by 5pm most days, and attempt to not lift the laptop lid, or stare at my phone until after the children are in bed. By 8pm or so, I help my wife with disaster relief cleaning as the kids are messy, especially with online learning/stay-at-home orders currently in place in Ontario. My loving wife is understanding and supportive of me and my business for the most part, but is not afraid to tell me when I have been neglecting her needs of my undivided attention. The secret is knowing when to listen or when to push back because we need to make that payday happen. However, if anyone knows a better formula, I am all ears.

Q: As a hands-on business owner, how do you go about your painting projects?
A: I believe that the most important thing to realize, is that every project will have its own unique set of challenges and will require different techniques to complete. Upfront, I will identify the biggest hurdles and create a plan to complete those first. I prefer to complete all preparation work on the entire project before paint is applied anyplace. One step I take that is exceptionally important to me, is covering the floors on interior projects. I use Red Rosin paper and tape it down to cover the entire floor space. It has been my experience that drop sheets always seem to pull away from the walls, or cause issues if people walk across them and then onto uncovered floors. It doesn’t matter WHO stepped in paint and walked it through the house, it is ALWAYS the painter’s fault! I prefer to use Benjamin Moore paints, as it is the most requested product from my clients. I really love their Super Spec primer and will use it as finish coat on ceilings consistently. It is very flat and touches up exceptionally well with minimal flashing. If I have any fear of adhesion for any project, I will use INSL-X Stix primer. I have had great success painting all sorts of substrates with this product used as bonding primer. For exteriors, there is no better product then Arborcoat by Benjamin Moore, in my humble opinion. It goes on nice, with great durability and has excellent adhesion. We generally use Benjamin Moore Regal series or above for painting. I also love their Aura Bath and Spa line for bathrooms, as it offers great durability with a lower sheen level. As for exteriors, I absolutely feel that utilizing elevated work platforms is totally worth the cost and saves money overall.

Q: How do you buy your painting accessories?
A: I used to buy the majority of my painting supplies from the local paint stores. I would painstakingly develop lists of where I could save a penny on certain items, and instruct my employees what to buy and from where. But, during Covid lock-down, I was forced to find other sources. This resulted in me finding online sources, for which I am actually grateful for now. I stumbled across www.PaintSuppliesDirect.ca, which means I now have my supplies delivered to my house, while also saving money. A win-win!

Q: Can you share any tricks-of-the-trade? Doors can be tricky, right?
A: In my company, there is no substitute for removing a doorknob before painting the door. There is no special trick to making a uniform texture if you paint a door with more than one kind of applicator (brush and roller). If it isn’t possible to remove a doorknob, I will instruct my employee to tape off the handle so that a whiz roller can be used right against the hardware to leave a uniform finish. The only trick I know to painting a door is to be fast, and to make sure the entire finish is applied by a single application method.

Q: What are some of the bad aspects to running your own business, and how do you cope with it?
A: The worst aspects of self-employment in this industry for me are: chasing money; getting paid for extras, and; a lack of an available work force. Chasing money is part of any business. Having good office staff and organized accounting books really helps with this part. Having Quickbooks set up to automatically send reminders and accept payments seems to alleviate some of this stress. Getting paid for “extras” has always been difficult, especially when you are operating a business that is affected by every other trade on the job site. I used to touch-up around the lights and plugs for free, although flashing issues became apparent towards the end of new build projects. I no longer do touchups without the request of the owner/builder. Another way of dealing with this issue, is to have the site manager sign off on completion phases or rooms. For instance, once I have all ceilings completed, I have the project manager inspect them all immediately, and sign off to their satisfaction. Any work needed after signing is billed out on a time and material basis. But, as usual, the only way to cope with most of the issues – the owner puts in more hours.

Q: Let’s get out of the dark, and into the light. What are some of the good things about running your own business?
A: My favourite thing about running my own business is the satisfaction of providing a career and a good life for my employees and their families, and of course for my own family. I love training new staff and watching them grow their abilities. The best thing about being self-employed, is that you get out of it what you put in. If you want more out of your business, then you need to put in more, simply put. Generally, you are in control of your own destiny.

Q: Has the Covid-19 pandemic altered the way you do business?
A: There have been some alterations to the way we do business due to the pandemic. We will not work on projects that have trades from other cities on site, and will pack-up and leave the site if so. There have been some issues with supplies as well. Nothing worse than completing 90 per cent of a large post and beam wood finish project with rented elevated work platforms on-site, and then running out of product. It once took three working days to get another gallon of product, resulting in us going well over budget for accessibility equipment costs, which ultimately put the profitability of the project well below our predicted margins.

Q: How has the painting industry changed since you began your business?
A: The industry has changed mostly in the products used, with new environmental laws regarding VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) over the past decade or so. It means that products dry way faster and are harder to work with. Clearcoats are exceedingly difficult to apply without flashing, as well as rolling out walls. I find the upstroke and downstroke of the roller pull the paint in separate directions, but do not have the necessary time to lay down before it dries. This results in being able to see every movement of the roller, leaving an undesired visual effect on the walls. Putting on the products thicker, and applying with speed and vigor seems to be the only solution to this problem, without adding any VOC’s back into the coatings, such as Floetrol extenders and such.

Q: What advice can you offer to other business owners?
A: If there was some advice I would give to other business owners, it would be this: paperwork and organization is the most important part of your business. It took me years to learn this, as I am more of a get-the-project-done-move-on-to-the-next-then-think-about-papework type of owner. I was constantly letting things slip, missing important deadlines, and not getting invoices out in a timely fashion. This overwhelmed me, and resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I had upwards of 20 employees, but I had to take a step back as there were too many things slipping through the cracks. I recently found management software that changed my entire world, and it allows me to comfortably grow my company. I currently have 11 employees, and looking to grow now that I have a proper management system in place. In the past, I have paid to advertise in magazines, newspapers and all the rest. I found those printed mediums to be very expensive, with very little ROI (return on investment), and exceptionally high COA (cost of acquisition). If I advertise these days, I will run targeted Google Adword campaigns. I will warn though, make sure you know what you are doing when it comes to Adwords. I have wasted thousands of dollars receiving calls for the local hardware stores as I did not have the knowledge to set it all up properly. Organization takes major work and dedication, but without it, failure is the only option. PP

[textblock style=”3″] Contact information:
E-mail: Chris@HobbsHomeSolutions.ca
Website: www.HobbsHomeSolutions.ca
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hobbshomereno
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HobbsHomeImprovements
Telephone: (705) 446-8894 [/textblock]

The post Not Your Average Cottage Industry first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

By Bruce MacKinnon

Exterior painting is an easy job. So easy in fact, any-one can do it. All true, unless you want to do it well.

It is always about prep, prep, prep. You have to remove old scaly, cracked, peeling blistered paint, which usually involves a torch and a scraper or a heat gun or paint stripper or a combination of all of the above. Sanding the painted surfaces and washing them down to remove lingering dust or chalk is also an important step.

The finicky Canadian weather is torture for most exte-rior painters. Cold and windy, or hot, humid days are a pain to say the least. There are days when we wish we could hermetically seal the entire house and air-condition it to get the painting done.

Oh, and rain or dangerously windy days are never scheduled weeks in advance. More often than not, paint contractors have to loosely schedule interior or “conve-nience jobs” to switch to in case of bad weather.

Those of us who paint outside have to find radio sta-tions with reliable weather reports. The Weather Chan-nel was a godsend but the Weather Channel app for the iPhone is even better. One look will give you a really good indication of what weather to expect hour by hour.

Humidity is a real problem for exterior painting. If the moisture in the air is above 85 percent humidity, you have the perfect conditions for a return visit to repaint what slid off into the bushes, or worse, onto the customer’s sid-ing. And, while extremely dry weather isn’t generally an issue here in Canada, avoid painting if it is very dry. The lack of moisture can suck the water right out of paint.

Painting in direct sunlight poses the same issue if it’s too hot. These conditions will make the paint set too fast so that the first brush loads on the surface will dry before penetrating the surface. This is why windowsills in con-stant sunlight need to be recoated every year.

These sunlit areas should be painted before it gets too warm (say, before 11:00 a.m.) or you should figure out away to shade the area. A rule of thumb is to paint in the shade all day if you can, so try to follow the sun around the building.

If it rained the day before and even if it is clear on the day of painting, look for standing water around the site. If there is standing water, there is a good chance your wood or surfaces will not be completely dry yet.

Obviously, safety is your first concern. Look for poten-tial hazards, like bushes pushing against ladders, holes or uneven surfaces where your ladders will be placed. In extreme cases, a safety rope and harness are required if there is no safe way to reach an awkward spot. Tie off to trees on the other side of the house or a large chimney, but only if said chimney is in good condition.

If there is a lot of work to be done above 35 feet, rent a boom. If there are only one or two windows, maybe it’s worth using a 40-foot ladder. However, dragging a 40-foot extension ladder around a large job is exhausting and you will frequently need a man to stand at the bottom of the ladder to be an expensive spotter and serve as ballast. It’s not worth dying because of risky ladder maneuvers. It is cheaper to rent the boom and include it in the price of the job.

Oddly, another danger is that bees and wasps are attracted to the sweet smell of paint. So, keep a can of bug spray handy or a bug swatter nearby.
Sharp and appropriate paint scrapers are essential to preparing old surfaces for new paint. Either stock up onblades for your draw scrapers or buy an inexpensive elec-tric grinder to sharpen the blades. I used a grinder wheel on my drill to do the sharpening.

In older buildings there is still extensive putty work to be done, but the long-time favorite Mastic Putty has gone out of business. The newer putties are a lot softer because they have more oil in them. This makes the putty almost unworkable and it takes many days for it to harden up enough to paint over. And, on a hot day the putty becomes nearly liquid. It still takes weeks for it to dry fully.

One way around this is to add a bit of plaster powder. Durabond or Sheetrock 45 both work nicely. Sprinkle the powder in the pound of putty until it begins to stiffen up and has the consistency of dry peanut butter.

Oil paints have traditionally been the mainstay in exte-rior painting since it stays wet long enough to get it in place before it sets. But new VOC regulations have destroyed oil paint as we know it and they are nearly gone from the market. For now rust inhibitor paints are still untouched.

The solution is not pretty at the moment. Paint manufacturers are scrambling to come out with alternatives for exterior work. Stock up on the old oil while you can so that new paints can be tested and perfected over the next few years.

The alternatives are not as durable or user-friendly as traditional oil paint. And you may have to use XIM sealer. It is designed to transition between existing oil and the new coat of latex or water-borne alkyd.

On warm days, place a wet rag over open cans of paint when you go for breaks. It will keep the paint from skim-ming up. Primers are already thin, but add a touch of water once it gets hot, to keep the primer thin and workable.

When painting windows or paneled doors, paint from the inside to the outside flat areas and edges. This way the final strokes are on the flats with no ridges from painting edges.
Finally, treat the exterior the same as you would the inte-rior of the building. Keep it neat and clean. Sweep up daily. Pick up all the debris from the prep. Leaving the clean-up for the customer is not the way to get referrals.  PP

The post Outside Job first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

1. Bee and wasp attacks

Being swarmed by bees (or wasps or hornets) on the ground isn’t that much fun. But if you’re high up on a ladder, it can have tragic consequences. Maurice Benchetrit, of Immaculate Painting and Decorating, Toronto, carries a can of bee-killing spray on his belt whenever he’s working up under the eaves of buildings. He does a lot of painting at Trinity College, University of Toronto, where the Victorian-style dormer windows attract bees, well… like honey.

“Every year, I encounter four to five hives,” Benchetrit says, “and always make sure I bring a bee-killing spray, because if you’re really high up, you have nowhere to go if you’re attacked,” he says. He uses a pressurized spray that allows him to direct a “nice, long stream” to pinpoint a nest from 10 to 12 feet away. Particularly nasty are wasps, especially in August, when they “act crazy,” says Benchetrit. When he blasts the bothersome bugs with his lethal stream, “they drop like flies” — or in this case, euthanized wasps.

2. Putty that gets too sticky

To counteract today’s putties, which are much more oily than previous mastic products, it’s best to add sheetrock compound into the mix, to give a drier consistency. “The putty will be easier to work with,” says Benchetrit. In addition, “the (drier) putty delivers a good, clean line and looks like new.” Typically, he uses “a tiny bit” of the powdered sheetrock compound, sprinkling it onto “a big glob” of putty that he’s placed into an empty can. It’s key, he says, to hand-knead the putty thoroughly with the powdered compound, to create the right consistency. “I go by feel,” he adds. He uses sheetrock 45 or 90; a lower numbered grade, such as sheetrock 20, would cause the putty to dry too fast, he cautions. Proper consistency is especially important when working in the hot sun, which can render putty extremely soft. Always prime bare wood before applying putty, he adds.

3. Powdery film residue

Before starting a project, rub your hand over the exterior surface. If, after doing that, there’s a powdery film left behind on your hand, that’s residue, which must be washed off the building; otherwise, paint will bulge, crack or peel, says Troy Power, of Troy Power Painting, in Halifax. “You can’t paint over residue, so you have to wash it off,” says Power. He finds the most effective way to remove residue is to use a pressure-wash system. To that end, Power employs a high-pressure machine calibrated at 3,000 psi. Residue, he says, isn’t environmental, and results from “the breakdown of all the old products on the building – the existing layer(s) of paint. It doesn’t come from the weather.” What’s more, it’s a problem that Power encounters frequently. “I run into it 50 per cent of the time,” he says.

4. Wind-blown paint splatters

There’s nothing that annoys your customer more than getting unwanted paint splatters onto their automobiles, exterior light fixtures, garden furniture, even their trees and plants. Darren Smith of Upscale Painting & Sign in Cornwall, ON, uses lightweight canvas drop cloths to cover these and other vulnerable items around the perimeter of all his exterior paint jobs. Lightweight fabric like this doesn’t damage foliage and allows plants to breathe. Never use plastic covers on foliage: they can damage or even kill your valuable customer’s plants pretty quickly on a hot day, although plastic-sheet drop cloths are ideal to protect lights, windows and doors. Canvas drop cloths also make your jobsite look professional. Smith has seen painters using bedsheets as drop cloths outside, but they don’t exactly leave an impression of professional painter credibility.

5. Window and door sticking

It’s technically called “blocking” and we’ve all seen it. It’s when doors and windows stick shut and are difficult to open after we’ve painted them with latex paint, even after the paint has cured. Blocking can occur on wood garage doors, windows and weatherstripping-free painted doors.“When I come across (blocking), I use a palm sander or a piece of  sandpaper on a wood block to break down the surface,” says Dino Kalaitzakis, of Minerva Painting, Winnipeg. “Then, as we paint the (sanded) doors, we open and close them twice, once at the end of the shift and then the next day, to prevent them from sticking shut.” Some pros use clear Briwax to unstick stubborn doors and windows. Kalaitzakis says he’s never used Briwax, but agrees that it could be an effective fix for the problem. “You don’t want to get a complaint from the customer that they can’t open a door or window,” he says.

6. Problems from high-pressure washing

Although high-pressure washing has its advocates, low-pressure washing is a more sensible route, since high-pressure cleaning can drive water into wood and damage windows (and even siding). Stu Constable, of Painting and Decorating Inc., Charlottetown, has seen high-pressure washing damage homes. “I’ve seen pressurewashed shingles come off, and on older homes, nails come loose. To be truthful, I don’t believe in pressure washing. You wait all spring and summer for the moisture to come out of the wood” and then saturate the home in pressure driven water. “Then you have to wait two to three weeks, with good, dry weather, for the moisture to come out of the wood again,” he says. Constable practices what he preaches and favors, essentially, no-pressure washing, with a brush, soap and a garden hose. “It’s labor-intensive, but won’t damage anything,” he says, “so it might be cheaper in the long run.” pp

The post Exterior Painting Tips! first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

Choose Clients Carefully

Since there’s more to go wrong technically with deck refinishing than regular painting, it means you have to be pickier about the clients you choose to work with. And not only pickier, but also more clear about what you can and cannot accomplish with an old deck. Most interior walls can be made to look great if enough time is put into patching them before painting. Not so with an old deck. There really is no way you can turn an old barn board deck surface into something that looks like a dining room table. Be clear about what you can do, and even understate your case while sizing up the job. Better to delight the client with more than they expected, rather than disappoint them with less. See The Five Deck Refinishing Clients (page 13) for insights on the kind of people you’ll be dealing with.

Wash Before Sanding

Every ratty deck needs basic cleaning work before any new finish can go on, and the combination of pressure washing and sanding is very powerful. Apply a water soluble stripper if there’s any remaining finish, pressure wash the deck, then let it dry for a couple of good days. No matter how careful you were with the pressure washer, some fuzzy surface fibers will have been raised. These dried fibers are easy to knock off with the right kind of sander. One pass and they’re history, leaving behind a surface that’s perfect for refinishing. A washed and sanded surface imparts the greatest absorbency of anything you can do to wood. And all else being equal, deck finish life is directly proportional to wood absorbency.

Make Surface Wood Absorbent and Strong

Most wood is a poor candidate for outdoor finishing. New, planed lumber is especially bad because it’s not absorbent enough because the planer that milled the wood burnished
the surface. Finishing liquids can’t penetrate deeply enough into the fibers to resist premature peeling. Old wood is absorbent, but it’s surface fibers are already partially loose.
New wood finishes will peel prematurely as they pull surface fibers off with them.

According to a five year study conducted by Akzo Nobel across North America, the most absorbent wood surface is bright surface that’s been sanded with a 60-grit abrasive.
That’s pretty coarse for most homeowners, but an 80-grit is almost as absorbent and more practical for real-world decks. A walk-behind pad-style floor sander does a good job
on large areas. My favourite hand-held sander for deck work is a 6” random orbit sander with an angle grinder style motor. I’m still using my venerable Porter Cable 7336 after
20 years, but any similar model will work great.

Educate Clients About Deck Finish Choice

There are four main types of deck refinishing products out there, each with strengths and weaknesses. Explain the pros and cons with your clients to help them choose:

1. TRANSLUCENT, VARNISH-TYPE FINISHES
The best of these make decks look like a piece of furniture, but usually require complete stripping and re-application every 3 years. Looks great, but challenging to keep up long term.

2. OPAQUE, PAINT-LIKE DECK FINISHES
These last the longest – about 5 years – but they hide wood grain. Tough and durable, but eliminates wood character.

3. SOAK-IN, COLOURED DECK STAINS
These offer no surface film, but they’re ideal for old decks that have started to develop weathering cracks.

4. CLEAR WATER REPELLANTS
The best of these offer “new wood looks” for about 12 to 18 months. Stripping, lightening and reapplication is required to maintain bright, new wood appearance.

– ONE-TIME DECK TREATMENTS
These impart a weathered wood look to new lumber, evenly and quickly. They require no further applications. Easy to live with, but more of a barnboard appearance than some people like.

Don’t Undercut Yourself

If you don’t have a lot of experience refinishing decks, build more time into your estimate than you think. Prep takes a long time, but so do the little deck things that might creep up: loose boards needs to be reattached; rain shuts you down before lunch; it got windy so you couldn’t brush anything on because of dust.

Refinishing decks isn’t for every painter, but it can yield good money if you get good at it. And besides, one of the benefits is that you get some fresh air and sunshine in your life. pp

The post Deck Refinishing for Painters first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

For basic yet prudent tax advice, we turned to our friends at Truster Zweig LLP (www.trusterzweig.com) a Richmond Hill, Ont.-based chartered professional accountants’ firm.

“Assuming that the contractor is a self-employed individual,” explains Garror Sands CPA, CA, LCA, and partner at Truster Zweig, “as a business individual he or she will be required to keep many of the same documents that a corporation is required to keep as they pertain to Receipts and Disbursements.

“These include banking documents and all disbursements that you will need for your tax return. The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) can ask for proof of all expenditures that you are claiming – so make sure you have them.”

Sands also notes that if you are earning more than $30,000 in the tax year, you will be required to register for HST (Harmonized Sales Tax).

Since painting contractors will more than likely be operating out of their own home, there are a number of write-offs that can be filed, Sands says. “The home office expenses would include the cost to operate his or her business, such as the cost of maintaining a website/internet, telephone usage, accounting fees and office supplies. As well, if certain costs include a personal portion, such as the home internet, then the personal portion would have to be excluded.”

In other words, to claim these items, they must be separate business-related costs and not combined with personal family costs.

Sands notes that the contractor would be allowed to expense the actual business use of the vehicle’s operating cost, including wear-and-tear of the vehicle, or a percentage of the leased vehicle.

“Other purchases may be categorized as supplies, such as paint brushes, rollers, plastic, tape, etc., because they are generally consumed within the current year, and as such, can be expensed,” he relates. “Other expenses that are under $500 can be expensed as well.”

For items over $500 that have a longer working life, such as a spray gun or ladder, it can be deducted for multiple years, but at a depreciating value. Keep in mind, that most expenditures to operate a business can be used in your tax deductions, including membership dues or attendance at specific conventions.

Because the past year has been a difficult one due to Covid-19 health restrictions, not all of us have been able to work. If you have not done so already, apply for financial aid via the Canada Recovery Benefit available from the CRA.

As for the actual filing date of your taxes, a self-employed contractor must do so no later than June 15 of each year. But, as Sands sums up: “However, note that any taxes that may be owing are due no later than April 30 of each year. As such, you may be required to estimate the taxes owing and pay these in advance to avoid any interest on payment in taxes.”

Because taxes are a complex aspect of being in business, for the best outcome consider employing a tax professional for assistance.

The post The Taxman cometh – are you ready? first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

Feeling the Colours
Paint colours are all about emotion. Feeling good is, in fact, the main reason people paint in the first place. Shade, saturation, value and colour temperature all work together to set the tone for any space. The thing is, almost none of your clients have anything more than the most primitive understanding of colour. The last time most of them had any formal colour education was probably back in kindergarten. A child’s understanding of colour isn’t enough to support the decisions that an adult needs to make before painting, and this is one reason there’s so much frustration, indecision and bad colour choices in the world. Another issue is that property owners want to add colour to their lives, but they usually can’t visualize the results. With hundreds of thousands of paint colours to choose from, and no guidance for choosing except “pick what you like,”it’s no wonder so many people have trouble. You can make things better. And look good doing it. Here’s the first step…

Step #1
IDENTIFY WHAT WILL BE IN THE ROOM

“It’s the stuff that will be in a room that should determine paint colours,” explains Len Churchill, a commercial artist working in Markham, Ontario. “When I’m choosing residential colours, I look for options that change throughout the day, depending on natural lighting. Greys and taupes are great for this. People these days expect to live with a paint job for a long time, so it’s worth the trouble of choosing well.”

How to Use the 60/30/10 Colour Rule
This simple, time-tested decorating strategy helps create a balanced colour theme in any room:

• Primary colour: 60 per cent of the surfaces in a given space should be the same colour. This primary colour is what you’ll find on most wall areas, area rugs, large pieces of furniture, etc
• Secondary colour: 30 per cent of the room should be a secondary colour. This should have some relation with the primary colour (complementary, split complementary, analogous, etc., more on this later)
• Accent colour: 10% of the room should be a kind of visual spice – different from the primary and secondary colours. This could come from paint, but you might be able to get it with decorator pillows or painted furniture, too.

Step#2
USE A COLOUR WHEEL TO BUILD CLIENT CONFIDENCE

A colour wheel is a small, hand-held tool that identifies which colours go well together. Most people are surprised to learn that there’s math and logic behind which colours look good together and which don’t. It’s not random and it’s not just a matter of personal taste. A colour wheel makes it easy to identify colour harmonies and communicate them to clients with a sense of authority. Here are the basics:

Complementary colours
These are completely different colours that go well together. Colours 180º opposite each other on the colour wheel are complementary and they harmonize visually. Three main, primary complementary colours that go together in this way are yellow & violet; blue & orange; red & green.

Split complementary colours
Choose a colour, look at the opposite on the other side of the wheel, then look again for the colours flanking those opposites. These are what they call “split complementaries” and they offer more variety than just straight complementaries.

Analogous colours
Three colours next to each other on the colour wheel are closer in shade than complementaries, but they still look good together, too.

Monochromatic colour
This is an approach that uses one colour, but a single colour doesn’t necessarily mean just one thing. Choosing variations of saturation and value can add interest to a space while also making the effect quite visually cohesive. A monochromatic colour scheme would use different colours from the same paint strip.

Triadic colours
These appear 120º apart on the colour wheel. A surprising number of painters don’t pay attention to the annual colour choices published by paint companies, but that’s a mistake. Since some of your fashion-conscious clients will be right on top of this sort of thing, you should know at least something about trending colours. This year DULUX Paints, for instance, has named Night Watch (DLX1145-7) and Mojito Shimmer (036VS) as colours of the year. One nice thing about trending colours is that they usually come as a collection of colours that go well together. Night Watch, for instance, is officially recommended to go with the sandy beige colours Elusion (DXL1005-2) and Earthy Can (DLX1103-4) or Lucky Penny (DLX1201-7). You might not care personally about trending colours, but they do offer a convenient shortcut for clients choosing colours.

NIX MINI COLOR SENSOR
Something called the Nix Mini Color Sensor (nixsensor.com) is a small (very small) wireless device that works with your smartphone to let it “see” existing colours and offer colour suggestions. Besides helping you make better suggestions more efficiently, having your phone display colour choices boosts your authority with clients and reduces indecision. Charge the Nix Mini with a USB cord, download the app, then pair your Wix and phone wirelessly. Any time you want to record an existing colour as a basis for recommendations, just place the Wix eye-side-down, then hit the scan button on your phone. In a second or two the colour will be scanned and recorded, with colour suggestions automatically generated. You can share these colours with any other phone, you can choose from many different paint manufacturers and see their corresponding paint chip numbers and paint availability online. Look further into the app and you’ll find colour suggestions including monochromatic, complementary, analogous, split complementary, triadic and more. Nix will also help you find local paint suppliers for the choices your client has settled on.[/textblock]

Step#3
ALWAYS TEST COLOURS

“I always put paint samples on walls in one way or another”, explains Churchill. “I work with colour every day, but I never choose only from a paint chip. Colour choice is a mood thing, too. The way you feel about a colour one day isn’t necessarily the way you’ll feel tomorrow. That’s why I always suggest that people live with test patches on walls for a few days. Cool colours make small rooms look larger, and warm colours make large rooms look cozier and more inviting.”

A square of painted drywall moved around the room makes it easier for clients to get the big picture, especially under different light conditions. It’s all about angle of light, intensity of light and colour of light. Painting and repainting the same pieces of drywall let’s you help multiple clients select paint on different jobs. People have to live with paint colours for a long time. Just do your part to make sure it doesn’t feel too long to them.

Got a client interested in white? Don’t forget to tell them how white is unique among paint colours. It’s a fabulous and classic option because it goes with so many other colours, and is especially attractive in a room with dark trim and floors. Realtors often recommend white paint for selling homes since it appeals to the widest cross section of the public. The thing is, not all whites are created equal. In fact, choosing the right white can be tricky. The issue comes down to hue and tone, but this isn’t necessarily easy to see. White’s only look different when compared with other whites. When you find yourself working with a client who favours white, be sure to get them to get more detailed. There are many whites out there, some warm, some cold, and some in between.
There’s a lot more to running a successful painting business than just colour skills, but for all the trouble it takes to learn the basics, the effort is worth it. pp

The post Colour Smarts first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

First impressions count

The front door sets the tone for your entire home. Whether it’s a new coat of paint to freshen up a well-loved hue or adding a new pop of colour to your front door, don’t be afraid to make a statement with your entryway.

“A richly saturated sapphire blue, like Blue Danube 2062-30, will add interest and elegance to your front door,” says Grech. Looking to take your transformation one step further? “Painting the ceiling of a covered porch in a coordinating colour is a great way to add even more visual interest and appeal to your front entrance.”

The difference is in the details

Not ready to repaint your whole exterior? Choose small but impactful areas to update. A fresh coat of paint to exterior shutters or window and door trim can instantly elevate curb appeal. Brighten up an otherwise neutral look with a vibrant new shade, or add neutrals to complement bolder hues. “Benjamin Moore Aura Grand Entrance paint is a perfect choice for Canadian home exteriors because it ensures a beautiful and resilient finish that will last for years,” says Grech.

Bring the indoors out

 Get the most out of the summer months by creating inviting outdoor living spaces that reflect the style and comfort of your home. “Simple additions like a welcome mat, outdoor rug or cozy throws and cushions for your outdoor furniture are ideal ways to add texture. Adding flowers, plants and herbs in your own hand-painted pots will bring more colour and a seamless sense of indoor/outdoor living.”

You don’t have to DIY

Don’t want to do it yourself? Consider hiring a professional painting contractor who can achieve a flawless finish on your home’s exterior. Hiring a professional will help you achieve beautiful results and has the added benefit of supporting small businesses in your community.

Editorial provided by Benjamin Moore

The post Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Colour first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.