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How to Powerwash Your House

How to power wash your home

Before you decide to paint your home, you may want to consider power washing it. Many people power wash their home before they are going to paint it, in hopes that they will be able to remove any dirt or debris from their home. What’s the use of hiring a company to like Westfield NJ Painting to paint your home if you’re simply going to cover up the existing dirt with a layer of paint?

The good news is if you don’t understand the basis of power washing your home NJ power washing would be more then obliged to assist you. Bringing a company out to your home that is loaded with a pool of professionals will show you what goes into power washing so later on if you decide to paint your home again, you can power wash your own home and save the paint crew time and save you a few extra dollars as well.

If you decide to perform the power wash on your home by yourself, we have some useful tips that can guide you through the process, this way you can avoid any mistakes during the power washing process.

1. Locate a power washer– You can find a power washer at most local department stores as well as Home Depot or Lowe’s. You do not need to buy the washer many stores will allow you to rent the washers for a number of consecutive days. Since you are only going to use the washer once, it’s wise to simply rent it then to buy it.

2. Find a ladder that can reach to the peak of your home– You are trying to power wash your whole home, not just the middle of it. The washer is extremely powerful, so you don’t want to have a ladder that is too short. If the ladder is too short you will aim above your head therefore risking the chances of you falling off the ladder.

3. Setting up your power washer– You want to ensure that all hoses are connected correctly, and is hooked up to water supply such as a hose. Test the washer before you climb up to the peak of the ladder with it.

4. Place your ladder against your home– Always start from the highest peak of your home and slowly work your way down, spraying from left to right as you climb down the rungs of the ladder.

5. Keep your distance– Make sure your sprayer stays at least 12 inches away from the home at all times. Power washers often are set to blast water so hard it literally chips the paint right off of your home.

6. Complete all 4 sides of the home– Do one side at a time, it does not matter what side you start on as long as you properly perform the previous steps with each side.

Power washing your home can actually seem more like a fun past time then a chore. If you decide to purchase your power washer, many people use it for many household things, such as cleaning their cars or washing off their driveways.

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Quick Fixes for Windows

Quick Fixes For Windows

It’s amazing how many things can go wrong in a home that requires attention. The windows in your home are extremely sensitive and also very important to privacy as well as heat and cooling issues.

Everyone has heard the saying not to leave a door open when the air conditioning or heater is on. When something is open to the outside, it allows the outside air to come rushing into the house. When you have a crack in your window, even though your air conditioning may be running at full blast your house still feels warm, because of the hole in the window. Vice versa goes for people who utilize their heat during cold winters or chilly nights.

There are a few quick fixes that you can do to your window, if it will be a few days before you can get a professional from NJ home repair services to fix it. So what can you do, to ensure that your home stays at the correct temperature and most importantly provides your family with adequate protection?

1.    Something small has made it through your window- First you must remove all the broken glass, while wearing protective gloves to ensure that you don’t cut yourself. Remember a window is made of glass, and glass can cause extreme danger if it is handled carelessly.  You can then staple clear plastic to the inside of your window pane to hide your home away from intruders or worst yet bad weather.

2.    Small cracks on your window- A quick fix for cracks in your window is to apply ordinary masking tape to the crack from inside and outside your home. As long as you get the crack repaired in a timely manner the tape will hold up just fine to any harsh weather conditions.

3.    The window is shut- A lot of people make the mistake of painting a window shut for a variety of different reasons. If you long for a breath of fresh air and can’t seem to get the window open, take a box blade and cut along the edges of the window. You may also use a utility knife to cut along the windows edges. Since the window has probably not been opened in a while it’s going to take a little muscle behind trying to get it to budge.

4.    Rocks or small objects chipping at your window- Don’t run out and replace your whole window for a few small nicks. Grab some clear nail polish and fill in the discrepancies. Since the hole did not make it through the surface of the window, there is no need to replace the whole pane.

5.    Swollen windows- Windows can become swollen for a number of reasons, the number one reason however rest on humidity. If you are trying to get your window to pull loose, simply get your blow-dryer to apply hot air to the window, grab a candles and slide it across the outside of the window. Wiggle the window a little as you go to try to loosen the edges.

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How to Choose the Right Color of Paint For Your Home

How to Choose the Right Color of Paint For Your Home

Deciding what color to paint your home may seem like a daunting task. But, the professionals at NJ painting are here to help you make your painting project a success.

Everyone has run across paint jobs that do not meet up to par at times. The reason for the painting not meeting up to expectations is because many people fail to examine their house as a whole, and simply buy colors that do not match the appearance of the home.

Your house is your own private abode. But, your home is also how people categorize you; you don’t want to be known as the people with the funky paint job. That’s where we come in; NJ painting will provide you with decorative painting that is not only appealing to your standards, but also to your neighbors.
When you are looking to change the appearance of your home there are a few steps that you should follow before making any drastic decisions.

  1. Patience is a virtue– Get a collection together of different paints that you enjoy looking at. Hold off on making any drastic decisions on paints until you have chosen an overall theme of what you want a particular room to look like.
  2. Decorating samples– Compile a few samples from your local stores. If you are deciding on painting the crown molding of your home, you may want to paint the molding a different color then the walls, to give the room a two-tone effect which will make your molding stand out.
  3. Study the colors– Unless you have a problem seeing certain colors. You want to review over the different colors that you want from your home to determine which colors go together. Many people have multiple ideas running through their heads of how they want a room to look, and suddenly start scrambling colors together that clash.
  4. Choose the right paint finish– If you are using a flat based paint; you want to choose a finish that will allow the room to glow. There are many finishes that you can decide upon. If you want to avoid choosing a finish for a room, you may want to purchase a semi-gloss paint which gives off the feeling that the room is shining. Many people choose semi-gloss paints because they are easy to clean, and give off the appearance that the walls are sparkling because of cleanliness.

Choosing the right paint colors for your home does not need to be a difficult task. Many people decide on white for a home, simply because it creates the illusion that a room is bigger then it appears. But, now-a-days people are becoming fed up with plain white and choose to add some variety to their home.
It’s a good thing to stay away from dark colors, they cause a room to look smaller then it actually is. There is no reason why this happens; it’s just a trick that your eyes play on you from time to time. Were confident that once you decide what colors suit your personality, that your house will look great!

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How to Fix a Hole in the Wall

How to fix a hole in the wall

There is probably not a single person alive who has not knocked an unwanted hole into their wall. Whether it be putting a picture up in an unwanted place, or moving furniture around that hits into the wall. Fixing a hole in your wall is actually an easy quick fix job that you can do on your own.

Many people become distraught when they have an unwanted hole knocked into their walls. And, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be. Holes in your walls give off its own kind of signal either that one, you don’t  know how to fix the hole to make it acceptable to guests, or two you don’t know the right home repair company to hire.

The professionals at NJ home repair services would be more then obliged to help you get rid of that unsightly hole no matter how big or small it may appear.

If the hole in your wall is small, you can always attempt to try some of the quick fix techniques to rectify the problem on your own. If the hole you are facing is a small hole like an indention from a nail you can try toothpaste or plaster to fill the hole in. Toothpaste is one of the quickest ways to get rid of small nail holes and does not cost you too much in the long run.

If the hole in your wall is covering a large surface you may have to take a different route to repairing the problem. Some people hesitate to bring a professional into their home to fix the problem in fear of the cost. You can always try a few other methods to fix the hole in your wall before calling in the pros.

1. Patching- You can pick up a basic patch kit from any local department or home improvement store. Patching kits normally cost about $10.00-$15.00, and can do a great job to cover up that pesky hole. Many patching kits include step by step instructions for just about anyone to follow, so you shouldn’t run into any confusion along the way.

2. Buying new drywall- If the hole is too big to apply a patch to, you may have to fix your wall in a more complicated manner. You can do this, by measuring the size of the drywall that needs to be replaced. You then cut out the drywall all the way to the wooden frame of the home. After you have cut the drywall away, you want to place your new piece of drywall in the correct place, screw the drywall to the wooden beam, and begin to apply a mud used for house around the outer corners to blind the drywall in.

Unless you have any deep cracks in the wall you may not need to apply tape. Make sure the mud is flush with the wall. Texture the area that now holds the new drywall. After the texture matches the texture of the room, you can now paint the wall, and your done!

Or for an easier solution, contact us, and get a free estimate.