Ken Rader Interiors Presents- Tips on how to paint.

Many good tips and solid training on how to paint. Ken Rader Interiors offers in home color consultation in Northwest Arkansas

Ken Rader Interiors- Faux Paint Kitchen Cabinets.

Kitchen Cabinets up to Faux process. Kitchen Cabinets up to Faux process. IMG_1916 IMG_1917 IMG_1920 IMG_1923 IMG_1925 IMG_1931 IMG_1932 IMG_1933 IMG_1934 IMG_1935 IMG_1936 IMG_1937 IMG_1939How to update Kitchen Cabinets with a Faux Finish By Ken Rader- Painting Expert with Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. A lot of work but the results are worth it! WHAT IS INVOLVED? This project will call for the updating of Kitchen Cabinets. Here are the steps that will be involved to transform them. 1. Masking off all of the counter tops, walls, floors, insides of some of the cabinets, ceilings and doorways. The homeowners wanted to save the paint job on the walls and ceilings, so extensive masking was called for. They had recently put in new wood floors in the Kitchen and extra care was taken to mask off the floor and use tape that would not harm the new finish, There are 4 doorways into the kitchen and these had to be masked off to prevent spray dust to filter into the rest of the house. 2. Clean the cabinets. This is a necessary step before you start to sand on them. We removed all of the doors, hinges, and drawers. These will be cleaned, sanded and finished at our shop. There was just no room either in the home or on the property to work on these items. 24 doors, 12 drawers. 3. Sand the cabinets. This is a 3 step process, First, sand with 120 grit paper, Second, sand with 220 grit, and third, wash the cabinets down with de-glosser also known as sanding liquid. 4. Prime the cabinets. The primer that we are using is "Glidden Gripper". This primer will stick to almost any surface. And since we are using Latex/Acrylic paint, this is an ideal primer. Dries quick, provides a stain blocker and gives a wonderful smooth hard finish. 5. Paint the cabinets. Color- Swiss Coffee We are using 'Behr Ultra Premium Plus" which is a primer and paint combination. This is a fairly heavy bodied paint and holds to the surface very well. It sets up pretty quick so it does not sag or run like some paints will. I like to put a lot of product on the surface and this is the paint to do it with. I am using my Graco ProShot II to do the spraying with. Wonderful tool and not as much overspray as there is with a conventional airless sprayer. There is a learning curve with this machine but once you master it you will always choose it for inside spraying. Also, most painters refuse to use Latex/Acrylic paint on cabinets. I think this is throwback to the time when Acrylic paint was not very good. Most use Lacquer because it is so forgiving, dries fast and the impression is that it is more durable and lasting. Lacquer begins to deteriorate from the moment it is applied. It is a 'Hot' topcoat so it will burn the product (Primer,Paint) It will grey or yellow unevenly as time goes by. Whites are no longer white. And as it ages the finish gets very hard and will chip and crack very easily. The Premium Latex/Acrylic paints on the market today usually carry a lifetime warranty against changing color or becoming so brittle that it will chip off. Remember though, all paint will chip if you hit it hard enough or use abrasive materials on it. 6. Glaze the cabinets. We are using our own glaze mixture with the color ' Melted Chocolate' mixed in the glaze. Get it in the grooves an corners heavy but then just light glazing and buffing on the flat surfaces. 7. Clear Coat the Cabinets. We will be using 'General Finishes- Polycrylic. This is a water base top coat that is extremely durable and will not yellow or change the color of the paint or glaze. Dries super fast, so you can put on 3 to 4 coats within a couple of hours. Super smooth, super hard and this product flows out like a factory finish. There are some pictures that show the process up to the point of glazing the cabinets Posted at (www.kenraderinteriors.wordpress.com). Same article but with pictures. The doors and drawers are at the shop and I will post some pictures of them as we progress with them. I will also post some pictures of the glazing and top coating of the cabinets. We will start glazing the cabinets Monday September 23,2013. Then we will start on the doors and drawers in our shop. I will post our progress. There are several ways that cabinets can be updated. They can be painted, faux finished or we can freshen them up with a stain toner. The application of stain toner produces a very good look and is very cost effective. The application of the stain toner will give the cabinets a new look. The color will be darker and very rich. For instance, if your cabinets are stained oak and are looking dated and tired. You can apply a toner in a rich mahogany, cherry,pecan, well any of a hundred stain colors. Then a protective clear coat is applied and the cabinets are ready to last another 20 years. This is a new process that we have just started. We are very pleased with the results and we are sure that you would love the new life it can give your cabinets. Thank you for viewing our blog. Please check out our web site at www.KenRaderInteriors.com, follow us on FACEBOOK, or have a look at our list of blogs all about painting, decorating, wallpapering, etc. we are sure you will find an article you will like. Lots and Lots of free advice and help for the do it yourself project. As always 'Happy Painting and Decorating'. Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. Serving all of Northwest Arkansas Give us a call at 479-443-3686 or email us at ken@kenraderinteriors.com

Painters in Northwest Arkansas-"Old school skills"

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KEN RADER INTERIORS L.L.C. IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS INFORMATION.  WE OFFER ARTICLES ABOUT PAINTING AND DECORATING FOR YOUR EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT.
Painting Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista “Beautiful, One house at a time”

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND DECORATORS IN FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS.
WE OFFER PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

FOR ALL OF YOUR PAINTING NEEDS CALL US AT (479) 443-3686
EMAIL US AT kennethrader@att.net and be sure and visit our web page at http://www.ArkansasBestPainters.com
HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING!
Recently I posted an article about painting paneling.  Thank you for all of the views and comments.  Some of the comments were on the subject of the preferred type of primer that should be used on the wood paneling. Several commented that they would use "Old School" priming". This was in reference to using Oil based primers verses Acrylic or water based.
I think that what they were really referencing was their painting skills and work ethic.  Let me qualify this a little with an observation or two.
Several years ago, actually in 1989 I purchased a new Ford Pickup.  Bright Red, which is my favorite color.  When I drove it home I got bugs on the front and everywhere there was a bug it removed the paint.  I was upset to say the least.  I took it back to the car dealer to give them a look at it.  "Bugs have acid in them" was the response I received from the shop foreman. "Acid?" I asked, yes he says.  So I took my new truck home will spots of white primer showing through where the bugs hit.
Some time later my sister shared with me a small article in a magazine that acknowledged that there was a problem with the primer that was used on vehicles from the years 1985 till the present.  As a result the manufacturer was doing a somewhat silent recall of the vehicles and re-painting them for free.  Well I took my truck to the car dealer again and after some debate got my truck a new paint job.
Perhaps you have seen some pickups driving around that are of the 1980's and 1990's that are missing big patches of paint.  Chevy's and Fords mostly.  They used the same primer.
Well my point is that Old School surely does not refer to old products.  Products for the most part have improved drastically over the last 30 to 40 years.  Cell phones are now digital instead of analog, TV's are Tubeless and High Definition, tires are now all Radial verses Bias cords.  The list could go on and Paint products have improved as well.
No more lead, the introduction of Acrylic and Titanium have revolutionized the industry.  There are still Oil based Primers on the market but they can only be used in certain states in the country.  To fill the gap painting companies have formulated some excellent non-oil primers.
So, on with my point.  I too have often referred to myself as "Old School".  This reference is made to my skills, methods and craftsmanship in the field of painting.  Ken Rader Interiors has been in business since 1987 and the products that we use has changed dramatically.
Painting with Oil and Lacquer produced a beautiful job but the paint would change as time went by.  The paint would yellow or gray, crack or flake depending on what was painted.  And during those years in the 80's and 90's latex paint was not the greatest product.  But they have come a long, long way.
The professional painting industry has undergone tremendous changes since we first started.  The biggest change that we have seen is the introduction of the "unskilled painter".  They are usually the cheapest bidder on a project and the methods that are employed are usually OUTDATED.
That being said, I would suggest that painters use the term "Old School Painting Skills" instead of "Old School".  The customer should know that you will use the most up-to-date products available.
Ken Rader Interiors uses all of the latest, tested and proven products on the marked.  We will occasionally use "Oil based" products but this is rare.
If there is a material or object that will not allow acrylic or water based primer to stick, then Oil base will not stick either.  This has proven true many times over the years on many of our projects.  I do want to mention that premium primers must always be used.  You cannot compare PVA primer with Oil based primer.  But you can compare Premium acrylic primers with Oil based primer.
Well, I hope this does not offend any painters.  The phrase " Old School" does cause people to think of a time when things seemed to be made better and with more care.  That however is really not the truth.  I like my new iphone much better than my first mobile mounted cell phone (Cellular One was the company) that's a blast from the past.  I also have a Red pickup that I bought new in 2001.  No paint problems.  170,000 miles and still going strong.  And Ken Rader Interiors is a fan of the new paint and primer combinations that are being offered today.
Ken Rader Interiors is " Old School Painting Skills" and proud of it.  If you have a painting project in your future we invite you to investigate the painting companies in your area.  You will find many of them are " Old School Skilled".  You will find it a true pleasure working with them.
KEN RADER INTERIORS L.L.C. IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS INFORMATION.  WE OFFER ARTICLES ABOUT PAINTING AND DECORATING FOR YOUR EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND DECORATORS IN FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS.
WE OFFER PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

FOR ALL OF YOUR PAINTING NEEDS CALL US AT (479) 443-3686
EMAIL US AT kennethrader@att.net and be sure and visit our web page at http://www.kenraderinteriors.com
  AS ALWAYS “HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING!”

How did we do with Social Networking in 2012

We started 2012 in a new direction for us.  We launched our web site http://www.kenraderinteriors.com and started Blogging.  We did not know exactly where this would take us since it was our first venture into the cyber world.
We started slow but then we began to pick up speed in the blogging arena. We have posted the stats for 2012 to acknowledge all of you that contributed to our first year of success in the social media audience.  Our blogs were intended to educate all who looked at them and hopefully inspire you to decorate or paint something.
Decorating and painting are our passions. We will endeavor to continue to build upon the audience base that we have attracted.  And we promise to give you good information and expert advise.
I know that looking through stats for someone else can be boring so I ask that you indulge me.  Perhaps by seeing the success that Ken Rader Interiors has had over the last year will motivate you to start your own blog.  Education is a wonderful thing and learning something new can lift your spirits.
Please continue to read our blogs and feel free to share any comments you might have.
So "INTO THE FUTURE AND BEYOND"
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here's an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,800 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 5 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.
KEN RADER INTERIORS L.L.C. IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS INFORMATION.  WE OFFER ARTICLES ABOUT PAINTING AND DECORATING FOR YOUR EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND DECORATORS IN FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS.
WE OFFER PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

FOR ALL OF YOUR PAINTING NEEDS CALL US AT (479) 443-3686
EMAIL US AT kennethrader@att.net and be sure and visit our web page at http://www.kenraderinteriors.com
HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING!

Arkansas Best Painters-Ken Rader Interiors,"Painting in Winter?"

KEN RADER INTERIORS L.L.C. IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS INFORMATION. WE OFFER ARTICLES ABOUT PAINTING AND DECORATING FOR YOUR EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND DECORATORS IN FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS.
WE OFFER PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

FOR ALL OF YOUR PAINTING NEEDS CALL US AT (479) 443-3686
EMAIL US AT kennethrader@att.net and be sure and visit our web page at http://www.kenraderinteriors.com
http://www.kenraderinteriorspainters.com
http://www.arkansasbestpainters.com
HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING!

Interior Painting In Winter

by Anonymous from Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Is it wise to paint your home interior in ARKANSAS winter when the outside temperature is freezing? Does it create some harmful fumes for the inhabitants of the home if you are using water based paints? Does it affects its finish and how much time it takes to get the paint dry? Is it necessary to keep the windows open a little bit? What happens if the heat is on and inside temperature is set at 72 degrees? All the relevant information about interior painting at this time of the year?
Answered by KEN RADER OF KEN RADER INTERIORS-PAINTERS, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
Interior painting during a cold winter is very doable. Some problems you will run into include slower drying and curing of the paint. Fumes could also be another problem if you use oil base paint. Most if not all regular acrylic house paints are low VOC now so fumes is much less of a problem. If you are sensitive to paint fumes I recommend using a no-VOC paint.
Other problems with painting during cold weather are;
1- Condensation forming on windows. This is one good reason to ventilate during and shortly after painting.
2- The interior temperature could slow down the drying time a bit. Modern acrylic house paints dry very well in cool temperatures. This could be waiting overnight to apply a second coat. To help you could use a fan to circulate the air in a room.
Overall there isn't many problems with interior painting during the cold winter months. The best practices are paying attention to interior humidity and apply thinner coats to help with drying.
Several of the new paint products on the market such as paint and primer combination or Gliddens paint ,primer and filler combination dry very fast. This is a plus for painting indoors in the winter. They are also either Zero or Low VOC which will cut down on the smell as well. Most of these products can receive a second coat in about 1 to 2 hours and you will only need one good coat and a second light coat.
Painting the inside of your home during the winter is a lot of fun. You can't do much outside and are confined indoors for longer periods of time. And doing a project will keep you busy rather than zoning out on the couch with a movie, though that is a good thing from time to time as well.
I am posting some pictures of rooms that will perhaps inspire you to either paint the rooms yourself or hire it done by the professional. Winter is a slow time for professional painters so most will be able to do your job quickly and they usually have a winter special. We here at Ken Rader Interiors offer several specials during the winter months that make painting the inside of your house very appealing. Email us at kennethrader@att.net or give us a call at (479)443-3686 to find out what our specials are and book an appointment for a free estimate.
One of the biggest challenges to painting is picking the right color. A professional painting company will have a decorator on staff that can help you with that. We do and you will be amazed at how quickly a color can be chosen.

The colors in this bedroom bring the outdoors in, creating a tranquil setting
for sleep and relaxation.

Various shades of green combine with touches of blue for a soft palette ideal
for a bedroom.

Bold hues of pink give this bedroom a warm and sophisticated feeling.

Soothing earth tones and vibrant gold combine to give this bedroom a
non-traditional look

Artwork and accessories have no place in a room where materials and clean lines take center stage. White porcelain tile, cabinetry and countertops create a feeling of tranquility.

An aged mirror, flanked by two antique nickel sconces, carves out the room's focal point and creates the illusion of space in the home's first-floor bathroom.


AS ALWAYS,”HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. -- Painting Northwest Arkansas Beautiful, “ One house at a time”.

Serving Northwest Arkansas and the greater Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bella Vista area.
Professional Painters since 1987.

Check us out at www.kenraderinteriors.com
Like us at www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

Ken Rader

KEN RADER INTERIORS-PAINTERS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Why You Should Hire a Professional Painter for Your Home

KEN RADER INTERIORS L.L.C. IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS INFORMATION.  WE OFFER ARTICLES ABOUT PAINTING AND DECORATING FOR YOUR EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND DECORATORS IN FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS.
WE OFFER PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

FOR ALL OF YOUR PAINTING NEEDS CALL US AT (479) 443-3686
EMAIL US AT kennethrader@att.net and be sure and visit our web page at http://www.kenraderinteriors.com
HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING!

There are two reasons that I am qualified to write about this topic. One, I have been a Painting contractor for the last 35 years. In that time, I have worked with dozens of painters and hundreds of homeowners. Second reason: My wife loves to paint our house as a hobby.First of all, there are four types of painting that will need to be done on your home; interior, exterior, trim and specialty surfaces. Let's look at each one separately as the techniques, materials and skills required vary quite a bit. There are several other variables, such as whether or not your home is single or two stories, the over all size of your home and it's age.Interior walls are by far the easiest for most homeowners to do themselves. Wash the walls, patch any holes, cut in the ceiling and roll on two good coats. Sounds easy enough. Until you try to fit this extra work into an already busy schedule. You will also need to buy some supplies that you may never use again, like drop cloths, brushes, rollers, roller handles, paint trays, etc. Older homes often have paint that is oil based, or worse, lead added. These require special materials and preparation. Let's add in a two story home with stairwells and cathedral ceilings and the fun goes right out the window. Professionals deal with these issues all the time and have the skill and knowledge to make sure the end result is the quality paint job you seek.Exterior surfaces can present endless challenges to the DIY painter. Here in Southern California, most of the homes have a stucco finish. This surface is very rough and captures dust and dirt over time. Good painters use a pressure washer to clean out the dirt and knock off the loose paint. Also, depending on the age of the home, there can be a considerable amount of repair that is needed before paint can be applied. If your home has siding or a large amount of wood surfaces that have not been painted in a while, the old paint will have to be scraped off and any cracks filled (we'll talk more about that in the trim section). Again, the multi story home compounds these challenges.
Trim can actually be separated into interior and exterior categories. Interior trim like door casings, baseboards and crown molding are usually painted white or some other accent color. This is most often accomplished with a high gloss paint and a brush. There is an art to cutting in the edge of trim in such a way that you don't get trim paint on the wall, or vice versa if the trim is done first. One of my painters, Jeff, is an artist at this, but he has been painting for almost thirty years. Exterior trim, usually wood, suffers a great deal of damage at the hands of the elements. Unless it is painted every three to five years, there will most likely be peeling, cracking and checking (cracks in the wood itself). All of your trim will need to be scraped and holes and cracks filled. This is the time consuming part of doing a good paint job that most home owners either do half heartedly or skip altogether. Remember, your paint job will only be as good as your prep.
      
Specialty painting covers all of the things not mentioned so far. Painting or refinishing kitchen cabinets and other woodwork is definitely not recommended for the amateur. I repainted my cabinets with an airless sprayer and they turned out very nice, but it took me almost three weeks of evenings and weekends and I do have a fair amount of painting experience. If I had really nice cabinets and wanted them refinished with a glaze or a stain, I would hire a professional in a heartbeat. There are also those contractors who specialize in painting concrete to make it look like something else (brick, stone, etc.). The materials, tools and skills for this type of work will be way beyond the reach of the average DIY homeowner. Mural painting and faux painting can give your home a rich elegant look if they are done well. If you want to paint cartoon figures in your child's room, quality is not quite so important. As a matter of fact, let the kids help. If, however, you want a Tuscan countryside viewed through a villa window, unless you are an artist, hire a professional. Faux painting can actually be accomplished with some practice (my wife has gotten pretty good at it), but if you have a large area to cover, two story walls and ceilings or other such obstacles, call in the professionals.
Masking off bushes and landscaping, putting down drop cloths and other preparatory steps are necessary to avoid the inevitable mess that painting can cause. Unfortunately, many homeowners are in a hurry or are too inexperienced to make sure all of these steps are taken and often spend more time cleaning up than it took to do the painting in the first place. Painting contractors make a living at their trade because they know the best and most efficient ways to get the job done. That includes preventing costly down time due to spilled or over sprayed paint. They also have a tremendous amount of knowledge about types of paint and how to apply them. If you want quality results, let the pros do what they do best and spend the time with your family. You will be happier in the long run.
      
AS ALWAYS,”HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. --  Painting Northwest Arkansas Beautiful, “ One house at a time”.

Serving Northwest Arkansas and the greater Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bella Vista area.
 Professional Painters since 1987.

Check us out at www.kenraderinteriors.com
Like us at www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

Ken Rader

Choose the Professional Painter and save yourself the stress

House Painters – Choosing the right Professional Painter is easier that you think.

 

Your Home is your Castle, when you're looking to make a alteration or improvement to it, you have to consider not only the final finished product, but likewise the experience, and of course professional behavior and all around worth that goes into the project. When you think about house painters, you can measure their service from the bottom up to see if they perform up to a professional level.
When you hire a painting contractor, the expense of materials consumes a significant portion of the currency you pay. Quality House Painters simply use only the highest quality materials to guarantee that your painting investment endures and looks attractive for many years.  If they use cheap paint, DO NOT HIRE THEM!
Of course, the labor itself is the other major cost, and if a house painting company employs the right people, that can go a long way towards ensuring you receive quality for your money.  The best companies are usually owned and operated by one person or perhaps a husband and wife team.  They usually do all the work thus keeping control of quality and time spent on the job. That means that the company has to invest in itself and its employees, with the proper compensation, benefits and treatment, to ensure that the benefits of high quality employment is passed along to you.
The work of completing a chore also has to come with safe procedures and efficiency. Is the company insured?  It is a valid and good question.  Accidents must be prevented, or repairs may have to follow.  Is the company properly licensed?  It is very rare these days to find that licenses are not needed.  Rather, with each passing year more licenses are required, both state and usually city. Projects ought to be completed within the budget or estimate, and on schedule with what has been projected. Meeting these challenges is the distinguishing factor of a true high quality company.
When you employ skilled and qualified House Painters, you will be getting much more than coats of paint on your walls. They are experts in their field, bringing all of their experience along to your project to insure superior results. Skilled house painters will do surface preparation to guarantee a flawless finish, and will spot potential troubles before the work starts.  A skilled professional is proud of his work and it is the best advertising he can have.  So he will do the best job possible.
This kind of skill and professionalism can only come with experience. House painters of this level of skill and knowledge can accurately judge the amount of paint and other materials are needed, and will have all of the tools or gear required to complete a job of any type, or deal with any and all issues which may arise.
So if you are getting ready for a painting and fixing up project this year make your selections wisely. Purchasing experience and professionalism will make a big difference. Scan their reviews, ask for references, and check to see if they are A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau. Do they maintain a five star evaluation in reviews and have been in service for many years. The qualified painting company always puts the customers first. This is the reason great painting companies have so many repeat customers. They know they can count on them to deliver the service they require.
Ken Rader is owner and operator of Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Ken shares his knowledge on house painters. House painting. (Interior and Exterior) and other home improvement topics. Check out all of our blogs.  We are sure you will find some information that will assist you in your Home improvement projects.
As always “Happy Painting and Decorating”
Check out our web site at www.kenraderinteriors.com
Please see our facebook page www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors and mark us “liked”
You may also leave comments and they are always welcome.  We are always striving to improve our articles and have a share in a wonderful experience for you on your next home improvement project.
Ken Rader