Library

  • Household Hazardous Waste Facility

    What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?

    Any material that can be harmful to our health and environment unless properly used, stored, or disposed of can be considered as a hazardous waste. Words such as caution, warning, danger, or flammable on the label are clues the product may be a...

  • WHAT'S REALLY IN A CAN OF PAINT?

    Paint is a creation of man used from the beginning of recorded history -- from the caves of Lascaux in France to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, on the figureheads of the Spanish ships which founded the New World , to the decorative symbols on teepees of Native Americans. It is used for...

  • Different Gloss Levels

    When purchasing paint, I've been asked if I want flat, high gloss, satin and even an eggshell finish. What do these terms mean, and does it really make any difference what kind of finish I have?

  • WHEN COLOR IS CRITICAL, SWITCH ON THE LIGHTS.

    "But that's not the color I picked!" This lament is voiced all too often by homeowners about the paint colors which were selected from a color card chip in the paint store. After the paint dries on the wall, they are sometimes faced with disappointment.

    Olson Painting recommends a simple...

  • Mildew, Mildew, Mildew.

    Protect Your Home

    Mildew makes even a clean exterior surface look dingy and dirty. And, if left untreated, mildew can damage painted surfaces. In this brochure, you'll learn how to spot mildew, how to get rid of it, and how to inhibit its reappearance on your home.

    What Is Mildew...

  • Paint Terms

    ACRYLIC
    A synthetic resin used in some latex paints.

    ADHESION
    A feature of paint that enables it to stick to the surface.

    AEROSOL
    Products that use compressed gases to propel paint
    onto a surface. The container is always under pressure
    and should be...

  • Do I choose latex or oil?

    Latex is the most widely used paint today. Latex is made with man-made polymers, adhering best to flat oil or other latex paint.

    Be careful about using over wallpaper; sometimes the water in the paint may dissolve the wallpaper paste.

    Look to Latex For:

    • Easy Clean Up...

  • Why Paint?

    To Protect:

    Outside........ paint provides a layer of protection against airborne dust, dirt and all types of weather and climate conditions.

    Inside......... paint resists staining and damage from finger smudges, kitchen grease, furniture grease and the wear of everyday living...

  • The Waterborne Coatings Revolution

    While the so-called "era of VOC restrictions" now appears not to be nearly as limiting as when it initially appeared in 1990, architectural and industrial paint and coatings manufacturers are not slowing down in the research and development of new generations of waterborne coatings.

  • Why Hire a Professional Painter?

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

    Safety: Painting can be hazardous work, whether it’s working on a ladder or dealing with solvents and dust....

  • The True Cost of Painting

    Most homeowners approach house painting the way investors approach the stock market-looking for the best long-term value and the greatest return on investment.

    If you share this philosophy, then your choice of paint is quite simple, according to experts at the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality...

  • Painting Aluminum & Vinyl Siding

    Painters are often asked, can aluminum and vinyl siding be successfully painted? When considering painting these surfaces keep this thought in mind. Aluminum and vinyl siding are already painted surfaces. Just like any other painted surface it requires maintenance and repainting. Prior to...

  • Contractor Check List

    We are concerned about the growing number of consumer complaints against home improvement contractors. As a result of many of the "Fly By Nights" who open up shop during the season and close down and disappear when the peak is over with, many legitimate contractors are being left with having to...

  • Homeowner Beware

    A man writes a check for a down payment on what he believes will soon be his new deck, only to continue looking out the patio door at some dirt and the holes that had been dug for footings that never got poured. Another family has contracted with a "company" to paint the exterior of their home,...