Extending The Life Of Your Exterior Paint Job With Regular Pressure Cleaning

Although the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, the countdown to spring is underway, and with it time for Spring Cleaning. You might be surprised by problems affecting the longevity of paint performance – most of which can be minimized with a thorough Pressure Cleaning.
Over the course of the seasons, acid rain residue, salt deposits, oily pollution, dust, soot, mildew, and algae all build up on the surfaces of your home. You would never think that these simple items can cause premature paint breakdown, but they do. The solution to prolonging the durability of an exterior paint job is to have your home Pressure Cleaned every 2-3 years.
Weathered wood and peeling paint also become an issue as your house is continually exposed to the elements, and a thorough Pressure Cleaning should be completed prior to exterior painting to ensure proper adhesion of new paint.
Pressure Cleaning is the most cost-effective way to maintain your home and can save you both the time and expense of having to repaint 2 – 3 times as often. It will also leave your house looking “its best” for the start of the outdoor season as we look forward to gathering together in our outdoor spaces.
Areas that benefit from Pressure Cleaning include:

House (stone, stucco, brick and siding)
Walkways
Patios
Decks
Pool Surrounds
Retaining Walls

It’s time to add Pressure Cleaning to your Exterior Maintenance To Do List now for the start of the exterior season.

3 Important Things to Consider If You’re Planning A Project In The Near Future

If we’ve learned anything over the past 18 months, it’s that what we thought would be a temporary change in the way we work and live has now become a more permanent way of life for many of us. And while it’s easy to focus on the negatives, there are also a few positives that have resulted from the shift to what we all now refer to as “the new normal.”
A recent study found that adults are spending 53% more time at home. This means many of our daily routines and habits have changed. Here are the top 3 trends we’ve seen as a result, and what it means for homeowners looking to make updates to their homes.

Our Allocation of “Space” Has Changed

Many of us are working remotely, trying new hobbies, spending time with loved ones and pursuing interests individually and as families. As a result, we are re-thinking how we use all of the space in our homes and what we’ll need moving forward. Many are
re-allocating space for dedicated home offices, carving out space for a new hobby, and creating places where we can find enjoyment both alone and together.

Our Need For “Color” Has Shifted

We are beginning to remember why we love and need color in our homes. We’re adding it to our walls, through fun accent pieces and even with new furniture purchases. As someone recently said: “I realized on my Zoom calls, everyone’s walls were either gray or white and I became instantly bored with the sameness of it all.”

Our Interior “To Do” List Has Gotten Longer

While working remotely has given us back our most precious resource – time – we have become more observant in noticing all of the things we’ve put off fixing or updating. The added time at home has now motivated many of us to complete these updates and enhance the beauty around us within our own homes.
These realizations have also lead to a substantial increase in the demand for home decorating and remodeling services. Which means there is an increased need to plan ahead.
If you find yourself ready to refresh or update the colors in your home or it’s been a while since you had any exterior maintenance work done, now is the time to start the process. While we may be in the midst of winter, NOW is the best time to start planning for spring and summer projects.

The Importance of Maintaining the Exterior of Your Home

Most people don’t realize that water damage poses the greatest threat to both the interior and exterior of your home.
As we move into the heart of the Summer season, it’s time to make sure your house is sound and protected in preparation for the colder months to come. Here are some tips on where to start and what to look for.
1 – Start at the Top: It’s always a good idea to have your roof, any flashing, tops of chimneys and gutters and downspouts inspected every few years to avoid costly repairs in the future.
    
2 – Out of Sight often translates to Out of Mind:  If you have 2nd or 3rd story dormers, make sure to have the sides inspected for wood rot and/or peeling paint and take care of any needed repairs before things deteriorate any further.
You’ll also want to inspect all horizontal surfaces (as they wear more quickly than other areas on your home) paying particular attention to window sills and bases of doors and columns.
     
3 – Keep it Clean: Just like washing your car regularly helps maintain the durability of the finish, Pressure Cleaning your house every 2-3 years also helps extend the life of the paint job. Stone, stucco, brick, and siding can all be pressure cleaned as well as shutters, patios, pool surrounds, decks, and walkways.

Front Porch Stair Replacement in Chestnut Hill, Pa.

After over forty years in business, many people are still unaware of the additional services offered by John Neill Painting & Decorating. A prime example of this is a front porch stair replacement we recently completed. This project included the removal of the existing stairs (which were beyond repair), pouring a new concrete footer at the base of the new stairs, installing new stringers, treads, and risers plus a new railing, and finally, painting the new stairs and front porch.
If you have a project at your home that involves multiple trades (ie – carpentry, masonry, painting, etc), give us a call and let our team of craftsmen handle it all from start to finish (and with much less work on your end in dealing with multiple companies). ?
 









“Your carpenter did a wonderful job rebuilding the front porch. He was very detail oriented and took great pride in his work.”
– Carol Strasbaugh, Chestnut Hill, Pa.
 

Water Damage and Drywall Repair

Water damage – these are two words that homeowners never like to hear. Unfortunately water poses the greatest single threat to both the interior and exterior of your home. The most common interior issue we encounter is drywall damage to ceilings (and sometimes walls) due to a bathroom leak.
Thankfully, our team of craftsmen can repair drywall on both ceilings and walls to blend seamlessly with the surrounding area. If you have water damage in your home, the first step is to call a plumber and make sure that the source of the leak is properly addressed (we can recommend one if needed). Once the issue has been resolved, give us a call and we’ll be happy to take care of the repairs and painting so you can get back to more important things, like the peak  Cherry Blossom viewing, March Madness, and the start of the golf season.

 
 

Preparing Your House For Winter

While leaf peeping, Octoberfest and trick-or-treating may be on your fall to do list, there’s another important “to do” that you won’t want to overlook. Preparing your house for winter should be a part of your annual maintenance and can really help you avoid more costly repairs later. Inspecting the exterior of your home early in the season ensures time to handle any issues that you may find well before winter sets in. A few areas to pay close attention to include your: roof, chimney, gutters and downspouts. Download our Winter Preparation Checklist for more details on how to “winterize” your home.

 

Exterior Painting in Philadelphia Before Planting

Do your exterior painting in Philadelphia BEFORE you do your landscaping this spring with John Neill Painting & Decorating! Now that spring weather is finally here (sort of), do you have landscaping on your to do list? If so, it would be a good idea to get your pressure cleaning, exterior carpentry, or exterior painting taken care of first. While we do take great care to protect your plants, getting your maintenance work done before they go in saves us all time and potential worry over newly planted flowers and shrubs. Here’s to a beautiful spring and the prettiest yard on the block.

 

Spring is Just Around the Corner

Since Spring is just around the corner (hopefully), now would be a good time to take a walk around your home and see if you are in need of any exterior maintenance. This could include pressure cleaning, carpentry repairs, painting, or stucco and masonry repairs. Visit our Exterior Painting page to download your free Exterior Maintenance Checklist, and then give us a call to save your space on our spring schedule.

Five Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Painting Contractor

Hiring a contractor can often be a stressful and unsettling endeavor. With nearly 40 years in business, we’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation and provided you with the key questions to ask before making your final decision. Finding a company you are truly comfortable with can make all the difference in a stressful vs. a successful experience. Here are 5 questions to ask BEFORE hiring a painting contractor that can help you save money and make sure the job is done right!
What products will they use?
Not all paint is created equal, and generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Be sure to ask about the products that will be used for your job. These play a key role in both the aesthetic appeal and the durability of the completed project, and if you want the best results possible you may need to be willing to spend a little more on the products.
What preparation will be done?
 The key to a durable and long lasting paint job lies in the preparation before the finish coat is applied. Be sure to ask about all of the preparation that will be completed prior to applying the final coat of paint.

Who will be performing the work?
 There are painters, and then there are craftsman. Be sure to ask about the people who will be sent to your home to complete the work; how long they have been with the company, their skill level and product knowledge, and how available they will be to answer any questions that may arise along the way. Remember, they will most likely be in or around your house for at least a week, so you will want to choose a company you feel comfortable working with.
What is their reputation like?
Check to see how long they have been in business and what type of reputation they have established. A well-established painting contractor should be willing and able to provide you with references and testimonials upon request, and you should not be shy about asking for them.
And the last of the five questions to ask before hiring a painting contractor is…
What type of warranties do they offer?
Many customers do not realize that they are warranties on home services such as painting. Any reputable painting contractor should offer one, and be sure to ask about the details and read the fine print. If the initial price of the work to be completed seems high, look at the warranty offer and evaluate the overall long-term cost of when you will have to repaint again. You may actually find that spending the extra money up front will be in your favor over the long run.
See our Painting Services page to see how John Neill Painting & Decorating can help you in Philadelphia and the Main Line!

Perfect Painting Weather

We hope you’re enjoying the beautiful start to fall as much as we are, and just wanted to remind you that this is perfect painting weather. Fall is always a good time to take a walk around your home to see if you’re in need of a pressure cleaning, carpentry repairs, or any painting before the start of the winter season. Routine maintenance is the key to protecting your biggest investment – your home.

For more, see our Painting Services to see how John Neill Painting & Decorating can serve you in the greater Philadelphia area and The Main Line.