From the Floors Up

Various Types of Paint Primer for Your Project

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There are so many different types of primers on the market today that it is confusing to know which one to use. To help, we have compiled a list of the kinds of paint primers and hope that this will guide you during your selection. Since there are so many types, we could not list all of them at one time. We recommend keeping a copy of this list for questions you may have at a later date, and we hope this helps!

What Is Primer?

A primer will allow for a top coat to dry the way it should naturally dry. If the topcoat dries by liquids soaking on the surface, this process will pull out the solvents in the wrong way, and the paint will dry too fast. Speaking of drywall, solvents that soak into drywall normally damage the drywall. Therefore, drywall primers don not have solvents that interfere with the drywall.

Acrylic Primer

Acrylic primer is high-quality, and the quality of the acrylic primer will reflect the price tag. Keep in mind that most high-quality primers are acrylic primers. Acrylic primers do a great job at sealing, filling in cracks, and bonding like no other.

PVA Primer

Poly Vinyl Acetate or PVA is a good primer, made to use on brand new drywall and mud finish. PVA is perfect, especially if you have an expensive topcoat paint, and you want it to cover without buying more topcoat paint. PVA primer will take a small amount of topcoat paint/tint color very well. The amount of PVA used to prime the drywall is less if a tint is added to the primer. PVA does a great job of sealing drywall and dries smoothly. Keep in mind that you might not want to use PVA as a primer in rooms that are very popular with your family, simply because it cannot compare to high-quality acrylic primers. Think about priming rooms that are less used in the home like a guest room.

Bonding Primer

Bonding primers are a good quality primer. They work great at adhering to glossy surfaces, drywall, cured plastic, masonry, wood, galvanized metal, and aluminum. Bonding primer blocks stains from knots, water damage, crayons, and grease. It is also a great primer for enamel undercoatings. If you have a problem area where the paint is already peeling, do not use a bonding primer. If you are using a good quality bonding primer when applied, it will grab onto and grip the surface tightly. If your surface is already peeling, a bonding primer will cause the peeling paint to peel even more.

We hope our research has helped to answer some of your questions, and please drop us a line with any additional questions you may have!

Capturing the Perfect Pictures of Your Home

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From uploading photos to help sell your space or just sharing pictures of your latest home improvement project over the internet, there are hundreds of reasons you may want to capture pictures of your home. Residential photography may not be professional photography; however, mastering some pro tips can help take your photos to the next level. Since a picture can say a thousand words, taking a poor picture can give a negative impression on a truly beautiful project or home. To help, here is everything you need to consider when photographing your home:

Lighting

Lighting has a very dramatic effect on the quality of your pictures. It is essential to have a well-lit room whenever taking your pictures. Make sure all your light fixtures are turned on while also allowing natural outdoor lighting to have an effect on the photos. You do not want one or the other to overpower one another, so you may need to find the perfect time of the day. Some photographers will refer to this time as the Golden Hour. This time is when the sun is just rising or just setting. Also, you should make sure to take outdoor photos during this time as well.

Composition

The composition of the photograph is what you initially capture. Try capturing the main focal point of the room directly in the center of the shot. Accenting architecture and decor can allow our eyes to wander and explore the picture. However, the demand for attention should be directly in the center of each picture!

Angles

Lights may create a glare. Taking a photograph at “eye-level” is rarely the best angle to capture a picture. Angles can portray a room to be much smaller or much larger. Make sure you are capturing your photographs at the most optimal angels. This could be from an elevated corner of the room or from outside a doorway. Mastering angles on your photography is one of the most effective ways to dramatically change a shot.

Try to adopt some of these techniques in your own photography. They can help make your photographs more than just social media worthy, but truly awe-inspiring. Just remember when posting that your photographs should truly capture the beauty of your estate.

Choosing the Right Firewood for the Job

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Whatever your reason for building a fire, the quality relies heavily on having the right fuel to burn. If you are bringing some winter warmth into your home with a fire beneath your mantle, you will want to use a different wood than you would for a bonfire with your friends. Choosing the right type of wood will have a considerable impact on the heat and length of a burn. When it comes to burning wood in your home, using the wrong type of wood could actually be dangerous! Therefore, it is essential to learn what kind of fuel is right for your needs.

Hardwood vs. Softwoods

When it comes to purchasing firewood, there are two categories: hardwood and softwood. Hardwoods are denser, so they typically create more heat and burn for a longer time than softwoods do. This makes them the better choice for heating your house, whether with a fireplace or wood-burning stove. There are numerous types of both hardwoods and softwoods to choose, but Ash, Oak, and Birch are a few common hardwoods you may recognize when you are looking to purchase your own firewood.

Indoor Woods

Softwoods are not as dense as hardwoods, so they dry out quicker than hardwoods would. They also ignite better and burn faster than hardwoods, making them ideal as starter wood. Cedar is an excellent example of a good softwood to use indoors as a starter wood. If you plan to build your fire indoors, avoid using pine. It burns very easily, but the high sap and resin content can cause buildup in the chimney flue, which could lead to a chimney fire.

Outdoor Woods

If you are planning a bonfire with your friends, the type of wood you are burning is not going to make much of a difference, but when it comes to burning wood in your home, it is important that you make the right choice. The correct wood is essential in order to accomplish a long, slow burn and produce the most considerable amount of heat. Furthermore, the wrong type of wood could be potentially dangerous, so it is extremely important to know the basics before starting a fire indoors.

While the comfort of fire is always enjoyable, knowing your woods is vital. Remember to stay safe whenever creating a fire. Any questions can be left below in the comment section. We love to hear from you, and remember to subscribe!

Interior Design Styles Trending Around the World | Part Three

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We commonly look at the trends in interior design happening around us; however, the world has a considerable influence on where design is heading. Here is a look at some of the biggest trends happening around the world today in other countries:

Kyrgyzstan – Simple Yet Cozy

Kyrgyzstan is a small country in East Asia. Many global trends have little to no effect on Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan puts comfortability, functionality, and coziness at the forefront of its design. You will notice much of the designs are simple. They prefer to put light and airy colors into the design.

Luxembourg – Scandinavian

Luxembourg is a very wealthy country. Being European, you can see a lot of Scandinavian roots coming to fruition in their design. It incorporates modern, sleek lines with a contribution to natural elements that makes a dapper and elegant interior.

Mexico – Patterned Textiles

Mexican culture takes pride in its many elaborate and cultural patterns. You still see patterns being very influential today in Mexico. Even with a modernized influence, patterns continue to flood their designs. You can see patterns in all sorts of textiles from pillows, curtains, blankets, rugs, and more. They also handmake and manufacture many of their own textiles for their designs, making them feel even more authentic to their culture.

Netherlands – Art Deco

The Netherlands is currently exploring a path similar to Art Deco. With many geometrical patterns and strong, unique features, the Netherlands’ design is very unique! It is not uncommon to see their design explore new and contemporary approaches to Art Deco. From Contemporary art to unusually-shaped light fixtures, this design theme takes a whimsical approach in a very unique fashion. Yet they still keep it grounded with a neutral color palette.

Oman – Lavished and Extravagant

Oman design is very intricate and highly lavished. With extravagant detail and tile work, these homes keep beauty at the forefront. These designs will put exaggerated detail in the ceilings, lightings, walls, and everything in between there. One step into an Oman home and you will quickly recognize the beauty they have to offer.

Did some of these countries’ current design trends surprise you? There are still many other countries to explore! Make sure to check out the rest of the series to see some more of the trending designs around the world.

The Best Home Investments for Resale Value

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Home investments can be quite costly at times. When you are looking to put your house on the market, it is important to know what areas will have a higher return-on-investment. Putting money into projects that do not help the resale value or increase the chances of selling your home can be a waste of valuable time and money. You need to remember, when selling a property, do not take things personally. By that, we mean, tailor your home for what will help it sell the quickest and for the best price on the market today.

Tailor to the Market

Selling your home means you cannot personalize it anymore. Instead, it is time to tailor your home to the market’s needs. Look at homes selling in your area. See what they are selling for and what key features make their homes more valuable. You will begin to notice patterns with the more research you do. Perhaps you notice no two-bedroom homes are selling in your areas, but three bedrooms are moving very rapidly off the market. You may want to convert a room in your home to provide an extra bedroom. Additionally, you may also notice homes with solid hardwood floors have a more respectable pricing bracket. Perhaps also granite countertops homes sell for more money. Look at the cost of completing these projects and weigh out the return-on-investment.

Updates

Typically, you will want your home to be up-to-date. If you are making an investment by renovating a home, put the money to good use by using it in outdated areas. For example, if your kitchen appliances or bathrooms need to be finished, consider minor remodels. Since these can be costly projects, try to look for the most cost-effective ways to get these rooms up-to-date. Also, consider that the homebuyer may change out your preferences later, especially if you take a more cost-effective route. You want your home to offer them a move-in-ready appeal with no lingering projects.

Neutral Palette

Homes with a neutral color palette will typically move quicker in the marketplace. While you may love your turquoise bedroom walls and yellow backsplash, this may not be the case for your buyers. Buyers and investors want a home to be move-in ready. They do not want to consider what modifications and home improvement projects they will need to tackle right off the bat. Instead, try to make your home neutral throughout using beiges, whites, greys, and tans. These colors will work with almost any theme that the buyer is looking to put into their home.

Spacious Layouts

You may also want to make rooms look more spacious for open houses by putting extra furniture in storage units. A living room with a minimalistic approach can feel more adaptable than a tastefully done eclectic-style den. While your style may be beautiful, it is crucial to make the space feel large and neutral.

With these investments in mind, you can start to modify your home for resale purposes. Start by writing down the cost of investments. Do your homework and find out the pricing of changing your property. Discover the return-on0investments and what is right for you.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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