Finding a reputable, trustworthy contractor to come into your home and take care of your projects can be a daunting task. Many homeowners turn to home improvement marketplaces like Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor for help. While they can seem like great ideas at first, most homeowners don’t know what they’re actually signing up for. So what are you signing up for when visiting these sites and what is a better way to go about finding the right contractor for your home project with less of a headache involved? When you sign up for Angie’s List or HomeAdvisor, an important thing to know is that your name is then SOLD to those contractors that the sites partner with. One of the most common complaints that is heard from homeowners is that they will get repetitive calls - even when they request not to be called. Creations by Brian, LLC specifically does not partner with these sites for several reasons. We have been asked why we don’t pay to be one of their expert contractors. Creations by Brian, LLC prefers to participate in our communities instead of paying for lead advertising. It allows our team to be involved, reduces turnover, and ensures more training for our employees, which benefits our customers through a better quality of work to have the same people on their projects over the years. Many of our business peers have lost thousands of dollars advertising through these sites. This means their costs and your prices are increasing dramatically. We’ve found that in order to provide you, our customers, with the best quality and service, it involves staying away from sites like Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor. Our suggestion is to do your own research if you’re looking for a legitimate, reliable business that will communicate with you about your project and do quality work. Creations by Brian, LLC has a website, social media account, Google listing, as well as many previous customers who have shared their testimony. Use all these methods to verify the company, especially reviews. When looking at the websites and social media accounts, pay attention to how frequently they are updated. Was the last post last week, last month, last year? Are people leaving reviews and how long ago was their last review? Do they post pictures of the work they have done? What are people saying on these reviews and is the business responding to them professionally? Here at Creations by Brian, LLC we understand that you want to know we are a legitimate business and that you can trust us in your home. We do everything in our power to provide you with the resources you need to make an informed decision and let you know that you can trust us. One of the best ways we’ve found to find a reputable contractor is to ask your friends and neighbors who they have used in their home, and if they would use them again. One tried and true method is to make a post on FaceBook in a community group asking who others have used and recommend. Typically there are a few companies that will pop up again and again. They are very likely ones you should contact. We utilize this approach often and have had great experiences. Plus, it’s quick, easy, efficient, reliable AND takes less time than you would spend on any of the home improvement marketplace websites like Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor. Want more information or to see our sources? Check out the websites below: HomeAdvisor vs Anglie's List vs Houzz vs Porch vs Thumbtack vs Yelp vs Bark Angie's List Membership Agreement Homeadvisor and Angie's List Class Action Lawsuit LARA - Verify a License - can search for a company, person, or license number in the search bar on the right hand side directly under the “login” button.

Paint can last anywhere from a few months to over a decade. It depends on the type of paint, the temperature it is stored, and the tightness of the seal. Latex paint can last up to 10 years and oil-based paints can make it to 15 years. Factors that Affect a Paint’s Shelf-Life Type of paint. Different types of paints have different components and processes in how they were created. This is by far one of the biggest factors that dictate a paints shelf life. Storage Temperature. The temperature of the room your paint is stored at greatly affects the condition of your stored paint. If your storage room has experienced freezing temperature or extreme heat, your paint may be ruined. Extreme temperatures to paint are below 50°F or above room temperature, or 72°F. When exposed to extreme temperatures the paint components may separate, which makes them unusable. Paint needs to be in a climate controlled area instead of a garage or shed. Quality of seal. The tightness of a seal can also affect how long paint will last. In order to prolong its shelf life, paint should be properly sealed. If there are exposed openings or holes, the paint will either dry up or be full of bacteria. How to Recognize Paint Gone Bad If the paint can is bulging or the lid is puffed up, there are microorganisms eating the paint and giving off gas. The gas generates pressure and inflates the can. If the paint has a thick, rubber-like film topping the paint, or it won’t mix well when stirred. If paint does not stay uniformly blended for 10 to 15 minutes after mixing the paint. Do not use the paint if it is chunky or textured. If there is a foul odor coming from the paint can after opening, there is mold growing inside and is immediately unusable. Paint should not smell like fish. If your paint has gone bad, make sure to dispose of it properly! Some paint is considered hazardous waste, and cannot be disposed of by throwing away. If you’re ever in doubt about whether paint is still good or not, err on the side of caution and do not apply the paint to your project. It will not lay down properly or perform as you are expecting it to.

If you like to do-it-yourself, you probably take as many precautions as possible to protect your carpet when taking on a weekend painting project. Even though you covered the floor as carefully as possible with drop cloths or plastic, some paint may have gotten on the carpet. This is not the end of the carpet's life. There are ways that you may be able to get that paint out of your carpet. Water-based, oil-based, and latex paint each have a different removal process. Water-Based Paint If you’ve accidentally gotten water-based paint on your carpet, the removal process is fairly simple. If the paint is still wet, simply blot the spot with a hot microfiber cloth. Do not scrub the blot! If the paint is dry, use hot water and a small amount of dish detergent. Let the solution sit for a few minutes to soften to the paint. Once it has softened, use a knife or pin to scrape the paint stain. As you are scraping, continue to add more solution. If the paint is not softening using this technique, use a handheld steamer while you scrape. Oil-Based Paint Oil-based paint can be a trickier than water-based paint. If the spot is still wet, you will need to use the recommended thinning agent for that specific paint. The specific thinning agent required is listed on the paint can. Blot the area with a cotton cloth moistened with the the thinning agent. There are also a number of stain removing products available that may work as well. If the paint stain is dry, use a steamer to soften the stain. Apply steam directly to the area, then pick at the stain using a needle or a pin to try and break it up. Continue this process until the stain is removed from your carpet. Latex Paint The process for removing latex paint is fairly simple if it is wet, but a little more complicated if it has dried. If the spot on your carpet is still wet, you will need to blot it to remove as much paint as possible without scrubbing it. You will then mix a cup of lukewarm water with one teaspoon of mild dish soap. Apply small amounts of the solution to the stained area, and while gently blotting it, work from the outside of the area to the inside. After letting the area dry completely, follow up by vacuuming. For dried latex paint spots, scrape off as much as possible with a knife. Saturate the dried paint with water before vacuuming the area with a wet/dry vacuum. Keep repeating this process until you have removed as much paint as possible. Use dish soap and water in small amounts on the stained area. Scrub the area with a brush, and continue this part of the process until you have removed the paint.

A huge worry people have when inviting a contractor into their home is the impending mess that seems to follow projects. This can create hesitation when contemplating interior or exterior painting. Right about now, you’re probably wondering whether the contractor you choose will clean up after your painting project. If these are your worries, Creations By Brian, LLC is a good fit for you! We have a process in place to make sure you will never have to worry about your home being clean. We have a daily list, and a final day list to hold our team accountable. DAILY LIST All personal items and trash will be placed in a garbage container and taken with us at the end of each day. All floors, rugs, and exterior walkways will be vacuumed and swept. Upon request, all furniture will be replaced to original positions and all lamps and appliances will be plugged in. Outlet covers, heating/air conditioning ducts, bathroom fixtures, and appliances will be returned to original placement. Upon request, all window coverings will be replaced. All floors will be checked and any paint spills or drips will be removed. All non-painted surfaces will be checked for paint spills or drips including baseboards, windows, furniture, etc. All paint will be properly sealed, and all paint and supplies will be stored in a designated work area. All tools, including brushes, rollers, and buckets, will be cleaned. The clean-up sink and work area will be left clean. All ladders and equipment will be secured in designated work areas. All paint and supplies will be checked to ensure sufficient material for the next work day. We will make sure the job site is secure if the client is not present prior to leaving. FINAL DAY All non-painted surfaces will be checked for drips. All door, window, and electrical hardware will be reinstalled if removed. All windows, cabinets, doors, and other movable parts previously painted will be checked for proper movement. Plastic will be removed. All ladders, equipment, and garbage will be removed from the client’s home. A final walk through will be conducted with the client to inspect job one day prior to completion of job.

Leftover paint is a common item found in almost every household. However, as common as it may be, it is equally common for paint to go bad faster than it should. This is often due to not properly storing paint, or not taking the necessary steps when reusing it. To help you help your paint stay usable longer, we have created two lists for you. The first is how to properly store your paint after being opened. The second is tips for making the most of your leftover paint. How to Properly Store Paint Mark your cans or containers . Write what surface you painted on, name of the paint and paint number on the can. If you are a Creations By Brian client, we will label your paint cans with the room description and our contact info in case you have questions! Seal Properly . Before closing the paint container, wipe off paint residue so you can seal it properly. This is essential for opening the container easily when you need the paint again. If you want to create a tighter seal, use a plastic bag as a gasket under the lid of the container. Repackage . To make sure paint remains in a usable condition, make sure to package it in tightly sealed containers to reduce it's contact with air. If you only have a small amount of paint left, you can transfer it to a jar or smaller packaging in order to save space in your storage area. Store in a cool, dry location . Place your leftover paint containers on shelves or inside cabinets in a temperature controlled area. Keep in mind that exposure to extreme temperatures can separate its components or deteriorate the paint. Avoid hammering the lid . Avoid using too much force when closing the can. This can deform the can and therefore compromise the seal, which allows air and other contaminants to enter the can. Use a rubber mallet instead of a hammer to tightly close the lid. Tips for Making the Most of Your Leftover Paint Mix properly . It's essential to mix the paint before using it again. This is to combine all the necessary components that may have settled or separated while in storage. This ensures that the stored paint will match the applied ones. Check for lumps . Lumps can formulate inside the cans over time. If there are lumps, use a strainer to filter the solid parts before using the paint. Color match . Make sure the color of the stored paint still matches the applied paint. If it does not match, try mixing the paint properly since the color may have settled at the bottom of the can. Correct Disposal . When the paint is no longer usable, it is important to dispose of it properly. This helps avoid harmful effects to the environment and other people. See our Paint Disposal Blog Post to learn more on how to dispose of paint properly! Whether you’re keeping leftover paint for touch-ups or for future DIY projects, you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Properly taking care of your leftover paint will prolong its shelf life and help make the most of your leftover paint.

You’ve hired your contractor, you’ve checked their references (in our case, you’ve watched our video testimonies or read our reviews), and they are starting soon. It is important to prepare for your contractor in an effort to ensure you have a beautiful finished project. Now you’re probably wondering, what you can do to prepare for your contractor. We have compiled a checklist for you! Please make arrangements for your home to be accessible and have pets safely contained. Give thought to how we will obtain entry if you are not home (i.e. spare key, garage, neighbor letting us in, etc.). Specify which bathroom may be used by the team. If we are painting walls where there are pictures, drapes, mirrors, or other wall hangings, please remove all nail or picture hangers unless you want items to be rehung in the same place. Please remove all clothing and miscellaneous items from closets if we are painting closets. If there is a bookshelf in the room being painted, take the books off so we can move the shelf easily. Remove all breakables from china cabinets and shelving if it is to be moved as we are not responsible for anything left. Keep in mind that after doors are painted, they need to be left open or ajar for approximately 4 hours to dry. Select the colors ideally 2 weeks prior to the work beginning. Please email color name and number to the office. We recommend flat for low-traffic areas such as ceilings, walls and closets. For high-traffic areas, we suggest eggshell or washable matte. When selecting a color, be conscious of the different lighting in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Remember, Creations By Brian, LLC offers free color consultations! Make sure all windows can be opened. If you are unable to do this due to physical restrictions or some other factor, we will make arrangements with you to get this step done. If multiple rooms are being painted, we will need ALL rooms to be ready for us. It may not be possible to complete one room at a time because of drying time between coats, drywall repairs, etc. All rooms that were worked in will be cleaned up before the end of the day. You are responsible to evaluate the interior and report to the Creations By Brian, LLC team any areas that need minor repairs. If needed, we will make the necessary repairs. Keep in mind, we provide a warranty for one free hour long touch-up per year for 3 years.

There are many factors that go into making a decision about what color to paint a room. It doesn’t matter if you’re completely redecorating or looking for a small change to your home, choosing the right color scheme can be very difficult, especially when you want different rooms to give off a certain feel. To make this matter easier, we have comprised a list of four things to consider before selecting your color: The room's lighting . This one is the most important! The natural light, number of windows, and amount of artificial lighting makes a huge difference when selecting the wall color. One of my home's bathrooms has no windows, and when my kids were little I wanted a duck bathroom for them. This meant painting the walls orange and having royal blue accents. It was playful, but I would never consider putting my makeup on in that room. The lack of lighting combined with the color of the walls distorted everything. The wrong color changes the lighting! The trim and crown molding . This is important because trim and crown molding breaks up your space, adds depth, and creates accents to the color you choose. Trim adds definition to a room, and crown molding lets you know that the wall is ending and the ceiling is beginning. If you’re painting your walls a darker color it will be better accentuated by white trim/crown molding to brighten the room and make it appear bigger. On the flip side, a lighter wall color with white trim/crown molding will make the room appear clean and crisp. The room's mood . It has been found that colors elicit different natural reactions. If you’re going for a calming feel to a room, blue would be a good color. The color blue can make you feel centered, relaxed, serene and has been known to help lower blood pressure. If you want to brighten your mood, yellow is the right color. Yellow catches the sunlight, brightens your mood, and can increase your energy. The color red is linked to high energy, and has been known to raise blood pressure, heart rate, and irritability. However, red is a great color to use for socializing and suggest you keep this color in social rooms as opposed to rooms that are meant for relaxing. No matter what mood you’re going for, there is a color for you. Versatility . It is important to many people that their room colors be versatile. This means choosing a color that allows change in furniture and decor without having to change the color as well. If your goal is versatility, then it is often better to choose neutral colors such as beige, black, gray, white, and brown. Having neutral colors does not have to mean boring! You can throw in accent pieces to liven the room up with some color, and change your furniture as much as you want without having to paint the walls again. If you keep these main four things in mind, you should have no problem choosing the color that is right for you! Once you have chosen your wall color, the next step is easy: choosing the right paint brand. Here at Creations By Brian, LLC, we recommend using top of the line products from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams for all of your painting projects.

We know that it can be intimidating when hiring a painting contractor, and we want you to know that you are not alone in this feeling! There is a really good reason why some contractors offer really cheap prices. To protect yourself and your family, make sure before you hire any painting contractor, that they can answer YES to the following 23 questions: Reputation and Stability of Painting Contractor: Have you been in the business for over 20 years? Will you supply me with references? Do you maintain Liability and Workman’s Compensation Insurance? Will your insurance agent send us your certificate directly? Are you an accredited business with an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau? Do you maintain business accounts with local suppliers maintained in good standing? Are you an active member of Painting & Decorating Contractors of America-PDCA (the most widely known professional association for painting contractors)? Do you hold a Maintenance & Alteration License in Michigan? Are you a Licensed Residential Builder in the state of Michigan? DBA* or LLC* is not the same as having a Maintenance & Alteration of Builders License. Experience & Service: Do you have a company policy to return all phone calls within 24 hours during normal business hours? Are you reachable during the day if I have questions? Do you have a written painting process for interior and exterior work? Do you have over 1500 satisfied clients since 2003? Do you have a written policy that prohibits smoking or use of alcohol/drugs by you and your team? Will you provide, in writing, an approximate start and completion date for my project? Follow Up and Follow Through: Will you provide a written quote with a price guarantee for the work specified? Do you honor the quotes price (via e-mail) with a signed contract for a specific time period? Do you provide a walk through with me at the completion of my project? Do you have a customer satisfaction survey after completion of my project? Will you provide me with a 3-year warranty for my project? Creations By Brian, LLC proudly answers YES to all these questions! Feel free to keep this checklist for the next time you are interviewing a contractor!

Peeling paint significantly lowers the attractiveness of a building. A beautiful house turns into a rotting structure and a clean bathrooms turns into an unsanitary mess when paint peels from the walls and siding. Paint can start to peel a few days to several years after application, and is most common on drywall and plaster ceiling. However, it can still happen in other areas of your home such as bathrooms, wooden decks, trim, siding, and window frames. You may be wondering what is causing your paint to peel from your home. This can actually be caused by a variety of things, but the most common reasons are water, high humidity, excessive condensation, poor surface preparation, using a paint incompatible with the surface, quality and condition of paint and primer, poor application methods, high temperature, and intense sunlight. Water, High Humidity, and Excessive Condensation Water is the primary cause of flaking paint on both bathroom walls and ceilings, as well as exterior walls. This is because water penetrates through the coats of paint, which causes the layers to separate and detach from the surface. High humidity can also cause moisture to build up on the walls. The end result of this is cracked and chipped layers of paint. Condensation usually occurs during and after a rainstorm. This leads to dampness and facilitates a favorable environment for mold and mildew. The fungi causes layers of paint to lift up and flake, and can also ruin new coats of paint. Water, high humidity, and excessive condensation is by far the most common reason that paint peels from the walls. This is particularly true in West Michigan because of the high humidity and condensation that comes with living so close to the great lakes. Poor Surface Preparation Another common reason that paint peels from the walls is poor surface preparation. For a coat of paint to stick, the surface should be wiped down properly. Paint will not stick to dirty surfaces, and it won’t take long before it begins to blister and peel. Dirt, grease, and oil prevent paint from adhering properly to wooden, metallic, and even concrete surfaces. Even if you don’t see anything dirty about it, something as small as dust, which is often leftover from freshly sanded drywall, can hinder paint from sticking properly. Using a Paint Incompatible to the Surface Another issue that can cause paint to peel is the use of a paint that is incompatible to the surface it is being used on. Some surfaces contain substances that react with paints that hinders its compatibility. New wood produces natural oils that can prevent effective paint adhesion. Smooth or glossy surfaces also have compatibility problems with some paints. Achieving full adhesion to a surface can be difficult when using some synthetic polymer materials. Polymers that are chemically cured make this compatibility problem much worse. Examples of these materials are epoxy and polyurethane. Making sure you are using paint that is compatible with the surface type is so important! Latex paints work best on brick, concrete blocks, drywall, painted/sealed wood and paneling. Oil-based paints are best on raw wood and metal surfaces. Quality and Condition of Paint and Primer The condition and quality of the paint you use is SO important. Using expired paint, the wrong type of primer, or low-quality paint brands can cause problems. There are different kinds of primers available for different surfaces. Primers are also designed to be used with different kinds of paints, so using the wrong primer can also lead to peeling. A similar outcome happens if you use expired paint. Paints expire after a certain amount of time and can separate, grow mold or mildew, and freeze. If your paint exhibits any signs of this or smells abnormal, then it is expired. If you decide to use it, you should expect to have a flaking problem. Some paint brands are really poor when it comes to flexibility and adhesion. Low-quality paints don’t dry or stick properly and will normally peel after a short amount of time. Paints that contain calcimine are not good, and you should choose a paint with lots of pigment, resin, and few solvents (such as water). Poor Application Methods Something as simple as using poor painting methods can cause paint to peel. Using the wrong brushes and applying layers too thin can make a coat of paint fail to adhere to the surface. This does not promote the formation of strong cohesive bonds to hold paint molecules together. Weak layers that are vulnerable to cracking and chipping are the result of poor application methods. High Temperatures and Intense Sunlight Paint does not adhere well to surfaces that often experience above standard temperatures. Intense sunlight makes oil paint fragile and vulnerable to cracking. Latex and elastic paints expand and contract when exposed to the sun. This ultimately weakens their adhesive bonds causing the paint to peel. High temperatures cause paint to dry faster, which prevents layers from forming strong bonds.