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The Best Colour Combinations for Exterior Walls

Exterior walls of the house speak a lot about our taste and personality. Anyone entering the house judges the entire decor from it. Whether you select textured paints for the outside walls or the normal shade of peach and white, this choice is a crucial one. Here are some of the perfect and awesome combinations for exterior paint.

Two tones of the same colour. This type of combination is widely used in homes. Use a subtle colour of your choice, preferably, one lighter and a darker shade of the same colour family. A mix of grey and ash or different shades of grey are quite common these days.

Lively colours. While some people opt for simple and modest colours, others like to use bright ones. You can add an elegant touch to your house with a brighter shade of exterior paint. Use a delicate shade of yellow for a few architectural highlights. A different, lighter shade like beige for rest of the walls.

Textured paints. Very few people use textured paints for the exterior of the house. However, in reality, a little texture on the outside looks amazing and gives an altogether different look to your house. A textured wall with off-white on all the other walls looks great.

Historical colours. Take some hint from the historical architecture. Shades of tan and brick colours were the most famous then, which if used in correct order can give a royal look. While brick red can be used for window sills and architectural highlights, two different shades of brown can be used on other walls.

Different shades for doors. We give the least attention to the doors. Different lively shades on doors can give an entirely new appearance to your house. The old boring door colour is restricted to brown. Instead, try blue, maroon, or dark grey.

Rural colours. If you have ever visited the rural side, you might have acknowledged how every home has an earthy touch. Shades of brown mixed with greenery gives your home a natural touch. Try using different shades of brown for everything. However, keep a balance in darker and lighter shades.

Use various colours. While using shades of the same colour are nice, but everyone does that. Try different colours for window sills, doors, and walls. Use contrasting colours that complement each other.

These are some of the best exterior paint options. Just look out for the nearby environment and your choice of colours, and select the perfect colour combination that is soothing to your eyes and reflects your personality.

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Style Your Interior Walls With The Top Trends Of 2018

An inviting and captivating home is good; a nice and comfortable one is better; and a bright and happy one is certainly the best!

Ask anyone what they want from their home and more often than not, they will wish for happiness and comfort for their family. Wallpapers, interior paints, architecture; all lie miles behind happiness. However, what many don’t understand is that they are all inter-related.

A stylish home gives you pleasure, makes you feel more at ease and therefore, makes you happy. To add to that, the mesmerizing effect it leaves upon guests is a sight to behold. So why not style your home in the best way possible? And not just with quality materials but the top trends of 2018, so that your home is well and truly ahead of the curve.

For those willing to blend in with the best 2018 has to offer, here are some dominating colour trends to follow:

Deep Turquoise: Moodier tones like deep turquoise are finding widespread popularity in living rooms and bedrooms this year.

Dark Plum: The rise of this dramatic purple shade proves that bold is back. It has found its spot in foyers and kitchen cabinets.

Windsor Pink: Dubbed as ‘millennial pink,’ this peach-salmon hybrid colour is neither too juvenile nor too mature, and is fit for any girl’s or baby’s room.

Courtyard Green: Deep emerald, as always, is still a favourite among the masses. It is a great option for drawing rooms with matching curtains and lamps.

Stone White: If your dining room faces west or is devoid of enough windows to let in a sufficient amount of sunlight, fake it with the stone white paint colour.

Olive: An automatic choice for those whose style resonates tradition. Olive green often produces an initial reaction of being dark and dingy, but slowly stamps its sophistication as being ideal for trim and millwork.

While blue, black chiffon and chinoiserie red are also among the top trends of the year, the interior wall painting colours mentioned above will suffice to make your home both alluring and charming. Styling your home with colours people around the world prefer gives you an elite feeling, and with the added benefit of using quality products, this feeling lasts really long.

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5 Reasons You Should Always Hire A Professional Painter

With the internet buzzing with do it yourself videos and blogs, it is quite obvious that you too are tempted to try your hand on something. But would you really risk a task like house painting? While you may be brilliant at art and crafts, there are few things that require an expert’s intervention and house painting is one of them.

If you are dicey between hiring a professional and doing it yourself, here are a few reasons that will put your mind to ease:

House wall painting does not mean to simply buy a can of paint with a     brush and start painting. The walls have to be cleaned thoroughly, the     patches have to be repaired, if need be the wall must be treated, and this     is just the beginning of the list. A professional painter knows the right     way to prep a wall before painting it in your preferred shade.

A wrong paint or a roller can spoil the whole finish of the wall, leaving you disappointed. An experienced person would know which tool to buy and from where for the best look. This is one trick that comes with     experience, something that the professionals have.

Many a times the colour on the shade cards differ from the actual wall colour. This is where you need an expert you can guide you with the     right hue, after considering other factors like light, usage of the room, the     size of the room, etc.

Whether you want to get a wall painted or the whole house, painting     requires many equipment. A professional painter will most likely have many of such equipment and these will be a part of the contract that you sign with him/her. You can save a lot of money this way.

More than often we cannot avoid the paint splatters during a house/ office painting project. Although we use old newspapers and other types of sheets to cover areas like windows and wall art, but a spot or two is still unavoidable. A professional painter will not only make sure that all     areas like windows are properly sealed, they will also ensure that they     clean the paint stains after the work is done.

Now that you know the importance of hiring a professional painter for house or office painting, the only thing remaining is choosing amazing shades for the rooms. Make no mistake here and make sure you invest in only the best paint company in India for a finish and look that does not let your guests blink!

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Decorating Ideas to Make Your Garden the Star Of Your House

A cup of warmth, few cushions, open sky, and a pleasant view… What else does one need after a long day at work?

Staying in an urban city gives very few options to relax the way we would like, but thanks to the balcony, we can create our own oasis right in our flat. Whether you want a place that transforms into a nice and cosy chill-out zone, or looking for a small, convenient home office, or maybe an inspiring interior garden, the balcony that we so often overlook can fulfil your dreams without many efforts.

 While the choices of exploiting and furnishing the balcony space are numerous, things can get complicated when it comes to decorating the space. Since the size of the balcony is usually moderate, it is only reasonable that we furnish it with eye-appealing items.

The foremost way to lift up the space is to paint it right. Specially made to withstand climatic changes and external factors, exterior paints for house in India are available in many colours to pick from. The array of choices they offer can help you exploit the walls of your balcony to their fullest decorative extent.

While looking for brands that manufacture exterior paints, go for the one that has:

-      Resistance to temperature fluctuations

-      Resistance to colour fading due to exposure to direct sunlight

-      Resistance to moisture

 Readiness to experiment with the interiors is required for creativity to get an extraordinary and adorning balcony.

 A trendy and versatile idea is mural painting. Reckoned amongst the most popular genres of wall painting, mural painting gives an impressive illusion of a spacious room.

 Another trend that is gaining popularity is opting for colourful applications. Easy, stylish and a worthy way of decorating the balcony space, exterior paints can upgrade the balcony when played with creatively.

An idea worth trying is to go for an all-natural, wooden theme with paint colours that match the amazing hues of brown. With an elegant looking swing, wooden chairs and beach rocks, you can add more spice to your balcony and create a great ambiance. Colourful potted plants, both hanging and on the floor can lend out an air of cosiness. Make sure to use high-quality wall putty and exterior paints to add some strength to this beautiful interior.

 Scented candles, mini lamps, book shelves, coloured smooth pebbles and many other things can complement the wall paint colour and lift your balcony. While choosing furniture, make sure it is smaller and easy-to-clean.

When it comes to decorating your apartment’s balcony, the sky is the limit and nothing should hold you back to design it the way you want.

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Why Interior and Exterior Paints

While you consider painting your home and you have to look out for different options of paints for walls, you come up with numerous variants to choose from. One thing remains static throughout, either those are interior or exterior wall paints, raising questions like, what exactly is the difference between them, what if exterior paint is used for interior wall painting and so on. British Paints offers a wide range of interior and exterior wall paints to choose form and help make your home a brilliant masterpiece.

A few decades back, answering this question could be tough, as there were not really any major differences between interior and exterior paints, but with the advancement of science and developments in paint chemistry, now there are a number of major differences between these two. So, while painting the exteriors and interiors, one has to get specific products.

Exterior paints are specially designed to be applied to surfaces that come in direct contact with harsh weather conditions, including sunlight, rains, dust and wind, hence are made to withstand these all. For this purpose, exterior paints are added with increased amounts of resin and pigment, along with resilient additives. These strengthening additives bring in volatile organic compounds (VOC), which outgas the paint in the first 48 hours of the application of the paint. Small amounts keep on releasing in the years to come, making it unsuitable for interior wall painting purpose. Furthermore, these paints can be applied to different types of substrates merely by changing the sheen. Mostly, flat sheen is used for walls, as it is porous in nature, enabling absorbed water to leave, which is absorbed by houses during rains. For metals, semi-gloss sheen is used as it hinders water from getting in and is more abrasion resistance.

Interior paints, unlike the exterior ones, have low to zero volatile organic compounds and are designed to withstand abrasion. They are made to be more delicate than the latter. The low VOC level of paints today is equivalent to the zero VOC paints from 10 years ago. But why VOC in interior paints? A minute amount of VOC in the interior paint gives it superior abrasion resistance and when compared to zero VOC paints, serves better, in terms of abrasion resistance. So, zero VOC paints are surely gentle on air, but are slightly gentle in performance as well. Furthermore, the interior paints are formulated to be scrubbed and this scrubbing is directly proportional to the amount of gloss in the paint. Ergo, flat paints are easy to apply, but cannot be washed, on the other hand, high gloss paints are hard to apply, but easy to be washed.

You may also find some paints that are ideal for interiors and exteriors both. These paints can be termed as the median for both types of the paints and carry similar properties to both types of paints. So, next time you are shopping for the paint job, you know what paints to buy for interiors and what for exteriors. Happy painting!

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Cost Effective Painting Techniques

Painting is something that instantly gives a new feel and vibe to your interiors. With even the slightest change in colours, the new looks give a pleasant and soothing feeling to the eyes and the heart as well. Wall painting is the quickest way to change the looks of the interiors, but many a time it ends up burning holes in the pockets as well, considering the fact that paint job is quite a pricey affair, and depending upon the choice of paints used, the cost may vary accordingly. While everybody likes to save on the expenditures and go light on their wallets, here are some wall painting tips from British Paints that will not only help in saving money, but also serve the purpose of re-decorating the interiors.

Home Painting Tips

Do it yourself

Yes, it may sound a bit strange to do it on your own, instead of hiring professionals for the job, but the reality is that painting is not at all a difficult task, but rather fun thing to do. Almost anyone and everyone can pull out this task very easily, without hiring experts. Even if this is the first time you are trying it, a few easy details will help you complete the job perfectly. Here are the details:

·         Make a schedule, plan your work accordingly, measure the wall size, ceilings, decide the colours and tools to be used

·         Create a list of all necessary items required for the job beforehand

·         Choose the items carefully while shopping and read the labels carefully

·         Switches, holders and lamps should be either disassembled or covered properly to avoid any stains

·         Always begin with the ceiling, instead of walls and do not forget to cover doors, floor and windows

·         Remember to take off the masking tape while the paint is still wet

Use good quality paints

It won’t be incorrect to quote for paints, ‘the less you spend, the more you spend’. Indeed, it is quite necessary to choose the right and good quality paints for the job. Surely you can a lot of cheap paints in the market, but they require a lot of coats and yet the end results are gruesome. Choosing good quality paints is recommended as not only they last long, but at the same time, give a beautiful finish to the walls. Furthermore, paints from brands like British Paints have excellent covering properties, are resistant to absorbance of stains and contaminations, washing and scrubbing. So in this manner, you save more in the long term.

Use primer

Primer is a cost saviour as it decreases the absorbing property of the walls and enhances the adhesive property, resulting in lesser consumption of paint, while offering better cohesion. With primer, small amount of paint is used, as it uniformly covers primed surfaces with ease and efficiency. Furthermore, primer costs way lesser paints, so it simply helps you in saving better.

Selection of tools

The choice of tools also help in saving money and reducing paint job costing. Rollers and paint brushes are ideal for residential paint jobs. The smoothness of the wall is directly proportional to the paint used and length of the roller hair is inversely proportional. Adjusting tool parameters as per the paint and substrate type are necessary, instead of taking risks with dilution of paint, as the diluted paint has poor covering properties and they may also change shades. And then you will be needing to add-on several more coats to gain the actual shade and texture as well.

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Rollers or Brushes: What to Use

While getting the interior or exterior wall paint job done, there are a number of choices to be made, including what type of paint to be used, what colours to be done and a lot more. It is indeed quite an ordeal to choose and select the best from the varied options available. One has to look for environmental effects while selecting exterior paints, in order to have long lasting results. British Paints offers the best of options to choose from, for both internal and external wall paints. One of the biggest questions that arises for the job to be done is, whether to use a roller or a brush?

Let’s have an understanding of what is exactly the purpose of brushes and rollers and how do they differ from each other.

Paint Rollers

Rollers are tools used for the application of paint on flat and large surfaces. These assist in enabling quick, efficient and smooth finish to the paint job. Consisting of two parts, roller frame and cover, the cover absorbs paint and with help of the frame, rolls onto the surface and applies paint.

They are available in a number of shapes and sizes to assist different types of requirement. Rollers help in making the paint job easier as:

1.       Absorb more paint than brushes.

2.       Apply paints quicker.

3.       Leave lesser seams.

4.       Leave fewer drips.

Paint Brushes

As we think of paint, we think of brushes. Indeed, brushes have been considered as the main tool required for a paint job. These are the best required tool to help with painting the hard to reach areas and uneven surfaces, where a roller fails.

The main uses of a brush include:

1.       To paint uneven surfaces and edges, where it is rather hard for the rollers to reach.

2.       To give a vintage/antique effect to the walls, through the strokes.

3.       To reach in and paint the small areas, where rollers won’t fit in.

 Now, while the usage of rollers and brushes is quite clear and defined, you may easily understand what you need, as per your requirement. In order to have a smooth and quick paint job on a large surface, you should opt for paint roller, unless you are looking to give an antique look to the walls. On the other hand, for reaching the edges and curves of a wardrobe or cabinet, brush is the option to choose.

You should also consider that rollers come in different textures to provide fancy designs and textures to the walls. Experiment and give the best looks to the walls with rollers and brushes, and for best results, use products from British Paints.

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5 Signs You Should Invest In Distempers This Season

Maintaining a house is a difficult job. But it’s never impossible!

Yes, it is difficult to take care of every aspect, but inspecting for problems every now and then will save us from trouble in the long run.

 As we take care of cleanliness, we should take care of the paint on the walls. Mold, flaking, fading, and lot many problems can be easily addressed if tackled with from day one. A coat of fresh distemper is all the wall needs at times to keep it safe. And with a dip in distemper paint cost compared to what it was in the past, we also get a reason to renovate our homes to match the splendor of the season.

If you are start to see these 5 signs, it is time to have your home’s repainted:

-      Damaged Wood

Every part of your home’s structure needs protection, and wood is no different. Get wooden structures like doors and windows repainted so that they are well guarded against the climatic changes.

Rotting, if not immediately attended to can cause severe damage to wood. Replace the wood whenever needed. Don’t wait for them to fall off before taking an action. Moreover, dampness in the wood affects health too.

 -      Fading

Fading is the first tell-tale of a problem. The walls lose luster, replaced by a washed out look. It is not surprising to think that fading happens due to sun’s exposure, which is partially true, but it also reflects deterioration, or a previous bad painting job.

 -      Color change

While fading is partially due to climatic factors, change in the distemper’s color (darker at some places and lighter at some) points out to a bigger problem. Water leaks can strain the paint causing this hitch.

Check for mold or water stains and call an expert before situation worsens. Once rectified, apply distemper from quality brands like British Paints. Their distemper paint price along with the quality they provide makes it an ideal choice.

 -      Peeling Paint

Those little strips of paint flaking off are a warning sign of your home’s exposure to weather. Rain, sun, winds, and snow can damage the exterior walls calling for a repaint at regular intervals.

Peeling in interior walls happens when moisture penetrates under the surface, which reduces the effectiveness of the bond between the surface and the paint. This moisture can lead to rotting, mold, etc., and can trigger breathing problems.

 -      Cracked Caulking

Caulking points toward sealing problem with your home’s exterior, and you might have water or bugs invading from the outside. Corners and joints are the first places to look for it. Filling of fresh caulking with a fresh coat of paint will help protect these areas, and avoid any potential harm.

  The most important physical possession that you own, your home, needs all the love and care you can muster. The longer you leave these problems, the more they will grow. A fresh coat of paint will not only keep these problems in control, but also improve the aesthetic appeal of your house.

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How to Add Years to the Exterior Paint Job

Exterior painting can be a very tricky decision, as one not only has to choose between a plethora of colours, but at the same time has to consider durability of the paints. The second factor that adds-on to the troubles is that painting/repainting is not a weekly or monthly job. Ergo, one has to be well aware of the paints to be used and also for the choice of colours. With these decisions done, one worries about how long the paint will last. Here are a few tricks and tips for painting a house exterior and prolonging its life:

1.       Always choose to have the paint job to be done in good weather conditions. Painting in rainy season or winters may end up with discoloured patches on the wall. Furthermore, try to plan the job when the temperature is between 20®c to 30®c. Less windy days also help in curing the primer & paint slowly and forming the strongest protective dry film.

2.       The key to extend the exterior wall painting life is to prime the walls first. This helps in creating a better bond with the paint and this way, reduces the chances of blistering or peeling. Along with these benefits, the primer also helps in giving sheen to the paint, along with a smooth finish.

3.       Colour selection plays an important role as well. Bright colours like red or blue tend to fade quickly with time, while the lighter tones retain the charm for a longer period of time.

4.       Go with this simple logic - the thicker the coats are, the longer they will remain intact. It is simple science; when paint is applied liberally, they offer more protection and last long. Their chemical composition is defined in such manner only, to last long when used properly, without using water or similar additives.

5.       Although one should use thicker coats as described above, an extra layer can be added to the coats of paint. This enables the paint to withstand the worst weather without spoiling the looks of the building. A single extra layer may add another few years to the life of the paint job, saving quite a lot through this petty investment.

6.       While the paint job is completed, a simple activity may add-on to the charm and life of the paint. Nothing tedious or troublesome, simply to add to the life, the exteriors should be washed twice a year. This helps in removing the dirt and chemicals settled onto the walls. A thing to remember, not to use a high pressure hose, but a regular hose, else the paint may peel off.

Follow the steps described above and effectively enhance the paint life of your home’s exteriors.

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Cement Paint - An Overview

While emulsions are everyone’s favorite, cement paints are gaining popularity for their multi-functionality. They enhance the wall’s look, are durable, cover up stains really well, and the list of benefits have just begun.

 What is cement paint?

A water based paint, it is mostly applied on external walls and surfaces of the house. It is made from cement using different pigments, and cement paint also contains water repellents, fungicides, fillers, accelerators, etc.

Though it is preferred to be used on newly built concrete surface, cement paint can be applied on bricks as well, but certainly not on white wash, color wash, dry distemper, gypsums, wood, and metal surfaces.

 Characteristics

Cement paints are widely used for patios, garages, driveways, side-walks, concrete furniture, and even on the exterior surfaces of huge industrial buildings. Cement paints enhance the look, and are mostly used to cover surfaces that are subject to frequent weather changes and heavy use.

Choose a company that gives you quality products for the money invested. British Paints is a paint company in India that manufactures high quality cement primer, interior and exterior emulsions, enamel paints, cement paints, and many more. They have a successful track record of beautifying many buildings with their products.

 Surface Preparation Guidelines

Like any other paint, cement paint too demands for surface preparation for best results. The surface chosen for the paint must be free of mortar dropping, dirt, dust, any kind of grease, whitewash or color wash etc. It should be thoroughly cleaned by scraping, brushing and washing. Patches must be repaired beforehand and should be completely dry before you apply cement paint on the surface.

 Mixing Procedure

Though professional help is recommended for best results, there is no harm in doing a DIY project. Here is what you must know about the mixing procedure of cement paint for excellent outcomes.

1st stage – mix 2 parts cement paint with 1 part water, stirred thoroughly. Let stand for 5 minutes. Remember to gradually add cement paint to water and not vice versa.

2nd stage – during the second stage, additional one part water is to be added in the mixture, and stirred thoroughly for uniform stability.

 Guidelines for Application

Following these guidelines will ease your job and help attain the perfect surface:

-      Paint only after the surface has been prepped.

-      Use the paint within an hour of mixing as it thickens quickly.

-      For proper curing of the paint, the surface should be thoroughly moist, and under shade.

-      Second coat must be applied after an interval of 24 hours.

  Happy painting!