◈ Homepage — http://www.classicshades.com/Skip to content HOME SERVICES ABOUT OUR CLIENTS GALLERY ARTICLES FAQ GET QUOTE Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ SAN FRANCISCO PAINTING CONTRACTOR -GET A FREE QUOTE- CALL 415.566.4910 SAN FRANCISCO PAINTING CONTRACTORS Providing quality exterior & interior house painting with friendly, reliable service in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1985. There are many reasons for you to choose Classic Shades Painting as your painting contractor. For starters, we are a local painting contractor that has been painting in San Francisco for over 35 years. We are a fully insured and a properly licensed (C33) contractor, so you can rest assured that your home will be in good hands when you hire us. Additionally, we are probably one of the most experienced professional painting contractors that you will find in this area. With literally thousands of successfully completed painted projects in the San Francisco area behind us, we know very well what it takes to get the job done right. Classic Shades Painting offers a wide range of exterior and interior painting services to fit your needs and budget. Whether you need a fresh coat of paint for your home’s exterior or you’re looking to completely transform the look of your property, we’re here to help. We employ only career professional San Francisco house painters and we use only high-quality paint materials. Classic Shades Painting company motto is “Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !” SM. Our goal is to make your property look great and to stay looking so for many years to come. As a painting company, we decided a long time ago that our mission as is to provide all of out customers with a friendly and reliable service. We understand that every painting project is different, which is why we take a custom approach to each and every painting project. We know that clear communication throughout a  project is the key to success. We’ll work with you to understand your specific needs and goals, and we will help you to achieve them. Our aim is to earn customers for life. Click Here to see what our customers have to say. Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. ABOUT US Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Go to Top ◈ Interior Pages — 46 pages crawledAbout Us Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE About Daniel 2021-01-23T13:18:48-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 About Company Information Classic Shades Painting is a full service painting contractor that specializes in high quality interior and exterior house painting and water­proofing. Voted one of the top 10 Best Painters in the Bay Area in the readers poll conducted by the San Francisco ... Our Approach To Painting Our estimator meets with you and to go over the painting work you want done on your house. At this point, we answer any questions or address any concerns you may have about your project. We then follow up with a comprehensive proposal laying out the painting... Our Warranty When you undertake a major expense, as a house painting job can be, you should feel confident that someone will be there to pick up the ball if something goes wrong. We, at Classic Shades Painting, take great pride and care in creating long-lasting... Best of the Bay Video Classic Shades Painting was featured on the Best of the Bay television show. This KRON 4 program showcases the best in entertainment, shopping, dining and remodeling in the San Francisco Bay Area.... Why Classic Shades? Have you ever tried naming a business? The conventional wisdom is that the business's name should have something to do with what that business does or its product.... 100 Reasons to Hire Us There are over 100 items listed below. Please note that every one of them is either a matter of verifiable fact, a documented client statement or an official Classic Shades Painting policy. To see the corresponding supporting document (client letter,... Blog Stay up to date with The Classic Shades Painting Blog - News, Community events, Tips, Tricks, and More. About Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades? 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job Corinne 2021-08-19T09:31:08-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Paint Job Once a week or so I get a call from someone looking to get a quick phone quote on a paint job. They simply give me a number of rooms or the square footage and ask for a price. I think some people believe that by calling a whole bunch of painters they will be able to find the best deal out there. I can’t blame them for trying – paint job is a big ticket item. In the age of internet, shopping for products has become much easier. Just figure out what you want, Say you are shopping for a “Sony XYZ” TV ; you could google for prices from various venders and buy it from whoever holds the lowest price . S hopping for services such as painting, however, doesn’t work in quite the same way as shopping for flat screen TVs. The fact is that one three-bedroom house is rarely the same as another house with three bedroom. There are a number of variables here to consider. To name a few: total number and sizes of rooms, types and numbers of windows and doors, number and intensity of paint colors, time required for protection of furniture and fixtures, quality and quantity of paint, and last but not least the extent of paint surface preparation needed. Any one set of the above variables, when compared to a different set of these variables, can mean a difference of tens or, in some cases, even hundreds of hours of work. The fact is that the best price does not necessarily mean the best deal. I am not saying that price is unimportant; I think that it is important, but only to the extent that it represents the real value of work to be done. So, g etting the best deal means getting the best value. It’s easy to compare the price but the key to getting the best deal is in being able to evaluate and compare the value offered for that price tag. (see How to Evaluate Painting Proposals .) In comparing painting proposals, you must be able to compare the proverbial “apples to apples.” If you insist on only comparing prices, with no regard to the value those prices represent, there is a pretty good chance that you will end up with a proverbial lemon. Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Our San Francisco Bay Area Painting Clients Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Painting Clients Corinne 2023-03-14T10:22:07-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Painting Contractor Clients Since 1985, this painting contractor has worked with a long list of homeowner, general contractor, and commercial business clients on literally thousands of Francisco Bay Area painting projects. Click here to view our Homeowner Testimonials Click here to view our General Contractor client list Click here to view our Commercial Business client list Here is what some of our general contractor clients say: Their attention to detail and high quality of finish has been consistent throughout every job … any concerns on our or our customers’ part are resolved swiftly and completely. Paul Winans Winans Construction They have worked well with our field staff as well as our clients in scheduling and completing the work. They have been able to perform work up to an extremely high standard of quality when that has been appropriate. We highly recommend Classic Shades Painting as a reasonable priced, reliable, high quality painting contractor. Michael McCutcheon McCutcheon Construction The crew is able to work with little supervision from our project manager and has always completed their work in good time. They are responsive to changes as they arise and work well with both the architects and customers on the projects. Peter van der Sterre van er Sterre Construction Classic Shades has provided us with a high quality of workmanship and consistency in getting jobs completed on time. I would recommend their services to anyone in the market for a competent, reliable painting crew. Scott Campbell-Walker Lindele Construction I have found them to be of very good quality at a very fair price. One aspect of their service really pleases me and that is a non-grumpiness, no excuses attitude about any problems. Classic Shades fits what I now look for Jack Kriel Jack Kriel Construction Their level of quality and professionalism are of the highest standards. They have always been able to deal effectively with the scheduling difficulties that often times occur during the course of construction. I would not hesitate to recommend Classic Shades Painting to any Contractor, Designer or Individual. Jim Catlin Van-Catlin Construction Having been in the building business for some thirty years, I can highly recommend Yefim and his company. They stand out as one of our reliable sub-contractors. Stephen Holder Stephen Holder Associates Our Clients Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Our Approach To Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Our Approach To Painting Daniel 2021-02-03T16:21:27-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Our Approach From Bidding to Painting Bidding Process Our estimator meets with you and to go over the painting work you want done At this point we will answer any questions and address any concerns you may have about your project. This visit will then be follow up with our painting proposal. The proposal will state the job scope, start to finish specifications and give the exact job cost. Scheduling One of the first things we ask about are your scheduling needs. We want to make sure that we can accommodate you on this. When a signed proposal is received, the job is put onto our schedule. We tell you the approximate start date and then keep you updated. Start of Work At the beginning of the job, the painter foreman and the estimator will meet you at the project. The foreman will have a complete job write up that follows the specifications outlined on your original painting proposal . At this time, the job is gone over for any needed clarifications. Doing the Work All painting work is done in proper sequence and in accordance with paint manufacturers specifications. Surface preparation , i.e., washing, scraping, sanding, etc., is done first. Then the priming followed by the finish painting. The field supervisor will inspect the work periodically while it is ongoing to ensure it is running smoothly and according to plan. Completing the Work We will let you know a day or so before we expect to complete the work. This gives you an opportunity to inspect the work to ensure that nothing being missed. Painters will then wrap up the job and take care of any touch-ups. About Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades? 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Interior Painting | San Francisco Interior House Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Interior Painting Corinne 2021-02-03T15:11:59-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 San Francisco Bay Area Interior Painting Contractor In business for over 35 years, Classic Shades Painting is one of the leading painting contractors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Licensed and fully insured, we are totally dedicated to providing high quality interior house painting with friendly and reliable service. Customer care and satisfaction is at the very core of our business philosophy. We start promptly and stay on the job until it is finished. We leave the home spotless. Our painters won’t quit until the customer is satisfied. Our aim is to earn customers for life. We focus on two main points: Reliability We know that one of the greatest concerns in choosing any contractor is having certainty that the services quoted will be delivered in a timely and professional manner. To us, reliability means doing what was promised, and we always do what we promise! Quality All of our work is done by experienced professionals and we use only high quality (tried and tested) materials and tools. Our painting crews are specially trained to meet and exceed all established painting industry quality standards, and our work comes with a warranty. We are obsessed with leaving a pristine home once we are finished. The job is not complete until the customer signs off on the results. Whether you need the complete interior of your home painted or to just freshen up walls in one room, if you want a great looking, long-lasting interior paint job, look no longer and call Classic Shades Painting . You will be glad you did. Guaranteed! Services Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Corinne 2022-07-25T11:37:36-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 How to Evaluate Quality of Paint The primary function of architectural coating is to protect metals, wood, and other materials against corrosion and decay. Where house painting is concerned, one of the prime objectives is to ensure that paint remains bonded to its substrate, and that it retains its essential properties for as long as possible. Selection of the right paint material is absolutely crucial in achieving this objective. As house painters in the good-ole USSR in the 1970s, we were expected to make our own paint (see My Story ). It seems totally nuts to me today that we were expected to do this, or sometimes even cook raw animal bones to make glue for use as a paint binder. But we did what we had to do. However, one good thing that came out of all this is that I really learned about what’s in a bucket of paint, and this subsequently led to a greater understanding of what makes one gallon of paint better than another. So, what’s in that bucket of paint? Your four basic paint ingredients are: Pigments, Binders, Additives and Solvents. Solvents (also called vehicles): These are quick-to-evaporate liquids (water for the latex paint and mineral spirits for the oil based paints) that keep binders and pigments in suspension and make it possible to be applied. The solvents will evaporate and leave a continuous film of pigment and binder. Pigments: Pigments are finely ground particles that give paint its color and opacity (ability to “hide” the surface it is applied to.) Binders (also called resins): Binders glue pigment particles together after the solvents evaporate to form a paint film, and glue the paint film to the surface being painted. Additives: Among other things, additives control the drying time, paint leveling and mildew growth. Most of these additives evaporate as paint dries. By varying the amounts and types of pigments, binders, solvents and additives, paint manufacturers can create a large variety of paints and, as they substitute lower quality/cost ingredients for higher ones, they can manipulate their costs and profits. For example, the term “pigment” is also used to refer to extenders, which are materials such as clay, mica, and silica. That, among their other properties, adds bulk to the paint without significantly adding to its cost. To be able to truly evaluate paint quality, we need to have some understanding of what we expect from our paint and what causes the paint film to fall short of our expectation. My ideal paint would stick to anything, have one coat coverage, go on smoothly, be tough yet flexible, and would last for decades while never fading. Though such ideal paint will probably never be invented, this can give us a standard to which to align a paint quality index, where the highest quality paint will be the one that approaches closest to our envisioned ideal. Sun radiation, ultraviolet (UV) rays in particular, is the main enemy of any paint coating. It breaks down the paint pigments and destroys the bond between pigment particles, as well as weakening the bond of the paint film with the painted surface. It does this by attacking the bonding resins. Consequently, our paint film gets brittle and becomes permeable to moisture. With moisture in the substrate the paint film cracks and eventually peels. The answer to higher paint quality is in using those pigments and binders that better resist the damaging effects of sun radiation. So, what are those higher quality pigments and binders, and how do we know which paint has more of them? The most often used pigment in paint is titanium dioxide (also called titanium white.) This pigment is highly reflective of UV rays and has exceptional hiding qualities. Titanium dioxide is a mineral that occurs naturally in the earth crust. Mined only in a few locations in the US, it is probably the most expensive pigment in commercial paints. Higher quality paint will contain a higher concentration of it. Lower quality paints will have a higher percentage of lower quality and cheaper price pigments and fillers such as clay, silica and talc. Higher quality paint will also have better binder, so it sticks better and better resists wear. The best latex binders are made of acrylic, and best acrylic binders are made from small particles. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can penetrate the pores of the surface you are painting and “grab a hold of it”. You can do an experiment: Take a flat wooden board and score the top of it up with a knife. The groves will imitate the painting surface pores. Now place some coarse sand or small pebbles on top of your board, then turn the board over. Your pebbles will just roll off the board. Now repeat your experiment but use talcum powder on top of the board instead. This should demonstrate to you that smaller particles grab on better. Still not convinced? Repeat the experiment but now sprinkle some water on top as a final step. Water, the vehicle in your latex paint and probably the one of the most penetrating substances on the planet, will drive your paint ingredient particles as deep as a circumference of a particle will allow. Binders are the most expensive ingredient in paint. At a paint store, you’ll usually find paint labeled either “acrylic” or “vinyl acrylic.” Vinyl binder is much cheaper than acrylic but the more acrylic resin you have in the paint, the better it will hold up and adhere to a surface. Go with the 100% acrylic! Note: Because it is binder that makes glossy paint glossy, a glossy paint will contain more binder than flat paint. Still, a higher quality gloss paint will have more and better quality binders than a lower quality glossy paint. Lower quality paint will also tend to have more solvents. In latex paint, solvent is primarily water. The cheapest ingredient of all, water doesn’t have to be transported or stored. Just open the facet and pour. Such paint can by volume contain over 70% of it. More water means less solids, and a lower percentage of solids will result in a thinner dry paint film, with lesser hiding and durability. If higher cost ingredients are required to produce higher quality paint, one can understandably come to a conclusion that by buying the most expensive paint, one is getting the best quality. This is not necessarily the case. I often see lower quality but well marketed paint being sold at a higher price than paint with better quality ingredients. The other day I got a call from someone, calling from somewhere across the country, asking me for who’s paint I would recommend. I am not here to endorse any one particular paint manufacturer. The fact is that, on our paint projects, I will often use materials of multiple manufactures. F Exterior Painting | San Francisco Exterior House Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Exterior Painting Corinne 2021-02-03T14:48:32-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 San Francisco Bay Area Exterior Painting Contractor San Francisco Bay Area climate, with its relatively constant and moderate temperatures, allows for the year round outdoor painting. This is not to say that local house painters are not faced with climate related painting challenges of their own. As in most other regions, we also have a wet and a dry season. But one of the peculiarities about painting in the San Francisco area is that coastal humidity can sometimes make it more difficult to paint in the summer than during our official “Rainy Season”. Excessive moisture content of the surface being painted and the relative ambient humidity will negatively affect the quality of a paint job. This makes it necessary, no matter the season, to regularly monitor the local weather forecast, relative ambient humidity, moisture content of the surface, etc. With more then thirty five years of painting in the San Francisco area and with experience of well over a thousand of exterior painting projects we, at Classic Shades Painting, know how to successfully deal with these local climatic challenges. No doubt that dealing with climatic painting challenges is an important but there is a bit more to it. Our focus is on two main points: Reliability We know that one of the biggest concerns in choosing any contractor is in having certainty that the services quoted will be delivered in a timely and professional manner. To us, reliability means doing what was promised, and we always do what we promise! Quality All of our work is done by experienced professionals and we use only high quality (tried and tested) materials and tools. Our painting crews are specially trained to meet and exceed all established painting industry quality standards, and our work comes with a warranty. We are obsessed with leaving a pristine home once we are finished. The job is not complete until the customer signs off on the results. So whether you need a multi-story structure painted, or just want to freshen up the facade of your home, if you want a great looking, long-lasting exterior paint job, look no further and call Classic Shades Painting . You will be glad you did. Guaranteed! Services Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Why Paint Bubbles Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Why Paint Bubbles Corinne 2021-02-15T19:50:23-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Why Paint Bubbles Bubbling of exterior paint coating is usually caused by moisture in the substrate (wood siding, stucco, etc.) Moisture bubbles, unlike heat blisters, will go through all coats of paint down to the substrate. Under normal conditions, water will want to evaporate. If water is in the substrate, and it doesn’t have any coating on it, it isn’t a problem. It will just evaporate — dry out. However, if the paint coating gets in the way of water trying to evaporate, the water vapor, unable to penetrate it, will put enough pressure on this coating to force it away from the substrate creating a bubble. To stop moisture bubbles, you must find and eliminate the source of moisture intrusion. Roof and gutter leaks, leaky windows and lack of proper flashing are all usual suspects in leak detection. Improper construction technique, unsealed wood end-grain, uncaulked vertical joints and seams around widows and doors can all allow rain water to enter the substrate and cause paint to bubble. Likewise, moisture moving through a wall, from inside home to the exterior paint, can come from plumbing leaks, sinks and tub overflows. These shouldn’t be ruled out as possible culprits. Moisture vapor from hot showers, cooking, damp basements and use of humidifiers can all be the cause of excessive moisture in substrate. If there isn’t any vapor barrier, or if the barrier is incorrectly installed, the vapor can easily move through exterior wall and cause paint bubbling. Suspect this if you find bubbling on the outside of bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. Improve ventilation (install fens, open windows, etc.) and consider strategic use of dehumidifiers. Paint bubbling outside of bedrooms often puzzles homeowners and professional painters alike. This is because there seems to be no obvious source of moisture. Well, let’s take a closer look. On average, a person loses about 28 ounces of water, due to respiration and perspiration, per 24 hour period. This brakes down to about 9.5 oz. per night (8 hrs.) per person. What happens with all of this moisture? As sun comes up in the morning and outside temperature rises, this moisture will want to evaporate, and some of it will find its way to the back of your exterior paint coating. The hotter the surface temperature the stronger the push to evaporate, the more likelihood of bubbling. Here is a paint tip: use lighter paint colors whenever possible. The lighter the surface color the more of sun light energy is reflected from it. The darker the color, the more sunlight energy is absorbed by the surface and the hotter it gets. This is why choosing a light exterior color can help with the paint bubbling problem, and will generally extend the life span of a paint job. Paint substrate has to be able to “breathe”. That is, it has to be capable of releasing moisture it has absorbed. Proper venting and free to move expansion joints (as in case of wood siding) are all very important for this reason. But vents are often missing all together (or are plugged by caked-on paint) and expansion joints are often caulked shut by over-zealous homeowners and amateur painters. This can result in moisture being trapped in the substrate. Paint coating itself is generally breathable. That is to say, it is capable of allowing moisture vapors to pass through it. However, after a home has been repainted five or ten times it can have ten or twenty coats of paint on it. This can bring the breathability of paint, and the substrate it is coating, to near zero. This is why you can often solve a persistent paint bubbling problem by stripping all of the old coating from a substrate before repainting. In a situation where the substrate has lost most of its ability to breathe, even a very small amount of moisture entering it can build up and result in paint bubbling. Please also keep in mind that a perfectly dry and suitable for painting wood will have between 6 and 15 percent moisture content. So, even if the surface has never bubbled before, just by decreasing its breathability (through adding coats to already heavy paint build up) and/or raising surface temperature even by just a few degrees (due to a darker color paint used) you can cause paint to start bubbling. So, let’s recap. To deal with moisture caused bubbles one has to: 1) Detect and eliminate sources of water intrusion (leak detection) 2) Handle excess moisture generated inside a home (increase of ventilation and use of dehumidifies) 3) Increase the substrate breathability (improve exterior venting and/or old paint stripping) 4) Reduce surface temperature (use lighter paint colors) I hope this helps. Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Frequently Asked Questions About Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE FAQ Corinne 2021-01-06T11:19:38-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Painting FAQs What should I look for when hiring a painting contractor? Daniel 2020-06-29T18:22:59-07:00 What should I look for when hiring a painting contractor? There are several key things to look for when choosing a painting contractor. At the very least, check to see if they are licensed, insured, experienced and capable of completing work. Look for reputable companies with local references. How do I know you are licensed and insured? Daniel 2024-03-05T10:37:37-08:00 How do I know you are licensed and insured? Yes, we have been licensed since 1985. Our state contractor license number is 582929. You can see that our license is current by going to the state contractor’s board website at http://www.cslb.ca.gov . You will also see there that we are bonded and insured. How long has Classic Shades Painting been in business? Daniel 2020-06-29T18:23:43-07:00 How long has Classic Shades Painting been in business? Classic Shades Painting Co. has been in business since 1985. It was incorporated in 1989. Can I leave my home while your painting crew works? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:47:26-07:00 Can I leave my home while your painting crew works? Yes. Most people we work for are not home while work is going on. While you are at work or running errands, our crew will be busy painting. We are licensed and fully insured so there is nothing to worry about. Do you have references? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:50:30-07:00 Do you have references? Yes, references our available upon request. See our Customer Testimonials . You may also check Yelp , Diamond Certified , KRON Best of the Bay video and BBB as well. Do you have examples of work you’ve completed? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:51:16-07:00 Do you have examples of work you’ve completed? Yes! Please visit our photo gallery to see examples of our completed interior and exterior painting projects. What kind of paint do you use? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:52:21-07:00 What kind of paint do you use? We use the only professional quality paints from Sherwin Williams, Kelly Moore, Benjamin Moore and Dunn Edwards, unless the customer requests a different brand. Do you offer a warranty? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:52:53-07:00 Do you offer a warranty? Yes, all of our work comes with a warranty. (Please see our warranty policy .) Why should I choose Classic Shades Painting for my painting project? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:54:26-07:00 Why should I choose Classic Shades Painting for my painting project? In business since 1985 and operated by a career painter , Classic Shades Painting has an established track record of consistently delivering what’s needed and wanted on a paining job (Needed with regards to painting process requirements on a particular job and Wanted as far as customer experience is concerned.) Our company motto is: “Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed!” Our mission statement is: “Create great looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consistently exceeding established painting industry quality standards, and deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life.” OK, I’ve decided to hire you as my painting contractor. Where do we go from here? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:55:15-07:00 OK, I’ve decided to hire you as my painting contractor. Where do we go from here? Thank you for choosing Classic Shades Painting. We are sure you will not be disappointed. To schedule your job, please send us a signed proposal. You can fax or email it for expediency (Fax 415 566 4929; Email [email protected] ). Someone will get in touch with you shortly to talk about colors, schedule, etc. What is the best season to paint? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:56:39-07:00 What is the best season to paint? Because of our mild climate, in the Bay Area, we paint year-round. In fact, it can be easier to do exterior painting here during our “rainy season” than the summer. This is because our “famous” San Francisco fog is at its foggiest during summer, usually peaking in July and August. And so, it can often be too wet for painting in the morning and, without any warning, the fog can roll in again in the evening and make a real mess of a day’s work. During the “rainy season”, we can at least have a forecast of the upcoming rain and plan accordingly. We have been working in the Bay Area for well over 30 years and are very familiar with the San Francisco climate idiosyncrasies. Monitoring forecasts, temperature and relative humidity is a part of our daily ritual. What can I do to help make the project go more smoothly? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:57:17-07:00 What can I do to help make the project go more smoothly? One of our main goals is to complete your project with as little disruption to your life as possible. Before your project starts we will provide you with a list of things that you can do to help us to complete your project as quickly and smoothly as possible. Who will be there to answer my questions or to address any concerns I may have throughout the project? Corinne 2020-06-29T18:58:00-07:00 Who will be there to answer my questions or to address any concerns I may have throughout the project? Maintaining open line of communication with you is very important to us. Your job foreman should be able to answer most questions but please feel free to contact your estimator or contact our office staff at any time to address concerns or answer any questions you may have whatsoever. Do you charge for estimates? Corinne 2020-06-30T19:24:23-07:00 Do you charge for estimates? We never charge a fee to provide an estimate for your painting project. How do you determine the amount you will charge for my painting project? Corinne 2020-06-30T19:30:48-07:00 How do you determine the amount you will charge for my painting project? There are many things to consider including: type and size of the painted area; type of windows and other trim work; number and intensity of paint colors; amount of protection needed for plants and furniture; quality of paint used; and the extent of needed paint surface preparation. All of those things will need to be considered in order to provide you with an accurate cost estimate. What do we do if you find dry rot? Corinne 2020-06-30T19:26:56-07:00 What do we do if you find dry rot? In the process of a paint job our painters will touch every square inch of a the house and it can happen that find dry rotted wood. If this is repairable with epoxy, we may be able to do it in-house. If not and something larger is found, we will refer you to one of the carpenters we work with. In any case, if we find any dry rot, we will point it out to you and recommend the best way to proceed. How long will it take Our Painting Warranty Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Our Warranty Daniel 2026-02-05T13:20:51-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Our Painting Warranty When you undertake a major expense, as a house painting job can be, you should feel confident that someone will be there to pick up the ball if something goes wrong. We, at Classic Shades Painting, take great pride and care in creating long-lasting paint jobs. However, in an unlikely event that there is a problem with a painting job we did for you, you will be able to call us and have the problem corrected. THE FOLLOWING IS OUR WARRANTY POLICY: Subject to the limitations set forth below, for a period of 36 months from the date on the front of your contract, Classic Shades Painting will repair cracking, peeling or chipping paint resulting from defective workmanship. For this warranty to be effective, you must: Retain a copy of the original contract. Present evidence that all payments have been made in full upon completion. Contact Classic Shades Painting by phone, at 415.566.4910, so that we can arrange for an inspection of your property, explain the nature and extent of the covered repairs and plan for performing on the needed work. Make the property accessible to us, to perform the repairs. Classic Shades Painting will: Perform all of the covered repairs at no cost to you. Perform any covered repairs to surface preparation as described in original contract. Perform any covered repairs on specific areas where cracking, peeling and/or chipping has occurred. An exact color match cannot be assured, as environmental conditions can affect paint color over time. What the Warranty does NOT cover: Any work where Classic Shades Painting did not supply the paint materials. Any work which was not performed by Classic Shades Painting or where a non-employee of Classic Shades Painting has attempted to do surface preparation. Water intrusion detection or elimination. Painters caulking is applied is for esthetic reasons only. We don’t guarantee that our caulking will keep the water out of the substrate or for the caulk joints to remain closed. Any paint peeling that is a result of moisture intrusion. Properly applied paint will peel, usually to bare wood, in areas where the substrate is exposed to a large amount of moisture. Any and all paint bubbling. Any horizontal surface or any surface that is the result of a structural design that permits moisture to collect. This includes, but is not limited to decks, railings, stairs and porches. Varnished or natural finished wood surfaces. We will not be responsible for exact matching of existing colors or textures. Neither can we guarantee that the finish paint samples you selected will exactly match the finish coating. Conditions that are the result of a failure in the paint itself. Including but not limited to, fading, chalking, flashing, and lapping. We recommend lighter colors, as they are more reflective of the sunlight and generally extend the life of a paint film. The appearance of mildew, mold, or any other environmental conditions. The appearance of cracks due to earthquakes or ground movement. Surfactant leaching. Streaks of sticky yellowish or colorless material that appears on the surface of freshly applied latex paint. This streaking and discoloration doesn’t affect the performance of the paint and, if left alone, will disappear after a good rain. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE ONLY EXPRESS WARRANTY MADE BY CLASSIC SHADES PAINTING AND IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THIS WARRANTY COVERS ONLY THOSE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CLASSIC SHADES PAINTING TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER NAMED ON THE FRONT OF THE JOB CONTRACT. About Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades? 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top New Construction Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE New Construction Painting Corinne 2021-02-08T12:13:43-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 New Construction Painting New construction painting, without a doubt, requires a superior painting technique. Over the past thirty-five years, Classic Shades Painting company has also developed and adopted many specialized systems and procedures. These allow us to produce high quality new construction and remodeling painting in a highly efficient manner. Our job site policies set us above the competition. We understand the importance of running a clean and properly organized job site as well as having employees who are clean and personable. We know that, due to scheduling restraints and the need for close coordination with other tradesmen, new construction projects require superior management and administrative skill. Classic Shades Painting Co works closely with our General Contractors and Owner Builders clients to deliver quality painting while maintaining rigid project schedules. Over the years, since 1985, Classic Shades Painting company has worked successfully with many reputable San Francisco Bay Area building contractors and is well known for providing quality painting with a friendly and reliable service — On time and on budget! $10,000,000.00 residential remodel in Atherton, CA. Services Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Exterior Painting in San Francisco Daniel 2026-01-15T08:47:16-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Exterior Painting in San Francisco San Francisco’s Bay Area coastal environment can be very hard on exterior paint coatings. Persistent fog, heavy marine moisture, and salt carried in the air wear down finishes far more quickly than in inland climates. Particularly homes in areas such as the Sunset and Richmond districts, Daly City, Pacifica, and any hilltop facing ocean winds need exterior paint systems geared for coastal resilience. Here are the essential methods, coating options, and upkeep routines that provide long-lasting protection in these conditions. Why Fog and Salt Air Damage Paint San Francisco’s microclimates create repeated wet–dry cycles, which speeds up the degradation of exterior coatings: 1. Salt Crystals Break Down Paint Coatings Salt air carried from the ocean settles on surfaces. This pulls moisture from the atmosphere and keeping surfaces damp with can lead to premature paint failure. 2. Fog Causes Persistent Moisture During the painting process, fog can saturate the surfaces being painted with moisture and prevent paint from fully curing unless applied in proper conditions. It also keeps painted surfaces wet a lot of the time which causes the surface to swell. When the sun does come out, the surface dries and shrinks. The frequent expansion and contraction of the paint substrate is very hard on the paint film which can necessitate a need of more frequent repaints. Best Exterior Paint Types for Coastal San Francisco 1. 100% Acrylic Exterior Paint Acrylics offer superior flexibility, meaning they are less likely to crack as wood swells and contracts in moisture-heavy air. 2. Elastomeric Coatings (for Stucco Homes) Elastomeric stands for elastic polymer. This is polymer-based paint which is applied in a thick and highly flexible film that bridges hairline cracks and blocks moisture from penetrating to the substrate. Best for: Sunset, Richmond, and coastal stucco homes, particularly those where stucco is cracking Buildings exposed to constant wind-driven salt air 3. Marine-Grade Urethane (For natural wood Trim, Doors and Siding) Marine urethanes work best for high-wear areas like for natural wood trim, doors and siding. Best Surface Preparation for SF Weather 1. Thorough Salt Removal (Mandatory Near Coast) Salt must be removed before painting, or even the best primer may fail. Steps: Wash with a mild detergent Rinse with fresh water Allow to fully dry 2. Scrape or Sand to Sound Substrate Peeling or bubbling paint is common in SF. Sanding ensures adhesion for new coatings. 3. Use Bonding Primers Formulated for Coastal Conditions Choose primers that block tannins, resist salt, and adheres firmly to surfaces. Maintenance Schedule for Coastal Homes 1. Repaint or Touch-up Coatings before you see lots of paint failure. San Francisco homes are typically repainted every 6-10 years. Good quality paint coatings with proper surface prep and paint coating maintenance will stretch the life of a paint job. 2. Annual Fresh-Water Rinse Removing accumulated dirt, mildew, and salt increases the lifespan of coatings. 3. Inspect Trim and Horizontal Surfaces Areas like railings, fascia boards, and window sills fail first due to water retention. Best Colors for San Francisco Environments Darker colors fade faster in UV exposure. Most durable color families: Light neutrals Off-whites Soft grays, greens and blues Conclusion Safeguarding a San Francisco home against fog, moisture, and salt takes a combination of the right products, disciplined preparation, and smart application methods. High-quality acrylic paints, elastomeric coatings for stucco, and marine-grade finishes on exposed trim greatly increase durability in the city’s demanding coastal climate. When paired with routine upkeep and a well-designed paint system, a coastal property can remain attractive and well-protected for many years. Yefim Skomorovsky San Francisco Painting Contractor Get a free quote Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Why Classic Shades Painting? Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Why Classic Shades? Corinne 2021-02-03T17:04:05-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Why Classic Shades? Have you ever tried naming a business? The conventional wisdom is that the business’s name should have something to do with what that business does or with its product. What do “shades” have to do with painting? This question is very often implied, if not actually asked. Indeed in the past 35 years, I have gotten so many inquiries about window shades that I have often thought of starting a new business line, something like Classic Shades and Curtains. In fact, this is how I first learned this other definition of the word “shades.” I was learning a lot of new English words in those days. To dispel any possible remaining confusion with the name, let me define a few terms about color . I think a lot of people know that thousands of colors can be produced by intermixing of the three primary colors – Red, Yellow and Blue. However it is a less well known fact that the only way to produce all paint colors that we see in nature, and on the multitude of painted buildings, is to throw some white and/or black into the mix (yes, pun was intended). For example, we can mix some red and yellow paint together and get orange colored paint, but we would have to add some white to that paint mixture in order to get a light orange, and yet even more white will need to be added to get a warm-white colored paint. Of course, unless we want to end up with a barrel of this paint, we would start with white paint and add a little bit of orange (red and yellow) to it. To create a brown color, we would start with black paint and add some orange to it. The process of adding white to the paint, in order to lighten it, is called tinting. Adding black to paint, in order to darken it, is called shading. Many beautiful and truly classic house painting color schemes are created with these shades of color. Hence the company name. Yefim Skomorovsky Classic Shades Painting About Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades? 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Painting Gallery Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Gallery Corinne 2021-05-14T08:21:50-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Gallery Exterior Photos See some of our quality residential exterior painting work first hand in the exterior painting gallery. Interior Photos See some of our quality residential interior painting work first hand in the interior painting gallery. Before/After Photos See some of our quality residential painting work first hand in the before and after painting gallery. Gallery Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top San Francisco Bay Area Painting Before and After Gallery Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Before/After Photos Corinne 2021-06-02T09:09:54-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Residential Before/After Painting Gallery To enlarge, click on any photo below. Click here for exterior home painting photos. Click here for interior home painting photos. For more information on exterior house painting: Exterior Painting Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job How do I maintain my exterior painting job? How long will my exterior painting job last? Painting a Victorian Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation What is the best season to paint? Our Painting Services Gallery Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Classic Shades Painting on Best of The Bay Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Best of the Bay Video Daniel 2021-02-03T16:40:26-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Best of the Bay features Classic Shades Painting Classic Shades Painting was featured on the Best of the Bay television show. This KRON 4 program showcases the best in entertainment, shopping, dining and remodeling in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. About Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades? 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Color Computer Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Color Computer Corinne 2023-12-21T10:10:34-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Color Computer The Color Computer is an easy to use tool that can help you visualize color harmonies and results of various color mixes. There are a few different Color Computers on the market. The one I use is by M. Grumbacher, Inc. This is simply a cardboard disk with twelve colors of the standard color wheel printed on either side. Two additional cardboard disks, with the window cut outs in them, are attached to both sides of the original twelve color disk so as to sandwich this disk in the middle. This is held together with a metal rivet that goes through the center of all three disks. As the outer disks are turned (like a dial), results of various color combinations and harmonies appear in outer disk window cut outs. Side A: Side B: One of the sides of the Color Computer (side A) indicates analogous and complementary harmonies. Just select the color, you want to build harmony for, in the “Color Key” window and the arrows will point to the true, split and triadic complementary as well as analogous harmonies. The other side (side B) lets you see what happens when each one of the twelve colors of the Color Wheel is mixed with red, blue, and yellow. It also shows tints and shades for each one of the twelve colors. As was mentioned before, the Color Computer can be very useful in color scheme building because it helps us identify color harmonies. For example, let us say we have a room with lots of red furnishings (red mahogany stained wood furniture, red rug and a brick fireplace.) The walls are painted a light tone of yellow. In terms of color, such a room may feel a bit off balance. If you look at a side ‘A’ of our Color Computer, you will see that adding a little bit of blue (perhaps a vase or an accent wall) will bring the color balance that you are seeking. This is because blue will nicely fill-in the missing element to a triadic color scheme and will make our color scheme: red, yellow and blue – the most classic triad of them all. There are various computer software programs that can be used in a similarly, but it is so much easier to clip a thin piece of cardboard to my clipboard on the way to a painting project. So, I am sticking with my manual Color Computer. I have owned the one you see in the picture above for nearly 30 years. Not a bad deal for under ten bucks! (May of 2010) Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top 100 Reasons to Hire Classic Shades Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE 100 Reasons to Hire Us Corinne 2021-07-12T09:12:51-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 100 Reasons to Hire Classic Shades Painting Company There are over 100 items listed below. Please note that every one of them is either a matter of verifiable fact, documented client statement or an official Classic Shades Painting policy. To see a copy a supporting document (client letter, web page, etc), click on the link provided with each line below. We are properly licensed We are fully insured We are EPA lead-safe certified Our three year warranty policy We were featured on Best of the Bay, KRON 4 TV Our A+ BBB accreditation Our 5-Star Yelp Rating Our extensive jobs portfolio We are friendly We are honest We are responsible We are professional and helpful We pay attention to details Our customer service and quality of work is outstanding We stand by our work We are always quick to respond We take great pride in our work Our workers are exemplary We can be depended on to get the job done right We are very reliable We respect client’s property Our communication is clear We are courteous We are courteous and accommodating Our standards for excellence pass the test of time We are efficient, neat and tidy We are careful and attentive to detail We clean up daily We have a sense of humor We give prompt and accurate estimates We are respectful toward the client We have a philosophy of professionalism Our workers are competent, professional and courteous We are accommodating to requests Our workers are competent, neat, thorough and considerate We leave a home clean We are friendly, careful and cooperative We give a little extra for the money We finish work ahead of schedule We do excellent work We exceed expectations We are committed to customer satisfaction We are easy to work with and flexible We have friendly painters We leave a clean job site We are accommodating to client schedule We work quickly and neatly We are highly recommended We give good color advice We produce flawless excellence We are strongly recommended We are conscientious regarding clean up and noise Our pricing is competitive We give sound advice We provide great service We respond promptly We arrive when we say we will We leave the place immaculate We are all honest We have a photographic memory Our company communication is excellent We are flexible and professional We are realistic about time lines We are a pleasure to deal with We are professional in the management of the project We are courteous and friendly We work diligently We consistently do excellent work We complete the job as scheduled We are careful about planted areas We complete work ahead of schedule We complete jobs before estimated time We are courteous and reliable We are punctual and professional We do a beautiful and excellent job We are polite, cooperative and efficient Our quality and level of detail of workmanship is exceptional We are prompt, efficient, neat and courteous We are professional, efficient and friendly We are ranked at the very top We are high quality and reasonably priced We are a highly recommended company We are professional, reliable and service oriented Our work quality is exemplary Our quality of workmanship is above average Our price is fair We arrive on time and work steadily We take anxiety out of the contractor experience We produce lasting results We work in a neat, orderly fashion We do first rate work We help improve the world We deal efficiently with scheduling difficulties We provide high quality workmanship We are good quality and a fair price We complete work on time and in a workman like manner We are very reliable and responsible Our prices are fair and quality is high We work well around an ongoing business Our attention to detail is high Classic Shades Painting is a class act! About Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades? 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Classic Shades Painting Testimonials Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Testimonials Corinne 2025-12-28T12:14:27-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Our Customer Testimonials These testimonials have been excerpted from our customer public statements and their letters to Classic Shades Painting. Since 1985, there are 100’s of such letters on file.   November 2, 2025 Thank you for your service and great work! Vivian Matuk September 4, 2025 Very easy to deal with Yefim. His estimate was clear as were the written instructions to his painters. They did a very nice job painting, assisting in moving furniture, cleaned up nicely after they finished. After they were done and paid, I noticed an area that need some attention. No problem. Yefim sent his painter to fix the problem. Great customer service. Ruth L. August 1, 2025 Thank you for the excellent work! Philip Abrams May 22, 2025 I love the paint job! The house is so nice. Thank you, thank you!!! Sandy P. May 20, 2025 Yefim is an honest business man. Offered a detailed bid and worked in a timely manner. The painters took their time with the prep work and the end product showed nicely. I highly recommend Classic Shades Painting. Mark S. April 16, 2025 It’s looks INCREDIBLE! I’m so happy, thank you so much!! Cici P. March 10, 2025 Classic Shades did a fantastic job painting the exterior of our home. Yefim and his team did a great job providing clear instructions and setting expectations from the beginning of the project. Their work was very detail oriented and they were easy to work with. It’s clear Yefim is highly experienced in this industry and I appreciated his advice as we worked on our project. We are very pleased with their work and would use Classic Shades again in the future. Elizabeth L. February 24, 2025 Yefim’s guys did a great job on our interior. We are really enjoying the new colors. Everything looks fresh and clean. We have high ceilings and lots of detail and they did a great job on everything. Highly recommended. Michael Lucey September 6, 2024 We are so happy with how our house looks! Yefim and his team did meticulous work. The painters were professional in every way. Helpful, careful, courteous and talented. I highly recommend Classic Shades Painting! Tim K. August 13, 2024 This company with Yefim at the helm is excellent. His lead man Jose, was meticulous and was attentive to every detail. The prep work was very thorough and every step of the way they answered our questions and followed through with our requests leading to a beautiful result. They also always cleaned up after each day. I recommend whole heartedly. Great work! Elizabeth S. August 13, 2024 Classic Shades Painting did an absolutely fabulous job painting out Victorian home. The company owner was super attentive, helped us select colors when we realized the old paint colors were no longer available and the daily crew was very pleasant and professional. We started with a competitive bid process of three bidders and their price was super competitive. We got a huge value and the five color scheme is absolutely gorgeous. Anthony F. June 27, 2024 From prep to final check, the quality of work is outstanding! Yefim and his staff are professional, reliable and pleasant to work with. They spent 2 days prepping for painting, and you really can’t tell where they patched the stucco. All the details are done well and done as expected. My highest recommendation for Classic Shades. Over the decades we have contracted with them twice for exterior house painting and also for interior painting and results are long lasting! We have gotten compliments from many neighbors. Debra M. May 21, 2024 Professional and dependable. We have used him four times now at the properties we manage. Inside or outside, they get the job done without disturbing tenants. Not to mention how nice everything looks! Sonny Cider April 30, 2024 We have used Classic Shades for several years for various paint jobs, and always been extremely happy. They are not always the cheapest or most expensive, but Yefim’s communication is the best – that is so important. This time they power washed then coated our flat roof. Some water got in around our old skylight over our kitchen (not their fault) and Yefim & helper came out anyway to clean up the cover below the skylight. They didn’t have to do that, so that was wonderful – above & beyond in attention to detail. Many thanks. Joyce L. February 5, 2024 We have a small house in the Sunset that needed a complete exterior paint job. Yefim was amazingly helpful and provided great color consultation. The job was done in a timely manner even though work had to stop for a few days due to rain. Nick L. December 12, 2023 The house looks great, we are very happy with the result. Glenn October 27, 2023 Classic Shades has completed every exterior and interior painting job at my three story home with a very high degree of professionalism from the late 1980’s to 2023. The owner Yefim Skomorovsky sets a very high standard for each job and personally inspects the job at completion to assure any finishing touches. The company’s painters pay attention to detail and don’t hesitate to ask or answer questions. Their latest job for me was for the total exterior and the result was perfectly executed, as usual! They are people that I always enjoy working with. Patricia P. October 5, 2023 Yefim, thanks so much to you and your team for the great paint job! We love it and our neighbors are sharing nice compliments as well. Frank was fantastic to communicate with and exhibited high quality craftsmanship – you have a great employee there. Eddie B. Sep 28, 2023 Our sincerest gratitude to you and Jose for the excellent, professional job you all did. Ross and Elysse August 29, 2023 The crew was on time every day, very nice to me, told me what they were working on for the day, never left a mess, took care to protect my new Trex decking and plants in my yard, and the finished product is just fantastic. They even cleaned and repainted my front gate and railing. The lead painter, Alejandro, is truly a kind and lovely person, always seemed to be in a good mood, and again, always very nice to me. I work from home and it was no problem having the crew there each day. I highly recommend Yefim’s company, Classic Shades Painting. I would hire them again in a heartbeat. Noel B. June 1, 2023 Everything looks fantastic! I love it. The trim color looks great. Kai May 15,2023 Jose did a wonderful job on the stairs. They look very good. He does credit to Classic Shades. Townsend May 4,2023 Alejandro did a spectacular job…absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for this job. It all looks wonderful. Danell Z. May 1,2023 In 1999, our house and that of a neighbor were both Get a Free Painting Estimate Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Painting Estimate Daniel 2022-08-11T21:47:24-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ To get a free estimate, please call 415.566.4910 or fill out the form below. Quick and Completely Private. Our privacy policy * FIRST NAME * LAST NAME EMAIL ADDRESS * PHONE NUMBER JOB ADDRESS * TYPE OF WORK —Please choose an option— Exterior Interior Exterior & Interior Other (Please describe below) BEST WAY TO REACH YOU (HOW & WHEN) WHEN WORK NEEDS TO BE STARTED —Please choose an option— 1-2 weeks 3-4 weeks 1-2 months 2-3 months 3-6 months Timing is flexible HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT US MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN CHOOSING A PAINTER —Please choose an option— Price Quality of work Experience Reputation References Painter can meet my schedule BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WORK SUBMIT PHOTOS (Optional) (files should not exceed 8mb per photo) × * Our Privacy Policy: Your privacy is important to us. We will never share your personal information with anyone else. We will only use your contact information to contact you regarding a free painting estimate. We will not use your phone number or email address for any other purposes unless you choose to establish a further relationship with us. Back to top Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top The Importance Of Paint Surface Preparation Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Corinne 2021-02-14T09:59:50-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Importance of Paint Surface Preparation (Young Couple’s Paint Job Story) Often, during my estimate appointment visits, homeowners ask me job related questions. I think they ask them to get some confidence that their potential painter will do a good job on their project. Homeowners should ask questions, and this is definitely a good time to ask them, but the curious thing is that the most often ask question is about paint quality and material manufacturer. Well, using good quality paint is important, but the fact of the matter is that cost of paint material constitutes less than 10% of the total job cost. Most of the job is labor. That is, over 90%, of what they will be paying for, will go to paying for painters time doing actual work. And a very big chunk of that time, and what is going to largely determine how well this paint will look over time (no matter the paint manufacturer), will be spent (at least on my jobs) doing service preparation. And yet not so many questions about that. But you may one of those people who knows about importance the of good surface preparation. That is good, but good preparation can mean different things to different people. Also, what can be considered good preparation for one type of surface may not be so good for another surface type. Different surfaces (wood, plaster, metal, etc.) can require a different paint preparation procedure. Furthermore, the preparation procedure for a given surface type on interior of a home may be completely inappropriate, for the same type of surface, at the home’s exterior . Use a wrong procedure or product and you can wind up with a real mess on your hands. This brings to mind a time, about three years ago, when this young couple bought a house just down the block from my own home. The woman noticed my truck sign and approached me for an estimate. The place hadn’t been painted in years and needed a lot of work. During our estimate walk-through, the new owners pointed out various surface irregularities and wanted them addressed. I bid the job accordingly – lots of scraping, sanding, partial stripping, etc. I was not too surprised when I saw another painting company’s sign on the front of that house – a bit disappointed but not surprised. But imagine my surprise when, just a few days later while on my way out to lunch, I casually looked up the scaffold to discover painters skimming out the entity of the front of my new neighbor’s place. I mean literally, with large cans of spackle paste and wide drywall skimming knives in their hands, those guys were laying down thin coats of spackle on wood siding and trim like they were doing level five finish on a new sheet-rock wall. One should never use spackle in shallow depressions of any exterior surface. Spackle dries hard and, as the surface expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations, it will crack allowing water in. Once the moisture is in the substrate, its will not be long before you have a whole bunch if pealing paint. I never allow exterior spackle on any of our exterior jobs, but I understand a ton of it is being sold by paint stores every day, And there were those guys, going hard at it! I just stood there dumbfounded looking at them, not knowing what to do. Should I try to locate the homeowners? (The young couple haven’t moved in yet.) Do I climb up the scaffold and slap the spackling experts alongside of their heads? I just kept walking. Every time I go by that house (which is about every other day) I regret not climbing up the scaffold that day. Sure enough, just a few months after the scaffold came down, I could see some hairline cracking. By spring, minor peeling developed and today some parts of that place look like a shag rug bristling with bits of loose paint and spackle. My guess is that I lost that job because the couple wanted to save some money. Well, wanting to save money is totally understandable, but the irony of it is that, from cost savings view point, it would have been much better if those other painters didn’t do any work at all. Because, if I was to bid on this project today, I would have to more than double my original bid to correct the results of their “cost saving technique”, and to get rid of all that loose spackleing and paint . Yes, you can cut a lot of corners and quickly make any surface presentable. But, if you wish for your paint job to stay good looking for a long time, proper surface preparation is the key. For this, you will need the right expertise and willingness to take time to do it right. (Read also Steps for Paint Surface Preparation and How to Select Best Painting Contractor ) Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top How To Choose The Best Painting Contractor Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Corinne 2025-07-23T14:32:27-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 How to Select Best Painting Contractor Whether you’ve only heard horror stories of remodeling projects that have gone terribly wrong or you yourself is a survivor of such a project, you can probably appreciate the importance of hiring a right contractor for the job. The fact is that there are big differences among painting companies out there. Consider some variables that can account for this difference: focus on quality and service, level of experience and expertise, employee and leadership commitment, and company philosophy, to name a few. A proper set of these variables will make for smoothly running projects and will result in paint jobs that will look great for many years to come. Weakness in anyone of the above variables will likely produce an opposite effect. (see Young Couple’s Paint Job Story ) Finding the right contractor is probably the most important, though perhaps most difficult, part of any home remodeling project. With the phone book and internet full of company listings, you may be wondering: “Who should I call?” This is a good question, but perhaps a better one is: “What company has the right expertise, and can I trust them to do a good job on my project?” So, at this stage of the contractor selection process, your main concern is with your prospective bidders ability and trustworthiness. Unfortunately, neither the phone book nor internet listing is going to provide any clues to those two very important points. Use the phone book if you must, but a better way to do this is through referrals from friends, relatives or anyone else whose judgment you trust. H owever, i n whichever way you put together your list, you should first ask your prospective bidders a few pre-qualifying questions, before you invite them to come and take a look at your project. At the very least, you should find out if they are properly licensed and insured. By law, all contractors doing home improvement are required to have a valid contractor’s license. To get this license, applicants must verify their experience and pass an exam testing their knowledge of the trade. If a person does not have a contractor’s license it may be an indication that they lack the necessary expertise. It’s easy to check if someone has a valid contractor’s license. You can call the Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB) at 800-321-2752 or just visit their website at www.cslb.ca.gov . Here is a quote from the CSLB: Contractor’s State License Board is the state consumer protection agency that licenses and regulates construction contractors. Use only licensed contractors. If you file a complaint against a licensed contractor within the legal deadline (usually four years), CSLB has authority to investigate the complaint. If you use an unlicensed contractor, CSLB may not be able to help you resolve your complaint. Your only remedy may be in civil court, and you may be liable for damages arising out of any injuries to the unlicensed contractor or the unlicensed contractor’s employees. The value of a proper insurance coverage can’t be fully appreciated until something goes terribly wrong on the job. Still, the law requires that all contractors carry the General Liability insurance and have the Worker’s Comp coverage for their employees. Incidentally, this also brings us to our other important point – trustworthiness. If the person is required to be licensed and insured but they are not, can they then be trusted to do what is required on your project? Personally, I take my clues from wherever I can find them. As I said, you can easily check the license but, as far as insurance is concerned, the only way to be totally sure the insurance policy is current is to require for certificates of insurance (for both General Liability and Worker’s Comp) to be sent to you directly by the contractor’s broker. The insurance broker will normally do so at no additional cost, to either you or your contractor. Incidentally, this way the broker will also know to notify you if the policy gets cancelled in the middle of your job for some reason. Being licensed and insured, of course, is not a guarantee that your contractor will perform, but with this knowledge early in the process you can avoid spending time with someone who is perhaps completely unqualified. Another good question to ask your contractor is about the length of time they have been in business. Don’t ask how long they have been painting. To them this can bring to mind their first finger-painting experience in the boy-scouts camp. The proper question is: “How long have you been in business as a licensed painting contractor?” Once again, length of time in business doesn’t guarantee good performance but it can give you a clue as to the company stability, and more importantly it would be a sign of the track record availability or lack thereof. You can tell approximately when a contractor’s license was issued by looking at a license number itself. As of today, a contractor license number is six-digits long. The higher the number, the more recently it was issued. For example, in the 1980’s the numbers started with 4 and 5 as the first digit. In the 1990’s it was mainly 6 and 7. Last time I checked they were issuing license numbers starting with 9. When it gets above 9, they will probably have to switch to a seven-digit numbering system and start license numbers with 10, 11, etc. While interacting with your contractors, you should also take measure of contractors themselves. There will be telltale signs. You should look for them and take notes. Did this contractor timely return your phone calls and emails? Were they on time for your meetings? Are they easy to communicate with? With all those stories of “disappearing contractors” who were impossible to get a hold of, this is your opportunity to decide whether this is someone you feel comfortable dealing with, and having around your home. After the proposal is received, there will be even more signs. Did the proposal arrive in a timely fashion? Does it reflect your job description and does it state clearly what they will do? With all proposals in hand, now it’s time to compare them. Carefully review all proposals, and your personal notes on every contractor, making sure that you are comparing “apples to apples.” (see How to Evaluate Painting Proposals ). At this point, you may feel that you have a clear winner and are ready to award the contract. However, I recommend that you take it a step further and test their track record. You can check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a history of complaints. Ask to speak to a couple of their recent c Articles about house painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Articles Corinne 2021-01-06T11:33:20-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco About once a week I get a call from someone looking to get a phone quote on a painting job. They simply give me a number of rooms or the square footage and just ask for a price. These people are just looking for the best deal they can get. I can't really... Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job About once a week I get a call from someone looking to get a phone quote on a painting job. They simply give me a number of rooms or the square footage and just ask for a price. These people are just looking for the best deal they can get. I can't really... How to Evaluate Painting Proposals A common mistake that I see homeowners make, in shopping for a painting job, is to just invite a bunch of painters over, point them to the project and, without much preamble, ask them for a painting quote.... How to Select the Best Painting Contractor The fact is that there is a big difference between painting companies. Consider the ingredients that make up a company: contractor philosophy, a focus on quality, level of service, employee commitment, painting procedures, experience, communication, and... Importance of Paint Surface Preparation You may have heard it said that good surface preparation is an important part of a paint job. Well, this is very true but good preparation can mean different things to different people. Also, what can be considered good preparation for one type of surface... Steps for Paint Surface Preparation People tend to put a lot of emphasis on paint finishes. Of course, the importance of a new and sparkling paint film of a well chosen color can't be over stated. After all, this is what they will be looking at after the paint has dried. But if this look... Why Paint Bubbles Why paint is bubbling and how to fix it.... How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Where house painting is concerned, one of the prime objectives is to ensure that the paint remains bonded to its substrate and that it retains its essential properties for as long as possible. Selection of the right paint materials is absolutely crucial... Introduction to Paint Colors As a painting contractor, the most common question I hear from clients is: "What color should I choose?" This is a very good question indeed! After all, it is a decision that they will have to live with for a very long time.... More About Paint Colors - The Color Wheel Time and time again I see people struggling with color. Some people's eyes literally glaze over with bewilderment when faced with a color decision. Indeed, color selection can become the most difficult part of the whole house painting process. Sometimes,... Color Scheme Building Once you have some understanding of color basics and have an idea as to why we refer to the color wheel as a color tool, we can take a closer look at a practical application of this information and the use of a few easy rules and formulae in color scheme... Color Computer The Color Computer is an easy to use tool that can help you visualize color harmonies and results of various color mixes. There are a few Color Computers on the market developed by the different manufacturers. The one I use is by M. Grumbacher, Inc..... Painting a Victorian If your home was built between the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th centuries, chances are that you live in one or another form of Victorian architecture.... Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service I am sure you have heard plenty about the importance of customer satisfaction. But what exactly is customer satisfaction? ... Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Tips for how to maintaining your new exterior paint job... Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Tips for maintaining your interior paint job ... Fall House Maintenance Checklist Here’s a five-step fall house maintenance checklist. By making home maintenance a part of your yearly fall routine you will catch potential problems early and ensure that your home is ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store. Contractor's Resume My Story - It was a hot summer of 1974 in the Ukraine. For someone who was only fourteen years old, I was faced with a pretty big decision to make - remain in school and continue to be a kid or join the ranks of adults and enroll into a trade sch... Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top San Francisco Painting Contractors | Classic Shades Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Home Daniel 2024-12-17T09:13:08-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ San Francisco Painting Contractor -Get a FREE Quote- Call 415.566.4910 SAN FRANCISCO PAINTING CONTRACTORS Providing quality exterior & interior house painting with friendly, reliable service in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1985. There are many reasons for you to choose Classic Shades Painting as your painting contractor. For starters, we are a local painting contractor that has been painting in San Francisco for over 35 years. We are a fully insured and a properly licensed (C33) contractor, so you can rest assured that your home will be in good hands when you hire us. Additionally, we are probably one of the most experienced professional painting contractors that you will find in this area. With literally thousands of successfully completed painted projects in the San Francisco area behind us, we know very well what it takes to get the job done right. Classic Shades Painting offers a wide range of exterior and interior painting services to fit your needs and budget. Whether you need a fresh coat of paint for your home’s exterior or you’re looking to completely transform the look of your property, we’re here to help. We employ only career professional San Francisco house painters and we use only high-quality paint materials. Classic Shades Painting company motto is “Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !” SM. Our goal is to make your property look great and to stay looking so for many years to come. As a painting company, we decided a long time ago that our mission as is to provide all of out customers with a friendly and reliable service. We understand that every painting project is different, which is why we take a custom approach to each and every painting project. We know that clear communication throughout a project is the key to success. We’ll work with you to understand your specific needs and goals, and we will help you to achieve them. Our aim is to earn customers for life. Click Here to see what our customers have to say. Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top San Francisco Commercial Painting Clients Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Commercial Clients Corinne 2020-12-31T07:30:23-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Commercial Painting Commercial Clients: 19th Avenue Baptist Church Acorn Books A.C.T. Allstate Insurance Anthony Meier Fine Arts Better Living Through Dentistry Berkeley Piano Club Chabot Space & Science Center Chanel Boutique City and County of San Francisco – Dep. of Environment City Lights Bookshop Dirk Stennick Design Emcon Associates Flynn Companies Gaylord’s Antiques Gladman Memorial Hospital Instituto Familiar De La Raza Kate Spade Store Mackenzie Green Bail Bonds Maiden Lane Salon Mayflower Hotel Mekanism MHDC NCPH – The Sequoias NCPH – The Tamalpais Oakley store Order of Sons of Italy in America Polo / Ralph Louren Store ROMA Design Group Salem Lutheran Home Saunders Design St. Francis Lutheran Church The Trust for Public Land TNDC Urban Pacific Properties Inc. Willow Surgery Center Our Clients Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Corinne 2021-08-30T11:12:13-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Maintaining Your Interior Paint Job Here are a few paint maintenance tips that can help extend the life of your new interior paint job and ultimately save you time and money: Dealing with Dirt Interior paint typically gets dirty as follows: hand prints around switches and knobs, splashes in kitchens and bathrooms, marks on hallways and corridors, “soot” accumulating above electric lamps and other heat sources. While changing color is a good reason for repainting, repainting to cover over the dirty paint can generally be avoided or postponed. Removing dirt before it accumulates not only improves appearance, it reduces chances of it getting permanently embedded in the paint film. Check for dirt periodically; assume it will be present in and near cooking areas (airborne cooking oil) and at all places at hand height. Always initially clean the surface with a mild detergent with a sponge or a soft cloth; resort to harsher cleaners only when necessary, recognizing that alkaline cleaners can dull the sheen or gloss of oil based paint. Abrasive cleaner will burnish nearly any paint, and will dull the gloss of satin, semi-gloss, and gloss products. Washed surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly because residual cleaner can interfere with adhesion of paint applied later. Battling Mildew Watch for growth of mildew on painted surfaces that tend to be moist; this includes laundry and basement areas, bathrooms, and kitchens. Mildew should be treated and removed, never simply painted over. Apply a 3:1 mixture of water and household bleach to the mildewed area using a rag or sponge; wear eye and skin protection and a respirator; with colored paints, do a test area first to be sure the bleach solution will not cause fading; protect the floor and nearby articles. Allow the mixture to remain on for 20 minutes; add more as it dries. Rinse off the area thoroughly. Stopping the Paint Sticking (Blocking) Sometimes painted surfaces will stick to each other, as with a door and a door jamb. This most likely of the painted surfaces are put back into service before the paint has fully dried. Dark color paints tend to “block” more than do light colors or white paints, all else being equal; and glossier paints block more than do flat paints. Warm and damp conditions increase the tendency to block, and of course application of pressure increases blocking. Always allow ample time for paint to dry before putting the painted object back into service. If blocking is observed, rub talcum powder or candle wax onto both surfaces – this will alleviate sticking. The plasticizer in gaskets used in windows, doors, etc. can soften latex paint and cause sticking. This is most problematic with new gaskets and with dark tinted paints. Steps to minimize this include: waiting several weeks to paint a new installation; using a light color or white paint; and applying talcum powder or candle wax to the gasket and paint. May your paint job remain great looking for many years to come! Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top How To Evaluate Painting Proposals Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE How to Evaluate Painting Proposals Corinne 2021-04-14T12:14:13-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 How to Evaluate Painting Proposals In shopping for paint jobs, a common mistake that I see homeowners make is to invite a bunch of painters over, point them to the project and, without providing any additional guidance, ask them for a quote. Maybe those homeowners just didn’t want to offend contractors with excessive job descriptions or perhaps they thought that a professional would know best. It is true that professionals should know best but, modified by individual experience (or lack thereof), one painter’s approach to a job may be completely different from another. For example, one bidder may include an extra finish coat – maybe this is how their old boss always did it. Another bidder may entirely omit the prime coat – perhaps this is the only way they can outbid the competition. Yet, someone else may not include a light well – maybe they did not notice it or did not think it needs doing. W hat will likely happen, with the aforementioned proposals, is that the scope of work, job specifications and price will be all over the place, which will make these proposals nearly impossible to compare. This can leave the homeowner with the need to redo the bidding process from scratch or, even worse, with the need to revisit the process, in the middle of the ongoing job, when it comes to light that something the homeowner wanted painted was not included in the “winning” proposal. Homeowners can easily avoid such confusions by simply providing all bidders with a project description. This description does not have to be very complicated, just as long as it is exactly the same for every bidder. Here is an example of what I mean: Paint exterior of 123 Main St. Include the following: All work at front, back, east side light well, partial west side (above the neighbor’s roof). Clean, crape and prepare all surfaces to be painted. Use one complete coat of primer and one coat of finish paint. The front will be three colors, the back and sides – two colors. Material will be top grade of “XYZ Paint Company”. Even with a project description in hand, you may find that some bidders will recommend something different than what was described. At this stage of the game, you should resist the temptation to stray from your project description and keep in mind your goal of getting comparable proposals. So, even if you like that recommendation of an extra finish coat for example, you should ask the recommending bidder to give it to you as an alternate – a separate price for only that extra coat. This way, when the time comes to compare your proposals, you will not end up trying to compare apples to oranges or to some other completely different type of fruit. (Also read How to Select Best Painting Contractor .) Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top An Introduction To Colors Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Introduction to Paint Colors Corinne 2021-04-14T13:17:28-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Introduction to Paint Color As a painting contractor , the most common question I hear from clients is: “What color should I choose?” This is a very good question indeed! After all, it is a decision that they will have to live with for a very long time, and a lot of people struggle with it. It is generally understood that color combinations that appear pleasing are made up of colors considered to be in harmony, or agree with each other. Colors that do not agree with each other, or that clash, are not in harmony. I always start with the main color – the color of the wall. What will your wall color be? Well, look around. What colors are other homes in your neighborhood painted? Do you like them? Look at the clothes inside your closet. Seriously, t his may give you a clue as to your color preference because color associations are very personal. Some colors will already be established for you by things such as the color of your roof, shrubbery and the color of buildings next door. Your color selection does not need to be wholly determined by those other colors but it should not clash with them either. The color of your furnishings can guide you in the selection of interior paint colors. Once again, your goal is to harmonize. Once you have your main color, you can apply some easy rules and formulas to create a harmonious color scheme. One way to come up with a harmonious color is to use contrasting (lighter or darker) versions of your main color. Another good way to add a color to your scheme is through the use of a complementary color, found with the help of a color wheel. The color wheel is a tool that can be used to help you think about color. It is basically a circle of colors represented in the color spectrum. The basic color wheel is laid out so that the primary colors (red, yellow and blue) are divided by secondary colors (orange, green and violet). Complementary colors are direct opposites and lie directly opposite each other on the color wheel. (You can pick up a color wheel or a Color Computer in any good art supply store.) I read an article the other day that 78% of America lives with white walls. I have nothing against white, it does go well with just about anything and clashes with nothing. Yes, white is very safe but it’s also rather difficult to get “WOW!” about it. In my 30+ years painting, I’ve painted a lot of white walls for clients, and I have some white in my own home. Your walls may be white, and may be this the way you love it! But, if those walls are white simply because you weren’t sure what other color to use, well perhaps now you can give it another look. Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Interior House Painting Gallery Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Interior Photos Corinne 2021-06-02T09:32:58-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Interior Home Painting in San Francisco To enlarge, click on any photo below. Click here for exterior home painting photos. Click here for before and after painting photos. For more information on interior house painting: Interior Painting Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job How do I maintain my interior painting job? Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Our Painting Services Gallery Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Corinne 2021-10-18T11:33:03-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service (The following is an official Classic Shades Painting Co. policy. It is distributed to all field employees.) I am sure you have heard before about the importance of customer satisfaction. But what exactly is customer satisfaction? A customer (also referred to as a client) is defined as a recipient of a product or service supplied by a seller or a service provider. Satisfaction is defined as the fulfillment of a desire or a need. If “to satisfy” means to fulfill a need, then the first and the most important step, where the understanding of customer satisfaction is concerned, is to figure out what your customers really need and want. Let’s start with examining what motivates people to do home maintenance and improvement. As expensive and disruptive to a person’s live as these projects can be, why do people undertake them? By survey, they do this because they have a need to protect and beautify their homes and businesses. So, a customer hires us to fulfill this need. But now that we have the job, what can we do to make this customer feel satisfied? What do customers really want? What will make them happy with the job? Most experts say that customers want customer service. According to a dictionary “Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation.” But what are those magic activities that make customers feel that their expectations have been met? How do we meet and perhaps even exceed those expectations? After more than 30 years in this business and having interacted with literally thousands of customers, I have come to the following concussion: MOST CUSTOMERS FEEL THAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS HAVE BEEN MET WHEN THEY HAVE RECEIVED WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED TO THEM, AND MOST CUSTOMERS FEEL THAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED WHEN THEY HAVE RECEIVED WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED TO THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WAS VERY EASY FOR THEM TO EXPERIENCE IT. What we promise to a customer is not a secret. It is right there is our painting proposal to them, and you always get a copy of it on every job that we do. Every single line of our job specifications is a promise to our customer. Now also take a look at the back of your company shirt or at any one of our company signs. “Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed!” is also very much a promise to every one of our customers. As to how to deliver on this promise should also not be a great mystery to you. You should be very well acquainted by now with our company technical bulletins and quality standards. So, let’s examine what can be done to make a paint job process into an easy experience one for our customers. In other words, let’s take a look at how we can make what can be an unpleasant and disruptive experience for a customer, into a more orderly and satisfying one. HERE ARE SOME “DO’S” AND “DON’TS” OF THE JOB BEHAVIOR TO HELP MAKE A MORE SATISFYING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: -Do be friendly. Use a friendly tone of voice when speaking with customers. Smile when appropriate. -Do be polite and practice good manners. Say “Hello” when you first see the customer in the morning. Let the customer know that you are leaving at the end of the day and say “Goodbye”. -Do be helpful and caring. Try to accommodate customer requests. One customer service survey, conducted across industries, revealed that more than half of all customers surveyed had a bad service experience. Also about the same percentage of customers surveyed thought that many of the companies they dealt with don’t understand and don’t care about them. Do you think people want to do business with companies that don’t care about them? Of course not. Most people are naturally helpful and caring. So, let it show. -Do be grateful. Customers have a choice of many other service providers. Over 70% of our business comes from repeat customers and referrals. All of our livelihoods depend on customers remaining loyal to us. Let them know that you appreciate their loyalty. -Do be attentive. Pay attention to what a customer is saying. If you don’t understand something that the customer said, ask them to clarify it or to say it to you in different words. -Do be open to customer questions and answer them promptly. If you don’t know the answer, call your Field Supervisor to find out. Just don’t let the customer wonder about it and tell them what you are doing. -Do be reliable. If you tell a customer you will do something, like that you will get back to them about something they asked about, then back to them. If a customer expects you to be there at 8 AM, then be there at 8 AM. -Do be predictable and try not to surprise customers with rush requests. If you need for the customer to do something, like open windows, move their staff, contact neighbors, etc., then give them some prior notice first. -Do be proactive and have a plan. Use your expertise to anticipate and prevent job problems. -Do check with the customer periodically to see if they’re happy with the way the job is going and to update them on the job progress. Quickly resolve all customer job concerns. -Do protect the customer’s property from being damaged, lost, or stolen. There is nothing more upsetting than to have your property damaged, abused, or lost. If you have to move any of the customer’s things, always put those things back exactly to where you found them. Always keep entry doors properly secured and lock all doors at the end of each day. Use proper protection (drop cloths, masking tape, plastic, etc.) and always clean up after yourself. One of the top customer complaints (shown by our own customer survey conducted years ago) was “The painter left a mess”. -Do be productive and adhere to a standard schedule. Remember that any time you’re not being productive on a job (i.e. come late in the morning, take unscheduled breaks, use your phone to conduct personal business, etc.) may make your customer feel that you are unnecessarily extending the length of the job. -Do what was promised and do a good job. Don’t skimp on job specifications. If you feel that a specified procedure or a number of coats will not produce a desired result, do not worry the customer about it but immediately contact your Field Supervisor. -Do be effective and get the job done. We work for a lot of very nice people but you need to understand that customers don’t want us in their home for any longer than it is absolutely necessary for you to do a good job there. (So that they don’t have to hire another painter for as long as possible.) This may make it s More About Paint Colors and The Color Wheel Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Corinne 2023-10-16T21:56:37-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 More About Paint Color – The Color Wheel Time and time again I see people struggling with color. Indeed, color selection can become the most difficult part of the house painting process . I have seen people’s eyes literally glaze over with bewilderment when faced with a color making decision. Sometimes, people struggle for months, looking at paint swatches, putting up paint samples, talking to relatives, and still not be able to decide. Perhaps you too have seen homes covered with dozens of paint samples. Well, take my word for it, there are a lot more of these samples at home interior s. And just the other day I have seen some paint sampling that, by the homeowner’s admission, have been there for years. So, why should so many people have such a hard time with color? Personally, I think it has a lot to do with confusion about basic color terms and the lack of familiarity with basic color tools. Color harmony is a very common color term used to describe certain color combinations that appear pleasing. Colors that do not appear to agree with each other, or that clash, are not in harmony. Developed through experience, there are some easy rules that can help us to come up with harmonious color selections. Most of these rules involve the use of the color wheel. But b efore we get started with practical application of the color wheel, we must first define some basic color terms and perhaps clear up some prior confusion on the subject of color in the process. A common source of confusion with color are words “tint,” “shade” and “tone.” People in general, and sometimes even those dealing with color professionally, use these words very loosely to describe any variation of color. Colors like pure red or green are rarely used in the creating a color scheme. Black, white or gray paint can be added to any pure color paint in order to change its characteristic in a specific way. The words “tint,” “shade” and “tone” are technical terms that describe each particular kind of change. Tint – A color that has been lightened by adding white. For example, adding white to red makes pink. Thus you may say that pink is a tint of red. The word “tint” is often used also to describe the action of adding any colorant to the paint base. This use of the word “tint” would be correct, with regards to our technical definition, if we were mixing a color with the white paint base. The thing is – not all of the paint bases are white, and this can make such use of this word a bit misleading. Don’t get me wrong, I am not knocking the popular definition of “tint”, I am just pointing out the difference between the popular definition and the technical definition, which is the one that we will be using here in talking about decorating with color. Shade – A color that has been darkened by addition of black. For example, adding black to green makes a shade of green, such as forest green. Brown is really just a deep shade of orange. Navy is a shade of blue, which is made by adding black to blue. However, people will often use the word “shade” to mean any color variation. They will ask for a lighter shade of yellow, when what they are really looking for is a tint (yellow diluted by white). Tone – A color with some gray added. Adding gray will result in the color being muted, or toned down, without making it too much lighter or darker. We can gray out a color to a point where only a tiny hint of it remains. I have heard people say that they want a green with a tint of gray and then be pointing to a toned down green. The Color Wheel is a simple tool that can help us think about color. It is also one of the most powerful tools available for home decorating. The color wheel is basically a circle of colors represented in the color spectrum. A typical color wheel is made up of 12 colors. Learn how these 12 combine and you will be able to create many great looking color schemes. Three Primary Colors – Red, Blue and Yellow . Every other color is made up of some combination of these three. Primary colors by definition are those colors that cannot be created by mixing others. Three Secondary Colors – Orange, Green, and Violet. These colors are made by two primary colors mixed together. yellow + red = orange; yellow + blue = green; red + blue = violet     The remaining six, Inter­mediate Colors – Blue-Violet; Red-Violet; Red-Orange; Yellow-Orange; Yellow-Green; Blue-Green . Intermediate colors lie between the primary and secondary colors on the color wheel. Intermediate colors are made by mixing together one primary and one secondary color. Note: Intermediate colors are often mistakenly called tertiary colors but this is technically incorrect. Tertiary color is a mixture of two secondary colors. Tertiaries do not appear on the color wheel.     The color wheel shows us how colors are related and can help us understand color balance and harmony. But the color wheel, at least in its basic form, has been with us since the seventeenth century. One can’t help but wonder why such a simple and yet powerful tool goes on to be so underutilized today. Another major source of confusion about colors are color names themselves. It is not so much that the names for colors on the color wheel that are the source of this confusion, but rather the names for the thousands of other colors that are produced by inter-mixing the main twelve and also their tints, shades or tones. I remember a time when I was working on a color scheme with one of my clients. We were discussing her exterior wall color when I mentioned that the paint color. she was leaning toward using, would look better with her tile roof if it was a bit redder. She would not hear of it. She told me that she did not like red and wanted no part of it on her home. It was not until I showed her a sample of color that I had in mind when she agreed that it was a better choice. She was still confused though as to why I was calling red what looked to her just like your basic off-white. Yes, you could have called that color “off white”, but this name would have also applied to dozens of colors that I could produce by inter-mixing white with various combinations of no more than the three primary colors. (Actually the number of off-whites that can thus be produced is virtually limitless,) This was just an example of confusion about color because of a lack of proper color definition. Let’s just look at some color names given by serious paint manufacturers: “Italian Iris”, “Province”, “Berry Blush”, “Loyalist”, etc. I think these were named this way to excite our imaginations. Well, perhaps all of us can use some excitement in that area. But th Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Corinne 2021-02-14T10:53:06-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Steps for Paint Surface Preparation People tend to put a lot of emphasis on paint finishes. Of course, the importance of a new and sparkling paint film of a well chosen color can’t be over stated. After all, this is what they will be looking at after the paint has dried. But, if this look of a freshly painted home is to last, one must not underestimate the importance of proper surface preparation. Listed below are preparation steps for both interior and exterior paint jobs. These steps do not cover all of the possible circumstances that one can encounter on a painting project, only the more common ones. Interior Paint Preparation Steps Wash the walls if accumulated dirt is a problem. Any household detergent will work. Use TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) for grease or a heavy build-up of cigarette smoke. If you use powdered TSP, be sure to rinse it off with water. Use chlorine-based bleach on mildew. Using a scraper or a spackle blade to remove all loose paint and sand down the rough ridges where the paint has broken off. Dig out any cracks a fraction of an inch on both sides so as to form a ‘V’ shape. This increases contact area for your patching material to adhere to. Apply spackle to cracks, holes and heavy paint ridges. Two thin patch coats are always better than one thick coat. Spackle that’s too thick tends to shrink and crack as it dries. In deep holes and cracks, I like to use “Fix-All” for the first patch coat. “Fix-All” is difficult to sand so keep it in the crack or hole, slightly recessed below the surface of the wall, then follow it up with a thin coat of spackle. If the wall has something other than a smooth texture, your patch should match that texture as closely as possible. You can create a stippled effect by dabbing the surface with a sponge or stiff bristle brush while the patching material is still tacky. You can also roll a coat of stipple paint or thinned out joint compound on top of the dried out patch. Use latex caulk to seal joints around door jambs, window casings and baseboards. Wide and deep joint may require more than one application. Use a damp rag to wipe off any excess caulk. Sand down all glossy surfaces or treat them with liquid sandpaper. This provides a roughened surface or “tooth” for good adhesion of your subsequent coat. Primer Application No matter what type of surface you’re painting, it has to be clean, free of loose or cracked paint, rust scale, oil, grease, dirt, mildew and chemical residue before application of primer. Primer or undercoat has two main purposes: to seal the substrate so as to prevent the chemistry of the substrate from migrating into and interfering with the chemistry of the finish coat; to help bind the finish coat to the surface being painted. There is a specialty primer for just about every type of surface – wood, masonry, metal, etc. Essentially, the primer serves as a foundation that supports the finish coat. Understanding this should help you understand the importance of primer. The best primer available is going to be your best choice for any paint job. Exterior Paint Preparation Steps Before any other work is begun, check for leaks and any moisture getting into the substrate. Repair any roof leaks, gutters, windows and leaky plumbing. Damp basements and other excessively humid interior rooms are other common sources of moisture in the substrate. Use vents and dehumidifiers as necessary. Unless the source of moisture in the substrate is found and eliminated, the quality of your paint job will be compromised. All exterior surfaces will need to be washed to remove mildew, dirt and excessive chalking. Consider using a power washer if there are more than 500 square feet of surface to wash. Mildew has a blotchy and powdery appearance. It is a living organism that’s common in damp areas which get little sunlight. Any surface that has mildew must be completely sterilized before painting. Wash the mildewed surface with a mixture of one quart of household bleach in a gallon of water. Chalking is loosely-bound powder that forms on the surface of paint. Chalking happens when paint binder is destroyed by sun and moisture. Scrape, sand and wash off all chalking before primer application. On stucco, thoroughly scrape off loose paint, repair all cracks and holes. Fill gaps around windows, door casings, or where two materials meet such as at the foundation line or where wood meets masonry. Use caulk or elastomer-based patch to fill these cracks. (Elastomer is a polymer with the property of high elasticity. The term derives from elastic polymer.) Cracks of 1/16″ wide or larger should be chiseled out a fraction of an inch on both sides so as to form a ‘V’. This increases the contact area for the patching material that you will be using. If you use a non-textured stucco patching material, texturize the patched area to make it approximate the existing stucco. You can use a coarse fiber brush, like a scrub brush, for this purpose. Rub the brush over the partially set patch in a circular motion until the repair looks like the rest of the wall. If you are using elastomer-based patch, take an old brush, dip it in water and feather out the edges of the patch.Remove any efflorescence (calcium deposits) with a stiff-bristled brush. Then neutralize the salt with a 5% solution of muriatic acid. Rinse thoroughly with clear water.Use good exterior primer or surface conditioner for previously painted stucco. Because of the chemical reaction that occurs in the newly applied stucco, the new stucco must be allowed to properly cure and then primed with alkali resistant primer. On wood surfaces, thoroughly scrape off all of the loose and cracking paint. Sand it to remove any remaining loose paint and create a smoother surface. Consider stripping if more then 25% of the coating is cracked or peeling. In stripping, chemicals or heat is used to completely remove all of the existing coatings down to the substrate. When multiple coatings are present, stripping may be the best way to prepare the surface. However, because of the laborious nature of the stripping process, costs vs. benefits will need to be evaluated. Inject caulking compound into any cracks around windows, doors and all open vertical seams. Use good quality exterior wood primer. Note: Do not caulk the horizontal seams between siding planks. Because siding planks overlap each other, this opening almost never is a source of a leak. On the contrary, caulking of these joints can cause moisture to be trapped in the substrate. Important Note: Never use an inflexible patching material, such as spackling, in a shallow depression of an exterior surface. This is because exterior surfaces (and wood, Fall House Maintenance Checklist Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Fall House Maintenance Checklist Corinne 2024-08-26T19:23:58-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Fall House Maintenance Checklist Here’s a five-step fall house maintenance checklist. By making home maintenance a part of your yearly fall routine you will catch potential problems early and ensure that your home is ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store. If any of these tasks feel overwhelming, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. If it isn’t something that we are able to help you with, we can very often recommend a qualified local SF Bay Area tradesperson. 1. Clean Your Gutters. Your roof’s drainage system directs literally thousands of gallons of water away from your home’s exterior walls and foundation each year, making it essential to keep this system working properly. Clogged gutters can lead to water leaks, damage to exterior surfaces, and water in your basement. Additionally, gutters are more susceptible to corrosion when blocked. Be sure to take the time to clean your gutters this fall season. Tip : Attachments for water hoses are widely available that allow you to spray out the gutters with a standard garden hose. This method is effective for clearing dirt and light debris but works best as a follow-up after the larger debris has been removed. For stubborn clogs in gutters and downspouts, you might consider using a wet/dry vacuum. Several companies also sell leaf blower attachments designed for ground-level gutter cleaning. These attachments feature a long pipe with a curved end that allows you to blow debris out of the gutters. This method is ideal for gutters filled with heavier debris like twigs, packed leaves, and dirt, though it may leave you with some ground cleanup after the gutters are clear. 2. Seal-up Air Leaks. Gaps in caulk and weatherstripping allow cold air to seep into your home as you are trying to keep it warm. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sealing a drafty house can reduce heating bills by as much 20%. Weatherstripping is one of the most cost-effective ways to control heating and cooling costs, while also reducing drafts and keeping your home more comfortable year-round. Since weatherstripping deteriorate over time, it’s important to inspect it regularly. Windows are another major source of energy loss. Caulking can help prevent this, as long as it’s in good condition. Check all of your windows, and reapply caulk if you notice it is brittle, cracked, or separating. While you’re at it, inspect doors and entry points for electrical, cable, phone, and gas lines for missing or damaged caulk. Seal any gaps you find with the appropriate caulk. Tip : To check if your weatherstripping is working properly, close a door or window on a strip of paper. If the paper slides out easily, the weatherstripping isn’t sealing the opening effectively. 3. Inspect Your Roof. The life expectancy of a roof varies, depending on the roof type and how well it’s maintained, generally lasting 15–30 years. Few problems are more frustrating for homeowners than a leaky roof in the middle of the wet season, so address these issues this fall before winter storms turn minor annoyances into major disasters. Begin by inspecting your pitched roof thoroughly from top to bottom, using binoculars if necessary. Check the ridge shingles for cracks or wind damage, and examine the metal flashing around the roof’s edges, vents, and chimneys for signs of wear. If your roof is shingled, look for missing, curled, or damaged shingles. Also, check your gutters for significant granule buildup, as this could indicate your roof is losing its protective coating, which may signal more serious issues. Tip : Roof-mounted television antenna, even if no longer in use, will usually have wires securing it in place. Look for replace any missing or loose wires. If your antenna is obsolete, consider having it removed entirely. 4. Change air filters: Dirty air filters can drive up energy costs and damage your HVAC system. It’s also wise to remove vent covers and vacuum out pet dander, hair, and other debris that can collect inside. These contaminants can hinder your HVAC system’s performance and literally turn your HVAC into a distribution system of those unwanted particles throughout your home. Tip : Changing the air filter is relatively simple, but be sure to check the size of your existing filter before heading to the hardware store. 5. Inspect the Exterior Paint. Visually inspect the entire exterior of your home for cracked or peeling paint and for any signs of water leaks. Peeling or cracked paint indicates that the protective paint layer is failing, leaving your stucco or siding vulnerable to deterioration, which can lead to costly repairs down the road. Fall typically provides enough warm and dry days for exterior painting, and a fresh new coat (or even just a paint touch-up) will help protect and extend the life of your home. Tip : Painters tend to get busier as winter rains approach, so it’s best to contact a good painter as early as possible. The steps you take today can help safeguard your home from costly damage and emergency repairs during the cooler, wetter months ahead. A small investment of time and effort now can save you from significant stress, heartache, and expenses in the future. (Written August 2024) Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Painting a Victorian | House Painting Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Painting a Victorian Corinne 2021-06-02T09:54:27-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Painting a Victorian If your home was built between the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th centuries, the chances are that you live in one or another form of Victorian architecture. San Francisco is well known for its Victorians. Neighborhoods like the Alamo Square, Haight-Ashbury, Lower Haight, Cole Valley, Noe Valley, Castro, Nob Hill, and Pacific Heights are full of these majestic structures. Indeed, the “Painted Ladies” of San Francisco are known world around for their vibrant and sometimes psychedelic color schemes. In the Victorian era, more natural earth-tone colors like shades of brown, red, mustard and green, would have been mostly used. But whatever the color scheme you may choose for your Victorian, lots of TLC will very likely be required before even a single gallon of paint is opened. Whether you own a fanciful Queen Anne Victorian or a more restrained Edwardian you may already know that these types of buildings require considerable effort to keep and maintain. All that fine wood detailing, intricate trim-work, brackets and bays to preserve; all those angles and corners for water to get into and for rain and sun to beat on. T he very thing that mads this type of architecture so beautiful also makes it more fragile and susceptible to damage by the elements. Maybe you are reading this now because you’ve been thinking of getting your Victorian painted. Perhaps you just can’t wait to see your Painted Lady in all of her majesty, shimmering in the sun with a brand new beautiful finish coat of just the right color. It’s very common for people to put most of their attention and emphasis on paint finishes. Indeed, the importance of skillfully applied finish can’t be overstated; after all this is what you will see at the paint job end. But, if this look of a freshly painted home is to last, one must not underestimate the importance of proper surface preparation. You have probably heard that paint surface preparation is important. This is very true and it requires even more skillful workmanship in painting of a Victorian . B ut how do you make sure that the is done right? Here is a brief summary of steps that will probably be required: Before any painting work is begun, check for leaks and ways moisture may be getting into the substrate. You may need to repair any roof leaks, gutters, windows and leaky plumbing. Unless the water is prevented from entering the substrate, the quality of your paint job will be compromised. Check for and replace all rotted or missing wood. This can be an expensive step because some of these trim pieces may be difficult to replicate. But, if not too badly damaged, some of it may be salvageable by injecting the loose wood fibers of the soft wood with epoxy sealer (in order to solidify softened wood sections) and replacing the damaged wood sections with a two part epoxy filler. Replace all badly rusted window and water table flashing. If this is not done, the rust will promptly come back or, even worse, the flashing may rust through completely and allow water into the substrate. Re-nail or screw-in all loose siding, trim boards and brackets. All rusting through nails should be punched in (to set the nail heads slightly below the surface), spot primed with a rust-inhibitive primer and properly filled. If this is not done, the rust will come back and spoil the look of your new paint job. All exterior surfaces will need to be washed to remove mildew, dirt and excessive chalking. All loose and cracking paint should be thoroughly scraped off. Consider complete stripping if more than 25% of the coating is cracked or peeling. Any open joints around windows, doors and vertical seams will need to be caulked. As this may be your last point of defense against water entering your home, ensure that this step is done thoroughly and that only a good quality caulk is used. Your Victorian should be fully primed with a good quality primer that is appropriate to the type of surface being painted. Primer creates a foundation that supports your finish coat. Understanding this should help you get the full importance of primer. In short, the best primer available is going to be the best choice for your job. Now, all this may seem like an awful lot of work just to get ready to paint. Well, it is a lot of work! But if you are like me, your heart will beat just a little faster when you see a beautiful building. I feel like this every time I come home. (August of 2014) Yefim Skomorovsky Painting Contractor in San Francisco Bay Area Articles Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Color Scheme Building With a Color Wheel Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Color Scheme Building Corinne 2023-10-16T21:30:02-07:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Color Scheme Building Once you have some understanding of color basics and have an idea as to why we refer to the color wheel as a color tool, we can take a closer look at a practical application of this information, and begin to learn how to use some easy rules and techniques of color scheme building. In decorating, rarely does it happens that we get to develop the entire color scheme from scratch. Most likely we will start-off with existing objects like drapes, rugs and furniture, that must remain in the space being decorated. Unless it is neutral, every one of these objects will exhibit a characteristic of some color. Once this color is identified, and is associated with one of the colors on the color wheel , the object’s inclusion into a color scheme can become possible. The neutrals are black, white, and gray (the complete spectrum in between white and black). Neutral, in our context, means without color. The neutrals go well with everything and clash with nothing. Most of the rules, using the color wheel in color scheme building, are based on color complements. In general, complementary color schemes are the most popular of the color scheme patterns. Here every color is balanced by another and this makes for color schemes that are pleasing to the eye. True Com­plement Colors are any two colors located directly across from each other on the color wheel . The true complement of green, for example, is red. For orange, it’s blue. For yellow, it’s violet. Pairing a color with its complementary color will make both colors appear more vibrant. The true complement color scheme produces a stronger contrast than other color schemes and draws maximum attention. With this scheme, choose a dominant color and use its complementary color for accents. Because of the high contrast factor, this color scheme must be managed well so that it does not appear too jarring. Use tints, tones and shades of complementary colors to soften the look. For example, the true complement color scheme may include: a tint, tone or shade of the dominant color; a shade of the dominant to a subdominant color; using a different value of either of the true complements for additional accent colors. Dominant color: The color with the largest proportional area, such as main walls. Subdominant color: The second largest color area such as wood trim, window treatments, upholstery or floor covering. Accent colors: The color with a small relative area, like an architectural detail or a piece of intricate trim, which perhaps you would like to focus attention on. Placing small areas of light color on a dark background or a small area of dark on a light background will also create an accent. A well chosen lamp base, area rug or a plant can also provide an excellent source of a complimentary accent color for your color scheme. A split complementary color scheme is another variation of a complementary scheme. It is similar to a true complement scheme but offers more color variety. Split complement color scheme is based on three colors. It uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its true complement. The split complement is an expansion of the true complement. The difference is that split complementary colors are directly adjacent to and on both sides of the true complementary color selected. For example, if green is your main color – the true complement would be red, thus the split complementary colors to green would be red-orange and red-violet. The split complementary provides high contrast without the strong tension of the true complementary scheme. For example, the split complementary schemes may include: a tint or shade of the dominant color selected; a shade of one of the split complementary colors; a tint or shade of the other split complement in the paint or you can use room furnishings to pick up the third color; additional use of tints of any of the tree colors selected; additional accent colors using a different value of any of the three split complementary colors. Another type of complement scheme, in which three colors are used, is called a triad. The word “triadic” derives from the word “triad” which means three. The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel . These three colors lie inside an equal sided triangle when it is applied to the color wheel . The most common and easily identified triadic scheme uses the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue. Another example of triadic scheme is violet, orange and green and yet another example is red-purple, yellow-orange and blue-green. The triad is one of the most useful formulas for harmony and it is often used in decorating to form pleasing color schemes. Because triads use colors that are unrelated, they can be difficult to work with. To use triadic harmony successfully, the colors should be carefully balanced – let one color dominate and use the two others for accents. If the color looks too harsh, tints and shades of a triad can be used to soften this effect of unrelated colors. For example, triadic color schemes may include: a tint or shade of the dominant color selected; a shade of one of the triads; a tint or shade of the remaining triad in paint, or the use of room furnishings to pick up the third color; additional use of a tint or shade of any of the three colors selected; additional accent colors using a different value of any of the three triad colors. The double comple­mentary color scheme is based on a combination of four colors. It can also be viewed as two overlapping true complements. The double complements are spaced on either side of an imaginary true complement. For example, if true complements are orange and blue then double complements would be yellow-orange and blue-violet plus green and red. The double complement color scheme is the richest of all of the schemes because it uses four colors. This scheme can be hard to harmonize particularly if all four colors are used in equal amounts, so you should choose one color to be dominant or use tints, shades or tones of the other colors selected. The complementary is not the only type of a color scheme. The two others, which are also based on the color wheel , are not really complements. These are the monochromatic color scheme which is based on one color, and the analogous color scheme which is based on several connecting colors. Analogous Colors (“analogous” means similar) lie immediately adjacent to each other on the color wheel , having one color in common. For example: yellow-green, green and blue-green or yellow-orange, orange and red-orange. The analogous color scheme is easy to create but it lacks color contrast of complementary schemes. Usually analogous sche Daniel | Classic Shades Painting Co Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Daniel Home Daniel About Daniel For information, contact Yefim at [email protected] OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. 1555 Yosemite Ave. Suite 15 San Francisco CA 94124 [email protected] 415.566.4910 COPYRIGHT 2024 - Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc. - All rights reserved. Facebook X Instagram Page load link Go to Top Our Painting Clients Skip to content HOME SERVICES Our Painting Services Exterior Painting Interior Painting Commercial Painting New Construction Painting ABOUT Company Information Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Best of the Bay Video Why Classic Shades Painting 100 Reasons to Hire Us Blog OUR CLIENTS Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients GALLERY Exterior Photos Interior Photos Before/After Photos ARTICLES Exterior Painting in San Francisco Key to Getting the Best Deal on a Painting Job How to Evaluate Painting Proposals How to Select the Best Painting Contractor Importance of Paint Surface Preparation Steps for Paint Surface Preparation Why Paint Bubbles How to Evaluate Quality of Paint Introduction to Paint Colors More About Paint Colors – The Color Wheel Color Scheme Building Color Computer Painting a Victorian Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service Maintaining Your New Exterior Paint Job Maintaining Your New Interior Paint Job Fall House Maintenance Checklist Contractor’s Resume FAQ GET QUOTE Our Clients Corinne 2021-01-06T09:53:37-08:00 Classic Shades Painting Great looking, long-lasting paint job. Guaranteed !℠ Do You Have A Painting Project We Can Help With? -Get a FREE quote- Call 415.566.4910 Our Clients Painting Clients Classic Shades Painting has been working on painting projects with general contractors, homeowners and commercial businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1985.... Testimonials These testimonials have been excerpted from customer public statements and letters to Classic Shades Painting. Since 1985, there are 100s of such letters on file.... General Contractors Here is a list of General Contractors Classic Shades Painting has worked with over the years.... Commercial Clients Here is a list of Commercial Clients that Classic Shades Painting has done work for over the years.... Our Clients Painting Clients Testimonials General Contractors Commercial Clients Our Affiliations & Awards OUR MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to create great-looking, long-lasting paint jobs by consist­ently exceeding estab­lished painting industry quality standards, and to deliver friendly, reliable customer service. Our aim is to earn customers for life. About Us Testimonials 100 Reasons to Hire Us Why Classic Shades? Our Approach To Painting Our Warranty Contractor’s Resume Need a Color Consultant in San Francisco? CONTACT US TODAY Classic Shades Painting Co. Inc.