Test your eyes’ color sensitivity

Here's an interesting exercise making the social media rounds lately  - http://www.igame.com/eye-test/ - See how sensitive you are to subtle shades of color differences. (For instance, differences in paint touch-ups on a dark accent wall that's been exposed to the sun for a few years!)Click on the "more info about colour vision?" link at the upper right of the page for some interesting facts about how our eyes perceive color. I (Alanna) did pretty well on the test and hit Hawk. I'd be interes...
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Cabinet Painting that Lasts

smooth, luminous kitchen trim paint
The average American kitchen today has about 30 linear feet of cabinets, and they’re usually made of wood. Those cabinets need durable, glossy (read: easy to clean) hard enamel paint. Painting cabinets can completely transform a dingy old kitchen into a bright, inviting space. The same goes for another room that gets a lot of abuse: The mudroom. We recommend the same process and paint for mudroom cabinets or lockers as we do for kitchen cabinetry. It used to be that the smelly, long-dr...
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Tradeshow Tidbits

Tradeshow tidbits
Recently we stopped by the regional Riccardi Brothers paint tradeshow: a big room full of stuff that, okay, maybe only a painter could really love. But it’s important to us to go to these shows to stay on top of what products our suppliers are rolling out. If there’s a tool out there that can help us do a better job for our clients, we're on board! This time around, our favorite find was some new options in the world of painters’ tape. We use tons of that stuff to hold down protective plas...
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Why Lighter Exterior Colors Last Longer

dramatic curb appeal
I relish the chance for a nice weekend spin around the Main Line in mid-May, the shrubs and flowers in full bloom, up against those stone houses with their dramatic darkly-painted doors and shutters. But this vivid, stylish look comes with a price. Those dark trim colors require a lot of maintenance and frequent repainting. For exterior trim or walls, lighter colors simply last longer. The science is fairly straightforward: Ultraviolet light causes color pigment to fade. Darker colors abso...
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Powerwashing is Like Brushing Your Teeth

Powerwashing siding - before and after
I've given in and bought an electric toothbrush. Why? I can’t figure out the perfect brushing balance to keep my teeth and gums clean without worsening my gum recession problems. I changed toothpastes too; did you know there’s a scale of toothpaste abrasiveness called  RDA factor, and high-RDA toothpastes contribute to gum recession? Well, it’s May, so naturally my efforts to care for my teeth and gums made me think about... powerwashing. Mold, rust and pollution are like tartar and pl...
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