Historic Brick Exteriors: To Paint Or Not to Paint

Photo by Georgy Rudakov on Unsplash

The paint job of a historic home is one of the key components that characterize the elegant antiquity of the residence. The painting of brick exteriors is even more unique, as brick has a particular charm when it comes to home design. Whether you are aiming to renovate your home to achieve a specific aesthetic or to simply add another layer of protection to the bricks encompassing your house, you might consider a new coat of paint.

The wear and tear due to constant exposure to elements, such as heavy rain, may cause the brick exterior to appear worn and damaged, even early on its lifespan. (This might be something you, as a homeowner in Boston, are familiar with.) Painting the brick may be one of the first options you consider to resolve this matter; however, there are many factors to take into account. To assist you in deciding whether you should paint the brick exterior of your home, here are a few points to consider, and the possible benefits and disadvantages of each.

What to Consider Before You Decide to Paint Brick

First, understand that brick is often chosen as a building material due to its natural, beautiful coloring and its exceptional durability. Generally, brick is not a material that is intended to be painted. However, if you decide to go this route, you should know that caring for the painted surface requires a long-term, detailed maintenance plan. The Brick Industry Association suggests replacing paint on brick exteriors every 3-5-years.

The quality of your brick exterior should directly influence your decision to paint it as well. For example, brick that is suffering from chipping, molding, or is otherwise deteriorating should not be considered for painting. Instead, surfaces in this condition should be repaired or otherwise cared for before painting ever becomes an option.

You must also understand how the paint will affect the physical and structural integrity of the brick exterior. When you add a coat of paint onto exterior brick, the pores become filled and blocked, which can exacerbate existing issues with the brick. This is a big problem because it forces water to seep into the mortar, and from there, into the brick. With much of the surface area blocked off due to the paint layer, the moisture is then trapped, unable to evaporate from the brick. This holding of moisture is normally what leads to the paint chipping off.

Lastly, consider the effort it will take to remove the paint from the brick if you ever decide that you no longer wish to maintain that aesthetic. Removing paint from brick is a painstaking task, one that requires several hours, or even days, to complete. You cannot merely sandblast or power-wash the surface. Instead, it would be best if you used a paint-stripping solution. Removing paint from brick must only be done with expert help to avoid damaging the brick’s surface with the chemicals comprising the solution. 

Disadvantages of Painting the Brick Exterior of Your Home

Truthfully, there are not many disadvantages to painting the brick exterior of your home. The disadvantages primarily concern the requirement of more frequent quality checks for your home, not necessarily a significantly increased workload as far as home maintenance.  Keep these things in mind as you consider painting your brick exterior:

• You cannot go back to a bare brick exterior. Once you have committed to painting brick, there is no going back. The moment you apply a new coat of paint on a brick exterior, you must always replenish that paint for the remainder of the home’s lifetime to maintain the structural integrity and quality of the brick. 
• You will need to clean the exterior of your home more often. This is a double-edged sword because painted brick is easier to clean. However, dirt and other buildup show up much more clearly. This may mean you have to clean more often, so your home does not become covered in dirt, debris, and mildew over time. 

That said, you can always find a high-quality, affordable company to take care of maintaining your painted brick surfaces.

The Advantages of Painting Your Home’s Brick Exterior

Though there are a few minor drawbacks to painting the brick exterior of your home, the benefits far outweigh any potential negative consequences. For some, painting a home’s exterior is one way of customizing the building and owning its aesthetic. This is especially important in historic homes since you must maintain its integrity over time without allowing the exterior to become dull and drab.
When you decide to paint your brick exterior, the benefits include:

• The exterior will be better protected from the elements. As long as you maintain a regular maintenance schedule that includes the replacement of aging coats of paint and regular cleaning, a coat of paint will improve its resistance to the elements. This is because it acts as a sealant, defending against the effects of seasonal changes. 
• Your home’s curb appeal will be significantly improved. Whether you intend for your home to be yours forever, or you eventually wish to sell it, the curb appeal and value of your home can be enhanced by adding a layer of paint. (This is especially true for dark colors such as slate gray, or sharp, modern colors like white.)

Once you decide to move forward with painting the brick exterior of your historic home, the best option for exterior house painting in Boston is Catchlight Painting. Whether you need a new coat added, or an old coat stripped for renovation, you can depend on Catchlight’s 25+ years of experience restoring and painting many of the Boston area’s historic homes.

Why Choose White Shaker Cabinets for Your Kitchen?

The Shakers were well-known for their outstanding woodworking skills, craftsmanship, and simple yet attractive design. Shaker cabinets, modeled after these early masterpieces, remain very popular today. The style is timeless and works with many different kitchen configurations and schemes. White shaker cabinets, specifically, are one of the most versatile choices on the market.

Why Shaker Cabinets? The Shakers believed in simplicity in life, devotion, and a strong work ethic, and relayed this through their design. High-quality Shaker cabinets today stay true to this original vision. These cabinets transcend trends. They have survived the test of time, satisfying both fans of modern kitchens, as well as those of a more classic style. Sleek lines and basic trims complement today’s cutting-edge kitchens. High-tech appliances, avant-garde artwork, and modern, eccentric accents mesh well with Shaker cabinets. With a clean slate to work with, customers can add stylish futuristic touches to their kitchens while still retaining that solid Shaker look.

Another benefit to these cabinets is they are generally more affordable than many other styles of cabinetry. As a result, you can funnel those savings into other areas of kitchen updates or redesign. You can put together the kitchen of your dreams at a lower price without sacrificing quality.

Shaker cabinets consist of clean lines and geometric trim. This design can help to add to the visual effect of height and depth in the kitchen, as long lines create a sense of extended space. The simple appearance and style of Shaker cabinets fit well with any combination of counters, appliances, and accents. Additionally, you can experiment with different grains, materials, and handles: all while maintaining the proven foundation of the Shaker look.

Why Go With White Cabinets? White is the most popular color for kitchen cabinets, and for good reason. Many modern kitchens are open and airy, and color choice can enhance, or diminish, this appearance. White cabinetry contributes to a spacious feel. It gives a clean, fresh look, and provides a neutral backdrop for any creative aspirations you have in mind. Simple kitchens are stylish, and white cabinets can help you achieve that goal.

White cabinets can also make a kitchen brighter and lighter while providing the illusion of space and roominess. As cabinets last a long time, they will continue to complement any appliances – no matter the color or style – that you buy in the future.

White Shaker Cabinets: Your Best Choice The combination of the exceptional quality of materials and design found in Shaker cabinets with the color white will prove to be a winner. Timeless and versatile, these cabinets will subtly bring your kitchen to life. If you are looking for cabinetry that will stand the test of time, as well as fads in kitchen design, white Shaker cabinets are a trusted option. When people are on the lookout for specific cabinets, many will want a style that is sleek, attractive, functional, and sturdy. White Shaker kitchen cabinets check all of these boxes, and will for years to come.

5 Steps to Prevent Storm Damage to Your Home

With summer on the horizon, your thoughts may be drawn to having time off work, enjoying the sunshine or maybe going on a vacation, however, with summer thunderstorms to take into account, it’s crucial that you do everything you can to ensure your home is safe and protected.

Image by Sergio Cerrato from Pixabay 

Heavy rains and strong winds can cause extensive damage to your property, so here are five steps to prevent storm damage to your home and outsmart Mother Nature.

Inspect the Foundation

If you notice any cracks or gaps in the foundation of your property, this increases the chance of water seeping into your home during severe weather. No one wants to deal with major water damage, so repairing any cracks you spot or calling a professional to help is key. Also, make sure that your doors and windows are sealed, as they are other areas of the home where water could sneak in.

Clean Your Gutters

While cleaning your downspouts and gutters may not be the most exciting task, soggy leaves and dirt can accumulate and cause havoc to your home should a storm strike. This is because they can stop water from running off your roof during severe weather. If water starts to build up, it may settle around your roof, which can cause extensive water damage to your property. Cleaning and repairing your gutters should be at the top of your list to keep your home safe and secure from a storm.

Check Your Back Yard

For preventing storm maintenance, one of the best things you can do is to inspect your back yard for diseased or dead trees. When severe weather strikes, trees that are diseased, hollowed or dead may not be able to stand up against strong winds. The last thing you want is for a tree to fall and crash into your home, so while most home insurance policies cover falling trees, it’s advisable to get rid of unsafe trees so no one is put in danger.

Inspect Your Roof

Your roof needs to be maintained and inspected at least once a year. Keeping a close eye on the condition of your roof will help you identify any issues before they turn into major problems. Keeping your roof in good condition can also save you money on your home insurance. If you don’t feel comfortable tackling your roof alone, it’s best to hire a professional.

Watch the Weather

Many homeowners make the mistake of failing to act before severe weather strikes. So you can be confident that you’ve taken the correct precautionary measures, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather forecast. If a storm is heading your way, try and find out how your community reacts to weather emergencies and follow suit.

Create a Checklist

After a storm has hit your area, your first step should be to inspect your home for damage. Creating a damage checklist and going around the interior and exterior of your property will help you identify what action needs to be taken.

If a storm is predicted, it’s important that you take all the precautionary measures listed above to reduce the risk of damage to your property.

Your New-and-Improved Home Essentials Checklist

Now that most people have been spending a lot more time at home due to COVID-19, there are probably a few things you’ve noticed in your house that you’d love to improve. Life is usually such a whirlwind, so it’s easy to let inconveniences go unnoticed—especially if it’s how you’ve done it for years and years. If you haven’t really touched anything in your home since the early 2000s, you’re missing out on some incredible technology that would not only make your home look incredible, but make your life easier. Now that you're home more often, take note of everything you’d like to get done and follow along with this checklist of essentials that will make your home feel new and improved.

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Keeping all of your memories in one place

The first step in improving your home is preserving your memories. Although there is something to be said about going through old photo albums, you run the risk of damaging a really special memory every time you turn a page, depending on the age of the photos. Not to mention all of the new memories you and your family are creating every day. Whether it’s pictures of the grand kids or your vacation from last summer, all of these images end up on different phones and social media platforms, making it difficult to keep track of them on your own.

Now you can actually keep everything in one convenient place with Meet ibi. This device acts as a personal cloud that can store over 250,000 photos or over 100 hours of video. Also, there’s not a monthly subscription fee, like so many other photo services, so you’ll be saving money. It’s also very simple to set up. All you need to do is plug in your ibi and download the app, and it will guide you easily through the rest of the setup. From there, select which devices and social media accounts you’d like ibi to collect from and choose your “inner circle” to privately share content with. Take photos of your old albums and then upload them to your cloud. You’ll be able to share old photos that people have never seen or maybe forgot were ever taken.

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Living in a fairytale

Wouldn’t it be nice to come home to your very own fairytale every day, or at the very least be able to park your car in a beautiful garage? Garages aren’t exactly the most visually appealing part of any house, so improving that area should definitely be on your checklist. Make your garage go from drab to fab by searching for custom wood garage doors. RW Garage Doors has dedicated its whole company towards building superior quality carriage house garage doors. They handpick every piece of wood and fully inspect their materials before using them in their projects. Your neighbors are certain to be jealous of the premium build.

Making a splash with backsplash

The kitchen is where people gather and put a lot of love in the dishes they create. It’s a cornerstone of family gatherings. That being said, the kitchen is the first place to get a little messy when there’s a lot of activity going on in the house. Upgrading the design of this space will not only make it look great, but make things run more smoothly. You'll find backsplash in almost every new kitchen right now. It’s a beautiful, tiled accent that makes your eating space look almost like a restaurant. Since it’s tile, any pasta sauce that bubbles out can easily be wiped away without leaving a trace of a stain. It's functional and beautiful.

Asbestos testing kits --Do I need one?

Photo by Tneil Abt on Unsplash

It is no secret about the potential danger that could be lurking in your home. Asbestos is, luckily, no longer used in construction. However, many people wrongly assume that when those regulations changed, they no longer had to worry about asbestos.

Unfortunately, there are many homes that still have asbestos. Knowing the dangers of asbestos, often leads to the question - do I need an asbestos testing kit? It might seem like an unnecessary item. But if your home was built more than 10 years ago, you might consider it a requirement.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is actually a blanket term that covers 6 different substances that are naturally occurring. They are resistant to electricity and fire. Which is why it was so popular for such a long time. Asbestos was ideal where fire retardation was essential. As asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre, they are plentiful which was ideal for the construction trade.

Not only that, but they could be moulded and woven into a range of different items and materials. It is estimated that asbestos has been used for somewhere in the region of 4,500 years, and it wasn’t until 1960 and beyond the links between asbestos and a range of diseases and illnesses were accepted.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Mesothelioma. Asbestos causes a rare and deadly cancer that develops in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is what protects your internal organs.

When breathing in the small airborne particles of asbestos, it will almost always result in cancer, and it is almost always deadly.

Asbestos has also been linked to a lung cancer disorder called asbestosis. This rare disorder attacks the respiratory system by forming scar tissue on the lungs and the surface of the lung’s lining, making it difficult to breathe. This may or may not be a precursor to mesothelioma. This is why an asbestos testing kit is essential for any home that isn’t a new build, that was erected in the last 15-20 years.

When You Need And Asbestos Testing Kit

Asbestos was used in many building materials for a long time. It was included in textures for ceilings and walls, and in insulation. When the regulations about asbestos being used in the building industry came into force, it was no longer used for new homes. However, that means there are thousands of homes that will have asbestos. In general, it will remain dormant until it is disturbed, but as soon as home renovations start taking place, exposure happens. Tiny airborne particles are released and can lead to a range of health issues. These include respiratory disorders and lung cancer.

So if your home is a certain age, then it is best for you to make sure you have an asbestos testing kit available. This will mean you can have the safest possible environment to complete your home renovations.
Where Can I Find Asbestos?
Within the construction industry, you will find asbestos-containing material in some of the following areas:

• Insulation
• Popcorn ceilings
• Pipe insulation
• Vinyl tiles
• Ceiling tiles
• Asbestos tiles
• Some plastics

Many homeowners aren’t aware of the number of products in their homes that could potentially have some level of asbestos. Which is any asbestos testing kits are essential for most homeowners. Unfortunately, it isn’t until a homeowner decides to undertake some renovations when the asbestos is found. 

What Happens In An Asbestos Test?

An asbestos kit only has one use. To detect any level of asbestos within your home. Typically a kit will include a sample bag for each type of material that you would like tested. After you have carefully collected all of the materials and paid a fee, all of the materials will be tested within a lab.

Once you receive the results of your asbestos testing kit, if positive for asbestos, you will need to hire a company specializing in removing asbestos. They will be able to come and clear your home of all traces of asbestos. The cost associated with an asbestos testing kit is minuscule compared to the potential medical bills and deadly impact of leaving your home unchecked. There are occasions where a test might come back as inconclusive, and in this case, it is prudent to continue as if it was positive and use a professional service to take care of it.

A key thing to remember is that a professional company will ensure that your home is totally safe and use a filter to clean the air. You mustn’t attempt to remove any asbestos yourself when you get the results. In summary, if you have a house that is over 15-20 years old, it is wise to invest in an asbestos testing kit.