There are so many older homes in the Black Hills and Lamb Painting is making the required steps to be able to help resident and company owners of property contaminated by lead paint. In May our lead painters attended a rigorous training seminar in Rapid City and became certified to work with lead paint.  Making a home with lead paint safe for its inhabitants involves jumping an almost endless number of hurdles but Lamb Painting is prepared to take on this challenge to assure safety to the people who come into contact with the contaminated property.

If your home or property was built before 1978 there is a chance that lead paint is present, possibly even in the soil that surrounds your property. For adults, lead paint can be the cause of the following effects:

· Muscle and joint pain

· Nerve disorders

· Fertility problems for both men and women

· Digestive problems

· High blood pressure

· Problems with memory and concentration

· Sexual disorders

Lead paint can be very harmful to the health of an adult but is much more dangerous for children. Even when the child is still in the womb it is affected by lead paint. Miscarriages, premature births, brain damage, and low birth weight can be caused by pregnant women coming into contact with lead paint. Children under the age of six are at the highest risk. Lead paint can cause speech, language, and behavior problems, attention deficit disorder, nervous system damage, decreased intelligence, learning disabilities, and kidney damage.

Now that you know the problem it is just as important that you know the solution. Lamb Painting is certified to test your home or property for lead paint and make your home or property safe for the people who come into contact with it. We have made the investment of sending our crew leaders to special training to guarantee our ability to protect our clients and employees. To make your home safe we follow procedures specified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA procedures ensure that lead contamination does not spread, is properly disposed of, and properly contained for your safety.

The presence of lead paint is not an issue to take lightly especially if children are involved. Lead paint can only be properly contained by trained, certified, professionals. The price of removing and containing lead contamination may be high but the health risks of not doing the work are higher. If lead paint is your problem; Lamb Painting is your solution.

Technorati Tags: House Painting, Lead Certified Contractor, Lead Paint, pre 1978 homes, Professional Painting Contractor, Residential Painting

Prep work is often the less thought about part of painting. However, prep work is the most essential part to a great paint job. Many contractors or do-it yourselves don’t do the proper amount of prep work. There are three main parts to a paint job:

• Sanding - There are three reasons why you need to sand: Strip a surface, Smooth a surface and to scuff a previously coated surface.
• Primer - Applying a good coat of primer will result in a good paint job.
• Masking - Taking the time to mask and cover things up will help keep your home clean. Paint can be messy and be a hassle to clean up.

A professional painter will be able to identify the proper procedures for each individual project. We take ownership in every project. We will make recommendations to the owners on proper procedures, through the painting process. As the premier painting contractor in our area our name and reputation is on every job. Please do not hesitate to call us with questions about your project. Painting isn’t simply putting paint on the wall, it is so much more than that!

Technorati Tags: Commercial Painting, Preparing to Paint, Residential Painting, Surface Preparation

Technorati Tags: Exterior Painting, Home Repairs, House Painting

Your home is your greatest asset and you want to preserve the life and beauty of this investment.If you are concerned about the wear and tear beginning to show on your exterior, let us recommend a maintenance plan designed to avoid a major expense later.

A recent article in This Old House Magazine gives tips for homeowners who are planning an Exterior Painting Project:

Most people think of painting as a way to make a house look pretty, but it also protects the exterior from the elements. When you’re doing it yourself, follow two simple rules: prepare the surface well and buy the best paint you can afford.

House Inspection
First, do a quick test to determine the extent of the work. Choose an inconspicuous place where paint is at its worst. Clean the surface, let it dry and paint a small patch. The next day, press on a piece of tape and then quickly pull it off. If the tape is clean, it’s safe to repaint after washing and prepping the whole house. If the tape pulls off all the paint down to bare wood, the house needs to be stripped before it’s repainted.

Most old houses are covered with oil paint. When the time comes for a new coat, you have two options: touching-up or stripping bare. You can try periodic touch-ups with oil but the paint will continue to peel as it oxidizes and becomes brittle. When it does, you can scrape off the peeling portions, prime the bare spots and repaint with latex. Areas that weren’t scraped will then peel and, as you repeat the process, your house will eventually be covered with latex paint that sticks.

Alternatively, you can strip the house down to bare wood and start over with latex. This option is the most expensive up front but if done right it can save money on patch jobs and band-aid repainting in the long run. Take this route if you discover widespread paint failure such as aligatoring, cracking or flaking. For blistering, peeling, or wrinkling — which are normally caused by excessive moisture, heat, or humidity — you’ll have to correct the moisture that’s causing these problems before repainting.

Whichever path you choose, remember that painting your house with the best paint over an unprepared surface is like trying to hang a plain piece of paper on a refrigerator without a magnet: it just won’t stick.

At Lamb Painting, we know that determining the scope of the preparation that should be considered before exterior painting can be overwhelming.  When in doubt, it is best to consult a professional residential painting contractor to help you make the best decision to preserve your home.  The money you invest now by hiring a professional house painter will save you more money in the long run than choosing a cheap solution that will not last.

Technorati Tags: Exterior Residential Painting