Minor Drywall Repairs.

Years and wear and tear on a home leads to the occasional dent, hole or crack in the walls or ceiling. The eaisiest way to fix these are to call Family Professional Painting. We'd more than happy to make you walls look new again.

Some want to do the repairs themselves and for those brave individuals here a link to fixing small holes.

Small Hole Repairs.


Below are some photos of some repairs we made to a home in Bozman, MD just outside Saint Micheal, MD.

The joint in this ceiling was cracked so bad that the tape was pulled off.

After pulling the tape, a coat of mold/mildew resistant drywall mud was applied followed by metal reinforced drywall tape (Straight Flex). After setting the tape in a bed of mud, a coat was applied over the tape.

  A second coat of mud was applied after lightly sanding the first. Then the repair was primed and two coats of paint applied. The final product looked like this:

If you are looking for the kind of results please feel free to contact us.

410-714-0448

Or click the link: http://www.marylandpainter.net/estimate.html

   

we welcome this month’s new clients to the “Family Professional Painting” family 

Here are some of our new clients that became members of the “Company Name Family” this past month.  I’d like to welcome you and wish you all the best!

Mark and Leslie Flynn - Annapolis 

Sue Beckham - Quennstown/Kent Island

We are giving recognition to our new clients and our superb friends who are kind enough to refer them.

More Reasons to Exercise

You might know the common benefits of exercise: it makes you feel great, protects your heart and makes you look better. But somehow these benefits haven't nudged you into doing it.
Maybe these new discoveries will.
* Exercise may erase your genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease. A Washington University study of people aged 45-88 identified those with a genetic risk for Alzheimer's. But the risk carriers who were physically active and meeting the American Heart Association guidelines for regular exercise showed no buildup of amyloid plaques.
* Both leisure and on-the-job activity protect against heart attacks. A Swedish study, reported by Tufts University, shows both light and moderate work activity created a reduced risk of heart attacks when compared to sedentary people.
As expected, all leisure time physical activity was associated with a reduced heart attack risk.

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Naming The New Generation:

What’s the Rush?

Individuals, journalists, academics race to name the new generation
Previous generations lasted 20 years or more. They include:

The Greatest Generation, also known as the GI Generation, born from 1901 to 1924. They experienced the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the New Deal and World War II.

The Silent Generation, also known as Traditionalists, were veterans and mature people born from 1925 to 1945. They experienced the Depression, World War II, and the Korean War.

Baby Boomers, born from about 1946 to 1964, are huge in numbers. They experienced the Vietnam War; assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy; the civil rights movement and the women's movement.

Generation X consisted of those born from 1965 to 1981. Many were latchkey kids or children of divorce.
Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Echo Boomers, were born from 1982 through the early 2000s. They experienced the Sept. 11 attacks and the rise of the Internet.

Today, demographers say there is a frantic race on to name the new generation. There's no official contest. The new name will come to life automatically when it's used most often in press releases and by writers and marketers.
"No one knows who will name the next generation," says Neil Howe, who, with his deceased business partner, is credited with naming the Millennials. 'The heart of the next generation," he says, "is still in nursery school."
Psychologist and author Jean Twenge referred to it as "iGen" before the iPhone came out. The i was for Internet. Now she likes Multi-Gen because the generation will be multicultural, multimedia, multiracial and multifamily.
Scott Hess of Teenage Research Unlimited likes PostGen. He says it will be post recession, post Obama and the generation that posts on Facebook.
USA Today says ad man Jack MacKenzie suggests "The Pluralistic Generation," because the Plurals will be most positive about America becoming ethnically diverse.

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August Is:

·       Admit You’re Happy Month

·       Family Fun Month

·       National Catfish Month

·       National Eye Exam Month

·       National Golf Month

·       Peach Month

·       Romance Awareness Month

 

 

 



Immunize!

In the month of August, many of our thoughts turn to summer coming to a close and getting the children in our lives ready to return to school. I would strongly encourage you to shift your attention to something else... vaccinations! Most of us born in the 20th century take vaccinations for granted; we might even have forgotten the importance of being vaccinated. That is why August has been designated Immunization Awareness Month. Like testing your fire alarms in conjunction with daylight saving time, Immunization Awareness Month comes with the start of the school year. With children and adults going back to school in the fall, many schools require immunizations to be up to date in order to enroll. The purpose of Immunization Awareness Month is to promote the benefits of immunization.

Immunization is touted as one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century. It is thought to have begun in 17th or 18th century and was believed to be initially focused on the eradication of small pox. Thankfully it worked! Vaccines have eradicated small pox, polio and greatly decreased the number of individuals who get measles, diphtheria, rubella, whooping cough and other diseases. Rotary International continues to do amazing work in this area and recently has publicized its work to eradicate polio Their goal is to "...wipe this disease off the face of the earth forever." Check out how the effort is going and how being immunized helps to get rid of this disease and improve the communities' overall health.

It is important to have everyone vaccinated, especially children and older adults, in order to ensure healthy lives. There are many nonprofit organizations that provide immunization information including institutions that administer "free vaccinations" and concerns about vaccines. A simple search on the Internet will often produce information about where to get vaccinated in your community. Additionally, check with the Center for Disease Control's website, which provides details about a vaccination schedule and other pertinent information.

Also remember, when you go to the doctor regularly you not only keep up to date on your vaccines, but also on your health in general. Most regular checkups start with a blood draw. Doctors can screen for a lot of things based on your blood draw and can catch disease in early stages when this is done regularly. This simple step can save a life and improve the health of the community.

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Just for Fun

1. Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs were cops on what TV series? a-Miami Vice, b-Hill Street Blues, c-NYPD Blue, d-The Streets of San Francisco.

2. Who defeated Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the world heavyweight boxing champion? a-George Foreman, b-Muhammad Ali, c-Ingemar Johanssen, d-Rocky Graziano.

3. What TV show's theme song includes the lyrics "Sunny day, chasing the clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet?" a-The Jeffersons, b-Good Times, c-Sesame Street, d-The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

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 1-a, Miami Vice  2-b, Muhammad Ali  3-c, Sesame Street  4-c, Palm Springs 

Getting Kids Ready For The End Of Summer

Back to School: Easing the Transition

Going back to school after two months of summer holidays can be either a happy time or something to be dreaded, depending on the child and his or her experience with school. Whether going back to school is happy or not, gradually moving back towards fixed bedtimes and wake-ups in the weeks before school begins, purchasing new supplies and clothes for the year ahead and having an end of summer celebration can help a child transition from summer to autumn.

Back to School Bedtimes

During the summer, parents and children can afford to become relaxed about enforcing bedtimes and often leave the alarm clock switched off. It is important to allow children some flexibility during the long daylight hours of midsummer, but gradually enforcing earlier bedtimes as school approaches will make that early morning waking up easier. If a child's bedtime has drifted to an hour or more later than it will need to be to allow him enough sleep during school, shift it back by 15 minutes every couple of days instead of moving it suddenly.

Preparing School Supplies and Clothes

Help children prepare for their year ahead by bringing them with parents to purchase school supplies and new clothes. Choosing a new pencil case and notebooks can help some children get excited about going back to school, and most will have their own opinions about the kind of clothes they want to wear. Practice laying out clothes and supplies the night before so that it will be a routine by the time school starts.

Preparing for Changes and Separation

Going back to school is often a time of many changes, with new schoolmates, classrooms and teachers. This is especially true for children

Quick primer explanation.

Our friends at the Paint Quality Institute are some of the most knowledgeable around. They recently blogged about the different primers and thier usage. If you are interested, read on:

Many people think that primers are useful only when doing exterior painting, but that's a mistaken notion. Like exterior primers, interior primers make surfaces more uniform and help paint adhere better, but they can do a lot more.
Interior primers can actually help prevent a host of problems and enhance the appearance of a finished paint job. By choosing the right type of primer for a particular project, it's even possible to pinpoint the performance benefits you'll get.
Following is a quick sampling of some of the more common types of interior primers and how they can help improve your next paint job.
Happy Painting,

Debbie Zimmer
Editor
dzimmer@dow.com

• Stain-blocking Primers. Walls and other interior surfaces often have water stains, smoke residue, grease, or other contaminants that can "bleed" right through a new coat of paint to ruin its appearance. To prevent that from happening, apply a stain-blocking primer before painting to seal off the stain-producing agents. These primers come in both latex and oil-based formulations, but latex stain blockers have much less odor, which is always a plus when working indoors.
• Vapor Barrier Primers. These interior primers are typically used in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms to help prevent moisture from passing through the walls. By doing so, they help keep the wall insulation dry and reduce the chance of an exterior paint failure due to moisture exiting the interior. Vapor barrier primers also help maintain a comfortable level of humidity inside the home during the heating season.
• Kitchen and Bath Primers. These coatings are often used in the same areas as vapor barrier primers, but they serve a different purpose. Specially formulated with biocides and stain blockers, they help control the growth of mildew and mold in rooms that tend to be damp or humid.
• Drywall Primers. While these coatings are called primers, they really function as sealers, which are close cousins of the primer family. As the name indicates, they are applied over drywall and joint compound to help conceal the differences in their appearance and impart a more uniform look to the completed paint job.
• Latex Enamel Under-coaters. These primers are excellent for use under semi-gloss or gloss paint to ensure that the paint will develop its maximum gloss. After applying a latex enamel under-coater and letting it dry. It's important to lightly sand off any visible brush marks before applying the glossy paint.
• Bonding Primers. When painting a slick material like glass, tile, Formica®, or vinyl-coated paneling, it is always wise to use a bonding primer. These primers are specially formulated to adhere to slippery surfaces and help create a more secure bond between the primer and paint.

Even if you're on a very tight budget, you shouldn't fail to apply a primer when the circumstances call for one: the primer may actually save you money. That's because you may need fewer coats of paint, especially on a previously unpainted surface. Likewise, if you are applying a dark-colored paint, you can often get away with fewer coats by applying a tinted primer beforehand. The net effect may very well be a more economical paint job!

  Family Professional Painting can help you with all your primer and painting needs. If you have any questions just contact us.

We always cherish the testamonials from our customers. Here's one of the latest. Feel free to send yours!

 

 

"I cannot recommend Family Professional Painting highly enough. Dale was immediately responsive, both by email and with any questions I had along the way. Dale and Lenny worked around some sizable upheaval around our house and the daily chaos of dogs and kids with humor and professionalism. It was a great feeling to leave for work in the morning and know I would come home to a beautiful paint job and a clean work space in the evening. The initial estimate was the price we wrote the check for when the job was completed--no surprises. I will be recommending Family Professional Painting to friends and family who need trustworthy, quality professional painters.

*sorry for the lateness of this, Dale. Have a great long weekend!

Rachel"

Be More

Don't multitask. Focus is key to productivity. "These people who think that they can multitask are wrong," says Kate Wendleton, president of career coaching firm The Five O'Clock Club. Focus on one thing, get it done, and move on. "The people who are able to focus and get something done well are the people who are most productive," she says.
"Multitasking can eat up 40 percent of your workday," says Marla Tabaka, a life and business coach who helps entrepreneurs in achieving their business and life goals. "Employers want people who can focus."
Instead of doing two things at once, block out time to do certain tasks. "You're not putting things off, you're scheduling things," Tabaka says.

Easy distressed finish.

  Love the look of wood. Clears, toners or stains it doesn't matter it is fun and love the end results.  We recently posted a photo of a room done by Jean McHale Antiques on our Google + page. It featured a cool distressed shutter.

   Found this video from Old Masters stains that shows how to produce that hand rubbed distressed finish. They make it look easy. Plus there are a few coupons for stain.

Do It Yourself Distressed

 If you are interested in controlling dust when sanding drywall check this out. Just completed a product review for "The Blogging Painters", click the link to see one of the ways we control dust.

Click here.

Details, details.

We go through this over and over with prospective clients, don't go straight to bottom line. Value (what kind of "deal" you think you are getting) should be determined by a combination of price, quality and service.

We painted an exterior over the weekend. The weather was beautiful at Kent Island on Maryland's eastern shore. Removong downspouts so they can be painted behind is something Family Professional Painting normally does. The last paint contractor didn't. (note the stripe in the middle of this trim board.)

It took about 30-40 minutes for two guys to remove and later re-install the downspouts.  Maybe you don't care, but its the little things that add up to make your investment in any paint job last. We care about the details and so should you. Make sure your estimates list the procedures that the contractor will take to accomplish the project.

Sights you see on the way to the job.

   Driving can be a pain, specially if you go to the same location day after day. Luckily for most contractors our locations change often and we get to view new and different scenery. Recently, while doing a project on Marylands eastern shore we got to see the most creative private Christmas display I've ever seen. 

  
      Turn out that the gentleman who owns this farm is also one of the largest private collectors of fighter aircraft in the world. You can find the rest of the photos at Family Professional Paintings Facebook page here.