Summer is officially here and with it comes late nights and long weekends outside enjoying our incredible Rhode Island weather. Now more than ever our homes have become our central hub for work, play, and entertainment. However you enjoy your outdoor area, a great looking, well-maintained deck is essential for enjoying your view from your back deck.
Over time, decks begin to show signs of natural wear and tear that need to be addressed. Most importantly, taking care of your deck will help keep your home protected from damage. Thankfully, our experts at Bruno Painting have put together a list of signs to look for so you know when your deck needs to be repaired.
The most common material for decks in Rhode Island is pressure-treated lumber. For many decades, this sturdy material was the default choice for builders on the classic coast. As with any natural building material, repeated exposure to the elements will cause wood to swell, split, crack, cup, and warp in humid, precipitous climates. Exposed screws or nails from splintering wood, fading or discolored boards, or boards that are soft and spongy to the touch are all clear signs that your deck needs to be repaired.
Deck railing and handrails are other common areas of your deck that require regular attention. Loose handrails can pose a serious hazard to you and your guests if left to weather and wear down over time. Railing is a key component to your deck’s aesthetic and to its function, most especially if you have a raised deck and the railing protects against a fall.
If your deck is attached to your home and has wood that is exposed, moisture can seep into joists, ledger boards, and siding of your home that is attached to your deck. This can ultimately expose your foundation to excessive moisture that may lead to larger issues such as mold, mildew, and decay. As long as your deck is cared for properly and regularly maintained over the years, your deck can support your home’s health, instead of causing damage to it.
A wooden deck shows obvious signs when it is time for a new coat of paint or stain. Previous coats of sealant will begin to fade and peel revealing exposed wood underneath. This can happen with heavy foot traffic, weather, and everyday life.
Surfaces needing to be repainted or restained should be completely cleaned and dry before applying a stain. Due to the necessary drying time for stains, the forecast will need to call for clear, sunny days with warm temperatures and low humidity to allow the stain to set properly. Without these conditions, your stain may not bind properly and may need to be reapplied.
There are pros and cons to both painting and staining your deck. Some prefer stain because it allows the natural wood grain of your deck to show through. With stain, an all-in-one protective layer with a wood preservative is already incorporated. On the other hand, paint can provide an added layer of protection, as well as a different look and aesthetic.
Regular cleaning and treatment of your deck is a great way to extend the life of your deck. On average, decks are typically repainted or restained every two to three years. This can vary, though, depending on how much you utilize your deck space.
While pressure-treated wood is one of the more common materials for residential outdoor decking, many homeowners are opting for more durable, upscale alternatives such as exotic woods like ipe and tigerwood. Other homeowners are utilizing composite deck materials (sometimes referred to as ‘plastic wood’) to reduce deck maintenance needs and enjoy a more splinter-free deck experience.
When you see signs that your deck needs to be repaired, our experienced carpenters can remove your old decking and replace it with any of these newer materials. During our consultation with you, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each type of decking material. This will allow you to choose what fits your design aesthetic and your budget.
Bruno Painting has been built on core values like integrity, humility, attitude, discipline, and excellence. These values are why the mission to uphold and care for surfaces and relationships is so important with every project and interaction our company has. We focus on building long-lasting relationships with our team and clients to provide the best service possible. No matter your home project, we desire to bring great service with trust, honesty, and dedication as if we were working on our own homes. Contact us today to set up a free estimate and let us transform your home this summer.
There’s an old Czech proverb that says, “A good neighbor increases the value of your property.” If you’re lucky, your neighbors will take good care of their homes. Your neighbors will appreciate you as a ‘good’ neighbor as well if you also take care of your home’s appearance. There are some excellent ways to improve your home's curb appeal, not only to make your home a more beautiful space for you to enjoy but also to increase the value of your property and maybe even the property of your neighbors.
While you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, many people do judge a home based on its outside appearance. A good-looking home with excellent curb appeal goes far in the real estate market. Drawing upon our decades of painting, remodeling, and carpentry experience, we've compiled our top 5 tips for you to increase your home's curb appeal.
Pressure washing is a quick, affordable, and satisfying way to clean your home’s exterior surfaces and brighten up your outdoor space. By using specialized nozzles, water or cleaning solution can penetrate through oil, dirt, pollutants, and other buildup on and around your home.
Pressure washing is like a before and after makeover that allows your house, walkways, and the other hard surfaces around your home to look their absolute best. A word from the professionals — not all pressure washers are equal. If you are unsure which surfaces can be pressure washed or the best power nozzle to use, let a professional pressure wash your home, instead of doing it yourself. Using incorrect nozzles or power on surfaces not made for pressure washing can actually damage the surfaces, instead of cleaning them.
not only makes them look good but actually can prevent future damage from occurring. Simple steps like caulking and making repairs keeps your windows looking great and your home sealed and safe. These minor repairs can then be paired with window cleaning and updates.
Shutters and curtains that are bright and uniform will make your home look its best inside and out. Allowing natural light to flood into your home can make your home look more attractive and provide an upbeat space. In a day and age where most house hunters have initial searches via the web, good photos with well-kept windows can help sell homes.
A relatively inexpensive yet highly effective way to boost your curb appeal is by applying a new coat of paint. While exterior surfaces of homes found in Portsmouth and Newport are designed to withstand our harsh weather conditions, over time they begin to show signs of wear. One of the signs that your home’s exterior paint is wearing down is a dull, lackluster look.
Dull paint can make a home look as though it isn’t being cared for, which is something that potential homebuyers may avoid. For those not planning on selling their home soon, fresh paint not only looks good but also acts as a barrier of protection between the elements and your home. Reducing the risk of moisture and rot taking hold is just one of the many benefits of maintaining and painting your home. Another option to give your home improved curb appeal is repainting your front door a new color. Home exterior paint's lifespan varies depending on many factors but should be redone about every 5-7 years.
One of the most overlooked areas that highly influences curb appeal is the condition of your roof. Signs that your roof may need work include loose or missing shingles, moss, or algae growth, and streaked or dingy spots. While these may be unappealing, they can also indicate damage beneath the surface which will need immediate attention. We recommend scheduling a contractor to come and inspect your roof to be sure there are no areas that need to be repaired or replaced.
You don’t need to have a green thumb to make your lawn and surrounding areas look great for curb appeal. Adding planters with bright flowers and long grasses can give your home that coveted coastal vibe. Mulch can be used near your foundation to reduce root growth and give your home a uniform base. Lighted paths and ornamental lights around your front entryway make a home look more appealing, well-cared for, and allow for your home’s curb appeal to be appreciated into the evening hours.
Whether you are getting ready to sell your home or simply want to enjoy your home’s exterior, curb appeal is a mood-boosting, price-increasing, great way to make your home look and feel better. If you have already started working to increase your home’s curb appeal, or if you don’t know where to start, the experts at Bruno Painting can help you in making your home look its best! Upholding and caring for surfaces and relationships is at the heart of our top-quality work.
Despite a global pandemic, the housing market boomed in 2020 and shows no signs of slowing in early 2021. People are selling their homes with gusto—the freedom to work from home has afforded many people location independence, while others have needed more square footage to accommodate life in quarantine.
With so many houses going up for sale, it is more important than ever to make sure your house looks its best in order to compete in today’s market. Before you and your real estate agent photograph and list your home, make sure you prepare your home to sell by doing the repairs, updates, and refreshments that will make it appealing to potential buyers.
No matter the age of your home, consider completing any major repairs that may be revealed during a home inspection. To prepare your home for sale, check out the roof, pipes, foundation, electrical, and other systems.
If you’re uncertain about what to look for, consider having a professional pre-sale home inspection to identify potential problems that could lower the value of your home or derail its sale. Completing pre-sale repairs allows you to list your home for top value with confidence. Be aware, however, that if any unwanted house conditions are found during this inspection, you’ll be responsible to share them on the Property Disclosure.
After making essential repairs, the next priority to prepare your home to sell is updating it to make it modern and inviting. The two areas potential buyers consider most when looking at a home are the kitchen and bathrooms, so focus on updates in those areas first.
For a kitchen update, small changes can create an entirely new look. Replacing cabinet knobs and pulls, refinishing wooden cabinets, or re-grouting tiles can quickly and relatively inexpensively upgrade a dated kitchen. You can also replace a worn kitchen faucet or install new light fixtures to help brighten and modernize the space.
In the bathroom, the same concept applies––you can make relatively inexpensive changes to achieve a new look. For an outdated bathroom, you may want to replace the vanity and toilet, or simply the toilet seat. You should also check the bathtub or shower to see whether refinishing, de-liming, or re-grouting would help them shine.
Next, refresh your home with deep cleaning and painting. While you may not have the budget to complete expensive repairs or remodels, most sellers can add value and appeal to their home with this frugal step.
Plan to deep clean your entire house. Make sure to clean easy to ignore places like baseboards, light fixtures, and closets. Tackle the buildup on often-touched electrical faceplates and the hard water stains on shower doors. If possible, plan to get carpets and tiles professionally cleaned to make sure your house is looking its best. If your house has been painted in the last year, clean the walls to remove any scuffs or stains. If it's been longer than a year, repainting can make a big difference.
Painting is one of the least expensive ways to make your house look clean, refreshed, and inviting to buyers. If you decide to paint, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Once you have followed these steps to prepare your home to sell, you’ll be ready for staging and photography. Working with a professional photographer will showcase the features and updates you have made to your home. Refreshed spaces and high-quality photos are especially important in 2021 as many buyers have come to rely heavily on online house tours to help them purchase a home.
No matter where you are in your home preparation process, we are here to help. Our mission at Bruno Painting is Upholding and Caring for Surfaces and Relationships. Our teams of professional painters and carpenters are eager to help you to get your home ready to sell for the highest return on your investment. Reach out to get an estimate for your painting, carpentry, and remodeling needs!
With the lingering warm days ahead of us and the remnants of summer still in the air, boosting your home’s curb appeal with a fresh coat of paint is a great way to wrap up this summer. While homeowners typically schedule exterior painting projects in Spring and Summer, Fall is still a good time of year to schedule your home’s facelift in Newport and surrounding cities, here in Rhode Island.
Few homeowners understand the extent of care and work professional contractors put into prepping their customers’ homes before the paint hits the brush. Thankfully, professional painters do take their time in the steps before painting to ensure the results are both long-lasting and smooth. We’ve detailed 8 essential tips to ensure your painters are focused on your exterior surface prep work for your enjoyment and home protection for years to come.
During the consultation and the planning stages of a home exterior paint project, a professional painter will take care to plan your project to perfection. The first step in this process is scheduling the painting project for days and times during the day when the weather and sun are most cooperative.
Strong winds and rain can shorten painting windows and leave your home exposed to the elements, effectively ruining your paint finish. High humidity and extreme temperatures can also influence how your paint dries and its eventual look and performance. Professional contractors know how to plan around these types of weather patterns and will ensure that your home stays safe and the best results occur throughout the entire project.
During the consultation and inspection, repairs identified will need to be taken care of before any painting begins. These sorts of repairs can include exposed wood, loose gutters and shingles, wood rot, leaking windows, damaged siding, and doors that stick. Having skilled carpenters ready and available to make these repairs provides the home or building owner with the valuable gift of ensuring the foundation is healthy for the protective coat of paint goes on. A professional painter has a keen eye to find these issues and make repairs before they become larger issues.
Once repairs have been addressed, cleaning should begin soon after. Professional contractors turn to pressure washing to cover areas that can safely and effectively be cleaned. If pressure washing doesn’t suit your home’s needs, a soft washing method or air blasting can be used. The goal in this process is to remove dirt, loose paint, and signs of mildew before advancing in your exterior project.
After your home is clean and dry, an inspection for loosened paint is conducted. Loose and flaking paint is removed with high-quality scraping tools. This stage in the project may take longer depending on how your home was cleaned. If a pressure washer wasn’t used, this step is essential to ensure your home is properly prepared.
The caulk on the exterior of a house is exposed to the sun and elements while it protects the seals around your windows and other areas. Over time, the caulk can crack and cause leaks. Any area of your home that has been caulked will need to be inspected and possibly recaulked to ensure continual protection. This includes doors, windowsills, and trim.
Once all the necessary repairs and cleaning are complete, the area will need to be prepped for painting. Protecting your landscaping should be a priority to your contractor. Using plastic wrap, tape, and other materials, your lights, plants, porch, sidewalks, and driveway will all be protected.
Depending on the number of painters in your contractor’s painting team, many of these steps can be completed simultaneously to save time between stages. It is, however, very important that your home is repaired, dried, and prepped before moving past this point. One last final inspection of each of these steps should be conducted by your contractor before priming begins.
Professional painters do not always agree about primer and its usefulness. Some professional painters believe using a primer helps your paint to adhere to your surfaces giving you better coverage that lasts longer. Other painting contractors forego the step of using a primer and, instead, paint two coats of your high-quality paint onto the surface.
Whichever way you prefer, with primer or using two coats of paint, be sure you and your painter agree and understand the best process for your home and its materials. The main and really the only consideration is the quality of the finish and its longevity.
The most crucial part of painting is allowing adequate time for your paint to dry in between coats and after the final coat. Most of the time, avoiding direct sunlight can be important, so professional contractors start with western facing sides of your building in the morning and eastern facing sides in the afternoon. However, sometimes it is useful to paint in direct sunlight, but as professional painting contractors, we know when or when to not paint in direct sunlight.
Beginning with the top of your home and working to the ground, high-quality brushes and rollers specific to your siding and paint base are used for even application. After the larger areas of your home are painted, window frames and trim are painted to ensure that your window panes dry properly. Finally, the foundation of your home is painted, if necessary.
No home project is complete until our clients are satisfied. Since 2004, our mission at Bruno Painting is Upholding and Caring for Surfaces and Relationships. We take great pride in the work we do for homeowners in the Newport area and in Rhode Island.
We’re excited to hear about your next project. Reach out and let us know about your home’s unique exterior painting project.
Our perfect summer weather in Rhode Island has seen many of us spending lots of time entertaining and dining outdoors, soaking in as much of the summer sun and air as possible. No matter where in our great state your home is located, a nice, well-appointed deck is a must for enjoying your yard, whether it backs up to a forest or to the sea.
Each home in Rhode Island is unique and each has specific needs for their deck and outdoor entertainment areas. While many people take advantage of the Spring weather to make exterior updates, it’s also very doable to update or even build an entirely new deck during the Summer and Fall months. These are a few examples of options for you to consider for your home’s decking needs.
Some may think that a worn deck is just a sign of a well-loved home or that there isn’t a real need to replace those splintering boards. However, decks left to wither can cause damage to your home and potentially cause you to have to make costly repairs.
Depending on how your deck is attached to your home, wood rot can set in the joists, ledger boards, and even your siding. If moisture seeps into your foundation, other larger issues such as mold, mildew, and decay will start to take hold. These major areas of repair can be avoided with a deck that is sealed and maintained regularly over the years.
It is no secret that we see quite a bit of moisture and humidity throughout the year. Most decks in Rhode Island have been built with pressure-treated lumber, as that was the go-to choice for deckbuilding for many decades. Pressure-treated lumber decking is affordable, readily available, durable, and easy to stain so it is no surprise that it is prevalent on the classic coast. Unfortunately, constant exposure to the elements causes pressure-treated wood to swell, crack, split, warp, makes it a relatively high maintenance home amenity in our climate. Annual pressure washing and restaining every one, two, or three years is recommended for this type of decking to keep it looking its best.
An alternative to wood for decking is composite and PVC. This mixture of recycled plastic and wood dust creates composite decking which is a synthetic, yet refined-looking, deck material that many Rhode Island homes are turning to for its many benefits.
These decks are virtually maintenance-free, weather-resistant, and come in a variety of colors and finish looks. If that isn’t enough of an advantage, they are also easy to clean and won’t splinter, warp, or rot. While this type of decking can cost about three times as pressure-treated wood, it can potentially save homeowners in the long run.
If you love the look and feel of real wood, consider the following options some Portsmouth and Newport homeowners have used to satisfy their desire for a ‘real wood’ deck. Note that some decks are constructed using cedar, exotic woods, and some really amazing, high-end real wood products. Be sure to ask your contractor and their team of carpenters to show you all of the many, many choices of real wood that are available to you if this material is your preference for your next deck.
This multi-level low platform deck makes great use of this backyard space. The real wood deck and benches next to the garden create the feeling of a privately enclosed, secret garden. An oasis, a backyard paradise.
This wooden deck in Newport had new boards installed which were sanded, stained, and reinforced to create this beautiful aesthetic. The railing and stairs were replaced to keep the deck structurally sound.
A raised pressure-treated deck in Portsmouth was completely transformed into a closed-in porch. The contractors built the overhang and installed windows to give this homeowner a completely new three-season space to spend their time.
A back door landing repaired and painted to match this beautiful home. Even small spaces deserve a good looking deck and staircase.
This unique stone home in Portsmouth went under some repairs including the porch area. The original wood was protected from the elements, sanded, and painted a beautiful grey.
An old wooden deck in Middletown was replaced with composite decking and a new PVC railing. The colors match perfectly to the shingles of this home.
An elevated deck boasting a beautiful view of the water off of a roof is featured here complete with a bench. The railing is constructed from PVC and composite wood for the deck boards as well as the lovely bench.
This larger composite deck boasts a privacy fence installed for these homeowners to entertain and enjoy the beautiful weather in a secluded area.
Regardless of the material, your deck and porch can, not only look its best but also be maintained regularly for the rest of your home’s protection. If you done your deck maintenance in the spring, take advantage of this time to update your existing deck or create a whole new backyard oasis.
Our mission at Bruno Painting is “to uphold and care for surfaces and relationships.” The carpentry and painting divisions that make up our team have some of the most skilled and caring professionals in all of Rhode Island. We look forward to the pleasure of restoring your deck this Summer or Fall for you to enjoy all year long. Call us or email us to discuss your deck, painting, or other home improvement project.
This past June we had the privilege to work on a beautiful, blue-shingled home in Middleton. The homeowners were looking to update their home’s exterior with a fresh coat of paint. During the initial consultation and estimate, our team of professionals noticed that this home required some special attention to the windows, specifically deteriorating wood.
When wood deterioration is bad enough, it’s called ‘wood rot.’ If left untreated, wood rot can spread and cause even more damage to a home. Before painting the exterior of this beautiful home, we repaired and, in some cases replaced, the rotted wood.
Below is our case study for this blue house, detailing how we were able to get rid of the wood degeneration, give the exterior a fresh coat of paint, and deliver a great, long-lasting finish for our clients.
At the initial meeting with our clients, we needed to determine the extent of the damage and whether it was caused by weather, which is not uncommon for homes in Portsmouth and Newport. Living on the classic coast, many home exteriors are exposed to quite a bit of moisture and cold temperatures that erode paint and the underlying materials over time, including wooden window frames and other areas of the exterior of a home.
Any pieces of wood that seem spongy or soft are at the beginning or intermediate stages of rot. Other signs of decay include paint chipping, wood splintering, discoloration, or paint peeling. Before further irreparable damage occurs, contact a professional painting contractor and carpenter to treat these areas to protect the rest of your home from further damage.
How do you know whether the wood will need to be repaired vs replaced? The standard is if there is more than ten percent of damage to the wood, it needs to be replaced. In some cases, if the rot is caught early enough, it can be repaired using epoxy products and paint.
In this particular case, the damage was extensive enough in some places that the wood needed to be replaced. Our carpentry team made all the necessary repairs before our painters came in to finish the job.
When we removed the rotted frames and sills, our carpentry division took care to pull these boards out without causing damage to the house or windows themselves. Once the old frame and sills were removed, all leftover debris or wood pulp was removed and the area was cleaned.
The pieces of the old frame and sill were measured as a reference for the new boards to be put in place. Measurements were also taken of the sheathing where the frame and sill used to sit to ensure that the new pieces would fit securely.
If your home does not have standard fittings and features (and depending on what type of window or home you have), you’ll need a contractor more skilled than the average handyman to help with standout features like mitered corners and fastening sites. Our master carpenter, Chris, and his team did a fantastic job making sure the windows fit perfectly in our client’s home.
Once the wood frames and sills were removed, our carpentry division inspected the sheathing underneath and made necessary repairs. Repairs that may need to be done on sheathing include using caulk to fill in any smaller cracks and an expanding foam insulation to not only fill larger gaps but to also hold the new boards tightly in place.
Once the new pieces were cut, our painters stepped in to apply a few coats of paint to protect these new pieces of wood from exposure to moisture and water. Once the new window frames were ready, our carpentry division installed them into the sheathing and secured those pieces in place with nails. The final step in installing these new frames and sills is caulking any seams to keep out unwanted moisture, bugs, and other enemies of wood.
After the frames and sills were installed and inspected for quality, our painters finished the project with a fresh coat of exterior paint. Our team stripped and sanded the old paint to prepare the surface and to prevent unaffected parts of the frames from being exposed to moisture. The entire window trim was repainted with two coats of the highest quality paint to guard against all types of weather conditions.
In each step of this process, our teams took extra time and care to ensure that every surface had a high-quality finish. Our client is thrilled with the work we did and the care and effort we put into their home.
Since 2004, our mission at Bruno Painting is Upholding & Caring for Surfaces and Relationships. We enjoyed every step of this process on this project and take pride in knowing that the hard work and dedication we put into this home will be enjoyed by this family for decades to come.
Call or email our office for a free estimate to see what we can do for your home!
