IT IS WINTER TIME!!! Everyone is making a mad dash to the store for milk and bread. While you are out it might be a good idea to take a trip to the home repair store. Getting your home ready for winter can be a hassle but if you follow these steps, it might not be as bad as it seems.

Checking for Leaks

No, we are not talking about water leaks we are talking about air leaks. Areas where cold air can get in your home and make your thermostat pop on every few minutes.

1. Check the outside of your home for cracks and areas around the pipes. Have any cracks repaired and insulate any exposed water pipes.


2. Try adding or replacing weather-stripping around windows and doors. Caulk around windows, door glass, and all exterior trim.


3. Some people prefer putting plastic up to the windows to protect their homes. I say do not knock it till you try it but hey, it is up to you.


4. Replace cracked windows, as this will definitely make your heating bill go up.


5. Check gutters and clean them if necessary. Clogged gutters can result in warped or rotting fascias, soffits, and eaves. (We don’t get very much snow but we get a lot of rain, it’s better to be safe than sorry)


6. Drain and shut off outdoor water faucets.

Fireplace, I forgot I Had One of Those!!

Yes, it is time to check the fireplace to make sure that you do not cause a fire when you are ready to use it. We want the amount of wintertime fires to go down. Here are a few things to remember:

1. Make sure your chimney cap is still in place to prevent animals trying to get warm from entering


2. Be sure to keep firewood handy on those extra chilly nights.


3. If you are skilled enough check for creosote (dust and lime that line the sides of your chimney), please do so, or have a technician come and inspect your fireplace.


4. Check the mortar to make sure everything is in proper working condition. If you prefer to have a professional come and service and clean your fireplace, please do so BEFORE you use it for the first time this winter. Make sure he also checks for creosote on the inside of the fireplace.

Heat Not Air Condition

Just a few months ago, we were so concerned with making sure our homes stay cool with the Georgia heat. Now is the time to make sure our homes stay warm despite the cold and rainy Georgia winter.

1. Have your heating system checked by a licensed heating/air-conditioning professional. Most furnace manufacturers recommend at least annual inspections.


2. Make sure that your furnace filters are cleaned or replaced


3. If you have, older windows not made from modern insulated glass install storm windows and doors if you have them. If you do not have them and they are in the budget for this winter, consider purchasing some. This will also help keep some of the winter blues out.

Simple Here and There’s

1. Trim trees away from the house, or safely (as safe as you can) do it yourself. We do not want any branches or trees succumbing to the weight of ice and landing on any of our roofs, now do we!


2. Check the foundation for areas where water may puddle.


3. Replace the batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and check to make sure these are all in working order.


4. Check fire extinguishers, charge, and replace as necessary.


5. Make sure you stock up on rock salt, sand, snow shovels and any other items you will need during the winter. You never know with Georgia weather.
   

This was just a few suggestions from Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. your year round painting experts. We are here to help our neighbors in rain, sleet, or snow.

The children’s rhyme quoted is cute for children, but when dealing with rain or wet conditions inside your home, it’s not so cute. Many of you reading this article have a home or know someone whose home looked like the picture below. With all the rain and flooding many are now looking at cleaning up the water damage inside their homes. Southern Perfection Painting, Inc., who has been serving the metro Atlanta area for over 25 years, is committed to assisting our community when natural disasters occur. We have volunteered and helped our neighbors in their time of need in the past.

Here are a few tips to help you get back on the road to normalcy.


Drying Out Process

• With wet conditions inside your home it is best that you dry your home out as soon as possible.


• Internal ventilation and heat is the key.


• Ventilation is especially important when adding dry heat so that the drying process does not cause condensation.


• Having good ventilation or good air flow is also important, this helps to take away any moisture and prevent mold.


• If you are using a heater to dry out your home be sure that you have windows open.


• With dirty rain water in your home, you must watch out for lichens, mold, and algae. These must be cleaned away with a type of anti-fungicidal wash or bleach.

Note: Portable oil or gas heaters should not be used inside for drying out your home as they produce exhaust fumes.

Preparation

• Make sure everything is dried out completely to prevent mold from forming.


• Peeling paint and efflorescence should be cleaned away with sand paper or a stiff nylon brush, preferably one with non metallic bristles. (The result of water damaged sheetrock is efflorescence – a growth of salt crystals on a surface caused by evaporation of salt-laden water.)


• The process previously mentioned pertains to sheetrock and plaster. It is obvious that if your walls have sustained water damage they will have to be repaired or replaced.

Once the damage has been assessed the next step is to call Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. We are experienced in drywall removal, repair, installation, preparation, and painting. We will take the time to put together a plan that is right for your home.

Give us a call today!!

As technology takes its next turn into the future, Southern Perfection Painting is right there with the next tool to help you with your painting needs.

Have you ever thought, “I need to know what color was used to paint my home, but I have no idea what it was.” Well, introducing the next phase in color matching - THE SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLOR SNAP™.

To download the Color Snap tool, please visit the Sherwin-Williams website by clicking on the iPhone above.

With Color Snap™, you can discover how coordinating colors and bringing ideas to life is easier than you ever imagined. Find a color you love, snap the photo, and receive the matching Sherwin-Williams paint color and coordinating palette. With the Color Snap™ you can:

• Choose a color that inspires you and match it with one of the 1,500 Sherwin- Williams paint colors


• Receive a coordinating palette that complements your color


• Find your local Sherwin-Williams store where the experts will help you bring your vision to life


• Save colors to your "My Saved Colors" library for future inspiration


• Learn more detailed information, including paint names and RGB numbers

With Sherwin Williams and Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. you can’t go wrong. Give SPPI a call and we will come by to give you a personalized, FREE estimate and talk with you further about Sherwin-Williams color visualizing tools. You can also request an estimate by clicking on the estimate link above.

Disclaimer: This technology is currently only available using the iPhone. This application may be adapted so that other phones will be able to use this service in the future.

Caring for a commercial or residential property can be a heavy burden. Your building exterior is your customer's first impression ‐ and not just from an aesthetic point of view. An attractive building can quickly be marred by a dirty sidewalk, an oil stained driveway or a mud caked property. This in effect may lead a potential customer to wonder if it's dirty inside as well. Graffiti attacks may prompt a question of neighborhood safety.

Exterior maintenance is vital for survival of a property management company or homeowner trying to sell their home in this competitive day and age. Power or pressure washing is a quick and thorough way to clean your exterior surfaces and make them sparkle like new.

Pressure washing is best left to the professionals, as an unqualified or uninsured contractor can cause more damage than good, including scarred concrete, burned bricks or misdirected waste water. Worse yet, often these damages are very expensive to correct and potential fines can certainly be an avoidable expense.

Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. the top rated pressure washing and painting company in the metro Atlanta area has been in business for more than 25 years. We strive to provide quality service and the highest level of customer satisfaction.

For all of your exterior cleaning & surface maintenance requirements, from roof down to parking lot, call Southern Perfection Painting, Inc., We’re only a click away.

Paint Over Wallpaper? Yes You Can!

Stripping wallpaper is a tedious job, and sometimes it's not merely tedious, it’s almost near impossible! If there are numerous layers, or it has been pasted to an unpainted, unsized wall, you simply cannot remove it without doing major damage to the underlying sheetrock.

There is an easier way! It is possible to paint over wallpaper and if done by a professional you can have a great looking PAINTED room in no time.

Some ask "What is involved in painting over wallpaper?" Below are a few of the steps we follow:

1. We start out by covering the floors and any furniture and taping up the trim and door handles.

2. The next step would be to remove all the loose paper, and we take special care around the seams. Then we paste down any remaining loose edges.

3. Then we skim over all seams and joints with sheetrock mud.

4. Using a large sanding sponge, we sand the mud edges smooth to get a smooth, flush finish.

5. We then prime the walls with one coat of oil-based primer. (As a side note, we don’t like to use waterbased primer as they can start to loosen your wallpaper).

6. Using clear or white caulking, we caulk along the ceiling, baseboard and trim.

7. Now we paint but not with just any paint, we use Sherwin Williams Paint in an eggshell finish.

Does this sound like a lot of work? It certainly is, but you can save some time and frustration by calling SPPI.

With Southern Perfection Painting, Inc., nobody will ever know there's wallpaper under your gorgeous new paint job.

When it’s time to choose a painting contractor for your property, you may want to consider a few different things. Do you know the easiest way of finding out about the reputation of companies (Painting, Property Management, etc.) and feedback from actual clients who have used them? How can you tell if the companies you are choosing from are:

• Going to do a good job?


• Provide great service?


• Are honest and reliable?


• Obtaining the best reviews for their Industry?

We have found that this can all be an easy process by simply navigating on the web to www.kudzu.com. Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. is the number one rated painting company on Kudzu.com, according to our clients, we have all the above qualifications and then some. We can take care of your commercial and residential property with ease.

Kudzu.com has been a great vehicle, not only for advertising our business, but we also are able to submit our experiences with other businesses that we work with in the metro Atlanta area. Kudzu.com is such a great referral tool for you to research products and services that you are interested in purchasing right here in Georgia. This Website began in 2004 and has spread to several major markets around the country.

Currently, SPPI has over 200 reviews in the Atlanta market. These reviews include our commercial and residential clients. Below are just a few comments we recently garnered on this Website:

“Cnzmom” said:

“We needed to paint our house before selling it and called around for estimates. Southern Perfection came in the cheapest and they used the best materials. There were a few pieces of siding that needed to be replaced and were in the estimate, but when it came time to paint the house more bad boards were discovered and Southern Perfection replaced those boards at cost. We would definitely use them again.”

Or David9261:

“Southern Perfection painted my house exterior, porch and stained my deck. They did a great job! Great prep work, fantastic paint job, and cleaned up perfectly. Very responsive to my issues and the price was right. Will definitely call them again.”

Because we use top quality, cost effective products such as Sherwin‐Williams, we can pass these savings on to you. Check us out on our website at www.soperfectpaint.com and schedule an estimate today.

If you need help choosing your colors for a residential quote, check out Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer Ctrl + Click on the Sherwin‐Williams graphic below to check it out. If you would like to visualize the colors for a commercial project, just give us a call and we would be happy to provide you with color mockups.

Visualizing a commercial property before you paint can save you time and lots of money. Your board or HOA would love for you to provide project color previews at their next board meeting. Providing this service will make you look like a star and a genius!

This service is provided only by SPPI, and when you request an estimate AND you award us the project, this service is absolutely FREE for you and your HOA Board or Project Owners. Take a look at the color visualization we provided to one of our Property Manager's Client Owners below:



Performing this service for our client afforded them the opportunity to play with colors for the entire building without having to "paint test" the actual colors. Providing this service to them saved them time, money and many regrets later regarding the colors they selected.

If you would like to visualize your color selections for your next project, we would love to do this for you! Here is our process of providing color visiualization mockups:

1. We can take pictures or you can provide them


2. We will process before and after pictures and place them in a project presentation


3. We will come and present the project color preview to your board or HOA and bring a complimentary breakfast, lunch, or dinner for you and your HOA board

Our turn around time is quick and we can have these previews ready to present within three (3) business days. Remember there will be no cost for this service if we are awarded this project.

This is just another reason that SPPI is the number one painting contractor you should choose in the Metro Atlanta area. Contact us today for a free estimate by navigating to the estimates link above and request your FREE Estimate and Color Visualization today for your next project.

What sets SPPI apart from other paint companies are our premium service offerings. This includes:

1. Performance
2. Quality
3. Customer Service
4. Warranty
5. Project Management

We don’t just do it, we do it better. The “White Glove Service” provision is built into all our commercial contracts. Here are a few of the major details of these provisions:

1. Detailed project reports. Progress and Project Reporting is sent weekly to the Property Manger, and Board (if requested) each week. This will require a point of contact Board Member for phased incremental approval.



2. Dedicated Team to aid in project completion:
   
   
   
   1. Project Manager
   
   
   2. Project Coordinator
   
   
   3. Crew Leader (the same dedicated 6-8 man crew will be
      assigned to your project)
   
   
   4. Dedicated Email box for your project
   
   
   
   


3. All insurances will be provided:
   
   
   
   1. General Liability
   
   
   2. Workers Compensation
   
   
   3. Automobile Insurance
   
   


4. Project signage will be provided for your project:
   
   
   
   1. General Notices (to let the homeowners know that we will be in their area)
   
   
   2. Project Phase Notification for each building/unit
   
   
   3. Wet Paint Signs
   
   
   4. Follow up Notices
   
   
   5. Weekly progress reports
   
   
   6. Project Closeout and Survey
   
   


5. Duration Lifetime Paint (by request) will be used on all wood surfaces. This will make your project last at least 8-10 year as opposed to 5-6 years with the Sherwin Williams 25 Year Super Paint.



6. A 5 year warranty is included on all Exterior Commercial Projects



7. Phased Project Approval. Each phase of the project is coordinated by Project Manager and incremental walkthroughs scheduled for approval.

Our team is committed to giving you quality, peace of mind, seamless project management, and all the above services are included in the total project contract. This means great savings to your client and no additional costs to the project owner or HOA!

Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. has become one of the largest residential and commercial painting companies in metro Atlanta. We are committed to providing the best service and highest quality to all of our clients. One of the largest referrals sources hosts our reviews on us on a weekly basis. See what our Commercial and Residential Clients are saying about us in over 195 reviews on www.kudzu.com.

If you would like to experience our services first hand, please visit our website and request an estimate at www.soperfectpaint.com . We would be more than happy to set up a time to sit down and discuss with you the “White Glove Service Provision.”

Relevant Color Trends for 2009

Let’s face it for most of you the colors of your properties are not relevant and have not been for many years. We at SPPI want to make your properties sleek, stylish, and something people envy. Now we know that you have other projects on your plate, like that busted water pipe or landscaping and we understand you have to handle those issues. However, seriously though, it’s time to paint!!!

We are here to take the time to show you the colors that are fierce, vibrant, and down right out of sight. The colors that we will suggest will transition into long term use with a hint of clean, sleek lines of modern, funky, and contemporary styles. Take one color such as an orange, pink, or brown to use for pop throughout, then match accessories around that.

This year’s color trends consist of shades of an urban and eco-rooftop inspiration. The colors of raw, natural materials, sand and wood, mesh with the colors of water and sky and are crafted together to make your home look first-class.


Other colors in this year’s color trend spring from the earth-inspired colors of India and Asia. These colors blend seamlessly with those of Latin America giving you a whole world of inspiration. The colors dance a festive tango with bold shades of orange, red, gold and green; and also waltz with balancing browns in roasted and sandy tones.


Listen we are not interior decorators however, this is our 25th year of business. We have painted so many homes, retail, and commercial properties that we know what looks good. We are positive that no other paint company can give you such great creative decorating ideas coupled with fantastic painting services. If you want a specialized consultation with Sabrina and her team to help with color samples and suggestions, she would be glad to work with you, just give us a call.

When it comes to building, renovating, and maintaining a home, paint is a little like milk: it’s a staple, a basic ingredient. Much like milk, paint is leading the expansion of the green building movement. Stricter regulations, pressure from the environmental groups and increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly products has forced manufacturers to produce paint with fewer dangerous and smog-producing compounds.

As was mentioned in part two of “Going with the Green” the marketplace for paint has undergone a dizzying revolution, with paint companies furiously researching technologies that will help them compete with new green lines. Some have even tried to use milk as a base to “green” paints, claiming that it is far safer, more durable and better performing than the paints billed as eco-friendly. Now that may not be the case but we applaud their efforts.

It has been disputed that there is no way with the green products available, to replicate the sheen, consistency or lasting power of an oil-based paint. The complaint is that painting with green paints takes several more coats than that of old-fashioned latex paint.

In an interview with David Williams, owner of Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. and editor of the ASK DAVE column, he said “With all the new products coming out there is going to be some pros and cons for each. It was said that the automobile will never work, and humans will never learn to fly, but look how those things turned out. Even though there are some back and forth concerns with “green” paints, you will just have to try them yourself to see if they hold up to your test.”

Where might you find these “green” products? Well, here are just a few product lines we use:


• Sherwin Williams – Harmony
• Duration – Duration Home
• Duron – Genesis
• Benjamin Moore – Aura



Remember these paints are only used for interior painting only at this time. We expect to see exterior painting products to be coming out soon.

We have truly enjoyed developing the three part series “Going with the Green.” We hope that it has been informative and enlightening. Stay tuned for future newsletters from Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. - the “Green” painting choice.

If you are in need of a painting bid, please contact us. Representatives are standing by and we will be more than happy to provide you with a residential or commercial estimate.

WHO THE HECK CARES ABOUT “GREEN,” (JUST KIDDING)!! Going “GREEN” has been media hyped for some time now. This month we will talk a little more about:

1. “GREEN” products and how they affect you and your family
2. What this means for you financially

Paint is the most obvious thing in your home. You will no doubt spend many hours picking out just the right colors. However, you will most likely not think about what you don’t see in your home – that “new paint smell” that is oh so obvious. We will discuss this problem and how you can improve it.

Using Non‐”GREEN” Products

As we learned in the last article, “Green” products are products with low or no VOCs
(Volatile Organic Compound). Each product has a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) number and the lower the VOC number the better. The more VOCs in the paint allows for better application and even distribution. However, what does that mean for you and your family?

Well, for those with respiratory ailments, this type of paint is not good. However, painting products with a lower VOC number is a better choice for you and Green painting products are the best for use. Green products are also the best choice for you and it translates into not only into better air quality in your home for you and your family, but it also means faster drying times and a faster return to normal home life without that “new paint smell.” For the property managers reading this article, I am sure your residents could use a little of that.

Your Financial “GREEN”

”Green” paint products are among the premium, highest grade materials available. Just because they are of the highest‐grade it does not mean that choosing to use them means high grade pricing. We at Southern Perfection Painting believe in paying it forward. We use our vendor discounts to pass the savings on to you and that is why we are the #1 vendor choice in painting here in the Metro Atlanta area.

Southern Perfection’s Commitment

At Southern Perfection Painting we believe:

1. We only have one earth and we have to take care of it
2. We also believe that every little bit helps

We have written the articles “Go with the Green” to impress upon our customers that we have committed ourselves to do all we can to protect the environment and to protect your family.

Stay tuned next month as we bring you our last issue of “Go with the Green” where we will talk about some of the brands of “Green” paints and how we can help the everyday consumer pick the best brand for your buck. If you are in need of a painting estimate for your commercial or residential property, don’t hesitate to contact Southern Perfection Painting, Inc., the “GREEN” and smart vendor choice.

As our delicate environment is steadily declining, we at SPPI have decidedly become increasingly aware as to how our business is affecting the environment. With the number of clients we serve, commercial and residential, many are asking if we have thought about using green products to aid preservation of our environment. We have researched this option through our education initiatives and wanted to share our findings with you. This topic will be a three part series and we will begin the first part with basic terminology.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on Green Painting Products:

Question: What are green painting products? Are they paints that are colored green?
Answer: No. These are products that have low or no VOCs. These products emit lower odor and are better for your home and the environment.

Question: What does the acronym VOC mean?
Answer: The acronym stands for Volatile Organic Compound. This is the chemical in paint and other products that make it harmful to breathe in the vapors from the product.

Question: How do green products help our environment and family?
Answer: Green products release or emit lower chemical compounds into the air. This, in turn, helps us to protect our health, plants, and eco systems in the world.

There are other “Green” products. However, during this three part series on “Green” products, we will discuss several factors such as:

1. How using how using non-green products affects you and your family
2. How using “green” products will affect your financial green , and
3. How Southern Perfection Painting is committed to using green products and our take on the care of the environment

Stay tuned as we bring you “Go with the Green” over the next few months. If you in the meantime are in need of painting estimate for your commercial or residential property, don’t hesitate to contact Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. the "Green" and smart vendor choice.

Create a Whole New Color Scene

Beautiful colors from soft subtle shades to striking vivid colors and textures of the natural world have long been an inspiration to architects, designers, and artists. Today these colors inspire excitement, possibility and hope. They allow the architect, designer, property manager or homeowner to bring these colors and all that comes with them into their homes.

When thinking about how to change your living room, bedrooms, or kitchen into a room that inspires, think about these options. We can change:

In a world of gas problems, hurricanes, and overloaded schedules, turn to Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. We will take the time to make sure your inspiration turns into a work of art. So when painting your next living room, bedroom, or dining room think Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. the quintessential vendor choice.

The summer is here and many Property Managers and HOAs are thinking about their outdoor spaces - building the new or sprucing the old. In any case, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when considering what to do with your deck.

With the percentage of homes and properties including a deck on the rise, it is becoming part of a larger trend where their outdoor living space is becoming more like a second living room. Since we at SPPI know this, we wanted to take the time to educate our readers. Many of the decks we have come across are made with wood. However, a small percentage of the decks that we come across are made with exotic woods. These woods such as redwood, pine, and cedar are dense, durable, and tend to have a richer color. When cleaned and stained, they take on a different color and can make your deck look bold and beautiful.

You may be asking yourself “What color should I go with for the type of deck I have?” Well, your first great decision is to go with Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. for the staining of your deck. Next, we will handle your deck with care by first pressure washing all of the dirt, mildew, and previous coating on it to bring it back to its original glory. Then, if you need the help, we will sit down with you and discuss some of the staining options.

For instance, if you were looking for a very sheer, natural color where the wood grain and texture will show through, then we would suggest a semitransparent stain.

Or, if you were looking for something that would cover the wood grain completely and obscure more of the variation in the wood, we would suggest a solid stain. Both options come in an array of colors including some of the pastel colors.

Whether you want to just clean your deck of dirt and grime or you want to make your deck shine with a semitransparent or solid stain, choose Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. - the quintessential vendor choice for your next deck staining project.

Property Management Color Trends for 2008

A new coat of paint is the best way to brighten your property or home. It is also the best way to add a little color, drama, or just freshen up a room. Here at Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. we can take a dark room or exterior look and make it pop.

From glass-like blues, botanical greens, dramatic black and white, and whisper soft pink color directions will drive towards individual self-expression, glamorous living experiences or an increased awareness of your property or home.

In 2007, the color of choice was white, but now that were are in a new year, the color trend has changed. No longer are we stuck under the bland white flag, now we are using colors such as:


Many property managers continue to strive for simplicity in their technology overloaded, hectic lifestyles and seek a return to an easier work life. Along with your color selection, continue to have an increased appreciation for paint quality and value. Our insured, professional contractors can help to bring your home or property alive and at the same time give you peace of mind knowing that it will be done right.

So for your next interior or exterior painting project choose Southern Perfection Painting, the quintessential vendor choice.

Part Six: Wood and Sheetrock Repairs May 2008

We were simply shocked by the devastation and destruction of the many tornadoes that touched down in Atlanta area in March! Here at SPPI, our thoughts are with those who were touched personally by this tragedy. SPPI is here to help!

Along with our expertise in painting, we also perform repairs in the field of wood and sheetrock repair. Our trained crews of wood and sheetrock repair will certainly meet and beat your expectations, all the while providing the same quality service that you are accustomed to! So remember we are not just a painting company, we are so much more!

As we continue to go through our seven part series we will show you how Project Initiation with Southern Perfection Painting, Inc. is the quintessential vendor choice. Come visit us for more details online at www.soperfectpaint.com.