Safety

Personal Protective Equipment is an essential aspect of keeping commercial painters safe. Many types of paint and other supplies used by professional painters are made from harsh chemicals that can cause significant health problems over time if painters do not protect themselves. Aside from professional painters, PPE should also be worn by anyone working with paint and other varnishes when working on any painting project. What are PPEs and When Should You Use Them? Personal protective equipment, or PPEs, include special chemical-resistant suits that are worn by professional and other painters to protect them from potential harmful effects of paint. These suits cover the entire body and include hoods, boots, and gloves and they provide a barrier between painters and the mists and vapors that come from many types of paint. Some PPEs also include respirators...

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and respirators are important to use when working on any construction or painting project. If you're working with water-based paint in a properly ventilated area, it hardly seems worth the trouble to use a respirator. However, determining the air quality of a worksite without professional testing is difficult and you may be exposing yourself or others to contaminants without even realizing it. Respirators should always be worn by painters in environments with reduced air quality, especially if sanding or the use of solvent-based paints are involved. There are two types of PPE respirators: atmosphere-supplying for providing clean air and air-purifying which removes harmful chemicals from the air. The type of mask you will need depends on the nature of the job. What Do Respirators Protect? A tight-fitting "half-mask" that covers the nose,...

Many cities have curtailed the issuance of new building permits, resulting in companies, as well as individuals, buying and renovating existing buildings that are sound and meet their needs. While renovation and reclamation of older, iconic commercial and residential buildings have become somewhat of a trend, repainting them may require adherence to some very specific guidelines, requiring the use of very specific paints, many of which may be oil-based. Here, we will briefly compare the pros and cons of both oil-based paints and the water-based acrylics: What are oil-based paints – Oil-based paints may contain organic solvents, such as white spirits, alcohols, or ketones as their solvent. Organic solvents include glycol, esters, petrol-distillates, and some synthetic resins. The solvent has to evaporate in order for the paint to dry, leaving the pigment and oil behind. As the oil oxidizes, it forms a hard, protective, and durable...

Power washing a building can remove dirt, grime, pollen, and other pollutants for a clean, aesthetically pleasing façade. This may be necessary for a cleaner look or before a new paint job. However, not all power washers or power washing jobs are the same. Even for the same structure, the tools and techniques required will vary depending on types of structural materials and on the cleaning level you need. If you are planning a project that includes power washing your residential home or commercial building, consider these key points to ensure efficiency, thoroughness, and most importantly, safety. Damages to Property The right power washer using the proper settings will result in a perfectly clean exterior. However, a misapplied power washer can damage walls, either directly by peeling paint and denting surfaces or indirectly by propelling debris...

It is time to start that painting project. You’ve purchased brushes, paint, rollers, and more, and everything is almost ready to start. Have you taken all the necessary safety precautions? Painting safety is not something a lot of people dwell on but should seriously consider if undertaking a DIY painting project. Consider if you have all the equipment needed, if there’s adequate ventilation available in the room to be painted, and how to properly clean and dispose of materials when the job is done. Follow these safety tips to ensure the project will be a safe one. Ensure Adequate Ventilation  Proper ventilation is probably the most important thing to consider if using a solvent-based paint. According to the National Capital Poison Center, exposure to paint fumes from solvent paints can cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea. These...