• Pick a colour that complements the home’s brick, siding, stone or roofing.
• Choose a colour scheme that blends with the neighbourhood. If required, check with the homeowners’ association for any colour restrictions.
• Because colour may appear different depending on the time of day, paint a section of the house where the body, trim and accent colours can be viewed together. Then check the colours throughout the day to see how they look.
• To highlight architectural details, such as shutters and columns, choose a colour that contrasts with the wall colour of the house. For example, if the wall is a light colour, choose a darker colour.
• To minimize attention to unattractive elements such as downspouts, air-conditioning units, vents and gutters, paint them the same colour as the wall of the house or choose a trim colour that is a similar shade

• Light colours make a room seem larger, while dark colours are best for accenting recessed areas and highlighting details.
• Use items in a room to provide colour hints. Pick a piece of furniture, art or even a pillow for inspiration. Select your colour preference and see what other colours work well with it.
• Connecting rooms should share colour elements. For example, using the same colour on molding in adjoining rooms unifies an open space.
• Use light and dark colours to create interest. Attractive architectural features, such as molding and columns, can be emphasized by painting them darker or lighter colours.
• Consider the home’s flooring. The colour of the carpet, tile or hardwood flooring plays an important role in the feel of a room and affects how a colour appears.
• Pay attention to the trim in a room. Painting the trim and walls the same colour will remove attention to the trim and make it less noticeable. Using a contrasting colour for the trim will add some dimension to the room.

Lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface, which appears as bubbles or blisters in the paint, usually caused by heat, moisture or a combination of both. This condition can eventually lead to peeling of the paint if not corrected. CAUSES

• Painting in direct sunlight or on a surface that is too hot
• Application of an oil-based over a damp, wet surface
• Exposing a fresh paint film to dew, high humidity or rain
• Moisture passing through interior walls from common household sources such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms

While any paint can give a home a quick facelift, a premium paint can truly transform a home’s interior and make it last. A premium paint offers a smoother, more uniform appearance, as well as much better coverage, than an economy paint. Because a home is a major investment, premium paint provides the long-term protection it deserves.

Gloss is about shine. It describes how much light is reflected from the surface of the paint. If a painted surface is very smooth and glass-like, the reflection is perceived to be “shiny” or “glossy.” Conversely, a flat paint has a rough surface profile after it dries. Light that hits such a surface is reflected and scattered in many different directions so it appears “flat” to the eye.