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Finally, some rain!  And three days of it.  As they say . . . when it rains it pours! 

While we all welcome the much needed deluge, it’s still a bummer driving to work on a dark, cold, rainy Monday morning.  That said, it’s exciting to see our entire team hard at work on so many projects, regardless of the weather.  Days like today are planning days, catch up days, and job stocking days for many of our crews, while all the projects with inside work are proceeding as planned. 

So while all the exterior jobs such as roofing, residing, repairs, and painting are on hold for a day or two, we’re hard at work on three kitchen projects, a finished basement, four different bathroom projects, two carpet installations, and a kitchen cabinet repainting job, just to name a few! 

In addition, we’re stocking several other jobs so we can hit the ground running when the sun comes back out.  That includes two deck jobs, a residing job, several trim repair jobs, and countless paint jobs.  Back at the office, the sales team, designers, and production managers are hard at work preparing countless job proposals and getting ready for production later in the week.  We’re also putting the finishing touches on some improvements at the showroom including a new Starmark Cabinetry display, a new Kleer decking display, final touches on the new carpet showroom featuring Fabrica and Masland carpets, and a general spruce up of the showroom.  If you haven’t been in lately, there’s a lot of great new things to see!

A rainy Monday?  Yep, but we are still hard at work and eager to serve you.  What can Masters Touch do for you?

Doug

Tags: Masters Touch | Doug Masters | Home Design Remodel And Repair | Home Improvement | Interior Design | Kitchen And Bathroom Remodel | Trim | Flooring | Exterior Painting | Interior Painting | Windows | Fabric | Blinds | Cabinets | Roofing | Starmark Cabinetry | Kleer | Fabrica Carpets | Masland Carpets | Masters Touch Showroom | Medfield | Norfolk | Walpole | Millis | Dover | Sherborn | Westwood | Needham | Newton | Weston | Wellesly | Natick | Holliston | Quincy | Braintree | Massachusetts | MA | MASS | Metrowest

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It’s been a long 6 years in the commercial and residential construction industry.  Recently, however, there’s been some good news, with residential real estate sales on the upswing.  We’re getting a lot of calls from clients who are buying and selling, and who are in the market for projects ranging from full interior repaints to major home renovations. 

It seems that, in spite of the efforts of our fearless leaders on Beacon Hill and in DC, the economy is improving.  Here at Masters Touch, we’ve added 10 jobs since the beginning of 2011, and we’re adding more this year.  

Here’s some more good news in today’s Boston Globe:   http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/03/13/building_spurt_brightens_job_outlook/?p1=News_links

Doug

Tags: Masters Touch | Doug Masters | Home Design Remodel And Repair | Home Improvement | Interior Design | Painting | Kitchen Remodel | Bathroom Design | Cabinets | Countertops | Flooring | Roofing | Trim | Masters Touch Showroom | Boston Globe | Economy | Medfield | Norfolk | Walpole | Millis | Dover | Sherborn | Westwood | Needham | Newton | Weston | Wellesly | Natick | Holliston | Quincy | Braintree | Massachusetts | MA | MASS | Metrowest

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Masters Touch Announces Brand New Specials!

1.  “Room Re-Deux” Special:  Make just one call for new carpet, paint, and blinds in three bedrooms for the low price of only $4,990.  Price includes furniture moving, removal and disposal of old carpet and padding, installation of new padding and carpet, installation of up to six energy efficient honeycomb style room darkening blinds, and painting of ceiling, walls and trim.  This is a great offer that we have never offered before, and who knows if we will offer it again!  Stop in today to get signed up!  Visit the store for more details.

2.  Save 15% off all Tuftex carpet!  Tuftex, Shaw Floors premier brand, is a California carpet manufacturer known for its innovative color, design, quality and care for the environment.  For this month only, Masters Touch is offering 15% off Tuftex goods.  This luxurious carpet will make you feel like royalty when you step out of bed and onto this soft carpeting.  Come to Masters Touch to see the wide variety of styles and colors right here in our showroom!  For more information on Tuftex, click here! http://shawfloors.com/Tuftex/Tips-Tuftex/About-Tuftex

3.  There are so many reasons to use quartz countertops, including its sustainability, its inherent anti-microbial qualities, and its durability.  Now, there is yet another reason.  For a limited time, Masters Touch is offering Caesarstone Quartz Countertops for an unbelievable 20% off! This is a great offer that you are going to want to take advantage of.  Our showroom has samples of several of the most popular colors and styles. Stop by to learn more, or visit Caesarstone’s website at http://www.caesarstoneus.com/

4.  Carole Custom Window Treatments Sale!  Save 20% on your new custom window treatments and/or bedding ensemble. Come into the Showroom and select from our extensive collection of Carole fabrics and trims.  We’ll help you choose an appropriate style of window treatment and/or bedding arrangement and coordinate the entire look!  We’ll take 20% off of your order (order must be at least $700).  Each piece is custom made for your home – and, there is a difference!  Your home is worth it! http://www.carolefabrics.com/custom/

5.  20% Thibaut Wallpaper Sale!  Come in and see Thibaut’s latest wallpapers – fresh, new patterns and colors!  Take 20% off of your order (6-roll minimum).  Beautiful, exclusive designs with coordinating fabrics. http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/latest_collections.php  

6.  15% off Fabricut Fabrics and Trims!  Come in and see the new Spring Collection of fabrics and trims from Fabricut.  Drapery fabrics, linens, cottons, upholstery fabrics and sheers – all just in!  The colors are gorgeous too: prints, checks, stripes, solids and textures.  And, you can take an extra 15% off your order, through March! http://fabricut.com/

Take advantage of these specials while you can!

Doug

Tags: Masters Touch | Doug Masters | Home Design Remodel And Rebuild | Home Improvement | Painting | Interior Design | Kitchen Remodel | Bathroom Design | Cabinets | Snow Removal | Window Treatments | Carpet | Tuftex Carpet | Shaw Floors | Countertops | Quartz | Caesarstone Quartz Countertops | Carole Custom Windows | Carole Custom Fabrics | Thibaut Wallpaper | Fabricut Fabrics And Trims | Masters Touch Showroom | Medfield | Norfolk | Walpole | Millis | Dover | Sherborn | Westwood | Needham | Newton | Weston | Natick | Wellesly | Holliston | Quincy | Braintree | Massachusetts | MA | MASS | Metrowest

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The Perfect Paint Color

The perfect paint color can make or break any project, whether it’s a kitchen remodel, a full exterior repaint, or a quick spruce up of any room in your home.

For many people, selecting paint colors for interior walls or the outside of their home is no easy task. It ranks up there with preparing tax returns or installing the baby seat in the car "correctly." It shouldn’t be a stressful ordeal, but rather a fun and creative exercise.

Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to enjoying a kaleidoscope of colors in your world.

1. Relax and have fun! It’s only a paint color and you’re supposed to enjoy picking out just the right color for you. Still, you’ve heard of road rage? Well, I’ve seen classic cases of "paint color selection rage" many times over the years. With all the possible things in your life that could stress you out, don’t let picking paint colors be one of them!

2. Plan ahead and you will give yourself plenty of time to work through the process. It can take days or even weeks. Don’t rush through the process or make a final decision while your impatient painter is tapping his foot waiting for the fresh sample on the wall to dry.

3. Weeks! How can it take weeks to pick out a paint color? Well, keep in mind it’s important to see an actual sample of the paint, not just a small color chip. Many manufacturers now offer small jars of samples for many of their colors, but often you’ll need to purchase a quart of the desired color.

Apply a test patch right on the area you will be painting, or use poster board and tack up a sample. You’ll want to cover an area at least 24 inches square and put on enough coats for uniform coverage. Once you have samples up, it’s important to live with them for a few days. You’ll be amazed at how bright some colors can look during the day and how dark they will look at night. Look at them in the morning and afternoon to get a good feel for how the natural light affects the overall appearance of the color. Be sure to wait for a cloudy day and see if you still like the color, it could look drab without the sun.

4. Make sure you get the sheen right! Whether you are selecting colors for interior walls and trim, or exterior areas of your home, the gloss level of the paint can have a huge impact on how you perceive the color. A good rule of thumb for interior painting is flat for ceilings, eggshell or "low luster" finishes for walls, and semi-gloss finish for woodwork. One exception is a full bathroom, where steam may affect the paint finish. Use a good mildew and moisture resistant paint, usually with a satin or semi-gloss sheen, in bathrooms and you’ll minimize the wear-and-tear of the paint.

For exterior paint, there are myriad options for finishes ranging from flat to high gloss, stain to paint. Each and every product will have its own look and feel, and the same color mixed into two different products can look dramatically different. This is another reason why painting a sample of the actual product is so important. You’re not just evaluating the color, but ensuring you like how it looks once it’s applied in various gloss levels. A good old fashioned barn red applied in a flat stain will look a lot more authentic than the same color in a high gloss enamel, so make sure you test colors in the same product you will be using for the entire project.

5. Remember that for interior colors, other items in the room can affect the color. In a kitchen, for example, you’ll want a color that works with the cabinets, counter tops, flooring, and accessories. It’s a good idea to finalize all the other items first, and then pick a paint color that will bring harmony to the room. It’s a bad idea to pick a paint color and then think you’ll quickly be able to find fabrics and other accessories that work with them. Custom paint colors are easily accessible and affordable. On the other hand, custom fabrics, not so much!

6. Don’t be afraid to call a professional! For some people, color coordination comes easy and finding a palette of colors is a breeze. For others, the mere thought of having to commit to a color on the walls is overwhelming. Sometimes, hiring a professional designer or color consultant is money well spent. An experienced, well-trained designer will provide expert advice on how to coordinate the colors and finishes throughout your home.

7. Relax and have fun! Refer back to number one on this list whenever you feel a little stressed or that you’re never going to find the right color, because you will. It just takes a little patience and a little time. And before you know it, everything will come together.

Doug

Tags: Masters Touch | Doug Masters | Home Design Remodel And Repair | Home Improvement | Interior Design | Painting | Paint | Paint Colors | Exterior Painting | Interior Painting | Paint Samples | Kitchen Remodel | Bathroom Design | Cabinets | Counter Tops | Flooring | Paint Test Patch | Medfield | Norfolk | Walpole | Millis | Dover | Sherborn | Westwood | Needham | Newton | Weston | Wellesly | Natick | Holliston | Quincy | Braintree | Massachusetts | MA | MASS

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“We’re considering painting our kitchen cabinets.  What type of paint should we use, and can we brush them?”   

Kathy, Westwood

Hi Kathy.  Painting cabinets is a fairly involved process.  You want to make sure you do it correctly or you’ll end up with a finish that will chip easily.  While this is something you can try to do yourself, hiring a professional will ensure good results and a quality job. 

Here are the usual steps you should take to ensure a high quality finish:

Remove all the hardware (pulls and hinges), take out all the drawers, and empty the cabinets.  There is usually a lot of grease in a kitchen so cleaning all the surfaces is critical.  Use ammonia and an abrasive pad (green scrubby) and thoroughly clean and degrease all areas that will be painted.  That includes drawer fronts, both sides of the doors, and all side panels.

Next, carefully sand the surfaces to degloss and partially remove the existing polyurethane or paint.  You should start with 150 grit sandpaper, which will easily remove top layers of finish, then re-sand with a 220 grit, which will produce a finer finish.  When the sanding is done, carefully vacuum all areas and the inside of the cabinets to remove as much dust as possible.  After that, use tack cloths to wipe down each and every surface to remove any remaining dust.

Now you are ready for a primer coat.  The best primer to use is an oil based enamel under-coat primer.  While there are many quick dry primers such and Kilz or Bin that will work, a standard oil primer has more body and will do the best job.  If you are doing this yourself, you are probably better off brushing everything, as good sprayer technique takes years to develop.  Apply a uniform coat to all areas and allow it to dry overnight.

Now that the primer is dry, sand all the areas again with 220 grit sandpaper and repeat the vacuum and tack cloth procedures.  This will ensure the primer is smooth and free of imperfections such as dust that may have landed on the surface while it was drying.

Finally, it’s time for the paint finish.  Hopefully you’ve already selected the perfect color for your kitchen cabinets!  As noted above, a spray application (at least to the doors) is the preferred method, but brushing will work fine too.  Use a high quality oil based paint, such as Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo.  This paint has a nice sheen level without being too glossy, although some people do prefer a semigloss or high gloss finish.  As with the primer, let this finish dry overnight.

It’s almost time for the finish coat, but before you apply it, repeat the sanding, vacuuming, and tack strip process to further enhance the finish and increase inter-coat adhesion of the paint.  When you have completed that, make sure the room is as dust free as possible before starting with the final coat.  You may want to use a window fan blowing out to ensure any dust in the room is blown out the window, so it won’t settle into the drying paint.  Now, proceed with the last coat.  Ideally, you’ll let this sit for a couple of days before you begin reinstalling the doors, drawers, and pulls.

Here are some additional tips:

If you are brushing the paint, don’t over brush it.  Practice on the back of a cabinet door first and get a feel for the paint.  Over brushing can cause blemishes in the finish or leave brush marks. 

Make sure your cabinets are not particle board with a veneer wood grain paper glued to the surface.  If they are, you may sand the paper right off and ruin them.

Remember, if you paint doors with floating panels you’ll likely end up with cracks in the paint film as the doors expand and contract with season changes in temperature and humidity.  This is normal and will not necessarily look terrible, but this does bother some people.

With some wood species, such as oak, the grain of the wood will show through the paint film.  Again, this is normal and not a problem, but some people do not like this look.  It’s always a good idea to perform the entire process above to the back of one door so you’ll have a good idea of what the finish will look like before painting the entire kitchen.

Finally, remember, the kitchen is the most important room in your home so you want it to look great.  If you really want a proper job, I’d strongly recommend hiring a professional painting company to perform the work.

Kathy, thank you for submitting a great question to Masters Touch.  I hope your cabinets look terrific when they are finished!

Doug

Tags: Masters Touch | Painting | Cabinets | Kitchen Cabinets | Primer | Sandpaper | Benjamin Moore

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