EPA News

Joe Pullaro Inc. is a Certified EPA Renovator
Painting Contractor

role in protecting public health by helping prevent lead exposure. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, many homes, schools and day-care centers in the U.S.

built before 1978 still have lead-based paint. Ordinary painting and maintenance activities can create dust that contains lead. New national EPA rules to protect against this risk go into effect April 22, 2010.

Contractors performing work that disturbs lead based paint in homes, apartments, childcare facilities and schools built before 1978 must be EPA certified, and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.The potential penalties for not following the regulations are stiff. Contractorscan be fined up to $32,500 per violation, per day.

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New EPA Standerd

EPA's Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rules to Take Effect April 2010:

A whole host of training, certification and work practice requirements called for by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program are slated to take effect in April 2010.

By that date, construction firms must apply for and receive EPA certification to disturb paint as part of their work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities.

In addition, all of these jobs must be supervised by certified renovators; specifically, individuals who have completed an EPA-accredited, full-day training course.

Plus, other craft workers on such jobsites must be properly trained and equipped to follow the RRP Program's lead-safe work practices when performing their assigned tasks.

AGC members covered by the RRP rule should take steps now to meet the upcoming April 2010 compliance deadline. EPA's RRP Program is a federal regulatory program affecting construction firms and individual workers who disturb painted surfaces.

It applies to residential houses, apartments and child-occupied facilities such as schools and day-care centers built before 1978. It includes training, certification and work practice requirements that take effect in April 2010, as well as pre-renovation education requirements that are currently in effect.

Renovation is broadly defined as any activity that disturbs painted surfaces and includes most repair, remodeling and maintenance activities, including window replacement.

Because the term "renovation" is defined so broadly, many contractors who are not generally considered "renovators," as that term is commonly used, are considered to be "renovators" under the RRP Program and must follow the rule's requirements.

Changing Trends

A lot of changes have taken place in the Painting Industry over the last few years. In the past painting a home consisted of covering dull walls with a standard color of paint.

With changing trends, Professional Painting Contractors are offering more than just painting services.

It is a must for today’s Painting Contractor to keep up with the latest trends in decorating.

Home owners now expect many options for their personal living space, some examples are the use of subtle hues on broad wall areas, with bold high impact colors “in small doses” for accent walls, faux finishes, and murals. Of course, these exclusive services are offered by Painting Contractors who keep track of changing trends and strive to give their customers a professional job in every aspect.

Home or Commercial painting has now become a work of art. Painting contractors are providing more than just paint for the walls, they are creating the ambience expected by the customer.

Some of today’s popular finishes include Parchment Sponging, Tuscany Patina Color washing, Metals Antiquing, Venetian Plasters and Murals. A painting contractor has to be well versed in the latest trends and good enough to deliver them in a professional manor.

Joe Pullaro Inc. is capable of working with the customer, and turning ideas into reality.

Choose Coordinating Paint Colors

One of the things that you'll want to think of when choosing coordinating paint colors is that the eyes need some relief.

If you are going with a bold color then just add to it a more neutral tone.

Neutrals don't have to be boring, they can even be metallic. You can add a copper tin ceiling to a room for a warm look that also has a vintage air. The advantage to neutral colors is that they are lasting. Use basic tones on items that you won't replace as often such as furniture and flooring; leave the daring colors to items that you can easily change out such as paint.

You might have your heart set on using two tones that may not seem like they match. All you need is just one piece that incorporates both of the shades to create a color palette.

You may be able to find fabric for throw pillows that has both of your shades in it, then you can put solid pillows in the two colors to save money as long as you have that one item that shows off the entire idea.

Use coordinating paint colors to portray a specific feeling. A theme room can be contemporary and custom to your space when you change the traditional shade for the theme.

If you want antique feeling rooms then paint the walls sage green and add in rich wood trim but paint your furniture a stark white or ebony.

Latex / Alkyd / Enamels Paints

Do you know your latex from your alkyd from your enamels? If not, don't feel bad.

I didn't for a long time and it was a bit confusing.

In this article I will explain the differences and how to choose the right paint for the job. It's a good idea to check too with the pros at the paint stores, but with a little information you won't have to go in totally uninformed.

Latex paints of various types - flat, eggshell, semi and high gloss finishes - are typically used to paint walls and ceilings.

It is easy to apply with a brush or roller and cleans up easily with water (since the paint is water based). The painted surface is easy to clean as well. The word easy pretty much sums up this paint.

While I use this paint myself for painting around the house, I've never used it on steel.

It will cause steel to rust, so you would need to use a rust inhibiter primer before painting any steel surface with a latex paint.

One thing I have been confused over in the past is whether a primer had to be used when a painting a new surface for the first time. The answer I've found is yes for best results. So you can use a latex primer, however your regular latex paint can also be used as the primer coat.

So really you applying two coats of the same paint. If it is good paint, I've found that the primer coat and the paint is enough. If you get cheap paint, you may find that you have to apply the primer coat and two more paint coats!

Now to a second kind of paint, alkyd. Got an area where you will likely be frequently cleaning the walls. These are typically kitchens, bathrooms and the kids rooms.

Alkyd paint is an oil based paint and withstands cleanings better than latex paint. If you have ever been someplace freshly painted and the smell is strong and doesn't go away for a day or two, then you are experiencing alkyd paint.

Again being a stronger paint with an oil base, cleaning up alkyd paint require more than water. You will need something like mineral spirits or turpentine.

Finally there are enamel paints which can come in either latex (clean with water) or alkyd (clean with solvents) bases.

Enamels produce a smooth look and a gloss between low and high.

They create a tough surface and you use these paints, along with an alkyd base enamel undercoat, for areas that are used a lot and / or will need to be cleaned often.

If Moroccan is more your speed then paint your walls a rich brown to set the mood and then pile in furniture in eggplant, terra cotta and teal.

You need to find a way that you can personally relate to color. You use color everyday without thinking about it. Look at a makeup compact to see how you match colors without realizing it.

You also coordinate paint colors when you get dressed. You may have a hobby like web design or even cooking where you create presentations based on shade.

You can translate these colors and items into the same theory to select paint colors so the experience is fun and personal to you.

You can start off with an inspiration piece as the basis for your color palette. You might want to be inspired by anything from a sports team to a piece of pottery.

If you want the inspiration to really stand out then paint the room in the color opposite of it on the color palette or for a more soothing space then use the exact shade.