Magic in a can

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How to choose exterior colours

Richmond Bisque... Deep Russet... Hickory...

The names are enough to make your head spin. Choosing a paint color becomes even more baffling when you consider that most homes use at least three different shades -- one for the siding and two or more for trim and accents such as doors, railings and window sashes.

A well-chosen selection of contrasting trim and accent colors can draw attention to architectural details and disguise design flaws. A poor selection can make a house seem flat and featureless -- Or so garish that the color overwhelms the architecture. But, how do you decide?

Here are a few pointers to guide you as you choose house paint colors.

Historic Authenticity
If you are planning to paint an older home, you have three options.

• You can hire a pro to analyze old paint chips and recreate the original color.
• You can refer to historic color charts and select shades that might have been used at the time your home was built.
• Or, you can fly in the face of history and choose bright modern colors to dramatize architectural details.

The third option can produce startling and exciting results. But before you buy 10 gallons of bubblegum pink, it's a good idea to look at what your neighbors are doing.

Neighborhood Context
A fluorescent colored Victorian that looks splendid in San Francisco will seem wildly out of place in more conservative neighborhoods. Even if you are opting for a more subtle scheme, you'll want to make sure that your colors are compatible with the houses next door.

Existing Colors
Your house is your canvas, but it is not blank. Some colors are already established. What color is your roof? Is there mortar or other siding that will not be painted? Will doors and railings remain their existing colors? New paint does not need to match existing colors, but it should harmonize.

Interior Colors
It may seem comical to paint entire house based on the pattern of a pillow case, but this approach does make sense. The color of your furnishings will guide you in the selection of your interior paint colors, and your interior paint colors will influence the colors you use outside. Once again, your goal is to harmonize.

Accents
Depending on the size and complexity of your home, you may be choosing two, three or as many as six colors. In addition to the color you select for siding, you'll want to select accent colors for trim and details such as shutters, moldings and columns. This can be tricky, because too many colors will overwhelm your house and too few will make it seem two dimensional.

Darks and Lights
Light colors will make your house seem larger. Dark siding or dark bands of trim will make your house seem smaller, but will draw more attention to details. Darker shades are best for accenting recesses, while lighter tones will highlight details which project from the wall surface. On traditional Victorian homes, the darkest paint is often used for the window sashes.

Read more.

Using step ladders safely

Step ladders are very often both a central part of a paint job, but also a key danger area. Here are some tips on how to minimise the likelihood of a ladder-related accident:

Inspect the ladder:

• Take time to check the condition of the ladder both before and after use.

• Check that the ladder is sufficiently robust to support your weight.

• Make sure the steps are free of oil, wet paint, mud, or any other potentially slippery substance.

Erecting the ladder:

• Clear the area around the ladder from any clutter. Make sure that no electrical cords or
  wire leads are close.

• If the ladder needs to be in front of a door, consider locking the door to prevent surprise openings.

• If the ladder is in a high-traffic area, draw attention to this fact in the house – a hand-written sign would do.

• Make sure the floor is even and stable. Avoid wet or slippery surfaces.

• Always support the ladder at four points

Climbing the ladder:

• Wear suitable shoes – no heels, barefoot is not good, nor are most sandals.

• Never climb onto wet or slippery steps, make sure they are dry.

• Never overstretch – do not climb beyond the last three steps of a ladder.

• Keep your shoulders between the rails and don’t over-reach – move the ladder instead.

• Always keep 3 point contact with the ladder.

• If your ceilings are high, but your ladder too small, don’t try to overreach yourself – renting or borrowing a suitable ladder is much safer.

• Don’t let your children climb up the ladder: prevent access at the end of the day if you have to, or fold it up after use.

• Be prepared for an unforeseen vertigo attack – don’t look down, breath slowly and steadily, and go back down step by step.

Architecture of the Taj Mahal

What is style?

What do we mean when we say "house style" or "architectural style"? Why do we call some houses "Cape Cod" and others "Bungalow"? Is "Victorian" a style? Do some buildings have "no style"?

If you've ever tried to define the style of your own home, you know that "style" is a vague and confusing term. Architects, home builders, and real estate professionals often don't agree on what they mean when they describe a style.

In general, however, style is the vocabulary we use when we classify buildings according to their appearance, structure, materials, and historic period. Buildings are said to belong to the same classification (or style) when they share many of the same characteristics. Here's a quick checklist:

• roof shape and pitch
• building size and number of stories
• window size, shape, and placement
• door shape and placement
• decorative details such as brackets and cornice trim
• construction materials such as brick, stucco, or wood
• footprint and floor plan
• historic period

Many (if not most) buildings represent a combination of several different styles.

Alligatoring solution

Patterned cracking in the surface of the paint film resembling the regular scales of an alligator.

Possible causes:

• Application of an extremely hard, rigid coating, like an alkyd enamel, over a more flexible coating, like a latex primer.
• Application of a top coat before the undercoat is dry.
  Natural aging of oil-based paints as temperatures fluctuate. The constant expansion and contraction results in a loss of paint film elasticity.

Solution:

• Old paint should be completely removed by scraping and sanding the surface; a heat gun can be used to speed work on large surfaces, but take care to avoid igniting paint or substrate. The surface should be primed with high quality latex or oil-based primer, then painted with a top quality exterior latex paint.

Nariman Point rents higher than NYC

Nariman Point in Mumbai has moved two notches up to the fifth spot in the list of the world’s top ten most expensive office centres, while Delhi’s Connaught Place has broken into the elite list, claiming the seventh spot. Both cities are placed well above metros like Paris, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore.

According to a global market rents survey prepared by real estate consultant C B Richard Ellis, Connaught Place, often described as the heart of Delhi, is the only newcomer in the list with an occupation cost of $116.19 per sq ft per annum. Rent rates at Nariman Point—India’s costliest place to set up an office—were quoted at $138.41 per sq ft/annum.

The two most expensive office markets are both in London—West End at $241.22 per sq ft per annum and the City of London at $165.72. The next two are in Tokyo—Inner Central at $162.09 and Outer Five Wards at $143.52.

At $69.44/sq ft per annum, midtown Manhattan is the priciest market in North America, ranked No 21 worldwide. In other words, setting up an office in the Big Apple is cheaper than doing so in Connaught Place or Nariman Point. An earlier study had placed Khan Market in Delhi as the costliest retail space, while a recent report said residential rents in Mumbai were the seventh highest in the world.

Google Map of Snowcem Paints' head office

Snowcem Paints' head office, Mumbai city.

Click on Wikimapia for a bigger view

Handmade school

What's in a name? Though officially called the Modern Educational and Training Institute (METI) in Rudrapur, Bangladesh, this project is known as Handmade School, a name that means a lot. With the school's goal "to gain and disseminate knowledge and information for optimizing the use of locally available resources," the building becomes not only an expression but a means of achieving this goal. Through the process of building the school, local craftsmen are able to train other local workers, eventually leading to improved standards of construction, particularly in housing.

The Handmade School is the design of Berlin-based architects Roswag & Jankowski Architekten Partnerschaft and Anna F. Heringer. In plan the building is a simple rectangular bar building. The ground floor is built of mud walls made of local earth mixed with rice, straw, and jute. These classrooms are accessed directly from the outside via openings highlighted by brightly-colored panels that contrast with the dried-earth walls. The character of the ground floor is cave-like, stemming from its construction and recalling OMA's single-family house in Bordeaux.

Safe use, strorage and disposal of paint

Paint is a common product we all have in our homes that can become a household hazardous waste when it is not properly stored or disposed.

The following information will help you make decisions on how to avoid health and environmental hazards from using, storing and disposing of paint.

Composition of paints and their hazards

Most paint has four components: resin, solvent, pigment and additives. To determine the hazardous ingredients of paint, request a Material Safety Data Sheet from the retailer when you buy it.

The resin is the main ingredient and forms a coating or film on the surface being painted. This typically non-hazardous component includes linseed, acrylic or other synthetic resins.

The solvent keeps the paint in a liquid form until the solvent evaporates after the paint is applied. The solvent in oil-based paint is derived from a petroleum distillate and can include such hazardous ingredients as mineral spirits, toluene and xylene. The solvent in latex paint is water.

Pigments provide the color and opacity or covering power. The major pigments used presently are titanium oxide, iron oxide, calcium sulfate, clay or silicates. These pigments are relatively nontoxic. Some highly colored pigments may contain heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium or arsenic.

Paints purchased before 1977 may contain lead in the pigment. Lead, also a heavy metal, is poisonous. Do not use paint purchased prior to 1977. To determine if the painted surfaces in your home contain lead, contact your local health department or a lead paint removal contractor.

Paint may also have additives. Some types of additives include stabilizers that prevent paint deterioration in the can, dryers that assist in the formation of the paint coating, thickeners that aid in application, and preservatives that inhibit the growth of molds. The additives can range in composition, including both hazardous and non-hazardous ingredients.

How to determine if stored paint is usable

• If the paint will mix when stirred, it is probably usable. Oil-based paint can be usable for up to fifteen years. Latex paint is usable if it is less than ten years old and has not been repeatedly frozen and thawed.
• The best way to determine if latex paint is usable after it has been frozen is to brush the paint on newspaper. If there are lumps, the paint is not usable.

How to store paint so that it will remain usable

• Store the tightly sealed paint can upside-down, so that the paint will form a seal around the lid.
• Store paint cans in dry areas that will not freeze.
• Store paint cans away from sources of spark or flame.

What to do with usable, leftover paint

• Avoid having leftover paint by buying only the amount you need to do the job. Consult with the retailer to determine the surface area and the amount of paint needed to cover this area.
• Use up any leftover paint. Some suggested ways to do this include applying another coat to the surface until the paint is gone, painting a doghouse or other small structure, or using it as a primer coat for another project.
• If you cannot use it up, see if a friend or neighbor is willing to use it. Other groups to contact to see if they need usable latex paint include theater groups, community betterment groups, schools, daycare centers and graffiti removal projects. Before sharing usable latex paint, determine if it contains mercury. If it does, inform your recipient and suggest they use it only for exterior surfaces.
• Your community may sponsor a paint exchange for usable paint. If not, organize a paint exchange between members of local clubs, service organizations or other groups. Inform participants of the paint exchange that latex paint containing mercury should be used only on exterior surfaces. As a general rule, for paint to be usable by someone else, at least 1/3 of a gallon should remain in the original can with a legible label.

Before you hold the paint exchange, identify an organization or outlet that will accept the paint that is not taken, such as theater groups, community betterment groups or schools. For more ideas or guidelines on how to hold a paint exchange, contact the Household Hazardous Waste Project.

What to do with unusable paint

• Never put liquid paint into the trash or pour it down the drain unless instructed to do so by local waste officials. Paint disposed of this way can contaminate our water resources and the environment.
• Take the paint to your community's household hazardous waste collection. This is the best option for all unusable paint. If your community does not have a household hazardous waste collection, ask your local city, county and state officials to provide one.
• As a last resort, small amounts of paint can be solidified. If the paint is latex, you can solidify it following the instructions below, then place it in the trash destined for the landfill. Because of the increased health and safety risks involved in solidifying oil-based paints, contact your local city or county officials for other proper disposal methods

Podcast: Feng Shui for residential architecture

Barbara Lyons Stewart, AIA, and Vincent M. Smith, coauthors of Feng Shui: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers, spoke with the AIA Podcast Network’s C.D. Pangallo, EdD, Managing Director, Continuing Education, about the effects the built environment has on our behavior and how making Feng Shui adjustments can enrich the lives of clients.

A fresh coat of paint can help sell your home

If you are contemplating selling your home, consider sprucing it up with a fresh coat of paint before putting up the “For Sale” sign, This relatively inexpensive investment can enhance your home’s curb appeal to prospective buyers.

An attractive quality paint job imparts the kind of well-maintained appearance to a home that gives it a distinct selling advantage. As a result, when selling your home, repainting is really more like an investment than an expense.

Whether you choose to hire a paint contractor, or do it yourself it is crucial to use a high quality paint.

Use a top quality 100% acrylic latex paint
A recently applied, high quality acrylic latex paint can last 10 years or more and translates into many years of freedom from maintenance for prospective buyers.

• Be conservative when selecting an exterior color
White and neutral colors are often the safest choices, since they will appeal to the greatest number of prospective buyers. When painting for a potential sale, it is often not the time to have the most striking paint scheme in the neighborhood.

• Include quality surface preparation in the work
Properly preparing the surface for painting will produce the best appearance, and add to the life-expectancy of the paint job.

• Finish painting before putting the home on the market
A completed and attractive paint job will assist with that critical first impression as potential buyers consider and view your home.

So, if you are thinking about selling your home, don’t throw away your paint brush. Picking it up may be the best thing you can do.

How to choose the right paint finish

Even after a homeowner has chosen the perfect color for a room, there's another very important decision to make. With 5 or 6 paint finishes to choose from, you should learn the benefits of each and determine the right one for your job. Should you use flat or satin and why? Browse these tips on selecting the perfect paint finishes for your interior home applications.

Matte Finish
Whether called flat finish or wall paint, this type of interior paint has a matte surface. This paint finish is usually used on interior walls. It's expecially good if you have to camouflage small wall bumps, cracks, or other imperfections, as this finish does not reflect light. While some flat paints are advertised as washable today, you may need to touch up scratches or marks by covering with a bit more paint, so be sure you keep some on hand after you've finished painting.

Flat Enamel
Flat enamel is a paint with a durable flat, matte finish. It's a good choice for powder rooms and halls, as it holds up to occasional cleaning.

Eggshell Finish
If you can picture the very low sheen of the shell of an egg, you have an idea of how an eggshell paint finish will appear. With only a slight hint of shine or gloss, it's good for walls and holds up better with cleaning than a flat finish paint.

Satin Finish
Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for windows, doors, trim, or ceilings, but can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for kids' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, or in areas which get a lot of traffic. Paint with a satin finish is formulated to hold up to cleaning and light scrubbing.

Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss paint is most often used on doors, trim, and cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. It is easily cleaned and lays down a nice, subtle shine, without being too glitzy. Take care with pre-paint preparation work, as poorly prepared surfaces can be a bit distracting when highlighted by a semi-gloss surface.

Glossy
High gloss paints have an almost reflective quality, as their shiny finish mimics the look of enamel or plastic. Tough not widely used in home interiors, it is becoming more popular for a dramatic look on cabinets, trim, and furniture in very formal and very contemporary settings. This finish will magnify any surface imperfections, so careful preparation and sanding is essential before painting with high gloss paints.

Read more.

How to pick colors for your house exterior

Your house is your canvas. Here's how to choose paint colors that will bring out its beauty and character.

Here's how:

1. Begin with colors suggested by your roof and masonry.
2. Consider the color schemes used inside your home. Exterior colors should harmonize with the interior.
3. Don't clash with your neighbors! Choose colors that coordinate with the buildings around you.
4. Large surfaces make paint look lighter. Consider selecting darker shades.
5. Remember that very bright or very deep colors will fade.
6. To emphasize architectural details, outline them with an accent color that contrasts with the background.
7. Use darker colors to emphasize shadows and lighter colors to show projections.
8. Avoid extreme contrasts. Choose colors that are related.
9. Study color samples outside, but never in direct sunlight. Bright sun will distort the color.
10. Photocopy a sketch or photograph of your house. Use watercolors or colored pencils to try color combinations.
11. Before buying large quantities of paint, buy quarts of your selected colors and paint one area of your house.
12. Take your time... be creative... and have fun!

Tips:
1. The simpler your house, the fewer colors you'll need. For an elaborate Victorian, plan to use four to six colors.
2. Light colors will make your house seem larger. Dark colors or bands of trim will make your house seem smaller, but will draw more attention to details.
3. For some accents, consider using darker or lighter shades instead of changing color.

The Boiling Frog

"The Boiling Frog" metaphor for collective inaction was first proposed by sociological author Daniel Quinn in his book, "The Story of B."

This is from Al Gore's Oscar-winning documentary, "The Inconvenient Truth."

An absolute must-see.

List of Snowcem Paints offices

In case you want to get in touch with us for your exterior paint needs, here's a list of our offices:

Corporate Office – Snowcem Paints Private Limited

Plot No. 7, Chandivali Farm Road, Chandivali, Mumbai 400 072

Tel. 28471028, 28471029, Fax 28571643. Email : mumbai@snowcempaints.com


Registered Office – 323, Soharab Hall, 21 Sasoon Road, Pune 411 001



Area Offices -

Ahmedabad : U-3, Satellite Complex, Opp. Mansi Tower, Premchand Nagar Road, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380 015 Tel. 079-26764771 / 26764772

Fax 079-26764773. Email : ahmedabad@snowcempaints.com



Bangalore : No. 33/1, New Timber Yard Layout, Mysore Road Cross,

Bangalore 560 026 Tel. 080-26755202 / 26754085 Fax 080-26754079.

Email : bangalore@snowcempaints.com



Chennai : Swathi Complex, No. 34, Venkatanarayana Road, Nandanam, Chennai 600 035 Tel. 044-24330402 / 24355969 Fax 044-24344049.

Email : chennai@snowcempaints.com



Jaipur : No.7, Sharma Colony Extn., Road No.4, 22 Godam Industrial Area, Jaipur 302 006 Tel. 0141-2210295/ 2210443.

Email : jaipur@snowcempaints.com



Kanpur : A/30-10C, Aziz Manzil, Shanti Nagar, Cantt, A. M. Jaipuria Road, Kanpur 208 004 Tel. 0512-3266873, 2380842 Fax 0512-2380843

Email : kanpur@snowcempaints.com



Kochi : 42/1585, Panathara Building, Kombara Market Road,Ernakulam,

Kochi 682 014 Tel. 0484-2390593 / 2390621 Fax 0484-2391562

Email : kochi@snowcempaints.com



Kolkata : BC-76, Ground Floor, Sector 1, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 064

Tel. 033- 23210950, 23341103 Fax 033-23210951.

Email : kolkata@snowcempaints.com


New Delhi : 41, Zamrudpur Community Centre, Kailash Colony Extn., New Delhi 110 048 Tel. 011-29240490 / 92, 29233104 Fax 011-29232401

Email : newdelhi@snowcempaints.com

Secunderabad : 1st Floor, Plot No. 13, B.H.E.L. Colony, Rasoolpura, Secunderabad 500 003 Tel. 040-27904526, 27904561, 27904855

Fax 040-27904574.

Email : secunderabad@snowcempaints.com

Snowcem Paints range

See it before you paint it

Yes, we know. Painting the exterior of your building or home is a big investment and requires careful planning. Everything has to be just right.

Which is why we at Snowcem Paints are offering a rather unique service, Snowscapes, where you can see your building in the colors of your choice before actually commencing work.

We will provide you with three options on our computer-aided design systems.

You can preview exactly how your building will look in the colours that you shortlist, and then finalize on the shade you want.

Simple, easy and convenient.

For more information on Snowscapes, please do email us snowscapes@snowcempaints.com

Second Life architecture

You can can the world's next Zaha Hadid or Frank Gehry, designing gravity-defying buildings and shaping entire cities in Second Life.

Second Life is an online virtual community. Much more than a computer game, it lets you create an identity, launch a career, build a home, and interact with other "citizens."

Professional architects, artists, and designers are using Second Life to try out new designs and display their work. A new loft-style Starwood Hotel, constructed in Second Life, is set to open in 2008. Designers will use the feedback they receive on their virtual hotel as they construct a real world version.

Architecture you can download

If you missed the 2007 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in San Antonio, Texas, take heart. In keeping with this year's theme, Growing Beyond Green, printed handouts were not provided at the seminars. Instead, conference materials were posted on Web pages.

With a click of your mouse, you can download PDF files containing lectures and photos for topics like Green Historic Buildings, Schools of the 21st Century, and The Simple Home.

For your free downloads: AIA 2007 National Convention Education Seminar Materials

How to mix paint colors

Mixing paint colors produces custom paint colors perfect for any color scheme. AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter demonstrates how to blend or mix paint colors to get the perfect color for your job. Blending paint colors really is easy and useful on any paint job.