We’re taking a break from our traditional paint-themed articles to bring you a few tips to get your lawn in top shape as the grass starts turning its greenest here in Northern Colorado. As we begin to turn on our sprinklers and our mowers for the first time, now is the perfect time to set up your lawn for a successful summer. And if you’re like most folks, you may have a few brown patches, a few dozen weeds, and a bit of thatch built up from winter. So, we’ve cataloged a few tips you can try out to make your lawn the talk of the town. Take a look!
AeratePlenty of homeowners neglect to aerate their lawn, but it’s a good habit to get into. It’s recommended that folks aerate twice per year to improve the soil of the lawn, preferably in the spring and fall. Aerating helps to soften dirt, bringing a bit of air to grass roots, while also mixing up much needed nutrients. Plus, water will more easily penetrate your soil after aerating. So, your grass will have more nutrients, more water, and more air. Don’t have an aerator? You can rent a machine aerator from your local hardware store for a few hours, or invest in a step-on aerator that you can use with your feet.
Fertilizing replenishes your lawn’s soil with all the nutrients it needs to support healthy grass. It’s best to fertilize your lawn once per year, and now is the perfect time to do it! Pick up a bag of fertilizer and use a fertilizer spreader to give your lawn a thin coating. Be sure to follow the instructions of the fertilizer you purchase. Most fertilizers recommend giving your lawn a good soak beforehand, to help the nutrients to penetrate the soil. Don’t forget to keep your pets and kiddoes off the lawn for a day or two, since some fertilizers can be harmful.
WateringIf you’re turning your sprinklers on for the first time this season, be sure to check all of your sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads often break or become misaligned over winter, so you may have to do a bit of maintenance to ensure you have even coverage over your whole lawn. It’s best to set your system timer to go off at night, just before sunrise, to ensure that the water doesn’t evaporate right away. Adjust the amount of time that you water for the heat, or if there is rain in the forecast, so you don’t end up overwatering your lawn. Give your lawn about 20 minutes of water every other day in the spring, and possibly every day in the height of the summer to ensure your grass gets about an inch of water per week.
As the green season is in full form, and it’s the perfect time for house painting. As the temperatures rise, we’re scheduling exterior home painting projects for folks throughout Northern Colorado. We hope you’ve enjoyed our lawncare tips, and as always, you can count on us for all your painting needs. Horner Painting provides home painting services for folks throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath — simply reach out to us to get started!
Home improvements are expensive. Yet, they can be well worth the investment. Homeowners have long opted to pour money into their homes not just to better customize them to their needs, but also to up the home’s equity, as well as its resale value. If you’re one of the many homeowners out there striving to boost your home’s market value, you may be asking yourself: What are the best investments for my home? What improvements will earn me the most value in the long run? Well, we’ve done some digging, and we’d like to highlight four of the best value-per-dollar investments you can make to improve your home. Here’s our list.
If you have the money (or the time, tools, and experience to do it yourself), finishing your basement can earn you as much or more money than you invest. Consider finishing your basement with an extra room or two, and an additional bathroom. If you have extra space, tacking on an entertainment room is a great idea. And you can add a storage room (which can remain unfinished). Don’t go overboard on customizations (like integrated surround sound, or a built-in bar), unless you’re planning on enjoying these amenities yourself; when you opt to put your home on the market, you may not earn as much money for basement renovation than you put into it if your home purchaser doesn’t like the custom details as much as you do.
You may also consider finishing your basement with an apartment configuration (including a bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen), so that you can rent the space. Consider adding a separate entrance to your basement if you’re finishing it with a full apartment. Adding a garden apartment is an excellent source of passive income while you’re living in your current abode, and it can be an appealing selling point should you ever put your home on the market in the future.
Updating your home’s exterior won’t just provide better protection for your home, it will boost its value and curb appeal. If you have damaged siding, worn out paint, or siding that could use a facelift (like added trim and details, or a stone facade), then an exterior update is a great idea. Replace any damaged siding along the surfaces of your home. And paint your home siding if it hasn’t been painted in five years or longer (of course, you can count on Horner Painting to paint the exterior of your home!). If you have the budget, you can update your siding with a new, tack-on facade of stone and extra trim details to make your home look warmer and richer.
Kitchen & Bathroom RemodelsDo you have a kitchen with outdated appliances or tacky countertops? Or perhaps your bathroom still has an odd avocado-green bathtub. Updating these outdated rooms can work wonders to modernize your home, making it more appealing for homebuyers in the future. Consider replacing old cabinetry, laminate countertops, laminate floors, outdated appliances, and fixtures that don’t fit the character of your home. Consider stainless steel appliances, timeless wood cabinets, and granite countertops in the kitchen. Or update your bathroom with a modern, high-efficiency toilet, a tiled shower, a simple, modern vanity, and fixture changes.
If you don’t already have a deck, adding a modest deck can prove to be an affordable facelift to boost the value of your home. Consider adding a deck that is open and utilitarian, with space for dining and cooking. Your deck shouldn’t take away too much yard space, and it should be well integrated with your landscape and the trees on your property. Don’t forget to plan your deck for its view, and consider installing privacy fencing if you have neighbors nearby. Don’t forget to stain and maintain your deck to keep it protected from weathering; stain your deck every two to three years.
As always, if you live here in Northern Colorado, you can trust Horner Painting for a professional paint job that is sure to boost the value and curb appeal of your home. Horner Painting provides painting services for our neighbors throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath. Plus, we’re currently offering early bird specials for folks who schedule spring painting! Simply reach out to us today for an estimate on your upcoming painting project. We hope you’ll call on Horner for our painting services to make your home the talk of the neighborhood!
Buying a home is both exciting and stressful, and it affords us an opportunity for a fresh start. When you’re handed the keys to your new home, it’s likely that you want to make it just that: Yours. And what better way is there to truly transition than to update the interior spaces with a fresh coat of paint — we certainly understand that urge here at Horner Painting. Plus, having your home painted just before you from the headache of moving your belongings and boarding pets in order to prepare for your painting project — we definitely find it easiest to paint an empty home!
So, if you’re considering taking advantage of your home transition by painting the interior spaces your latest big investment, we’d love to share some tips with you to make the most of your new abode. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you pick paint colors and accent walls while you make your next big move. And as always, you can count on Horner Painting to paint your walls, so you can focus on preparing for that move. We provide painting services throughout Northern Colorado, offering services for our neighbors in Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath — please, call us today to schedule your paint job. Now let’s delve into those tips!
Every house has character. You may have a modern home with expansive bay windows, granite countertops, and brushed nickel fixtures, or you might have a rustic log cabin with a stone fireplace, butcher-block counters, and brass fixtures. Regardless, you can highlight the character of your home with a painting theme that speaks to its unique feel. For example, you might consider white, off-white, dark greys, coffee browns, rust colors, and other timeless paints for a modern interior. Take a fresh look at your new home, and ask yourself: What kind of paints work well with the architectural theme of my home?
Room SizeThe size of a room can play a major role in selecting the right paint. In general, small rooms really shouldn’t feature a dark paint color, since it makes a small room appear even smaller. And large rooms shouldn’t feature colors that are too bold, since bold colors spread over a large surface can be gaudy — there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. So, for small rooms, stick with bright colors to add a bit of an illusion of airiness and space. And for large rooms, stick with quieter colors. And remember, you can add an accent color to either of these rooms if you simply must have that dark hue or that favorite bold color of yours.
Whether you’re getting new furniture or bringing in your current collection, you can rely on these items to help set the tone for your home. Grab a handful of paint swatches, and place them against some of the larger, key pieces of furniture that you’ll be placing throughout the spaces of your home. What will work well with that chocolate brown-colored leather couch? And which paint would pair well with that retro, baby blue TV stand? If you’re stuck searching for the right paints, your furniture may just prove to be a guiding light.
Here at Horner, we’re here to make your home transition as easy as possible. Let us shoulder the weight of painting your new abode, while you’re packing up the family and the belongings at your old home. We’d be happy to paint your home, and we provide both interior and exterior painting services, so you can transform your new property all in one fell swoop. If you have any inquiries or if you’d like to get started, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us — we’re here to help! Again, we provide painting services for our neighbors (including new neighbors!) throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath.
Selecting the best paint color for your home interior can prove to be difficult. And to add to that headache, modern paints also come in a number of “sheens,” as well as colors. So how do you choose? Well, we’ve created a handy guide to help you to find the perfect sheen for your paint, once you select a color. As always, you can count on the pro painters here at Horner Painting to help you decide on the right paint gloss (and to apply the paint, of course!). We provide painting services and color consultations for our neighbors throughout Northern Colorado.
Paints come in a number of sheens, or “gloss levels.” The gloss level of a paint determines how reflective the dried paint surface will be. For example, high-gloss paints will be very reflective of any light sources, even if the paint color is dark. Meanwhile, low-sheen paints will reflect little light from light sources, even if the paint color is light. Low-sheen paints are often considered “matte” paints, as well. Here’s a brief overview of common paint sheen options:
Flat or matte paints: Flat paints (also known as matte paints) are paints which have very little sheen. All light sources that hit this paint sheen will diffuse, creating an even, soft-looking surface — which is why these paints are called “flat.” Flat paints have a gloss level of less than two percent.When settling on a paint sheen, we recommend that folks ask themselves about three things: aesthetic, use, and light. Consider the light sources in the room you are painting, consider the use of the room, and consider the appearance that you desire.
First things first, consider how your paint color will look, alongside its sheen. Bright, bold colors can look gaudy in high-sheen paints. And, some tans and neutral tones can look overly plain in matte. If you’re trying out different color/sheen combinations, get sample paints, and apply them on your surface to get a real feel for the sheen and color after the paint dries.
In addition, take note that if you’re painting walls that are textured, you may want to use a medium- to high-gloss paint to further accent the texture. On the other hand, if you’re painting a smooth surface, and you’d like to hide any minor imperfections, you should opt for a low-gloss paint.
The utility of a room may affect your decision as well. For instance, you may want to use a high-gloss paint in your kitchen or bathroom to make cleaning surfaces in these rooms easier.
Higher gloss paints are also more resistant to damage and mold buildup that can be created in moist environments (like small bathrooms with showers, mud rooms, and kitchens). Be sure any bathroom or kitchen space is well ventilated if you’re considering low-gloss paints.
Now it’s time to consider the light sources of your room. It’s best to avoid high-gloss paints in rooms with bright white lights, or rooms where sunlight floods in through windows. These paints can look overly reflective, which may be an eyesore — instead, opt for matte or low-sheen paints. If you’re working on a room with little lighting, or warm, yellow lighting, you can opt for high-sheen paints to make surfaces more textured and to give them more character. Take note, matte paints can still look great in low-light and warm-light rooms, giving them an intimate, cozy feel.
Still undecided? Don’t sweat. At Horner, we’re here to help you find the perfect paint to fit your room, and your vision for your home. We can work with you to help you settle on the right paint colors to fit the lighting, aesthetic, and use for your rooms, and of course we’d be happy to apply the paint once you’ve selected the perfect hue and sheen. Again, Horner Painting proudly provides painting services throughout Northern Colorado — feel free to reach out to us today to get started!
Painting your kitchen can completely change the character of the space. And, done right, a new paint job can make your kitchen feel cozier, cleaner, and more welcoming. So, which colors work best for kitchen walls? And why? Let’s delve into some considerations to weigh when choosing the perfect color to coat your kitchen, and let’s take a look at a few classic colors that always seem to work.
As always, if you’re ready to update your kitchen (or any surface of your home — interior or exterior!), you can call on Horner Painting for our premier painting services. Horner Painting proudly provides painting services throughout Northern Colorado — feel free to reach out to us today to get started!
Take a fresh look at your kitchen. Look at the tile, countertops, cabinets, windows, and flooring, and ask yourself: Is there a theme? What character would I like to give this space? If you have a light, airy, open kitchen with clean, white cabinets, then you may want to stick with light, natural tones to match the theme.
Or, if you have a kitchen with warm wood cabinets, brass fixtures, dark wood floors, and a dark tile backsplash, then a bold red or slate color may work well to keep with the rich character or your kitchen.
Since it’s easiest to change the paint of your kitchen (versus the tile, flooring, countertops, etc.), it’s best to base your upcoming paint color on your kitchen as is — unless, of course, you’re planning a full kitchen remodel. Be sure to get plenty of paint color swatches, and compare all your options with the fixtures, furnishings, and surroundings of your kitchen to help you settle on the perfect pick for your paint.
For the most part, you’ll want to steer clear of gaudy colors in your kitchen. Instead, opt for natural colors, including colors that are reminiscent of plant life, like avocado green, lime, or aquamarines. Lively earthy tones work great in kitchens, since food is often in view. These hues are perfect if you keep a few houseplants in the kitchen, too.
You can also go with dark neutral tones, such as slate, charcoal, or espresso brown. Consider these colors in kitchens with a richer character, and don’t overdo the dark tones, especially if you have a smaller kitchen (since dark paint colors can make a room appear smaller).
And on the other end of the scale, you can consider white, off-white, and ivory. These light, uplifting colors are ideal for smaller kitchens, and kitchens with a clean, airy appeal.
If you’ve settled on the perfect color to coat your kitchen walls, we’re here to help apply the paint. And, if you can’t decide on the right palette for your kitchen, we can help there too; we provide color consultation services on top of our traditional painting services! Again, Horner Painting proudly provides services throughout Northern Colorado, offering painting services for our neighbors in Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath. If you’re ready to give your kitchen a fresh coat of paint, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!
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No homeowner wants to see cracks in their drywall, yet nearly every home has surfaces that are susceptible to get cracks over time. Cracks can crop up in drywall due to a leak, temperature changes, house shifting, or poor drywall installation. And unfortunately, cracks can be unpredictable and difficult to prevent. However, most cracks are relatively harmless to the integrity of the structure of a home, though they may be an indication that your home requires a bit of maintenance.
So, let’s talk tips to keep your home as free from cracks as is possible. Let’s take a look at the causes of cracks, how to fix cracks, and what you can do to minimize the likelihood of cracks in the future, so you can rest assured that your home is whole and free from these unsightly signs of deterioration.
As we mentioned, cracking can occur on drywall surfaces due to leaks, temperature changes, house settling, and poor drywall installation. Fortunately, only leaks and poor installation should be alarming.
If you suspect that you may have a leak, take a close look at the crack. Do you see discoloration around the edges of the crack? Does the paint bubble up or vary in texture near the crack? Or, most obviously, can you see or feel moisture? If you suspect that water is causing a crack in your home’s drywall, then it’s best to further inspect your home for the source of the leak. Ceilings underneath your home’s attic or roof and exterior walls may be susceptible to leaks from precipitation outdoors. Meanwhile, interior walls and ceilings are more likely to have a leak caused by faulty plumbing. You may have to have a roofer or plumber inspect your property if you can’t locate the source of a leak itself. Be sure to remedy the leak before performing any repairs, and give the drywall time to dry out before moving forward.
If you have cracks rearing their head all over your home, then it’s likely that the drywall was installed poorly, or the drywall tape used may have lost its adhesion. This may be a sign that you’ll need to re-tape all drywall that is affected. If you only have small cracks throughout your home, you may be able to use a hardy glue to press the tape back into place (wood glue or other construction glues may do the trick).
Different cracks will require different repairs. Straight cracks that run along the tape of drywall will require that you either use an adhesive on the tape and press it back into place, or you scrape away loose tape and replace it.
Minor cracks that span across the drywall surface can often be repaired with spackle. However, major cracks that run across surfaces should be taped to keep the crack from spreading.
Cracks caused by leaks may require that you replace parts of the drywall (if the drywall is saturated or full of mold, for example). If the surface is dry, the leak is repaired, and the crack is minor, you may be able to repair the crack with tape or spackle, depending on the size of the crack.
Regardless of the repairs, your damaged walls and ceilings may need to be retextured to make the surface contiguous once again, and, of course, you’ll have to repaint the surface. You can use drywall compound over the tape to repair the surface. Sand the compound to create a smooth surface, or use a texture compound to recreate the texture of the surface — consider hiring a contractor for textured surfaces if you don’t know how to apply texture yourself.
While you may not be able to do anything to prevent cracks that can occur due to your home settling or cracks from a poor drywall installation, you can proactively prevent leaks and you can keep your home’s temperature regulated to reduce the likelihood of cracking caused by temperature swings. Be sure to keep an eye on the condition of your roof and siding, and keep fresh caulking on your doors and windows to keep precipitation from penetrating your home’s exterior. You can hire a plumber for regular inspections, and replace older pipes and fixtures if they are outdated to fend off plumbing leaks. To keep the temperature regulated in your home, simply keep the thermostat set at a moderate temperature range, even when you’re away from the house (especially during hot summer or cold winter days).
Here at Horner Painting, we can help you to keep your home interior pristine with our painting services. We’re here to ensure that all of the surfaces of your home look as fresh as they did the day it was built. We even provide minor repairs for drywall surfaces — just let us know about the damage at hand, we may be able to help! If you’re ready to give your home’s interior an update with a professional paint job, we’re eager to help. Reach out to us today to get started — Horner Painting proudly provides painting services throughout Northern Colorado, offering services for our neighbors in Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath.
While spring may mark the season of home cleaning, fall spells property preparation for homeowners. As fall approaches quickly (of course, here in Northern Colorado, we’ve already had our first snow!), we shift from opening the windows on hot summer nights to turning on the furnace for the coming season of cold. And these temperature changes mark the ideal time to perform a number of tasks, repairs, and maintenance around the ol’ abode. Today, we’re going to highlight a few of the fall todos that you might want to put on your list. And as always, we’re here to provide you with premier painting services to protect your home, regardless of the season!
Furnace MaintenanceIt’s best to turn on your furnace before you need it. Have an HVAC technician to your house to perform yearly maintenance. If you’d like to tackle this year’s maintenance yourself, you can turn your furnace on at the thermostat, make sure the burners come on, and the blower fan starts whirring. If you have the tools and know-how, you can use oil to lubricate the blower fan motor (electric motor oil is sufficient), and you can check the electrical components of your furnace to ensure that you don’t get any loose ends anytime soon — be sure the furnace is off and the power is shut off at the breaker before fiddling with the blower motor or the electrical components of your furnace. You can also clean your furnace burners if they’re gunked up with debris — consult the owner’s manual for your furnace before doing so.
While you’re at it, be sure to check the filter of your HVAC system (it should be located near the blower fan of your system). If you have a furnace that’s collected plenty of dust and fuzz, it’s time to replace it (or clean it, if you have a permanent filter), to keep your furnace running efficiently and your home’s air clean. You can also check the vents throughout your home, and make sure the appropriate vents are open to keep your living spaces cozy and comfy.
Next, it’s time to head to the great outdoors of your backyard. Cut dead limbs from trees and bushes throughout your property. These limbs can pose a hazard when heavy snowfall comes, so it is best to remove them before they can snap and fall.
You can also put away any seasonal patio furniture, or cover your furniture if you have waterproof covers. If you have an outdoor propane fire pit, now’s the time to clean the burners, ensure the propane tank is securely connected, and run a test run. Of course, you should have the propane tank valve turned off completely when cleaning the burners.
If you have a green thumb, you can do some work in the garden. You can remove dead or dying plants, as well as plants that have already produced their fruit for the season, unless you want them to go to seed. Feel free to compost plants if you have a heep or a bin to do so. In addition, springtime flowers that are bulb plants can be planted in the fall to give them time to settle into the soil and germinate the coming year. Go ahead and plant bulbs if you have the foresight.
As for your lawn, you can get in a final aeration, and add a fertilizer which will have plenty of time to seep into the soil over the coming winter. You can also begin to taper watering, and eventually you’ll want to blow out your sprinklers (or at least drain them), before the first freeze comes. Continue mowing to keep leaves from smothering your grass. You should mow throughout fall, until frost is on the horizon. Then, taper mowing off, and leave your grass a couple of inches tall as it goes dormant for the winter (a bit of extra length helps grass to protect itself from harsh colds and fungus that can grow beneath snow).
Gutter CleaningHave your gutters cleaned, or clean them yourself if you’re comfortable on top of a ladder. Fall is the most likely time for your gutters to get clogged, since leaves and debris can easily pile up. Keep an eye out for water pouring over the edges of your gutters during a storm (which means that there’s a blockage), and be sure to give your gutters a final cleaning after most of the leaves have fallen from nearby trees. Double check your downspouts to ensure that they remain attached and free from clogs, and make sure the bottom of the downspout directs water away from your home.
You may not notice, but our homes expand and contract as temperatures change. That can create gaps around your windows and doors and other protrusions around your home’s exterior. In addition, weatherstripping and caulking eventually age, becoming brittle and cracking. Take a keen look around your home for bad caulking and weatherstripping, or cracks and holes. Replace weatherstripping, and apply new caulking as necessary. If you’re having your home painted by the crew here at Horner Painting, we’d be happy to apply fresh caulking to keep your home insulated from the coming cold. Now’s also a good time to add insulation to your attic, and to have your home inspected with a thermal imager, so that you can tell where warm air will leak out of your home this coming cold season.
With fall in the air, we’re here to help you prepare your home. You can count on the team here at Horner to provide you with exterior painting services to protect your home’s siding from the wear and tear of the coming winter. Plus, we provide interior painting services, so you can update your home all in one fell swoop. We work across the Front Range, providing service throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath. If you’re ready to prepare your home this fall with a fresh coat of paint, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!
How often do you really think about the exterior of your home? For being the protective barrier around your abode, we often neglect to think about the hazards that can damage a home’s exterior. Too often, homeowners are stuck with extensive damage and costly repairs caused by a rogue branch, pooling water at the foundation of the home — you name it. That’s why we’re taking a moment today to mention a few common hazards that can damage your home, if they go overlooked. Keep an eye out for tree and bush branches, flames from a grill that is too close to the home, vines that can slowly eat away at siding, and pooling water that can seep into a home and/or damage its foundation.
Tree and bush growth often goes unnoticed. However, these plants can slowly inch their limbs closer and closer towards the siding of your home. Over a matter of years, a tree that used to be in the middle of your yard may be approaching your home’s exterior and roof. And a bush may grow limbs that scrape against your siding, or roots that dig into your abode’s foundation. Be sure to keep an eye on rogue limbs that can scrape into your home’s siding or even fall onto your home. And trim back bushes that are liable to grow against your house. Be mindful of the proximity to your home when you plant new bushes and trees, and consider installing root barriers if you’re landscaping near your home’s exterior. You can also do some research into the estimated projected growth of specific bush and tree species, so you know how big the flora on your property will grow throughout the coming years and decades.
Grill Flames and SmokeYour grill should never be too close to your home’s exterior. Heat from the flames of a grill can easily damage and warp siding, especially wood and vinyl siding. In addition, smoke can quickly stick to any siding surface, leaving a stain that may not easily come out. Plus, you never want to have a rogue ember or flame become an ignition source for a house fire. Keep your grill 10 feet away from your home, and keep it well away from other structures, like a gazebo, shed, or pergola.
While the weight of vines growing on the exterior of your home is unlikely to cause damage on its own, vines can damage different siding surfaces by holding moisture against these surfaces. Over time, moisture can rot away surfaces, and it can harbor mold that can speed up the wear and tear that your home’s exterior endures. Vines can also produce tendrils that can penetrate the siding of your home (especially wood and vinyl siding), which can warp the siding and cause damage. Moreover, vines can also house insects, birds, and critters, which may become a nuisance.
Pooling WaterNever let water pool near the foundation of your home. Pooling water can quickly seep into a home, making its way into your walls, floors, basement, etc. What’s worse is that pooling water can eventually leave your home full of mold and mildew. Plus, water can cause your home’s foundation to crack, which will lead to even more damage. Keep an eye out for any areas where the surrounding terrain slopes toward your home. These areas should be re-graded to direct water away from the home, or a French drain may be installed to ensure that pooling water doesn’t build up.
If you live here in Fort Collins or across the Front Range, we’d be happy to provide you with exterior painting and siding repair services, should you find that your home’s exterior is damaged. Feel free to reach out to us if you’re curious about any of our services, or if you’d like to get started. We provide home painting services (including interior and exterior services) throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath. We hope you continue to protect your home with our tips!
When we talk about home improvements, we’re talking about investing in (likely) your most valuable possession. Beyond that, your home is your legacy for your children. It’s the roof over your family’s head. It’s comfort, peace of mind, a place to rest your head at night. And its value extends beyond market value. So, it’s crucial to find the right contractor for the job, for every project you take on.
Here at Horner, we pride ourselves in promising a premier paint job with every project we undertake. What does that mean? Well, for starters, we provide a warranty and guarantee of satisfaction, we put safety first (for both your family and our team members), and we provide an honest estimate up front, so you don’t have to guess how much you’ll spend when all is said and done. In short, we strive to be the right contractor for the job. You can look for these traits in all contract work that you perform on your property.
First things first, ask potential contractors for any warranty or guarantee they offer. Get it in writing. Your contractor should be able to promise complete customer satisfaction. And work on most projects should be backed by a warranty protecting your home against problems, poor workmanship, or premature wear and tear, depending on the project at hand. Here at Horner, for example, our guarantee is simple: If you have a problem, we fix it. And our warranty provides homeowners with five years of comprehensive protection for our workmanship. Feel free to take a look at our full warranty and guarantee.
Contractors should be insured, and safety should be a primary concern, regardless of the job. When choosing a contractor, be sure to ask if they are insured, which provides financial protection for you, your family, and your home in case of an accident. And ask about the safety measures they have in place. Does your roofing contractor tie off to an anchor when replacing your roof? Does your arborist wear a hard hat when cutting branches? Safe practices help to provide you with peace of mind, and can save you from a headache or unnecessary damages down the line.
You wouldn’t buy a car for an unknown price, only to discover the price tag when the bill comes in the mail. Contract work should be the same. Get an estimate or quote up front to ensure that you know what to expect when the bill arrives. You’ll also be able to shop around for the best price once you have an idea of the costs from each contractor that you're considering. We always provide an estimate on our projects, free of charge.
Here at Horner Painting, we’re proud to cater to our neighbors as Northern Colorado’s Top Rated Local® painters. If you’re curious what we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We proudly paint homes for our neighbors across the Front Range from our home here in Fort Collins — we provide service throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath. As always, we hope your home improvement projects go smoothly. Till next time!
As May rolls around, governments are loosening their restrictions in light of some stability during the coronavirus outbreak. However, folks around the nation are asked to remain patient and stay at home as much as possible, while maintaining our standards of social distancing. As we look to an odd spring with plenty of time spent at home, families have plenty of time to spend together, and homeowners have plenty of time to make home improvements. If you joined us for our last article, Home Improvements to Tackle During Social Distancing, we discussed a few home improvements that you and your family can work on while staying safe this spring. Last time, we talked about preparing your garden for the warmer weather, fixing up furniture around the home, spring cleaning, and painting your home’s exterior (we can help you with that last one!). Today, we’re continuing that theme with a few more projects that you can tackle while we’re spending our springtime at home.
Take a keen look around your property. Do you have siding that’s covered in dirt and grime? Or maybe the grill has even left a bit of smoke on its surface. Is your deck covered in mud from your last landscaping project? Or maybe it’s stained by grass clippings kicked around by your weed eater. Do you have a stone path to your garden that is completely overgrown? A pressure washer can work wonders to improve the look of your home. Hit fences, siding, decks, your driveway, paths — you name it. If you don’t have a pressure washer, you can rent one from your local hardware store, or purchase a decent model for a couple hundred dollars. Be sure to follow guidelines for the best psi to wash the surfaces you’re working on!
Like most Americans, my garage is filled with tools, projects, boxes, loose lumber, sports equipment, camping gear… and sometimes a car. If you have trouble fitting your car in your garage (which may be its actual intention), then it’s time to reclaim that space. First, clear out any junk you don’t need. Donate those old tires. Get rid of the lathe that you haven’t used in four years. Toss those tiny bits of scrap lumber you’re holding onto. Next, give yourself some added storage space with overhead storage racks, wall shelving, and labeled tubs that make everything easy to get to, yet out of the way. Finally, hang up all the tools and equipment that you can. Get bike hooks to keep your bikes from obstructing your pathways. Get a tool rack for all the tools that you use often. Hang up hand tools on nails and screws (or invest in specialized hardware to hang up your hand tools). Get as much stuff off of the floor and onto walls as possible. Once you’ve reclaimed all that space, grab your shop vac or blower, and give the whole garage a good “dusting.”
For making rooms in our homes visible, our lighting fixtures often go oddly overlooked. If you have lighting fixtures that are outdated, broken, or damaged — or if you have fixtures that are missing bulbs — now’s the time to give your home lighting attention. Hop online to check out fixtures that are available for delivery. You can also purchase new bulbs online that fit the atmosphere that you’d like for your home. Consider yellow bulbs for warm, cozy spaces, like your bedroom or the entertainment room. Use clean white bulbs to make your spaces feel more open and airy, like your kitchen or perhaps your bathrooms. If you have older bulbs, it’s likely that they aren’t energy efficient, consider newer models that will provide lasting savings on your energy bill. You can transform the entire look of the interior of your home with a few new fixtures and bulb — get creative and see what works best for each space throughout your abode.
Here at Horner Painting, we’re still providing home exterior painting services during the coronavirus pandemic. We want to assure our clients that we closely follow CDC and WHO guidelines as we continue to provide home exterior painting services. In addition, we currently provide no-contact estimates that you can complete online or over the phone, so we can remain at a safe distance from step one. If you’re curious what we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We proudly paint homes for our neighbors across the Front Range from our home here in Fort Collins — we provide service throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, Wellington, Severance, and Timnath. Best of luck with your home improvement projects, please stay safe and healthy!
