I love painting with color. The thrill of adding a delicious color to walls or floors in a room never ends. It's such a statement that can be used like a wonderful piece of furniture to bring the room alive. I've been blessed in finding a professional paint adviser in an Ace Hardware store. She's enthusiastic about her job and is good at what she does. I've never been disappointed with her advice or the products on the shelf. So it was Jackie I turned to for answers to some of the questions I had about getting good results with painting projects. The best part is she just returned from a trade show in Las Vegas and is excited about the new products.

1.What label do you give yourself as a paint professional. Is there a
term for what you do?
Paint Department Head, Paint Adviser, Faux Finish Adviser, Specialty Paint
Adviser

2. Do you have a favorite kind of customer?
Yes, a customer that is ready for change is always fun, especially if they
want to add color to their home, try a faux finish and they are not
chicken to be bold. After all, it's only paint, you can change it easily
enough.

3. What is your favorite type of paint project?
A project that starts from the beginning and goes to the end. I enjoy
helping customers that come in and want a complete change in a room.

4. What guidelines would you suggest for choosing a color or
shade of color.
The biggest thing about choosing a color is how it looks in the room's lighting.
Tape color swatches to walls, check to be sure you like the color in all
lighting, natural sun or overcast natural, with lamps on and off. Really
check the color out as color changes in different light. Make sure it is a
color you like in all types of lighting.

5. What can a customer do to help you in your job mixing colors so that
there will be a higher degree of customer satisfaction.
Bring with them props, say a pillow that will be an accent or a picture out of
a magazine with an idea they may want to copy.

6. What is the most common mistake customers make with painting
projects or wall treatments?
Preparation. People do not like to prep. If you want a professional looking
finish, preparation is most important.

7. When does a person paint with flat paint? Gloss? Semi-gloss?
It's up to the customer. There is no wrong way any more. Remember the flatter the paint the more flaws it will hide and imperfections disappear (well almost). The shinier the paint the more glare and imperfections stand out. My favorite sheen is flat, for that reason, plus it's a softer finish. My favorite paint is Ace Sensations flat. It's a great new paint with Scotchgard (TM) formulated in it. You can wash it repeatedly and it holds up great. I have a customer who operates a day care and she even used it in the bathroom. She told me that after a year of those kids brushing the wall as well as their teeth, the paint still looks like new. As a rule, and before Sensations, flat was used on ceilings, living rooms (with no children) or rooms that were most likely not to have the surface touched.

Eggshell is between flat & satin.

Satin is the most popular and has been used in all rooms of the house except kitchens & bathrooms (as I said, before Sensations).

Semi-gloss is usually used in kitchens & bathrooms. If you have a moisture
problem in the bathroom, fix the problem and stick to satin. Today's paint
is formulated so much better I would never use semi-gloss anywhere unless
doing some kind of faux finish or maybe on outside trim. Remember, I
said it's up to the customer as there is no wrong way.

8. When does a person use a primer?
New construction, if the surface has never been painted or if there is a need to hide what's
on the wall. If the wall has stripes on it, primer first.
Remember Ace has a tintable primer and it works great if you want to paint an
accent wall rather dark. Prime it first with the tintable primer and you'll
paint fewer coats.

9. Do you prefer the use of tape or a cutting-in brush?
Both.

10. What does a person do to get good results painting a floor?
Oh my gosh! I just got back from an Ace Hardware Convention in Las Vegas and
I purchased this cool new product for painting floors, counter tops, any
hard surface, indoors or out. I can't wait to try it on my deck around the
pool area. I'll have to let you know later after I try it. So for now,
once again preparation and a clean, dry and sound floor. First know what the floor is
made of (concrete, wood, or whatever) then choose the correct product.
Normally on a concrete floor I use an oil base product. Ace has a
product recommended for floors that is self priming. It is a great floor
paint. It is glossy so I would add grit to the paint if the environment is wet.

11. What is the most important point to know when choosing exterior
paint?
Make sure and choose a quality paint like Ace Royal.

12. What is the most important advice you could give a person before
applying any paint to an exterior wall.
Once again, PREPARATION. If your surface is clean, dry and sound your are in
business, if not, you're wasting your time and money.

13. What advice can you give someone wanting to paint with color
indoors?
Go for it, it's just paint. If you don’t like it, paint over it. Come and
see me at EPHRATA ACE HARDWARE and I'll be happy to give some hands on
training. I keep all the materials needed to do demos and I let customers try fun
finishes for themselves.

14. What is the one thing you wish every customer knew before coming to
the store to buy paint?

Nothing. It is so much easier when a customer comes in and doesn't think
he/she knows all about paint. I love it when a customer comes to me for
professional advice and actually listens to me. When customers get excited about their projects, can't wait to start but want to do it right, it's the greatest. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the customer will come back for more help and almost always demand I help them. Now that's rewarding!

15. What’s the hottest coolest product that’s new on the market?

I will decide after I personally try the products but it's either the Rollable Stone that
I referred to earlier or the new Faux Finish product that only requires 2
steps, the appropriate paint and a roller.