http://hallcopainting.com/blog en ted@HallcoPainting.com Copyright 2010 2010-07-29T11:40:22+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/house_painting_in_frederick_md1/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/house_painting_in_frederick_md1/#When:11:40:22Z In between the quick thunderstorms we've seen the past few weeks, we at Hallco continue to paint both interiors and exteriors. This is just a reminder that now is a great time to get your exterior siding and/or trim repainted before the fall and winter months set in. We can still paint in the fall, but you know how busy the fall can get! Many clients like to have us change colors and freshen up their interiors before Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday season begins. So, if you are thinking about painting the exterior of your home before the summer ends, Hallco can still fit your painting project in our schedule.  Oh and don't forget about Hallco's Painter for a Day. For just under $500, you can have Hallco touch up or freshen up select areas of your home's interior or exterior services. To learn more about our popular program, view our Painter for a Day page. Painting Info 2010-07-29T11:40:22+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/your_price_is_too_high_painting_bids_in_maryland/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/your_price_is_too_high_painting_bids_in_maryland/#When:00:18:55Z Comparing painting estimates can be a daunting task, especially in this economy. Painters are consistently at war to get work, so they try cutting their prices. However, in order to cut their prices, they have to find a way to cut overhead. Sometimes, this is a good thing: cutting "off the fat." But some contractors will cut overhead in a way that is not helpful to homeowners. They might cut back by paying their employees less, using cheaper paints, cutting out their contractor insurance, or by doing less preparation. The final option, less prep, is an easy one to overlook, because sometimes it might take 6 months or a year to realize the paint is failing. If you are the type of person who wants a quality and long lasting job, we'd suggest the following before hiring a painting contracot: Select 2-3 paint companies to receive bids from. See if the company answers their phone or responds to an email quickly When they schedule an estimate, make sure the estimator arrives on time or calls if he or she is running late.  When the estimator arrives, ask yourself, "Do I like this person?" Do I trust this person and his/her company?" If so, proceed with When you really feel comfortable with an estimator and have done your homework (checked references, insurance, licensing and credentials) invite that estimator back to discuss their proposal and bid. In some cases, you might find two companies you really like. That's ok. Talk to them both and select a company you know will do the job you will be happy with for years to come. This is the tough part, because price may be a factor with a better company. We at Hallco call this the "Price vs. the Cost" comparison! Do you want a better price or value (better cost). Do you feel a company will do a better job and respond to your needs in a timely fashion? Do you feel that company will be around in 5 or even 10 years if it is time to repaint? Sometimes the cost of a paint job is based on how long they will guarantee the work and how thorough the preparation is during the project. Answer the preparation and how long the job will take, and you'll get a pretty good idea which company has the "better price tag."  If you happen to live in the Frederick, Gaithersburg, Howard County and/or D.C. Metro areas, we'd be happy to discuss your next painting job with you. If not, we hope the above information is helpful.  Painting Info 2010-07-20T00:18:55+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/house_managing_and_concierge_services_in_d.c._maryland_hallco/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/house_managing_and_concierge_services_in_d.c._maryland_hallco/#When:21:13:43Z In recent years, Ted Hall, our owner, has received a number of request to help manage personal properties while his customers travel or stay at a second home. Hallco has always done more than just painting, and so the suggestion of being a house, estate or property manager was a no brainer for Ted. He has since taken on a few clients who have asked him to manage the property maintenance around their homes or estates on a monthly basis. Ted and his crew will stop by once a week and check on the home. He will also provide routine check ups on the exterior surfaces to make sure there is not sign of moisture problems or wood rot. Ted then communicates via email and phone to his clients and lets them know (if anything) what needs to be repaired, touched up or repainted. He will even does simple task such as changing light bulbs. Hallco Enterprises also has a list of professional service companies in case a more extensive need surfaces. In this case, Ted will let the property owner know the cost and schedule the right service contractor to take care of the situation.  If you own a property in Maryland, Northern Virginia or the D.C. Metro areas and are looking for a small yet reliable service company to manage your property, please talk to Ted Hall about your needs. He'd be happy to assist you.  Please consider joining us on Facebook too to keep in touch. Join Now Company Info 2010-07-09T21:13:43+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/painting_project_at_fannie_mae_in_urbana_md/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/painting_project_at_fannie_mae_in_urbana_md/#When:19:12:34Z Hallco Enterprises recently finished the interior painting of the data center of Fannie Mae, located in Urbana Maryland. Hallco was awarded the project because of the type of paint we were using, our employees who would do the work, and their passed experience with Hallco. We completed a number of projects when the building was new which included drywall painting and epoxy floor coatings.  Fannie Mae just added two more major projects for us to complete: 1) The exterior cleaning and power-washing of their facility and 2) The refinishing of all their exterior furniture and electric charge stations. The benches, signs and trash centers will all receive an automotive finish product, which will be completed off site.  Note: The Fannie Mae building is a Green/LEAD-Certified building.  Painting Info 2010-06-28T19:12:34+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/pdca_painting_golf_tournament_and_fundraiser/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/pdca_painting_golf_tournament_and_fundraiser/#When:16:47:07Z Last week, Hallco Enterprises took part in the Annual Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) Golf Tournament for the local Washington DC Metro chapter. The annual event helps raise money for the PDCA local chapter, the Nations largest painting association. The PDCA helps with the continuing education of professional painting contractors in business, painting skills, preparation and product knowledge. Ted Hall, Hallco's president, has been heading up the fundraising efforts for well over 10 years. This year, he helped raise close to $5,000, and over the years, Ted has helped raise over $40,000 for the chapter.  Ted also uses the PDCA Golf Tournament to treat a few of his long time painting clients.  Hallco Enterprises provides both residential and commercial painting services to houses and businesses in the D.C. Metro areas as well as Frederick and Howard County.  Painting Info 2010-06-17T16:47:07+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/an_alternative_solution_to_trex_for_decks/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/an_alternative_solution_to_trex_for_decks/#When:20:24:59Z No matter where in the country you live, if you own a deck that is paintable, the maintenance can be costly. Typically, a clear finish or stained deck needs to be recoated every 1-2 years to keep its "new" look. If you wait any longer, the cost goes up and the look is never the same. If you end up with a solid body stain, you still need to recoat every 2-3 years on a horizontal surface. Because of the ongoing maintenance wood surfaces need, non wood products have become so popular for decks and rails the past 10 years. Companies like Trex and TimberTech have created some beautiful and long-lasting products. However, replacing your deck and rails with these products is very costly. We love these products and recommend them. However, not everyone has that kinds of money, and some of our customers like real wood! Hallco Enterprises, located in Clarksburg MD, is always on the look out for better products to use on wood surfaces. We recently came across a product that we feel just might do the trick. Are you familiar with Rhino lining that you've seen on truck beds? Typically it is a black and durable finish? Well, believe it or not, this same type of coating is NOW available for decks and rails. This product bonds so tight to the wood surface and can last more than 10 years before needing to be recoated. The product withstands all sorts of harmful elements including snow and salt. Now, this coating is a little more tricky to install than house or deck paint, which makes it more expensive. However, it is affordable and cuts way down on maintenance cost. The bottom line is this, if you are familiar with Rhino Lining or the truck bedliner coatings, just imagine the same product on a deck. It is almost bullet proof. We tried scratching the product, and it did not leave any marks.  So, if you'd like to learn more and get an estimate to see if this product is right for your deck or wood rails, send us an email. We service Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Potomac, the D.C. Metro and all of Howard County Maryland.  Painting Info 2010-06-07T20:24:59+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/christmas_decor_customer_gallery_is_now_live/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/christmas_decor_customer_gallery_is_now_live/#When:15:01:14Z When the temperatures begin to drop here in Maryland, Hallco Enterprises switches gears into our "winter" business: Hanging Christmas lights. However, we are not just a bunch of handyman that go to Target to get lights and begin hanging decor just anywhere. No, Hallco Enterprises is also Christmas Decor by Hallco. We have partnered with the Nations largest and most professional Christmas lighting franchise: Christmas Decor Inc. What this means is that our seasoned painters are also seasoned and professional Christmas decorators. We design displays, install them and remove them! Also, our staff is trained in installing large Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Animated Lighting, Garland, and much more! Well, the owner of  Christmas Decor by Hallco, Ted Hall, invested a lot of time and resources this past season to capture each Christmas lighting display we did in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia. We've touched up the photos and installed a new Gallery on our website. Please take a look at the fascinating displays and plan on have us become your holiday lighting company of choice in 2010 and beyond.  Christmas Decor 2010-05-28T15:01:14+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/painting_project_in_glenelg_md/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/painting_project_in_glenelg_md/#When:13:21:17Z Hallco Enterprises, recently completed a small, yet challenging project for the United Methodist Church of Glenelg. We were ask to repaint the vertical wood trim on the churches entry tower. The color was not current, and the paint was peeling. Hallco's job was to closely match the wood trim to the reddish-color aluminum on the new doors and windows. After the color was matched, our painters began the sanding and cleaning and primers. We used two coats of Sherwin Williams Duration as the finish product. SW Duration is the highest grade of paint offered by Sherwin Williams Paint and can be applied down to 35 degrees F.  The UMC of Glenelg was happy with the work we performed as they have called our team back for more exterior repainting work. Hallco also worked within the UMC's budget. We gave them itemized pricing for a number of different projects. As the budget allows, Hallco continues to paint.  Painting Info 2010-05-03T13:21:17+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/charity_painting_project_for_the_barnesville_school/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/charity_painting_project_for_the_barnesville_school/#When:21:16:44Z The Barnesville School recently had an exterior painting project need. A section of the school was showing quite a bit of sun damage and paint failure. The owner of Hallco Enterprises Inc, Ted Hall, sends his two children to The Barnesville School, and quickly volunteered his paint company to paint the damaged areas.  Hallco Enterprises, the DC area's professional painting contractor, donated 32 hours of labor to repair and paint the sun exposed areas. They used a premium Duron paint (Weathershield Acrylic Flat Exterior) that was donated by Sherwin Williams/Duron.      Painting Info 2010-04-26T21:16:44+00:00 http://hallcopainting.com/site/house_painting_and_repair_project_in_fulton_md/ http://hallcopainting.com/site/house_painting_and_repair_project_in_fulton_md/#When:18:31:37Z Hallco Enterprises was recently awarded a project in Fulton Maryland to replace rotten woodwork. The wood fascia boards were getting exposed to the sun and getting water intrusion. Hallco's skilled carpenter and painter replaced the damaged woodwork carefully with a PVC material and apply several coats of premium paint. The PVC products, such as Trex or Azek, hold up quite a bit better in our east coast environment and will not rot. In the end, a homeowner will never know the wood is not real wood once it is painted!  Whatever your home repair or painting needs, Hallco would love to provide you with a free, no obligation consultation.  Painting Info 2010-04-15T18:31:37+00:00