Category Archives: Blog

Quick “Before-the-Holidays-Arrive” Projects

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The 2023 Holiday Season is officially here . . . and of course, that means everyone is rushing out to tackle a full-home repaint, right? Well, not really. At least not most of us!

Typically, around this time of year, there are other things that keep our minds and money occupied. However, there are a lot of small-investment (both time and money) projects that can pay off BIG in your home. They might be the perfect thing to give your home a needed pick-me-up as you get ready to entertain guests and enjoy family time. 

Here are just a couple projects we’re highlighting from the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show which airs every Saturday morning at 8 AM on Wood Radio, 1300 AM and 106.9 FM.

Paint the Fireplace

Painting a brick fireplace is a big commitment but it also makes a giant impact on a space. We have talked about projects like this in the past so we decided to tackle it ourselves and LOVE the results. Check out the two segments below for more info on this great project:

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Fireplace Repaint, Part 1
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Fireplace Repaint, Part 2

Paint the INTERIOR of your Entry Door

We typically give tons of thought to the exterior of our entry doors . . . but rarely does the interior side get that same attention! That’s a shame because the right color on the entry door can really add some pop to your entry! Check out our conversation on what colors are fair game when it comes to the inside of your entry door:

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Colors for Interior Doors

Curbside Forever!

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Since our stores are now open for customers to shop inside, we have removed our outdoor curbside pickup areas. However, we know that many customers found curbside pickup to be very convenient, and because of this we will ALWAYS have curbside pickup available at all of our locations.

Just ask for curbside service when you place your order, call us when you arrive and we’ll bring your order right out to your vehicle!

It’s fast! It’s convenient! You won’t have to leave your car! And you’ll be back on the road in no time, loaded up with all the paint and supplies you need for your next project!

Ask us about it when you place your order!

Should I Fill the Grain on My Oak Cabinets Before Painting?

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If you’re sitting in a home with 90’s Golden Oak cabinets, chances are you’ve at least toyed with the idea of painting them. However, it’s also likely that if you’ve debated a paint project, you’ve also wondered about filling the grain so you have doors that look smooth.

But is it necessary? 

In most situations, we would say it’s just not worth all the extra work. And there’s a LOT of extra work! There are a variety of options for filling the grain, but all of them are going to require a tremendous amount of sanding. It’s time consuming, labor intensive, and messy. And usually, the end results aren’t worth it.

  1. When you apply 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of finish paint to your cabinet doors, you’re going to find that the graining in the oak is dramatically minimized. The paint and primer don’t fill the grain, but they do minimize all but the most open and porous.
  2. Much of the “look” of the open grain is due to the color variations. The open grain stains much darker than the surrounding wood, creating a deep contrast. However, when the surface is painted a solid color, all of that visual contrast disappears. And along with it, much of the visual representation of the grain.
  3. Finally, painted oak is actually trending! A growing number of cabinet companies are releasing lines of “painted oak” cabinets. The solid paint color is always popular, but the addition of the grain texture adds a modern appeal. (Who’d have thought!)

In most situations, when you paint your oak cabinets, you will see some of the physical texture of the grain when you look at the doors closely and at angles. However, when you stand in your kitchen and look at the room, the only thing you’re usually going to notice is the new, lighter, cleaner, updated cabinets! So don’t let the worries about seeing too much grain prevent you from updating your space!

What Paint Sheen Should I Use in My Bathroom?

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As is usually the case with paint and coatings, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer. Before recommending a finish paint and sheen for any room, there are questions that must be asked. In this case, we’re dealing with a bathroom, so the first question is this: Is it a half bath or a full bath? If there’s a shower or tub present, the recommendation is potentially different than if there isn’t.

Other questions we’d ask would concern any problem areas or situations that have manifested over the years.

  • Are mold and mildew a routine issue?
  • Is the current paint in good condition, or are there areas where it’s peeling?
  • And on and on….

It’s always good to talk to someone personally to get a recommendation that fits your space and your needs. However, with that said, we can make some generic recommendations.

So What Sheen is Best?

For the most part, the answer hinges on the product used more so than the sheen itself. Aura Bath and Spa from Benjamin Moore is our favorite bathroom paint. It’s designed for high humidity environments, is mildew resistant, and hides and covers extremely well. Best of all, it does all of that in a matte finish.

That means you can finally have a bathroom that fits in with the rest of your home! Before Bath and Spa, we were forced to choose shinier paints for our bathrooms and we just had to tolerate the look. Now, there’s an option to get a matte look and still get excellent durability.

If you don’t want to use Aura Bath and Spa, we’d most generally recommend a satin sheen. RepcoLite’s Hallmark line offers mildew resistance and great washability. 

If you have a bathroom fan that moves the moisture out of the room quickly, or if the tub/shower doesn’t get a lot of use, Hallmark Eggshell would also be an option to consider.

If it’s only a half bath, your options are wide open when it comes to sheen.

Always Talk It Over!

In the end, we love to recommend Aura Bath and Spa. In our experience, it’s the perfect bathroom paint and eliminates most of the issues that you’ll ever run into when painting that room. But always call, chat on our website, or stop in at any Repcolite, Port City Paints, or Snyder Paints and talk through your exact situation before buying your paint! 

Benjamin Moore’s New Color Portfolio App Is Like Having the Paint Store in Your Hand!

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One of the positives we’ve seen in the midst of this pandemic scare is the amazing nature of technology. As a parent, I’ve done my fair share of griping about the silliness of TikTok videos or YouTube snippets that my kids incessantly play for me. And I’ve stood in the dining room, feeling like my grandfather with my thumbs looped through my (figurative) suspenders as I recounted to the them all the reasons they need to “check out” from technology and read a book or feel outdoor air. But then this pandemic and the subsequent “self-isolation” hits and out of the blue we suddenly find that the world is literally at our fingertips thanks to technology.

Businesses and organizations in West Michigan and around the world have opened up the treasure chest and we find ourselves able to watch symphonies, tour the world, listen to story time at Fredrik Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park all without leaving our homes. We can view art from art museums, explore NASA’s collection of photos, and adventure through our nation’s national parks. All on our phones and iPads and laptops. It’s amazing! And thank goodness it’s there!

Benjamin Moore Colors go Digital!

Well, an interesting paint tool that came out a few months ago from Benjamin Moore does the same kind of thing by putting most of the Benjamin Moore color options in your hands! You can scroll through their colors and actually view them in digital fan decks. Better yet, you can snap a picture of a room in your home and then digitally apply any of the Benjamin Moore colors to your walls to get a sneak peak at how a given color might look!

If you find yourself stuck at home, self-quarantining, maybe download the app and start planing out your next paint project! It’s simple to use, remarkably accurate, and best of all, it’s free! Check out the links for Android and iOS down below. And also, check out the video!

And if you do find yourself at home and want to start a paint project, don’t forget that RepcoLite’s FREE Next Day Delivery Service goes perfectly with Benjamin Moore’s Color Portfolio App! Pick out your paint colors, place your order, and the next day, your paint and supplies are thoroughly disinfected and delivered to your doorstep! Click here for more informationNow Announcing Free Deliveries!, or click the “Ask us a Question” button on the right side of the page!

 

Celebrating the Grand Opening of the New RepcoLite Paints on Broadmoor

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We’re excited to officially announce the Grand Opening of the RepcoLite Paints on Broadmoor! Sure, it’s been open a while, but now we’re officially celebrating! We’ll be raffling off a number of GREAT prizes at the Broadmoor store AND we’ll be donating a portion of our sales from all RepcoLite and Port City Paints stores from the week of May 6-11 to the Children’s Healing Center in Grand Rapids! 

The Details

  • The Grand Opening Celebration runs from May 6-11
  • To enter to win prizes, you MUST go to the Broadmoor location
  • To help us raise money for the Children’s Healing Center, just make a purchase at ANY RepcoLite or Port City Paints from May 6-11

The Prizes at Broadmoor

Stop out all week long at the new RepcoLite on 2840 Broadmoor Ave and register to win some great prize packages! Here’s what you could win:

  • A Graco 395 Professional Paint Sprayer
  • 25 Gallons of ANY RepcoLite or Benjamin Moore Paint
  • 1 of 4 Room Repaint Packages including tools and 2 gallons of RepcoLite or Benjamin Moore Paint
  • 1 of 2 Packages of 10 gallons of your choice of Axalta Wood Finish
  • A Yeti Cooler from Benjamin Moore
  • A Telescoping Step Ladder
  • Assorted Polo Shirts and T-Shirts

Just stop out at the new store and sign up to win!

The Donation to the Children’s Healing Center

On top of the fun and prizes we’ll have at the Broadmoor location, a portion of every purchase made at any RepcoLite or Port City Paints store will be donated to the Children’s Healing Center in Grand Rapids. They are an amazing non-profit whose mission is to provide kids with weak immune systems a safe place to play and socialize with other kids. It’s incredible that we have organizations like this in our area and RepcoLite is excited to lend our support! Our goal is to donate enough money to sponsor a family for an entire year! With your help, we can do that!

If you need paint, stop out May 6-11 at ANY RepcoLite or Port City Paints store! Every purchase will help. And if you don’t need paint, please donate via the fundraiser we created on Facebook.