Category Tips

As winter starts to fade here in Indiana, many homeowners are eager for a thorough spring cleaning. Before you start scrubbing your walls, it’s important to know that some common cleaning products can damage paint finishes.

Here are five things to be careful with:

Magic Erasers (Melamine Foam)

They feel soft, but they actually work like very fine sandpaper. That’s because they’re made from melamine foam, which lightly abrades the surface. When you scrub a mark off the wall, you may also be removing a thin layer of paint.

On flat or eggshell finishes, this often leaves a shiny spot that usually requires touch-up paint to correct.

Vinegar (Acetic Acid)

Vinegar is popular as a natural cleaner, but it contains acetic acid. Over time, repeated use on painted walls can dull the finish and weaken the surface.

Steam Cleaners (High Heat + Moisture)

Steam cleaning uses intense heat and moisture. That combination can loosen the bond between the paint and the drywall, which may lead to bubbling or peeling — especially in areas that already experience higher humidity.

Heavy-Duty Degreasers (Alcohols & Solvents)

Strong kitchen cleaners designed to cut grease often contain alcohols and solvents. Products like Dawn Powerwash, Zep Degreaser, and Krud Kutter work well on greasy surfaces — but they can be too harsh for painted walls. If left on too long, they may soften paint and affect the finish.

Cleaners with Bleach or Ammonia (Oxidizers & Solvents)

Bleach is a strong oxidizer, and ammonia acts as a solvent. Both can fade paint color or damage the surface over time.

Indiana Painting Pro Tip for Safe Wall Cleaning

To safely clean painted walls:

• Use warm water with one small drop of mild dish soap
• Wipe gently with a soft microfiber cloth
• Rinse with clean water
• Always test a small hidden area first

Taking a little extra care helps your paint look better and last longer.

First impressions matter—whether it’s a home, office, or commercial space. Paint is one of the most visible ways a property communicates care, professionalism, and attention to detail. A clean, well-maintained finish signals that a space is thoughtfully managed.

The right paint brand, type, and finish ensures durability, proper coverage, and a high-quality look. While color choice is personal or brand-driven, selecting a paint that performs well and looks consistent makes a noticeable difference. For clients who want guidance on color, we connect them with trusted color consultants to help bring their vision to life.

Even small updates—like refreshing high-traffic areas, doors, or accent walls—can have a big impact on perception. In commercial spaces, it reinforces a professional image; in homes, it creates a welcoming environment that stands out.

Paint is more than decoration; it’s a strategic element that affects how people experience a space. Choosing the right product and working with experienced professionals ensures your property looks its best, long-term.

At Indiana Painting, we focus on quality execution and product expertise, helping clients create spaces that leave a strong, positive impression from the moment someone walks in.

As winter winds down and spring approaches, February is an ideal time to take a closer look at the condition of your interior and exterior spaces. Paint does more than improve appearance—it protects surfaces, supports durability, and helps maintain the overall value of your property.

Whether you manage a commercial facility or care for your home, here are five common signs it may be time to plan a fresh coat of paint before the busy spring season begins.

1. Peeling or Cracking Paint

Peeling, bubbling, or cracking paint is more than a cosmetic issue. These signs often indicate moisture intrusion, aging materials, or improper adhesion. Addressing these areas early helps prevent further surface damage and more costly repairs down the road.

2. Scuffs and Wear in High-Traffic Areas

Hallways, entryways, offices, and common areas tend to show wear first. Excessive scuffing, chipped edges, or uneven finishes can make a space feel neglected, even if it’s otherwise well maintained.

3. Fading or Discoloration

Sun exposure, time, and environmental factors can cause paint to fade or discolor. This is especially noticeable on exterior surfaces and near windows. A consistent, even finish helps maintain a clean and professional appearance.

4. Outdated or Inconsistent Colors

Color trends and brand standards change over time. If your space feels dated or lacks cohesion, a refresh can make a significant difference—without requiring a full renovation.

5. Stains or Signs of Moisture

Water stains, discoloration, or marks on walls and ceilings should never be ignored. These can indicate underlying issues that should be addressed before repainting to ensure long-lasting results.

Planning Ahead Makes the Difference

February is a practical time to evaluate these issues and plan improvements before spring schedules fill up. Catching problems early helps protect your investment and ensures projects can be completed efficiently and with minimal disruption.

At Indiana Painting, we focus on dependable service, clear communication, and quality workmanship—making the process straightforward from planning to completion.

Our painting project consulting team is here to help small business owners trying to run an establishment, keep up with employees, and fill orders for their clients. Our team helps by developing ideas and designing important, high-impact spaces like your brand wall. For as little as $1,500, you can completely revamp your focal wall with texture and color in a way that will set your brand apart. In this post, I will explore a few cost-effective and high-impact options to draw your client’s attention and make your brand more valuable and memorable.

Commercial Vinyl Wallcovering

Because of age and poor installs, commercial wallcovering gets a bad reputation. A good wall covering installation will last 20 years, but humidity and wear and tear can cause older installations to look dated and to be in bad repair. We suggest replacing all commercial vinyl once every 10 to 20 years at the longest to keep it up-to-date and in good repair. Our team can prepare and install new vinyl on walls like the one in these photos in a day. Materials will vary by material type and whether they are custom or stock patterns. In most cases, we can accomplish walls like this for between $1,200 and $2,000.

You can contact our project consulting team if you are interested in commercial vinyl. They can show you sample books and help you budget for the project.

Textured Walls & Microcement

Our team can give your brand a high-end feel, from acrylic texture paints to micro cements. The best part is that you don’t have to cover the entire room in textured material. A focal or accent wall will enhance an area more significantly than texturing the whole room. Texture paints and micro cements are more durable than paint, so you will get more life out of the wall. In most cases, you can paint over these materials, too, so you don’t have to reapply the texture; simply repaint the wall! Texture walls are also great for high-traffic areas because they take abuse well. A 20′ long wall 10′ tall will cost about $1,400 to texture.

Faux Finishes

Indiana Painting works with many suppliers of metallic, pearlescent, and multi-color paints to bring you a full range of possibilities to energize and interest to your client-facing or your team meeting spaces. Our project consultant team can work with you to pick the correct pattern and product to complete your project.

There are many benefits to having your commercial space professionally painted. In this post, I will discuss several of those advantages to your business both in the painting contractor you choose and in the painting project you are thinking about.

Your Brand Depends on a Professional Paint Job

Next to your product, your business depends on how people perceive your brand. Whether you are in the hospitality industry or in the automotive industry, the colors you choose, the layout of those colors, and the professional application of them are important in conveying the right message to your customers and vendors. Great colors in the best paint poorly applied will do more harm to your business than you probably realize. When your clients approach your business and see walls, trim, and doors that are either dirty or poorly painted, they will draw conclusions about your character and your style. Don’t send the wrong message to your customers and vendors by trying to save a few dollars on your painting contractor or the materials you choose. Keep in mind that the impression you give your team and your customers in presentation will help inform them of who they should buy from.

You should also think of the possibilities that are achievable through a professional painter. Because they have more skill and can cut cleaner lines, they can create the perfect accent walls that might otherwise look awkward in the hands of a less skilled paint crew. You also have the ability for a wider variety of finishes with a professional. Our team can add texture coatings, painted graphics, and even install wallcovering and sound attenuation materials in your space. The possibilities are a lot greater when you hire a team that is dedicated to decorating rather than just painting.

Improved Curb Appeal

A professional paint job on the exterior of your building can make it look more attractive and well-maintained. If you are in the retail space, this will help your customers feel more confident in buying from you. If you are in the office or property management space, this can help attract more and even better tenants and employees. You can’t underestimate the power of the first impression. If you take care of your building and public spaces, most consumers will translate that into better care for them because you are taking pride in your physical spaces. Having your exterior or public interior spaces painted by a professional will help add to the perception that you are worth doing business with. 

Extended lifespan

Painting the exterior of your commercial space can help protect it from the elements and extend its lifespan.  Quite a few owners that we meet wait too long to deal with an aging paint job and find the repair costs far more than the paint job itself. We see this often with wood siding, EIFS, and masonry block buildings. One water penetrates and freezes, it is too late and will require the help of another contractor. It is important to be aware and not put off that paint job. Having it done professionally will ensure that your building is painted properly. You must remove and repair any loose paint or failing substrates before you paint.

For interiors, the public is more careless with walls that already look distressed. When you paint those public corridors and high traffic spaces more often, people tend to notice and will take more care with them. If they see a lot of damage on the walls already, they will assume no one cares and will not be as careful with your facility.

Improved employee morale

A well kept and professionally painted building can make employees feel more proud of their workplace. This often will lead to better morale, more cooperation, and higher productivity. The way you maintain the facility will inform your team of your expectations of them. If you care about the physical spaces, your employees are much more likely to interpret that more broadly. Hiring a professional will not only send the right message about your care of the team and business in general, but will leave a lasting impression that your team will see every day. Besides, when they see a professional crew painting their work areas, they will know you are just as concerned about them as you are with the brand. A professional painting team will raise the standard for your team in their work.

Easier maintenance

Choosing the right paint products or sheen can make your walls easier to clean and maintain.  A professional painting contractor will be able to help you understand the benefits of one product over another. Choosing to have your employees paint or hiring the cheapest painter possible could leave you with a very short life cycle on your next paint job. A professional painting contractor will help you make the right decision to meet your facility management goals and plan.

Just like your smile tells the world more about who you are inside, the condition of your finishes in your facility tell a lot about you. If you are ready to make a better impression, give us a call for a free consultation – (317) 528-9500!

When you talk about painting the exterior of your home, most people don’t think about how the act of painting your shutters can really make a big difference in how your home looks.

The important thing to do prior to painting shutters is to first learn about some of the key tricks that will help you do a better job painting them and leave you with nicer looking shutters for a good price.

These are the sorts of tricks and techniques that will greatly improve your overall painting experience as well, which is a good thing to have while you are painting your shutters.

With that being the case, let’s have a look at some shutter painting tricks to learn when you want to have a nicer home exterior.

1. Properly Prepare Your Shutters

It’s fundamentally important that you prepare your shutters prior to beginning your painting project or you will not have shutters that look right when you have finished painting them.

What this means is that you’re going to want to clean the shutters and remove any sort of dirt and sometimes even lingering old paint that has started peeling or just isn’t looking quite right on the shutters — making use of detergent if necessary.

After you make the time to clean your shutters and especially if you need to get them at all wet during the cleaning process, be sure to allow time for your shutters to fully dry before you move onto the next step in the process.

2. Paint With Removed Shutters

While there is much to be said about the quality of keeping your shutters on while you paint them, it’s entirely possible that you will find it a lot easier to get them painted if you remove them first.

Indeed, for you may have few issues covering your shutters entirely while they are attached to your home, it is almost always a lot easier to do so when the shutters have been detached from the house first.

It helps not just in terms of properly applying primer and paint but in getting the shutters properly sanded and prepared before you start the painting process.

3. Primer Before Paint

Speaking of primer, you are going to find that your shutters are going to be much better painted when you first apply a coat of primer before you apply the first coat of paint.

This is because you will get paint to go on more smoothly when you have the primer there — primer makes for a more smooth surface that will be more receptive of paint.

Moreover, it will stay on longer as the primer coat makes the overall surface more adhesive – and this will get the painting work to last you longer.

4. Apply Thin Coats

Though you may want to apply thicker coats to your shutters, this would not ultimately serve you as you are going to end up having shutters that are not quite so well painted.

By making use of thinner coats of paint, your paint will not look quite right — and you are more likely to make painting mistakes as a result of it, which then have to be corrected.

As mentioned above, letting the paint dry after you apply it so that if you do end up applying a second coat, you aren’t going to have issues with the first coat of paint sticking to your brush.

5. Clean As You Paint

Lastly, remember that it’s important to clean as you paint whether you remove the shutters prior to painting or not.

Doing this will help you to have less of a mess to clean up after your painting project has ended and you are looking to clean up any spills that have occurred.

At We Paint Indy, we are a dedicated team with full-time, professional field staff to make sure your jobs are done on time and to your satisfaction.  We are active members of the Mooresville and Plainfield communities. You can contact us by phone — call or text (317) 528-9500 to set up an appointment time convenient for you.

Related: Maintaining Exterior Paint in Plainfield, IN: A Homeowner’s Guide

Tips For Painting Your Brick Exterior In Mooresville, IN

When you want the exterior of your home to look better, there are quite a lot of things that you can do — and painting is one of them, but it’s fundamental to properly prepare for the paintwork that is going to be done.

The thing to bear in mind is that without preparing for any painting project (even an exterior painting project) you will have a much more difficult time with the painting project.

With this being the case, let’s have a look at some tips for preparing for exterior painting that will help your home look significantly better.

1. Wash Your Home Exterior

One thing you should always make sure that you do when you are getting ready to paint your home exterior (or even to help a professional painting contractor do it) is to properly get the exterior cleaned.

Though you might think that the paint and primer that is going to be applied to the exterior alone is going to be alone to change the fact that the exterior is quite dirty, this is not the case and it will make for a rather unpleasant painted home once you have finished.

It’s far better to get the exterior fully cleaned and then allow time for the surface to dry before you move on to the next step in the process, paint and primer wise.

2. Test For Lead Paint

Depending on when your home was built and painted most recently, there exists the possibility that the paint on it (even on a lower level if it has been painted over) contains some lead in it.

There is significantly less of a concern if your home is newer and certainly one that was constructed in the last few decades but if it is an older home (built before 1972) then it is an issue you certainly want to investigate.

The good news is that the kind of testing that you should do for lead on your home is relatively simple and can be done with a home kit that checks for lead in the paint on your home — and if a lead is found, steps will have to be taken to safely paint your home afterward.

3. Protect Your Plants

Your exterior plants are not exactly friendly to paint, and it’s not so great to get paint on them — and yet just tarping over them for days at a time is not exactly the best solution, given that your plants need sun and somewhat regular watering to continue growing and stay alive.

One option you have is to gently sprinkle water over your plants and to then drape a clear plastic sheeting over them — and even with this technique of protecting your plants, you’re going to want to make sure that you uncover the plants at night while your home is not being painted.

Doing this will protect your plants during the painting process while at the same time making sure that they get adequate light and water so they can continue to thrive and flourish.

4. Check The Weather Forecast And Consider Your Options

Lastly (for now — we will surely return to this topic) remember that not all weather is going to be suitable for your exterior painting project — if you try to paint when the weather is too cold or too hot, you will find the painting results to be less than ideal because the paint will either dry too quickly or slowly.

Aim for weather that is between fifty and seventy degrees Fahrenheit, and certainly do not paint when it is raining outside or you will have a fundamentally ruined painting project.

At We Paint Indy, we are a dedicated team with full-time, professional field staff to make sure your jobs are done on time and to your satisfaction.  We are active members of the Mooresville and Plainfield communities. You can contact us by phone — call or text (317) 528-9500 to setup an appointment time convenient for you.

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