The evening start about 6 p.m. and will last a couple of hours. Refreshments will be provided

August was a busy month in the fact that there were some huge sweeping changes going on that we are still catching up with. The biggest is probably the jump to a completely different computer system for everything from receiving to sales to billing and, after 30 years of  the previous one, it is good to get an upgrade. But it is different and it is taking some time to reprogram my fingers and brains to get the info out of it. Like playing piano but with some weird keyboard where all the keys are in the same place but now they make different sounds.  And I want to play the same tune as before.

Benjamin Moore raised prices in August after about 2 years of doing well to keep costs the same. They also put out a list of discontinued products at the same time that slices out ready-made colors, oil base stains and containers of 2 or more gallons are being reduced.  See ya deuce!  The amazing almighty Aura Interior which HAS to be tinted is losing the medium, deep or accent base in fives and will only be available ONLY in gallons and quarts. It’s gonna be boxing night in the big house!

Going going gone are the ready made colors in Regal. Later, Linen. Nite, nite Navajo. Adios, Dove White.  Do Svidaniya,  Decorator White. the same goes for the Premium Exterior line colors as well. Actually they have all been on their way out but now it seems to be somehow more official.  These colors will all have to be mixed. And Boxed. I wonder if there’ll be problems with covering, durability, surfactant leaching, tint float or dry times with these superdeep colors like chrome green, tudor brown and cottage red. Nothing like $20 bucks in tint to kill a margin

Also eliminated is Ironclad 163 and Latex Ironclad 363 Low Lustre Wood and Metal enamels. I believe this has more to do with labeling issues than anything else as they have been crossed over to Super Spec HP P23 and P25 respectively. These products are not on the Benjamin Moore website – heck they aren’t even in our new price lists but we’ve cans wrapped in the label.

If you were a fan of the High Gloss Impervo line, all the colors are discontinued out of there as well. That is less of a big deal because the prices had gotten so high on Impervo it won’t sell anyways and the colors were odd, not like they matched anything. Not OSHA and not particularly coordinated with the other products either. There are no substitute colors of course, everything will have to be mixed except it won’t be mixed, customers will have to go to P22 for alkyd gloss readymade reds and yellows or to a different manufacturer entirely.

I really believe that soon alkyds will be gone altogether or there will be consequences for evildoers who paint their wood with the enamels now labeled “for metal only”. Just like the Superbowl advert with the green police arresting the guy with filament light bulbs. Wanna get back at your neighbor? Tell the green police he used solvent laden air pollutin’ oil-base enamel on his 40 year old wood doors. And he prepped them without a lead dust proof barrier, too.  Bwaa haa ha haha.

I figure the goal is to get rid of the existing technology and start over with waterborne, that’s Moore’s plan. Make the solvent based stuff so contemptible and hard to get  that the consumers willingly abandon it. Move over for gennex, all hail gennex tint.  It is going to take some getting used to.

Products such as Advance Waterborne Alkyd Interior (only) Gloss or Satin finish is now shipping but I haven’t tried it yet. It comes in white and bases in gallons and quarts. I just wonder if these waterborne alkyds will be more like latex or more like alkyd when it comes to adhesion to the surfaces and flow-out when brushed. Spraying will be a new sport too.

Arborcoat, the gennex tinted exterior wood stain, also uses waterborne alkyd technology. Other companies like Flood’s CWF-UV  has used waterborne alkyd tech for years so Arborcoat seems to come late to the party.   The best results I’ve seen are from acrylic transparent stains such as Dyco’s dock and deck.

With the current state of the economy, many people are relearning that paint is one of the least expensive and most visible statements for decorating. Colors can change a rooms appearance and mood to suit.  Ralph Lauren’s paints are reasonably priced and extremely well made compared to so much tacky bric-a-brac  found in home furnishing stores.The sophisticated colors and depth of tone add a higher level of elegance to any home.

The paints are available in Flat, Eggshell, Satin and Semi-Gloss finishes in quart or gallon size containers.

With the new EPA RRP rule in effect they have a 2 part series to help contractors become familiar with the regulation. The first part has already passed but they saved it for playback HERE at your convenience.  The second part is scheduled for Thursday June 24th from 11 am to 12 pm EDT. To listen live and be a part of the audience you must be registered first and you can ho that HERE.

On deck to discuss the rules is Mark Henshall with the Lead, Heavy Metals and Inorganics Branch (LHMIB) in the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. LHMIB is responsible for all of the regulatory development for EPA’s lead program.

You will learn :

• why these paint are the products of choice for architects and home owners
• how your home or business can benefit by using them
• the technology used to make any color and any sheen with  NO VOCs
• How to minimize your impact on the environment

Get your application HERE

Find a trainer provider HERE

Before beginning work, contractors must provide owners, tenants, and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA’s lead hazard information pamphlet.

Get your pamphlet HERE

Contractors should also:

• Provide a copy of your EPA or state lead training certificate to your client.
• Tell your client what lead-safe methods you will use to perform the job.
• Learn the lead laws that apply to you regarding certification and lead-safe work practices beginning in April 2010.
• Ask your client to share the results of any previously conducted lead tests.
• keep records to demonstrate that  workers have been trained in lead-safe work practices and  followed lead-safe work practices on the job.

To make record keeping easier, you may use the sample record keeping checklist

Homeowners, property owners and managers, and anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools can follow THIS LINK to learn more about  lead-safe work practices.

Titan is attracting attention at their sports rewards page where you can sign up and win. The NCAA Tournament is already on its way but there are more contests on the way. Baseball is coming and you could win a trip to spring training or large screen T.V.  or other prizes. Check it out HERE

Sign Up Now Here

Spend $350.00 in Ben Moore Products & get 3 brushes

The problem with exotic woods is that they are so dense that stains and paints have reduced penetration and, later, oils in the wood can migrate to the surface where it affects adhesion. The result is that stains designed to penetrate into the wood fiber cannot and so sit on the surface where they can take more than a week to dry and, worse yet, are likely peel later.

Benjamin Moore’s Hardwood Finish  is a  solvent based transparent stain formulated to penetrate, protect, and beautify exterior wood decking, fencing, siding, shakes, and furniture. Beautify is a term that I understand means “to even out discolorations”. Trans-Oxide pigments are combined with a  penetrating alkyd resin to provide the sun protection, abrasion, and mildew resistance.

Sikkens recommends their Cetol SRD Translucent Wood Finish for hardwood deck care.  This is a one coat, non-film forming, translucent alkyd oil wood finish. It likewise uses trans-oxide type pigments for color and U-V resistance.

When applied correctly, these two products do not produce a film so there is nothing to peel. Initial preparation is extensive, especially with Sikkens’ inclusion of sanding and wiping the new wood down with acetone in one of their optional prep techniques. Both Sikkens and Ben Moore’s products should be back brushed  to ensure penetration and to avoid an uneven finish.

Interestingly, Sikkens does not recommend their SRD Semi-transparent stain for hardwoods.

• XT Homeowner airless spray rigs
• IMPACT contractor airless sprayers
• ADVANTAGE value priced contractor  sprayer
• GPX Gas powered sprayers
• SpeeFlo HYDRA, Air Power & PowrTwin hydraulic sprayers
• CAP Spray & Fine Finish HVLP and Air Assisted Airless Sprayers
• PowrLiner Line Striping equipment
• PowrTex Series  Texture sprayers

And thankfully they haven’t announced a price increase…..yet