Scratched cars, parking lots and summer time seem to all go together that’s why we need a paint protection. After carefully washing and polishing your car come one weekend afternoon are you out on the prowl for touch up paint for cars and trucks. Or is a case looking for a match for touch up car paint to repair scuffs, remove auto scratches or perhaps even worse – for plastic bumper repairs.

Yet the simple fact of it is – it’s downright expensive to repair or fix a scratched automobile paint finish. Just how can you fix a scratched car yourself?

For the most part you may well get off easily if you are handy , through and a little bit artistic that is if the damage to the paint surface – the car , truck or SUV’s finish can be assessed overall at a light or medium level paint scratch.

Firstly as with any paint or repair job you will have to thoroughly and carefully “prepare the surface. In the auto body trades it is usually done by cleaning the area or areas with simple soap and water. Next dry it completely with a clean soft cloth or clothes. Do not use a hair dryer or heat gun to dry the surfaces faster. Do not use harsh abrasive cleaners if heavy dirt or grime still overlays parts of the affected or adjacent areas.

Next in line – that is if the scratch was to be repaired with auto body professionals would be to sand down and reduce the scratched areas.

Spray water on the desired area with a spray gun gentle spray setting – attached to a standard garden hose outlet. Next while wet gently sand the affected areas with a 3000 grit very fine abrasive type sanding paper. Sand gently, very gently (less and less pressure applied is best).

It’s a matter of good old fashioned elbow grease.

Don’t risk temptation and danger by going it the easy way out with power tools – even if set to minimal action and sanding pressures.

While over while you cautiously sand away with light to medium pressure overall be reassured if light foam appears while you work away with ease and care. The light foam is simply an indicator and indication that the abrasive from the light sandpaper is reducing your scratched area or scratches.

Next step, or along with this sequence is to wipe the sanded area or areas to ensure that the scratch has actually been removed or is on the road there. You will be left with a rather dull area cosmetically. Be reassured again that everything is fine and you are on the correct path.

Late steps in the process will restore the overall gloss and luster.

As part of your materials preparation steps you should have acquired or purchased from rubbing compound from an automotive supply or big box automotive store. Take an amount the size of a quarter coin of this rubbing compound, place onto a commercial “compound pad”. Continue your buffing until the clear coat’s shine is “partially” restored. Work next to fully wipe off (with care and no pressure), with a clean dry cloth, before the next step proceeds.

Finish the paint scratch repair process polish and shine. Place onto a simple standard “polishing pad” a quarter sized amount of commercial “scratch remover“. Invest in a well known and trusted brand. Its poor and false economy otherwise. Polish the area that you have worked on carefully, that is until the paint surface shine is fully and completely restored to blend in with its surroundings.

Lastly after admiring your hand-i-work .you may wish for added protection to apply a good high quality automotive wax on either the effected area or better yet the whole vehicle.

Essential items of skiing equipment have not changed much over the years. However, with a few useful tips, the task of picking the best among them will become a whole lot easier. Before you actually step out on the slopes it makes sense to ensure that you outfit yourself with the right equipment. Fortunately, picking the right items is not a difficult task provided you make use of the right kind of information regarding aspects such as safety and performance. The best known ski resort in Québec is Mont Tremblant – it is an Intrawest Resort and offers a high standard of accommodation combined with a convenient ski Canada for skiers.

To ensure that you do in fact end up with the right equipment, you will do well to ask skiing experts or read about their views and tips on how to select proper gear. Whether you are an expert skier or are just starting out, you need to invest in ski equipment rather than rent it out. At the very least, you will need to purchase a few basic items though you do not need to be overly bothered about the brand of equipment. At the same time, there is also no sense in cutting corners to buy something cheap.

The most important article of skiing gear is your skis. You need to pick a pair that is of a proper size and which suits your skiing abilities. If you pick a pair that is too long or even too short, you will not get much out of your skiing adventures and the chances of injuring yourself will also rise.

Skiing boots are another important item of ski equipment. Just make sure that you pick a pair that provides a snug fit and which fit your feet perfectly. A pair of boots that does not fit perfectly can become a major cause for skiing injuries. The boots must provide a very snug fit for your feet and must not be too tight or too large. The bindings must also be of a good quality and they should also fit your ski boots perfectly.

Warm clothing is of course another very important part of your ski equipment and must be chosen with care. Be sure to pick a warm and heavy parka and add some decent long underwear and snow pants as well as warm gloves to the list of articles you need.

A nice pair of snow goggles is also an essential item and be sure to pick socks that are warm and buy several pairs of them. The right kind of warm socks will at least ensure that your toes do not end up with a frostbite problem.

Most people that love to ski will also have enough money to invest in proper skiing equipment. So, do not allow money to interfere with the buying process but take time to ensure that you end up buying equipment that is of good quality and is the best that you can afford to buy.

If you have some doubts about what to buy then you need to ask the salesperson at the ski shop about which items are essential and worthy buying. These people will be able to point you in the right direction as they have loads of experience in handling customer queries.

Painting your home is all about choosing the right color. You may love the Periwinkle shade of pink or your current favorite may be Sun Porch yellow. But, will the shades look beautiful on the walls? Sometimes, you may love a particular color but it may not translate beautifully on the walls. Lucky for you, there are a couple of options other than buying the usual paint tester pots at the local home improvement store. Help protect you paint from harsh road conditions with Scotchgard paint protection Adelaide Film from 3M.

Technology to simplify your Choice!

It is amazing how you can choose from a plethora of color options and narrow the list to a select few. Let’s take a look at few of the popular home painting apps that are easy to use.

1. Color Capture by Benjamin Moore

With Color Capture, you can easily match the colors of a picture and get a few more closest shades to help you make the decision. The app allows you to not only browse through all the Benjamin Moore paint color families and collections but it also offers you the opportunity to share your favorites on social media and obtain reviews from your friends.

If you are confused about choosing a paint color, Benjamin Moore offers ideas and inspiration for painting living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and every other part of your home.

The Paint Calculator option allows you to ascertain the amount of paint that you need to color the room. If you are using the same color for more than one rooms, simply add the total square footage of all the rooms to get an estimate.

Once you have chosen the color palette for your room, you can select the nearest store and buy the color to begin painting.

2. Color Snap by Sherwin Williams

It is one of the most comprehensive paint apps that allows you to explore colors beautifully. You can select color palettes on the basis of any picture in your phone or tab. You can even scan a number from the Sherwin Williams color card and check how it will look in your home. Alternatively, there is the option of choosing color options from its Digital Color Wall. Once you have selected the colors, you can use the sample scenes available in the app or upload any of your pictures to see how the color will look.

The app is ideal for homeowners who haven’t narrowed it down to a few color options. You can take inspiration from different photos of wildlife, cuisine, outdoors and several other things to find the next color for your home.

The Color Snap app gives you ratings of different Sherwin Williams products that are ideal for every room of the house.

You can also locate the nearest store with it and calculate the amount of paint required to give new color to your home.

3. Project Color by The Home Depot

Project Color is a home painting app by The Home Depot, a premier home improvement supplies company. It is a simple app with three main functions:

See it – After you click a picture from your phone or upload one in the app, you can pick your favorite color and see how it looks on the walls. You can play with the Image Tools and edit the lighting to see how the color will look in different lights.

Match It – It is similar to other apps where you can click a picture and find the exact match of the colors. The most amazing feature of the app is its “live feature”. You can move your camera and get real-time feed of different colors in the frame. You can then select the color of your choice and check how it looks on the walls of your home.

Find it – You can view all the different paints and stains available with The Home Depot. Also, you will be able to see your favorite colors options and recently viewed colors here.

The best thing about the app is that once you have picked out your favorite colors, you can shop for it from the company’s online store. You can even share with your friends to get their view on your choice.

The Final Decision

When it comes to using mobile apps for choosing a paint color, many homeowners complain that the actual painting results vary from the results they see in the app. It is essential to remember that on-screen color representation differs in reality. The actual painting result depends on the color choice, painting technique, number of coats, etc. But, it doesn’t mean that you avoid using the apps. They are useful in helping you explore different color options. You can get an idea of how the paint color will look in your home. And, once you have shortlisted a few options, you can opt for paint samples and testers to make the final decision. It means you will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds!

Happy Painting!

Are you thinking of painting your home? Are you unsure about the painting colors for different rooms? Allow our color consultants to guide you in making the final decision.