House painting in Fremont can be a complicated project in many ways. You have to protect the surfaces from stray paint drips, spills, splatters, and sanding dust. Another, you should take steps to ensure the safety of your paint crew and your customers as the paint project takes place.

Those customers are families who stay home instead of taking a leave while their house painting project is active.  You should follow specific safety measures and precautions to keep your crew and customers out of harm’s way as you paint their homes.

1) Contain the work area

Contain the work area so that dust does not escape from it. Cover the floors with drop cloths and pieces of furniture with old newspaper or plastic sheeting. Tape baseboards, trim, and other areas with painter’s tape to protect them from stray drips and splatters, and seal off outlet plates and heating or cooling systems before painting.

2) Keep people and pets out of the work area

Keep children, pregnant and lactating women, senior family members, people with acute health conditions, and pets out of the work area to limit their exposure to dust and paint fumes.

3) Keep yourself protected as you paint

Wear the proper protective gear to protect yourself and your crew from dust, paint fumes, and other debris during painting. They include gloves, goggles, face shields, paint masks, and hard hats.

Use a stable and sturdy step ladder or scaffolding to paint very high walls and ceilings. If absolutely necessary, use fall arrest systems, such as carabiners attached to something more stable (such as railings), to prevent you from falling and injury. Carabiners usually have harnesses that strap around your torso and legs for additional safety.

4) Use safe paints and primers

Traditional paints, primers, and stains usually contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which produce strong fumes that can cause physical irritation, asthma symptoms, and other health problems.

Choose low-VOC paints and primers for your next project. They are applied the same way as their traditional counterparts and cost around the same as most top-of-the-line coatings from well-known manufacturers. The difference is that low-VOC paints and primers emit fewer fumes than conventional paints. Some customers may request zero-VOC coatings for safer painting.   You also have to consider selecting the right approach for projects such as painting vinyl and aluminum siding, repairing wood rot, and more.

5) Keep the area well-ventilated

As much as you want to contain the work area, you also want to keep it ventilated enough to prevent the paint fumes from circulating back into the room. Keep the windows and doors open as you can to allow the paint fumes to escape and bring in the fresh, outdoor air. Run exhaust fans as continually as possible to keep the airflow moving.

However, do not open doors and windows if doing so might put your crew members or customers at risk of accidents (such as falling) or inhaling dust or paint fumes.

6) Get rid of paint odor in other ways

Sometimes, the paint smell might take longer than usual to disappear. Or the room has poor indoor air quality that causes the paint odors to dissipate more slowly than expected.

Fortunately, there are other ways to eliminate paint odor:

• Charcoal – Activated charcoal has proven excellent in absorbing strong odors from newly painted walls. Place some heaps of crushed-up wood charcoal in shallow bowls and leave them overnight throughout the room. Your room will be odor-free by the following day.
• Baking soda – Fill some baking soda powders in shallow containers and place them throughout the painted area. Similar to charcoal, baking soda also has the property of absorbing unpleasant paint odors.
• Coffee beans – Whole or ground coffee beans are excellent paint odor reducers. Who doesn’t love the smell of coffee? Just make sure to discard them the next day. Don’t brew these used coffee beans, as they may have absorbed VOCs.
• Onions – This method might be unusual, but it works. Cut up some onions and place them throughout the painted area. The onion will absorb any lingering paint fumes. When you’re done, throw them away.
• Candles – Light a candle in the painted room and let it burn for a few hours. The flame will help burn the lingering paint odors. Remember not to leave the candle unattended; you won’t let younger children and pets get around the open flame and hot wax. Scented candles will do the same job as regular candles and give off a pleasant aroma.
• Water and lemon – Water alone can absorb paint fumes, but adding some slices of lemon will leave the room smelling nice, fresh, and clean. Since water takes a bit longer to absorb all the paint odors, leaving bowls or containers of lemon water throughout the painted room overnight is best.

7) Minimize dust in the painted area

As you paint, minimize dust using methods that generate less of it. Use wet rags or sponges to wipe off dust, apply wet sanding or scraping, or use grinders or sanders with high HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) vacuum attachments that suck in dust that has been generated.

When you’re finished painting your Sunol CA area project, thoroughly clean up the area using a HEPA vacuum. Wipe the dusty surfaces with a wet rag or sponge and clean the floors with a damp mop and plenty of water for rinsing. Allow the area to dry completely before removing coverings over furniture, outlet plates, vents, etc., and returning them to their original place.

Safety ensures a successful paint job.

Like any other occupation, painting comes with risks. Workers who paint homes for a living may be at a higher risk of injuries and serious illnesses (such as cancers), which can occur if safety measures and precautions are not followed.

Plan and prepare a safety checklist for the best home painting project in the Union City area. Make sure you have everything you will need before you begin. Following safety measures and precautions during a paint project will also mean fewer delays and unexpected additional expenses. These steps will ensure the project will be completed on time and within budget while keeping everyone out of harm’s way.

If ever you need help on your next home or business painting project, you may trust Custom Painting, Inc. It has been in service for more than 40 years with many satisfied customers in San Jose and the Bay area. Do not hesitate to call them at 925-866-9610. You may also fill out their online contact form to schedule a consultation.