Curb Appeal in Mechanicsburg: Our Latest Shutters, Doors, & Stain

Mechanicsburg has been looking pretty sharp lately — and no, it’s not just because the local coffee shops have upped their latte art game. Just Add Paint has been busy adding some serious curb appeal with a few fresh exterior painting projects that prove a little color can go a long way. From shutters that pop like they just got back from vacation, to a front door that’s basically rolling out a welcome mat that says, “Wow, you look amazing today,” and even a stained wooden ceiling that’s so rich you can see your reflection in it — we’ve been putting the “WOW” back into “Wow, that’s my house!”

What is the secret to our consistent success with turning bland into colorful bliss? A potent combination of careful prep, high-quality craftsmanship, and tasteful customers who are up on current trends. Let’s take a look at Curb Appeal in Mechanicsburg: Our Latest Shutters, Doors, & Stain projects.

From Bland to Pop on this Front Door Repainted in Benjamin Moore Oriental Iris:

Exterior Painting, Exterior ideas — Before pic of a recent front door in Mechanicsburg by Just Add Paint

Exterior Color Ideas — Before pic of a recent front door in Mechanicsburg by Just Add Paint

There’s nothing like a bold color change to make a front door go from “just there” to absolutely unforgettable. This Mechanicsburg home’s entryway used to sport a dark, neutral shade that blended quietly into the background — perfectly fine, but not exactly turning heads. Enter Benjamin Moore’s Oriental Iris: a lively, confident lavender-blue that radiates personality and charm. Now, instead of fading into the facade, the door greets visitors like a friendly wave on a sunny day. It’s fresh, it’s vibrant, and it proves that sometimes, the best way to boost curb appeal is with a splash of daring color. Our process for this front door was:

Remove Weather Stripping so the Door Can Properly Close and Lock While the Paint is Curing
Clean with Krud Kutter TSP Substitute Degreaser/Deglosser
Mask Hardware and Hinges
Sand with our Festool Dustless Sanding System w/220 Grit Sandpaper
Prime with Stix Bonding Primer Tinted to Gray for Coverage
Paint 2 Coats of Benjamin Moore Oriental Iris with Benjamin Moore Weather Guard Exterior Paint in Satin
Return to Re-Install Weather Stripping

Sometimes A Simple “Refresh” Is All We Need:

Shutter Painting — Before Pic of Faded Shutter in Mechanicsburg

Shutter Painting in Mechanicsburg — Before Pic of Faded Shutter in Mechanicsburg

Sometimes the best makeover is simply bringing back what once made a house shine. That was the case with these faded black shutters, which had lost their depth and drama due to UV damage over the years. 2 coats of Sherwin-Williams Black Magic in Satin restored their crisp, timeless look. Why 2 coats? Because thicker is better, and also because sheen builds with each coat. The painted shutters looked “passable” with one coat, but we prefer 2 coat anytime the budget allows. And in this case our customer opted to do it right! Our Process for repainting these shutters was:

Clean with Krud Kutter TSP Substitute Degreaser/Deglosser (x2 for most)
Sand with our Festool Dustless Sanding System w/220 Grit Sandpaper
Paint 2 Coats of Sherwin-Williams Black Magic in Vinyl-Safe formula, Latitude Satin
Did You Know That Black Magic is the Darkest Black You Can Buy in a Vinyl-Safe Formula? Better Safe Than to Have Melted Shutters…

Front Door And Shutters And Staining Oh My:

Painters Mechanicsburg — Drab Front Door and Surround Before Pic

Professional Painting Mechanicsburg — Drab Front Door and Surround Before Pic

This Mechanicsburg project was a full-on curb appeal revival from top to bottom — literally. We started by giving the front door and its surround a fresh, eye-catching coat of paint that now welcomes guests with style. Next, the shutters were repainted to restore their crisp, clean lines and bold presence against the siding. Finally, we turned our attention upward, staining the exterior wooden ceiling and sealing it with a rich coat of spar varnish. Why spar varnish? Because it is a high-performance coating that withstands the elements. It is also a workhorse with UV protection, and it moves well with wood expansion and contraction. Our Process for this Re-painting and staining project was:

Clean Front Door and Shutters with Krud Kutter TSP Substitute Degreaser/Deglosser
Remove and Replace Rotten Wood
Caulk Gaps With Elastomeric Caulk, Putty Holes with 3M Exterior Spackle from Sherwin-Williams
Sand Doors and Shutters with our Festool Dustless Sanding System w/220 Grit Sandpaper
Paint All Surfaces 2 Coats, and in Some Cases a Primer Was Necessary (Bare Wood).; Colors were Sherwin-Williams Pure White in Emerald Satin, Sherwin-Williams African Gray, and Sherwin-Williams Hale Navy
The Customer Requested Sanding and No Cleaning On the Wood, Which We Were Not Comfortable With. We Ended Up Cleaning With Simple Green And a Small Amount of 30 Seconds Prep to Kill Mold and Mildew. We Always Try to Err On the Side of Caution With Prep Work. And in the Customer’s Defense, I Would Have Felt Terrible if We Wrecked His TV. Fortunately, We Have Done This a Few Times Before, and Were Able to Put His Mind at Ease With a TV Cover 4 Mil Plastic
Stain Wood With One Maintenance Coat of Helmsman’s Spar Varnish Rolled and Backbrushed