Guiffre's Painting Co. — Journal https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/ Painting guides for homeowners in Grosse Pointe and Metro Detroit. en-us When to paint your home’s exterior in Michiganhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/best-time-to-paint-exterior-michigan/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/best-time-to-paint-exterior-michigan/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorWhen to paint a house exterior in Michigan: the temperatures, dew point and rain windows that make a good painting day, plus a month-by-month season guide. How long does exterior paint last in Michigan?https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-long-does-exterior-paint-last/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-long-does-exterior-paint-last/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorHow long does exterior paint last in Michigan? It depends on surface, prep, product and sun. Why south walls and trim fail first, and how to extend it. Signs it’s time to repaint your home’s exteriorhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/signs-house-needs-painting/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/signs-house-needs-painting/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorSigns your house needs painting, from chalking and fading to failed caulk and soft trim, sorted into cosmetic issues that can wait and ones that can’t. Why exterior paint peels — and how to stop ithttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/why-exterior-paint-peels/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/why-exterior-paint-peels/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorWhy exterior paint peels: moisture, poor adhesion, weathered wood or bad weather. How to read the peeling pattern, fix the cause and keep new paint on. Painting aluminum siding: what Michigan homeowners should knowhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-aluminum-siding/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-aluminum-siding/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorYes, you can paint aluminum siding. Here’s how to deal with chalky oxidation, test adhesion, prime bare spots and choose paint, color and sheen that last. Should you paint brick? Pros, cons and alternatives to considerhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/should-you-paint-brick/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/should-you-paint-brick/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorShould you paint brick? Learn why it’s hard to undo, how trapped moisture and freeze–thaw cause damage, which coatings breathe, and the alternatives. Mildew on siding: how to identify, clean and prevent it before you painthttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/mildew-on-siding-before-painting/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/mildew-on-siding-before-painting/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorMildew on siding has to go before you paint. Learn how to tell it from dirt, clean it safely and keep it from coming back through your new paint. How to paint a front door: color, sheen and a finish that lastshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/front-door-paint-guide/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/front-door-paint-guide/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorPainting a front door that lasts: choosing a color that suits the house, the right sheen, hardware finishes, prep, painting order and drying time. How to paint a porch: floors, ceilings, columns and railingshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/porch-painting-guide/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/porch-painting-guide/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorPainting a porch that lasts: floor-rated coatings, anti-slip additives, ceiling streaks, rot-prone column bases, railings, steps and Michigan timing. Exterior paint maintenance: a seasonal checklist for Michigan homeshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/exterior-paint-maintenance-checklist/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/exterior-paint-maintenance-checklist/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTExteriorAn exterior paint maintenance checklist for Michigan homes: what to check each spring, summer, fall and winter, and when it’s time to call a painter. Paint sheen, explained: a room-by-room guidehttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/paint-sheen-guide/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/paint-sheen-guide/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorFlat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss or gloss? What each paint sheen is good and bad at, which one to use in each room, and why gloss shows more flaws. How to get your home ready for interior painters: a homeowner’s checklisthttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/prepare-home-for-interior-painters/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/prepare-home-for-interior-painters/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorHow to get your home ready for interior painters: settle colors and sheens, clear each room, plan for kids and pets, and know what to expect day to day. Paint dry time vs. cure time: what they mean and why they matterhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/paint-dry-time-vs-cure-time/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/paint-dry-time-vs-cure-time/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorPaint dry time vs. cure time: what dry to touch, recoat and cured mean, what slows each stage, and when to rehang art, close doors and wash walls. The best paint finishes for kitchens and bathroomshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/best-paint-for-kitchens-and-bathrooms/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/best-paint-for-kitchens-and-bathrooms/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorThe best paint for kitchens and bathrooms: which sheen to choose, paints made for humid rooms, why ventilation matters, and the prep that keeps paint on. Painting interior trim and doors: what makes trim look professionalhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-interior-trim-and-doors/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-interior-trim-and-doors/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorPainting interior trim and doors: caulking and sanding, choosing a trim enamel and sheen, brushing panel doors in order, and painting over stained wood. Painting ceilings: choosing color and sheen, and avoiding roller markshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-ceilings/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-ceilings/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorPainting ceilings: why flat paint is the norm, ceiling white vs. a tinted or colored ceiling, how to avoid roller marks, and fixing stains and cracks. How to touch up paint so it doesn’t show, inside and outhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-to-touch-up-paint/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-to-touch-up-paint/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorHow to touch up paint so it doesn’t show: label and store leftovers, match the sheen, feather thin coats, and know when to repaint the whole wall instead. How to clean painted walls and trim without ruining the finishhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-to-clean-painted-walls/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-to-clean-painted-walls/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTInteriorHow to clean painted walls without ruining the finish: gentle methods by sheen, how to spot-test, what lifts scuffs, crayon and grease, and what to avoid. How to choose exterior colors for a classic homehttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/choosing-exterior-colors-classic-home/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/choosing-exterior-colors-classic-home/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorA designer’s method for exterior colors on a classic home: read the roof and brick, assign body, trim and accent, follow the style, then test in daylight. Choosing a Sherwin-Williams white for your exterior body and trimhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/best-sherwin-williams-whites-for-exteriors/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/best-sherwin-williams-whites-for-exteriors/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorCompare six Sherwin-Williams whites for exterior body and trim: warm vs. cool, how sunlight washes them out, and pairings with brick, stone and shutters. Agreeable Gray vs. Repose Gray vs. Accessible Beige: how to choosehttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/agreeable-gray-vs-repose-gray-vs-accessible-beige/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/agreeable-gray-vs-repose-gray-vs-accessible-beige/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorAgreeable Gray vs. Repose Gray vs. Accessible Beige: how each Sherwin-Williams neutral shifts with light, floors and trim, and how to choose for your home. How to build a whole-house paint color palette, room by roomhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/whole-house-color-palette/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/whole-house-color-palette/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorHow to build a whole-house paint color palette: a neutral spine, consistent trim, sightlines, freer private rooms, a sheen plan and an example to borrow. Navy exterior paint colors for classic homes, and what to pair them withhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/navy-exterior-paint-colors/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/navy-exterior-paint-colors/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorNavy exterior paint colors for classic homes: Naval and Indigo Batik by Sherwin-Williams, what to pair with them, and how dark paint handles sun and heat. Colonial house color schemes: six Sherwin-Williams combinationshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/colonial-house-color-schemes/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/colonial-house-color-schemes/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorSix Colonial house color schemes in Sherwin-Williams colors, with body, trim, shutter and door picks for each and why they suit a Colonial’s details. How to choose shutter colors, and when to skip shutters altogetherhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/shutter-color-guide/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/shutter-color-guide/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorHow to choose shutter colors: black, deep green, navy, door-matched or tonal, plus the sizing rule, vinyl shutter cautions and when to skip shutters. Tudor house colors: choosing paint for stucco, timber and trimhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/tudor-house-colors/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/tudor-house-colors/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTColorTudor house colors that suit the style: warm whites and creams for stucco, deep browns and soft blacks for half-timbering, plus doors, sash and upkeep. Prep is the paint job: what good preparation looks likehttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/prep-is-the-paint-job/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/prep-is-the-paint-job/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningMost paint failures are prep failures. See what thorough exterior and interior prep involves, how to spot skipped steps, and what to ask a painter. How to compare painting estimates, apples to appleshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-to-compare-painting-estimates/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-to-compare-painting-estimates/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningThree painting quotes rarely price the same job. Compare surfaces, prep, coats, products and paperwork line by line, and learn the red flags in a low bid. What affects the cost of painting a house exterior, and why bids differhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/exterior-painting-cost-factors/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/exterior-painting-cost-factors/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningWhat affects the cost of painting a house exterior, from size, height and siding condition to prep, trim detail and colors, and why painters’ bids differ. What affects the cost of interior painting, and how to get quotes you can comparehttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/interior-painting-cost-factors/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/interior-painting-cost-factors/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningWhat affects the cost of interior painting, from ceiling height and trim to plaster repair and color changes, and how to scope a job so quotes compare. How long does it take to paint a house, inside or out?https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-long-to-paint-a-house/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/how-long-to-paint-a-house/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningHow long does it take to paint a house? Rough timelines for rooms and exteriors, what stretches them, and how Michigan weather and cure time fit in. 15 questions to ask a house painter before you hirehttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/questions-to-ask-a-house-painter/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/questions-to-ask-a-house-painter/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningQuestions to ask a house painter before you hire: who’s on site, prep, paint, insurance, lead safety, schedule, payment, and what good answers sound like. DIY painting vs. hiring a painter: an honest comparisonhttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/diy-vs-hiring-a-painter/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/diy-vs-hiring-a-painter/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningDIY vs. hiring a painter: when doing it yourself makes sense, when to call a pro, the hidden work in DIY, and how to spot the quality tells in a paint job. Painting before you sell: what’s worth doing (and what isn’t)https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-before-selling-a-home/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-before-selling-a-home/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPlanningPainting before selling a home: what buyers notice first, safe neutral colors, the front door, timing before listing photos, and what to skip. Painting an older Grosse Pointe home: materials, style and carehttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-older-grosse-pointe-homes/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-older-grosse-pointe-homes/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTOlder HomesPainting an older Grosse Pointe home means plaster, old-growth trim, wood windows, layers of old paint and lake weather. Here’s how to plan the work well. Painting old wood windows: sashes, glazing and storm windowshttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-old-wood-windows/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-old-wood-windows/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTOlder HomesPainting old wood windows: how sashes are built, why failed glazing lets water in, how to seal paint to the glass, keep sashes moving and handle lead paint. Painting plaster walls in an older home: cracks, calcimine and what to fix firsthttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-plaster-walls/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/painting-plaster-walls/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTOlder HomesPainting plaster walls in an older home: how to fix cracks and loose plaster, deal with calcimine and wallpaper paste, prime patches and choose a sheen. Lead paint in older homes: what to know before you painthttps://guiffrespainting.com/journal/lead-paint-in-older-homes/https://guiffrespainting.com/journal/lead-paint-in-older-homes/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTOlder HomesLead paint in older homes: where it’s found in pre-1978 houses, how it becomes a hazard, testing options, and what the EPA’s RRP rule means for painting.