Your Virginia Home

A paint job can be expensive if the house is large. A person should redecorate the house a section at a time so that one portion can be completed before moving on to the next. The best place is to start with the exterior as it is the most visible to the neighbors.

There are things to consider when choosing the color for the exterior. The paint should match or contrast with the other things such as doors, the railings, the roof, and the windows. By using paint that is compatible with these areas, a person can save time and money.

There are three types of paint available on the market: gloss, semi-gloss or flat. Each of these has its own characteristic as well as pros and cons. For example: a glossy paint requires more maintenance since the blemishes can be seen more easily.

If it is an older house there are three ways to redecorate the home without using a great deal of planning and without great expense.

1. The first would be restoring the old color. This would entail simply matching the existing color and patching the damaged areas. Using this method the amount of paint needed as well as the cost would be minimized. If a person is not able to do the work, a painter could be hired to identify the damaged areas and do the work.

2. The second doesn’t necessarily involve painting the house a different color. If this is not the first time the house was repainted, the person can refer to a historical chart and use that color.

3. The third would be to follow the architectural trends of modern homes by using one of the popular colors. This doesn’t mean using a color that is totally different from the neighbors, but simply choosing one that is compatible.

Dark colored paint usually fades after a few years. This will cause others to perceive that the house is deteriorating. A person can prevent this by using light colored paint that does not absorb so much heat from the sun and encounter moisture problems.

A person doesn’t have to hire an architect or another professional to help choose the color for the home. An individual can use magazines and other publications which can be purchased at a reasonable price or consult with friends and neighbors who could provide insight for redecorating the home.

Molding is a fun hobby. You can make different figures to use as home décor if you have several molds: or possibly earn extra income from this hobby if you show your work to your family or friends.

Molding different figures is interesting. A separate mold(s) is needed for each figure that you would like to make: this may be too costly if you buy these molds from craft stores so why not try to make your own molds to add to the excitement of this craft?

When you make your own molds, you must use the proper materials and equipment. There are different molding compounds that can be used to make a mold. You can try one first, then the other. Once you’ve seen which one produces the best results, then decide what components you want to use.

Latex compound

This compound can be found in most craft stores or model railroad shops. A pint of this compound costs about $10. Cleanup can be done with water and not a lot of the compound is needed to make figures such as statues.

The disadvantage of this compound is the time it takes to create the mold. Allow 2 or more days to create a mold because each layer (or coat) needs to be dried completely before applying the next coat. At least 4 coats are needed to complete a mold and drying time between coats takes at least 4 hours.

Silicone RTV compound

The silicone RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) compound for mold making might be the best material to use in making molds. No mold release is needed for this compound because it does not stick to anything except itself. This molding compound is very strong and can handle hot materials.

Silicone

Almost all plastic products around us are molded using silicones. Each silicone product has its own unique properties and can be used only for a defined purpose. A silicone for a certain type of mold may not be applicable to another. There are a number of reputable places that sell user-friendly silicones such as Micromark, Smooth-on, GE Silicones, Douglas and Sturgess, Inc., and Cherokee Accessories.

How to make the mold

Once you may have chosen a material to use, it’s time to make the mold. Before starting, make sure that you all of the tools needed to ensure a smooth process in making the mold. You will need a stiff bristled paint brush, paint thinner, soap and water, hard (stiff) boxes or Lego pieces, Plexiglas, and clay: the boxes or Lego pieces are needed to hold or steady the mold.

The first thing you have to do is mix the silicone material, (some are pre-mixed), depending on the type of silicone used until the desired consistency is achieved. One you have the compound ready, use the stiff bristled brush to paint your model with the mixture. Make certain that there no air bubbles around the mold and the silicone covers the mold entirely. Once the object has been completely painted, wash the brush with paint thinner.

Place the painted object inside the box – or a box you created using Lego pieces. Use a piece of Plexiglas in the bottom of the box where the object will be standing. Put clay all around the bottom edges of the box to seal the container

After placing the object inside the box and ensuring that the bottom edges are sealed, you can now pour the remaining compound into the box until it completely fills the box. The next step is to let the mold cure. For silicone compound, curing time may be as short as 4 hours; but curing overnight is preferred.

Once cured and completely dry, you can now remove the pieces of the box (by carefully cutting the boxes corners) or Legos and remove the object from the mold. Voila! You now have a newly crafted mold! Isn’t it easy to do?