April 15, 2005

Home Improvement at Your Easy–to–Clean Fingertips

Not all home improvement projects are difficult, expensive and messy. Unlike the dramatic weekend renovations often seen on television shows, simple fix–ups can make a striking difference around the home and yard — without creating a big mess and a lot of disruption.

Innovation is helping to make home improvement more convenient. Simple tasks like using spray paint to return worn and weary surfaces to their original beauty are even easier today due to advances in chemistry and can design. For example, Krylon® H2O is a new, super smooth latex spray paint that cleans up with soap and water, so scrubbing paint–stained hands with specialty cleaners is a thing of the past.

Named for its water–based, non–toxic formulation, Krylon H20 is friendlier to the environment than solvent–based paints and dries in only 15 minutes to a smooth, durable finish on surfaces ranging from wood and metal to wicker and more. Non–flammable and with little odor, it can be sprayed indoors with ventilation, or outdoors.

“Spraying indoors lets do–it–yourselfers get a jump on spring and summer projects because they can paint even in the cooler months,” says Mark Ksiezyk, senior product manager, Krylon Retail Products. “Advanced chemistry ensures that H20 provides long–lasting beauty and resistance to chips and nicks, while it washes off the skin easily with soap and water.”

Ksiezyk points out that both experienced and novice do–it–yourselfers choose spray paint for convenience. “The can is the application tool,” he says. “You get a smooth finish without brush marks, and have an easier time covering hard–to–reach or irregular surfaces. Only a little skill and effort are required to get great results — and there's no investment for tools.”

Even with something as easy to use as spray paint, it's important to follow directions and use good technique. When applying spray paint, work in a well–ventilated area at ambient temperatures of 50° to 80° F. Use newspapers or drop cloths to cover surrounding surfaces. To get started, all that's needed is a clean, dry surface that’s free of loose particles.

Next, hold the can upright and shake it vigorously for two minutes. Krylon H20 features an easy–to–remove, Pinch n' Pull™ cap so the can opens easily and there's no need to hunt for a screwdriver. For best results, test the spray on newspaper, and with each overlapping pass, start and stop the spray off the surface. Move the can slowly and evenly, keeping it 10 to 12 inches from the surface.

A common mistake is to turn the can upside down while shaking or painting. Keep the can upright during both, and to get at hard–to–reach areas, move to a different angle, or wait until the paint is dry and turn the item. With the right technique, even the first-time spray painter can get great–looking results.

More adventurous DIYers may want to get creative, combining spray paint with stencils for an endless variety of whimsical design motifs or borders for tables, chairs, dressers, headboards, or whatever suits their fancy. “The trend today is to fill home spaces with crisp, well–defined color,” Ksiezyk says, “both for the satisfaction of self–expression and for the sense of optimism and hopefulness color infuses in the home.”

H20 is available in fourteen colors at national and regional mass retail and hardware locations. Suggested retail price is $3.99. For inspiration and more home improvement hints, visit the Krylon website at www.krylon.com