Helping Customers Choose Color Schemes

Residential and commercial customers often wish to have painting done with a selection of colors… but are not sure which ones to choose because of uncertainty as to what colors will go well together. A helpful tool that you can provide is the Color Wheel. This has twelve standard colors, with a rotating disk that identifies which colors go with a selected color, to form a given color scheme.

You can use the Color Wheel with Customers – or lend one to them – to help with the color selection process.
	The Color Wheel Can Be Ordered in the PQI Store. Just Click on the Image! Also available in Spanish.
Color schemes that can be identified with the Color Wheel are included in the October 2004 issue of this newsletter.

PQI News

John Stauffer, PQI’s Technical Director, Retires

After almost 38 years working with paint manufacturers, sales people and contractors, John Stauffer is retiring from Rohm and Haas Company as of the end of July, 2006.

He has been a part of The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute since its inception in the late 1980s, and has served as technical director since 1996. In retirement, he will concentrate on maintaining and painting is home in SE Pennsylvania, spending time at his ancestral mountain cottage in New York State, working to improve living conditions in Eritrea in NE Africa where he served as a teacher with the US Peace Corps prior to joining Rohm and Haas in 1968, continuing his hobby of restoring antique pool tables, and serving his church.

John’s successor will be announced shortly.

Contractor Education - Q&A

Q: What would you say is the number one thing to watch for when assessing and preparing an exterior residential repaint job?

A: It is very important to watch out for intruding water that can cause rotting of wood, efflorescence over masonry, and lifting, blistering and peeling of the new paint. When assessing a job to be done, check for these signs of intruding water:

• rotting of wood, excessive blistering and peeling of old paint; commonly found beneath windows, and on masonry chimneys
  
• excessive efflorescence and water staining and discoloration

Do what is necessary to correct water intrusion. The following steps are often needed:

• repair rain gutters and downspouts; clear of leaves and other blockage; be sure gutters are positioned properly to catch roof runoff
• check and repair all caulking around door and window frames, conduit and wire entry points
• cracks and opening in masonry surfaces, wall caps, etc., should be thoroughly sealed
• open chimneys should be fitted with rain covers to keep out precipitation