KABOSH ECO GUARD


One of our products that works amazingly well is the KABOSH ECO GUARD. This is THE BEST product I have ever used for keeping surfaces clean in outdoor conditions. ECO GUARD is easy to apply and the effects are long lasting. It can be used over masonry, wood, plastic and painted surfaces.

ECO GUARD comes in two formulations, one is ready to use and the other is a concentrate that can be used from five parts water to one ECO GUARD and the other is ready to use. I prefer the concentrate because I use it all around my house. Mixing for me is simple. I pour an amount into a pump-up sprayer and then add five more containers of water. I generally use a plastic pickle bucket for my measure but any vessel will suffice. The first time application is used at a 5:1 dilution. Later applications for maintenance purposes can be mix with a more dilute ratio up to 9:1. Effectively the yield can be between 6 to 10 gallons from one jug of concentrate. Once mixed, the ECO GUARD is simply sprayed over the surface to saturation; I generally achieve this by sweeping the fan with overlapping strokes. The sidewalk around my corner property took about one half gallon of concentrate made up in two batches. Application time was about 30 minutes before work one day.and that was it. A year later the sidewalk still looked very good but I hit it with a maintenance dose just to keep it looking nice and because it is so little trouble to do it.

ECO GUARD is meant to be sprayed on the surface and then left alone. No rinsing, scrubbing or neutralizing. Unlike bleach it will not kill plants or damage paints or fabrics such as awnings. Unlike pressure cleaning it does not scour the surface or strip away fragile surfaces. Of course, if you’re looking for that clean right now look, you could be pressure clean and follow up with KABOSH ECO GUARD so your maintenance cycle is extended out. Afterwards pressure cleaning will no longer be necessary to keep the surface free from mold or algae. It will only require a periodic application of a low concentration of ECO GUARD.

ECO GUARD can be used over just about any exterior surface such as unpainted masonry, stone or brick, over painted surfaces and wood. Painted surfaces and plastic are the fastest results, more porous such as concrete and brick surfaces generally take longer because the dirt and organisms are more deeply embedded. Results are not what anyone would say is immediate although it is working when it hits the surface. The first thing you’ll notice is a distinct pink brown color and slight earthy smell from the product killing the existing fungi and algae. Then, over a few weeks or months, weather action will erode and wash off the surface to reveal a clean, natural looking result. The effects last a long time, many months, maybe years depending on your cleanliness tolerance.


Here’s a picture of my sidewalk leading towards my neighbor. She pays to have her sidewalk pressure cleaned about twice each year. My side received a 5:1 application of ECO GUARD. The picture was taken over a year after application.

Fall Color Palates

Since we have focused on the exterior of the home, let’s look inward this week.

Fall color palates for interior paint can invoke hygge and feelings of warm, cozy comfort. They are perfect for places where family spends time together, such as living rooms.

These colors don’t necessarily have to be dark, like when you think of Halloween and haunted woods (though dark studies or bedrooms can certainly have an amazing dramatic or elegant feel to them!) Think instead of the autumn leaves, warm-toned browns or a rich rust color, forest-y green accents with neutral beige or even white as the main color. Also, white and sage greens with pops of pumpkin and mustard yellow are great fall colors to bring into your home.

If you don’t want to repaint, you can explore wallpaper as an alternative! There is a wallpaper for everyone and it’s not what you remember. Most wallpapers are made to be easily strippable and there are even Peel-N-Stick options that are removable stickers (and perfect for dorms and apartments!) Current wallpaper has patterns ranging from bold geometrics to neutral textures to natural fibers, just about any color or pattern that you are looking for can be found in our 300+ wallpaper book library. Stop by our 6995 Bird Rd store or call 305-666-3300 for more information!

You can always bring in accent pieces, such as textiles and décor with fall colors that will blend with your current color palate.

Feel free to stop by our 6995 Bird Rd location to look at all the colors we have to offer in person. And if you want inspiration before you visit, check out our Fall Décor Pinterest Boards for sample color palates, décor ideas and more!

SAMPLIZE Makes Color Selection As Easy As Peel & Stick

Benjamin Moore has a new way to try out colors.


Using large stickers of accurate colors, Samplize allows you to place the colors and move them around. No messing around with color swatches painted on the wall or painting out boards.  You can order just 1 piece of as many as you like, all the colors in the system are there. Get wall, trim and accent colors you can see and swap. Shipping options include up to next day delivery.

Benjamin Moore Product Updates

Benjamin Moore has been very busy these past couple of years and the outlook is this is going to continue for the foreseeable future. They have recently updated the primers and a number of different paint lines. I believe this is the result of many things but it has coincided with the latest CEO Dan Calkins involvement. It causes some pain in the moment now but repositioning and realigning the products should make things better for the future.

Visibly, we are seeing label changes and products are updated. As it was explained to me, Ben Moore is partly doing this to fulfill compliance to the MPI standards. These are a set of agreed upon performance and appearance standards for all sorts of paints and coatings. This should put Moore’s products in a competitive equivalence bracket for inclusion on master specifications. Architects and designers want to allow builders and contractors to use what is best suited for the region that they are working in and so want to specify paints that provide similar results. Benjamin Moore’s exclusive sheens didn’t fit nicely within the MPI structures and sometimes didn’t match other BM paints with the same nomenclature. Now eggshell finishes should appear to have the same sheen across all products labeled eggshell.

Another reason I think we are seeing all these changes has to do with updates in available raw materials. Raw material manufacturer’s come out with improvements all the time. As ingredients are replaced, chemists have to come up with adjustments to their formulas as well.  Ben Moore is always looking to lead the industry in quality and satisfaction  achieve better performance for working properties and durability; if you’re not improving you’re going backwards. Their updated technology necessary for creating Urethane Modified Acrylic paints such as COROTECH COMMAND and the INSL-X CABINET COAT shows that they are striving for useful performance goals.

Recent improvements including Exterior Aura, interior “ben”, UltraSpec and the various primers are only part of the changes. CORONADO PAINTS are also getting updated with the move from RUST SCAT acrylic formulas to the new MULTAPPLY gloss and semi-gloss. This update, if nothing else, allows tinting these products with Ben Moore’s proprietary waterborne GENNEX tint system on computerized dispenser systems. This provides for the move away from VOC solvent tint systems and should give greater color accuracy and consistency.

Brewster Home Fashions

CLICK HERE Shop Online with Brewster Wallcoverings 

Get 25% off when you purchase wallpaper and other home accents from Brewster Wallcoverings. Brewster is a leader and an innovator in home decorations. In addition to traditional wallpaper you can find murals, framed art, metal or wood wall hangings, vinyl floor and backsplash tiles and much more.

Brewster’s 23 wallpaper brands can be viewed in their online gallery and you can organize your shopping easily sorting through themes, brands, styles, and colors.

Fine Paints of Europe Training Class

Join us on January 8th, 2022 for our first Fine Paints of Europe training class.

We welcome Larry Lanoeutte, a master painter and long-time FPE user. Larry has been a contractor for over 36 years and now travels the country training and consulting with painting contractors. He brings a wealth of knowledge from application to selling skills needed to prosper in today’s competitive paint industry.

During this one day class, attendees will learn about each of the products as well as preparation and application techniques for successful projects. More than that, there will be hands on demonstrations of sundries and sprayers that work well with FPE, selling skills and troubleshooting.

There is a $50 fee to register for the class and paid participants will receive a $50 store voucher and FPE swag.

The class is to be held at our (soon to be) renovated contractor location 2855 SW 69th Court  south east of BJ’s on Coral Way. Class starts at 8 o’clock.

The 2022 Benjamin Moore Color of the Year is…

Make room for creativity.
Evoking the silver-green stem of a flower,
October Mist creates a canvas for other colors –
and your imagination – to blossom.

 

 

Make room for play. Luminous pales invigorate the senses.

Make room for nurturing. Botanical hues ground us in warm reassurance.

Make room for expression. Refreshed primaries give root to personal style.

 

We are so excited by this color palate and are looking forward to all the amazing color combinations and room designs you all are going to come up with!

Stop by either of our stores to further explore these amazing colors and pick up some pint samples today!

Fall is Here!

(Though it may not seem like it in South Florida.)

It’s the time of year where things start cooling down and more people are outside walking and consequently getting better looks at the houses in their neighborhood. So, what better time to give your home a facelift?

Bold front doors are a great and cost-effective way to boost curb appeal. Fine Paints of Europe and our certified appliers can make your front door a showstopper with their glossy, mirror like finishes and color saturated flat or matte finishes.

If you are interested in becoming an applier or want more information about Fine Paints of Europe, call us about our Fine Paint of Europe Seminar on January 8th, 2022.

Another easy and inexpensive way to spruce up your home is to pressure clean your front walk and sides of your house. Removing any mildew or mold and starting with a fresh, clean entry is perfect when you want to impress your neighbors and family. The best part is, you can rent a pressure cleaner for a few days or a weekend and there is no long-term purchase or storage concerns!

You can call 305-666-3300 or 305-266-0662 for information on pricing and availability of our pressure cleaning machines.

Now that the front of your house is spotless, check for chipped or cracked paint; this would be a great opportunity to make small cosmetic changes like paint touch-ups or repainting accent pieces like shutters and trim. Small updates, like a new accent color, will go a long way to giving your house a refresh.

The last inexpensive and easy way to give your home a facelift is driveway paint! Available in a variety of colors, this is an easy way to bring new life to your home and create a clean focal point on something that usually takes up a large percentage of your front yard. Richard’s Driveway & Floor Coating  is specially formulated coating designed for use on a variety of concrete substrates, such as walkways, patios and even driveways. Its special formulation provides excellent durability, superior fade resistance and a smooth low sheen finish that resists cracking, peeling and chipping. It applies easily, may be applied to previously painted surfaces, properly primed metal surfaces and even surface areas that have been previously coated with a concrete stain. It has excellent weatherability, and may be applied to both fresh and fully cured concrete surfaces. Cleans up easily with water.

If you need more ideas for easy ways to spruce up your home in time for Halloween and all the Thanksgiving festivities that are coming up, check out our PINTEREST BOARDS for inspiration!

Benjamin Moore Improves Ultra Spec 500

Introducing Improved Ultra Spec 500
In line with our product portfolio optimization strategy, Benjamin Moore is pleased to bring new and improved offerings to market this month. Ultra Spec® 500 Interior has been enhanced to better meet the demands of the commercial segment; features include excellent hide in 1X base (especially in clean, off-white colors) smooth application, and quick dry time for faster job turnaround. The first two sheens, available now–Low Sheen Eggshell (T537) and Eggshell (T538).