Oakland Bathroom Painting Services

Arana Craftsman Painters Reopens During COVID-19

by with No Comment Blog

The company remains committed to the safety and social distancing while delivering the best paint in the Bay Area.

San Francisco, California, June 24th, 2020 – COVID-19 had forced many a business to either rework how they do business or to shut down completely. However, with the proper precautionary measures some businesses have been allowed to resume operating. One business that has recently reopened is Arana Craftsman Painters.

These Oakland painters had previously ceased operations due to the spread of COVID-19. With social distancing and masks in play however the company has begun painting once again. Arana Craftsman Painters have been servicing the San Francisco Bay Area for years and have brought beauty and rejuvenation to both businesses and homes. They are a family-owned residential painting company that combines artisanal attention to detail with sustainable practices. The company has managed to garner quite a positive reputation as a result of their superb and often surreal work. With a multitude of local clients who have sung praises for them in the past, Arana Craftsman Painters felt that it was unfair to their clients to remain closed for long. This is why they have decided to reopen their business, while taking into account all the necessary guidelines to curb COVID-19.

“As part of our efforts to curb the spread of the epidemic, Arana Craftsman Painters will be taking all the necessary precautions. The most important of which is that all our painters will be equipped with masks. In addition to this we will limit the amount of employees that are sent to any particular job. This is mainly to ensure that proper social distancing is practiced. During their residential appointments, they wear masks, gloves and boots. This helps limit any kind of physical interaction on the surface or with another person. Moreover, we are committed to following all of the Alameda County guidelines for COVID-19.” says Arana owner, Catherine Baldi.

Arana Craftsman Painters have been a renowned option in the area for a long time. They hope to continue providing on their same high standard even during these extreme circumstances.

About Arana Craftsman Painters

Arana Craftsman Painters is the Bay Area’s premier painting company. They primarily work on residential buildings but paint commercially as well. Being a family-owned business, they have cultivated a large base of clients in the area. Their strong attention to detail and sustainable practices have made them a go-to option for many people who have had their homes’ old surfaces restored by Arana Craftsman Painters. The company has relaunched their service which was previously closed due to COVID-19. They remain fully committed and vigilant in the fight against the spread of Covid-19.

Support at risk girls

Support For At-Risk Young Girls

by with No Comment Blog

I have given to many a good organization throughout my lifetime, but none has inspired me more than the fight to protect vulnerable young girls. You have no doubt heard that there is a rise in the number of stories about missing and exploited youth. In fact, according to UNICEF 1.2 million children worldwide are being trafficked each year and Oakland is considered one of 2 major hubs in the United States.

MISSSEY was founded by 2 survivors and 2 allies and their Mission is potent: To provide services to the commercially sexually exploited and to work for systemic change with the youth they serve. They have done years of work with Oakland Police, Local, Regional and Federal government to create systemic change for the youth they serve. This goes directly to their Vision of a world without commercial sexual exploitation.

At a fundraiser for MISSSEY hosted by Oakland-based Shine Center for Well Being and Laura Martin Bovard Interiors, I had the honor to meet Holly Joshi, MISSSEY’s outgoing director. She talked to us about the work she did while at Oakland Police as well as recent headway on State laws that would match the severity of Federal sentencing.

The average age of trafficked youth is 12 years old. This hits home for me as my own children fall within this exact age range. What makes these children so vulnerable is instability within the home due to economic, social or physical challenges. In Oakland, Children of color are the largest number of youth affected because they disproportionately overlap with these tougher economic conditions.

Just looking around the abundant and wealthy Bay Area it is more than evident that the number of folks falling through the cracks is on the rise and these children are some are the most vulnerable. Strong homes from family structures to intact physical structures are the key. Based in Oakland, MISSSEY runs a homelike environment that provides shelter, a hot meal and mentoring. The work is in partnership with youth “helping them transition from victim to survivor to leader, encouraging their long-term stability and success in whatever path they choose.”

Through Arana Craftsman Painters we have become a monthly donor to MISSSEY and we are working on donating our painting services to them to help them transform the girl’s space. I firmly believe that Thanksgiving is a daily ritual and one that should be exercised through giving. Please help this very important organization provide these much needed services. Please consider giving to MISSSEY: www.misssey.com

Your Guide to Stress-Free Thanksgiving Prep

Hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year? With so many details to coordinate, guests to host and dishes to cook, having a plan will save headaches and pave the way for a beautiful feast you can really feel grateful for. This breakdown of just what to do and when, from the early preparations to Thanksgiving Day, can help.

Thanksgiving Week

  • Shop for perishables.
  • Pick up the turkey if you’re buying fresh.
  • Gather your recipes. Pin copies to a bulletin board, tape them to the kitchen wall or at least bookmark them in your cookbooks for easy reference.
  • Write the cooking plan (oven temperatures and cooking times) on a whiteboard or tape it to the wall, somewhere that you and your helpers can easily check it.

The Night Before

  • Set the table if you’re serving family style or set up the buffet.
  • Put labeled serving dishes and implements on trivets on the table or buffet.
  • Tidy up around the house.
  • Prep any dishes you can to ease the workload for the next day.
  • Put anything you made in advance and froze in the fridge to thaw.

On Thanksgiving Day

  • Fill a dishpan with soapy water and use it to clean as you go.
  • Start the turkey in the morning and follow your cooking plan.
  • If anyone offers to help, accept!
  • Wrap up leftovers promptly to avoid food-borne illnesses. If you’re giving leftovers to guests, pack the food in takeout containers and store it in the fridge until it’s time to go.
  • Run a load of dishes in the dishwasher before sitting down to dessert.
  • Now sit back and enjoy that pie!

Article written by Laura Gaskill read article

Gaco Deck Colors

Painting Processes We Love: GacoDeck Waterproofing and Anti-Slip System

by with No Comment Blog

For this project (photos below), Arana restored, sealed, and waterproofed the front porch and stairs of our client’s Victorian home using one of our favorite products: GacoDeck®.

GacoDeck is typically used on roofs, decks, and staircases and even works great on concrete — anywhere that needs to be sealed.

This 2-part and four-layer process creates an epoxy coating that provides a hard and long-lasting surface, once dry. Applying GacoDeck® results in a fully-adhered, durable, waterproof membrane that expands and contracts along with the substrate as weather changes.

The process of applying GacoDeck involves first cleaning the surface to be coated, and then working within the recommended guidelines for timing, applying primer if the surface has been previously coated or painted (and sanding before this if it was a glossy paint). All seams, cracks, and joints must be prepared with special tape, flashing, or caulking materials. GacoDeck can also be used on concrete under certain conditions.

Note that GacoDeck is NOT recommended for teak, cedar, or redwood due to tannin bleeding on light colors.

(If you have any questions, let us meet with you to survey the area you wish to coat and make recommendations!)

The area to be sealed must be washed and dried appropriately, and then four layers of coating are applied; the topcoat is mixed with walnut shells to create a non-skid surface which, if properly proportioned and applied, meets California state accessibility standards for safety.

And another benefit, clean-up of your sealed deck area or walkway once GacoDeck is applied, is easy. Simply use soap and water.

GacoDeck TopCoat will maintain its waterproofing capacity and stay true to color for up to 5-7 years. At that time, homeowners are advised to apply (or have us apply) maintenance coats of GacoDeck TopCoat (again, mixed with GacoGrip Texture Granules). No primer is required.

Safety and beauty, a well-designed product, and happy customers are all reasons why, at Arana, we love GacoDeck. Call us to learn more about this product and determine if the process is right for you and your home.