Posts tagged: Arana Craftsman Painters

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead

I am passionate about home and family and love to give back to organizations that support folks who don’t have the full capacity to care for them. This weekend I will be volunteering as House Captain on a project in Berkeley. We will be assisting homeowner Carol with some repair items that seem simple but pose a major challenge for her.

Teamed up with other contractors like HDR Remodeling, we will be working under the umbrella of an organization called Rebuilding Together. The national non-profit has been operating for 20 years with a mission to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing free home repairs and modifications for “neighbors” in need.

Rebuilding Together, originally named Christmas in April, was started in Midland Texas when a small group of people noticed their neighbor’s homes were falling into disrepair. They decided to pitch in and make the repairs and realized the potential impact their work could bring. Today 100,000 volunteers handle 10,000 revitalization projects every year.

The organization relies on Corporate sponsors like Sherwin Williams, Community partners like AmeriCorps, and on-the-ground volunteer professional contractors and community volunteers. Our painters and students from the architecture department at UC Berkeley will be among the team that will do the on-the-ground work.

On Carol’s home, I will be directing the team to repaint her garage to stop any further deterioration, clean out the crawl space and repaint her office and bathroom ceiling. The biggest part of the project will be the reinforcement of a support joist underneath the home that has deteriorated causing the floor to sag and the walls to go out of level. This is the most critical and expensive repair.

I encourage any of you who have time and energy to volunteer on a project in your city. This is one of the most direct ways that you can reach out and help your neighbors while also having a positive impact on your neighborhood. Rebuilding Together’s website is: https://rebuildingtogether.org.

Catherine Baldi, Company Manager

Why You Might Want To Give ‘Bokashi’ Composting a Try

By Aislin Suparak Gibson

Bokashi composting can be a great solution for those who live in an apartment or have limited garden space — or are looking to speed up the process of an existing compost pile. This low-odor, space-saving method breaks down all food scraps with the help of beneficial bacteria to create a nutrient-rich compost for your soil, while also creating a natural liquid fertilizer for your plants. And it all starts in a bucket you can place under the kitchen sink.

Bokashi is a Japanese word that means “fermented organic matter.” It originated from an ancient Japanese farming technique that uses soil microbes to increase the nutrient level and microbial diversity of the soil.

Managing the bokashi compost is different than a traditional compost system — and easier in some ways.

1. All food scraps can be composted. Dairy and meat can be included in a Bokashi system, unlike traditional compost, which uses plant material only. This system eliminates the need to sort out orange peels, avocado pits and other items that may attract pests or don’t break down easily in a passive compost system.
   
2. Less daily work. The bokashi bin is only taken out after it is full, which can take a few days to a few weeks. This eliminates the daily chore of taking compost outside.
   
3. No messy digging. Since the food is already fermented, it does not require the regular turning and maintenance of a compost pile.
   
4. Reduces waste and saves money. In my home, where we regularly recycle and compost, we’ve already been able to downsize our household trash bin and save money on our monthly trash collection bill. Bokashi composting eliminates even more waste than these recycling and composting practices, which could further cut down the monthly trash bill.
   
   Adapted from: https://www.houzz.com

Interior Design Tip: Where To Hang Your Flatscreen TV

By Laura Martin Bovard

When did hanging the TV over the fireplace become a thing? Trust me, I get it. My own husband is not a sports fan so it’s easy enough for me to say, but my brother-in-law, for example, opened restaurants just so he could surround himself with TV sports whenever the mood strikes.

Like any design advice, this is purely subjective, and for me, in an opinion I have acquired over many years of tossing the TV topic back and forth with dozens, nay – hundreds! – of people, including other designers, clients, spouses, kids, and contractors, and I always land on the side of don’t.

My advice: Put art over the fireplace. A sculpture. Or, if you have truly beautiful tile or brick, try leaving it bare. If you already have it there, could I persuade you to consider moving it to a less prominent place? Use the same mounting hardware to hang a beautiful painting, or a mirror, or a Contemporary painting from Slate Art.

Why do I feel so strongly about this? Let’s go with ergonomics, first. For the sake of your cervical spine and proper alignment when gazing at anything for very long your TV should be — whether freestanding or hung — positioned at eye level when you are sitting down. Otherwise, you are straining your neck upwards when you watch it. This is actually true whether or not there is a fireplace involved. (The ergonomics issue also applies to your cell phone, we are all going to end up with hump-necks if we keep gazing down at our devices.)

In a living room, the sight line from your seating area is often much lower than the space above your mantel. In a bedroom, the sight line will depend on the height of your bed.

Why else? Your TV, assuming we are talking about the big, black, flat screen that is the current cultural de-rigeur, carries a certain visual and energetic weight. It is big, heavy-looking, and dark. It absorbs light when off, absorbs our attention when on, and emits an electrical current which disrupts sleep patterns when looming over your bed, and is loud commentary about the values that exist in the home.

That said, generally, we all have TVs. So where should you put yours? If there is really no other place, then, okay. Fireplace; above. The question I ask you to consider is: Do you want being entertained by your television to be paramount? Or is your primary intention to create a warm, welcoming space, filled with fun art, vibrant energy and a tone of elegance. (I think you know which version I would suggest.)

If you want to increase the energy, joy, and pleasure that you can have in your life through the interior design choices you make, don’t make the TV the focal point of your living room or family room. Because these rooms, full of ample seating — plus coffee tables and game tables; bookshelves and beautiful objects; are designed for gathering, connecting, relating, and relaxing.

Where you place your TV has a dramatic, powerful impact on the energy field in that room, and in your life. So choose carefully. Your neck, and your heart, will feel the difference.

Adapted from: https://www.lmbinteriors.com/interior-design/interior-design-tip-hang-flatscreen-tv/

My Mother’s surname is Arana and I am Ernesto Perez Arana. I originally come from Guatemala, but I often say that I was born again in San Francisco, Dolores Park to be exact.

In the 1980s I made the City my home and that there is where I took up the Craft, the trade of painting homes. I work with my hands and while I was in the City, it was me and all of those beautiful home canvases; as many as I could possibly paint. I wasn’t just good at it, I was great. I could manage all of the details, prepare any surface to accept paint and ultimately, I could wield a brush and hit a straight line like nobody’s business. I am old enough to not have used a sprayer in my work. I brushed and rolled everything while scaling 40-foot ladders, up and down the faces of Victorian beauties, Edwardian edifices, Tudor facades and of course the Sunset and Richmond district tract homes. I still cannot get enough of the multitude of Bay Area architectural styles.

My company, Arana Craftsman Painters, has become my Swan Song. In the 1980s and 90s, I worked for several great companies like Armstrong, De Martini / Arnott, and Perfection Painting – which is exactly what we did – we worked to Perfection. Catherine and I gave birth to our first child in 2004 and decided to move to the East Bay. Once again, I was leaving a place I had woven myself, my love, and my memories into. I knew every inch of the city, but my kids needed a yard, we needed a parking space and I was ready to begin again.

Here in the East Bay we got to paint a whole new set of architecture; Craftsman and California Bungalows, Mediterranean and Spanish style and of course the eclectic mix of the Oakland fire zone. And that is just the Exterior. Interior painting requires so much more care.

I am obsessed with painting my clients’ homes, for beauty’s sake yes, but also for the long-term health of their families and neighborhoods. Painting is the most rewarding of the trades. We can transform while at the same time protect, maintain, and boost a home’s value. You might say we have magic paintbrushes! But, while we can’t always turn a frog into a Prince, we can change, preserve, and elongate the life of almost any surface.

Thank you to all of you who trusted your home with us!

Ernesto

Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors

By Erin Caryle

1. Paint Directly on the Wall
   This is true for interiors as well as exteriors: You’ll get the best sense of how the color will really look if you paint it directly on the wall. Also, keep in mind that the existing color of the wall will affect how the paint reads. Colors will appear darker against a light backdrop and lighter against a dark backdrop.
   
2. Paint Two Coats
   That’s the amount of coverage you’ll typically need on any wall. The second coat usually makes a big difference in the way the paint reads. Also, paint large swaths — at least 1 foot by 1 foot, and even larger is better. The 2-inch swatches won’t give you a good sense.
   
3. Use a Primer
   A small selection of deep paint colors can be created only in conjunction with specific primers. The paint deck will show which colors are in this category.
   
4. Paint Multiple Walls
   The colors you’re testing will read differently depending on the amount of light that hits them. Also, landscaping outside a window can color the light streaming through it and change how a paint looks on the wall as well. As you view the colors, make sure you consider what time of day you’ll most often be in the room. You want to like how the color looks at that time.
   
5. Place Lighting Before You Test
   It’s simple, but true: It’s better to use the lighting that fits your needs than try to select your lighting to complement your paint colors. Make sure your lighting is in place as you’re considering colors. They may look quite different in bright bulbs that you prefer for nighttime use — or softer yellow-hued ones, if that’s what you’re going for — than they do during daylight hours. Having the right fixtures and bulbs in place can help you decide which shades will work for you.

Adapted from: houzz.com

Blessing Space

By Madisyn Taylor

“We can bless each space we enter, leaving a sweet energetic footprint behind.”

Physical space acts like a sponge, absorbing the radiant of all who pass through it. And, more likely than not, the spaces we move through each day have seen many people come and go. We have no way of knowing whether the energy footprints left behind by those who preceded us will invigorate us or drain us. Yet we can control the energy footprint we leave behind for others. In blessing each space we enter, we orchestrate a subtle energy shift that affects not only our own experiences in that space but also the experiences of the individuals who will enter the space after us. While we may never see the effects our blessing has had, we can take comfort in the fact that we have provided grace for those that follow after us.

When you bless a room or an entire building, you leave a powerful message of love and light for all those who will come after you. Your blessings thus have myriad effects on the environments through which you pass. Old, stagnant energy is cleared, creating a vacuum into which fresh and invigorating energy can freely flow. The space is thus rendered harmonious and nourishing, and it becomes a hub from which positive feelings are transmitted. Intent is the key component of the blessings you leave in your physical wake.

If your intent involves using your own consciousness as a tool for selflessly spreading grace, your blessings will never go awry. Whether you feel more comfortable performing a solo blessing or prefer to call upon your spirit guides for assistance, visualize each space you enter becoming free of toxins, chaos, and negativity as you speak your blessing. Then imagine the resultant emptiness being replaced by pure, healing white light and loving energy. Even a quick mindful thought of love can bless a space.

This type of blessing is cumulative and will grow each time you bestow it. Try blessing every home, business, and office you visit for an entire week and observing the effects of your goodwill. Your affirmative energy footprint will help brighten your day as you contemplate your blessing’s future impact on your siblings in humanity and your environment.

Adapted from: dailyom.com

Family time is what we do all of this for and what life is all about. We work hard over here, but on occasion we get away to enjoy the beauty of Northern California and swim! This year we went with good friends to a place called Mono Hot Springs. If you have not been there, I highly recommend it.

Just 70 miles northeast of Fresno, 5 miles from the “end of the road”, Mono Hot Springs is surrounded by National Forest on all sides. There are no cell phone towers but plenty of those iconic granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada Range. At an elevation of 6700 feet the “resort” is filled with stone and tent cabins that are rustic and ringed by green meadows and giant outcroppings of boulders. There is more nature than there is fluff here.

According to Wikipedia, “The Mono Hot Springs post office was established in 1945. Its general store, and stone cabins are located at the rustic Mono Hot Springs Resort. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the resort was built in 1935, a few years after Southern California Edison completed this section of the Kaiser Pass Road for the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project.” It is most definitely a California treasure.

Through the site runs the south fork of the San Joaquin River, one of the longest rivers in the United states and one of the most critical sources of water for our State’s crops. Dotted along the river are six naturally occurring hot springs that were somewhat developed, but not fully. The water is nothing short of magical and healing. And so is the mud that you might pay a few hundred dollars in Calistoga to soak in.

At night, outside of the campfire glow, the stars are staggering. You can see the cloudy flow of the milky way and the satellites that race along the night sky. And only the sound of wind flowing through trees and the Sierra birds is what greets you during the day. We hiked a mile in to Doris Lake and did a little fishing, but we mainly swam in the glorious river and sat by the campfire.

Don’t count on being able to book your night’s stay by computer. You must brave the old fashioned busy signal and call the office on their traditional land line. The one lane road to the resort is barely there and it skirts around large rocks and alongside cliffs. After all of that, you’ll mostly find Southern Californians! It’s just as close for them as it is for us. If you go, Enjoy!

To-Dos: Your July Home Checklist
By Family Handman

Parades and fireworks and clambakes. With summer in full swing, the month of July can seem to zip by. Make the most of your month with these 8 to-dos, covering everything from weekend guests to vacation security.

1. Check safety devices. Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors should be tested monthly; replace batteries as needed, and replace the entire device if it is more than 10 years old.
   
2. Clean windows. Keep that summer sunshine streaming in by giving windows a quick rinse with glass cleaner or a vinegar solution, then squeegee them dry or wipe with a clean microfiber cloth.
   
3. Prepare for summer guests. If you are looking to revamp your guest room, consider adding a trundle bed or bunk to make the most of the space, especially if you know you’ll be having kids visiting.
   
4. Care for furry friends. To keep pets safe in the heat, you should provide access to shade and ample fresh water and never leave pets in a car unattended. If you will be traveling this summer without your pet, be sure to plan ahead to set up care. Most pets are more comfortable in their own homes, so consider using a professional pet sitter rather than a kennel, which can be stressful.
   
5. Be pool safe. If you have a pool in your backyard, it is essential to keep it securely fenced with a self-closing, self-latching gate at least 4 feet high, to prevent children from jumping or falling in.
   
6. Add shade to the yard. Make your backyard more comfortable with an umbrella or shade sail. With ample shady spots to sit, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to spend more time in your outdoor space– and shade is a must for summer backyard parties.
   
7. Conserve water. Cut down on unnecessary water use by watering your lawn and garden during the cooler, early morning hours. The EPA recommends using a WaterSense-labeled timer for your sprinkler system, which acts like a thermostat for your lawn and can reduce water use by up to 15 percent per year. Inside the house, keep an eye out for leaky faucets and have them repaired promptly.
   
8. Keep your home safe while traveling. Motion-sensing exterior lighting, timed interior lighting and well-trimmed hedges can make your home a less appealing target for break-ins. If you will be away for a longer period of time, have your mail held for you at the post office and hire a lawn service to keep your yard from getting overgrown while you are away.

Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com

July is Sun Safety Awareness Month

By Dr. Howard Epstein

Heat Stroke is a serious medical condition that can be life threatening. It causes the body’s core temperature to rise dangerously high. Signs of heat stroke include confusion, short rapid breathing, lack of sweating and a fast pulse. If someone shows signs of heat stroke, call 911 immediately.

1. Seek Shade – avoid the sun during the midday hours when the sun’s rays are the most intense.
   
2. Cover Up – wear long sleeves, pants and a hat. The darker the clothing, the more UV protection.
   
3. Sunglasses – protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts.
   
4. Sunscreen – use broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF15, even on cloudy or cool days. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
   
5. Avoid Tanning Beds and Sunlamps – their UV rays are just as dangerous as the sun.

Source: https://www.preferredone.com/

Scout said it best in To Kill A Mockingbird:
“I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” – Scout

These are words I live by in business and pleasure and how I approach everyone I meet through work and play.

An East Bay native by way of Philadelphia, I bring to Arana Craftsman Painters my 20 years of work in the home industry through mortgage and bathroom remodeling.

I am passionate about people and how I can help them, whether it be through home finance, construction, home remodeling and painting.

I spent my childhood in the East Bay, playing basketball in the streets of Albany and seeking escape in the solace of Indian Rock. I now raise my nine and two-year-old daughters in the East Bay and am happy to call this place my home.

When I’m not out on consultations with homeowners, you can find me playing pool in my garage or back-packing in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Traveling with my family and dog fuels my passion for people and life.

Our homes are our biggest investments not only in our wallets, but our hearts. I look forward to continually helping Bay Area homeowners protect, improve, and enhance their homes for years to come.

Be A Good Neighbor on Halloween

Many people enjoy handing out candy to their little visitors on Halloween. To make sure your visiting trick-or-treaters stay safe in your yard:

Clear away lawn equipment and any clutter from the yard, walkways, and steps so kids don’t trip over them.

If you have lighted jack-o’-lanterns, position them far enough away from where kids will stand so their costumes won’t catch on fire. Better yet, use glow sticks instead of candles.

Make sure paper or fabric decorations can’t blow into the flame of a jack-o’-lantern.

Keep all of your outside lights on during the evening.

Before sending your children on their rounds, make sure they eat so they won’t be tempted to dig into their goodie bags before you can examine them.

Check to make sure no parts of their costumes drag on the ground. Kids could step on them, trip, and fall.

If they are wearing masks, be sure they have a good field of vision. Face paint is better.

Tell them to walk, not run, stay on sidewalks, and cross streets only at intersections, not between parked cars.

Advise kids to approach only those houses with outside lights burning. Never go inside a house.

Young children should be accompanied by an adult. Older kids should travel with a group of friends.

Does Your Home Have Any of These Exterior Paint Failures?

Save money by avoiding expensive repairs.

1. Wood cracking and separation – Here we see separation between the stucco and wood window sill and cracking in the wood window sill itself. Of all the types of failure, this is the most common and can lead to larger, more costlier repairs.

The best approach to remedy this is:

• scrape out all of the failed material where the stucco meets the wood;
• sand the sill down thoroughly;
• Apply a coat of a strong, adhesive primer;
• Apply a premium grade caulking material if the gap is not too large;
• Patch the cracks in the wood with a 2-part wood epoxy;
• Patch the stucco if needed with a high grade concrete patching material;
• Sand the epoxy and prime the patches;
• Apply 2 coats of finish paint.

2. Stucco peeling and cracks – this is a severe case of stucco separating from the base of the house, but an example of what can happen when left uncoated too long;

The best approach to remedy this situation is:

• Remove all of the failed and peeling paint;
• Prime the area with a good adhesive primer;
• Patch stucco and match texture as needed;
• Prime the patch and apply 2 coats of finish paint.

3. Bare wood spots – Wood areas without coating will eventually lead to splits and rot. Wood siding replacement is some of the most expensive repairs on a home.

The best approach to remedy this situation is:

• Remove all of the failed and peeling paint;
• Sand the surrounding area to “abrade” the surface;
• Feather sand to disappear the edges of the surrounding paint;
• Prime the spot with a good penetrating primer – oil-hybrid or another strong adhesive primer;
• Apply 2 coats of finish “corner to corner” on the surface.

This year one of our favorite projects was featured in the Children’s Support League (CSL) Annual Heart of the Home tour. If you don’t know about the Children’s Support League, please take a moment to read through this article to learn about one of the finest organizations in the Bay Area.

CSL organizes and works with five generous homeowners from Piedmont and Oakland to open their homes to a public tour. The homes feature the best of the East Bay trades in Architecture, Interior Design, and Construction. The aim of the tour is to raise money for at-risk youth in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. This year CSL celebrated 30 years of implementing their vision and in 2017 donated $140,000. CSL grants money to the following organizations and areas:

Child Advocacy and Crisis Intervention – CALICO, Child Abuse prevention Council of Contra Costa, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Alameda County, Youth Alive

Special Needs – Bay Area Outreach & Recreation, Special Needs Aquatic Program, Through the Looking Glass

Educational Support – Aspire Education Project, Camp Phoenix, Community Education Partnerships, Contra Costa Youth Council and Faith Network of the East Bay

Shelters and Shelter Programs – Building Futures for Women and Children, STAND: For Families Free of Violence, Winter Nights

Therapy, Counseling and Supportive Services – Ann Martin Center

One of the featured projects of the tour was a home where we worked to assist the Interior Designer and the Homeowner in implementing a vision that curated the homeowner’s artwork, photographs and unique style. Located at 2063 Oakland Avenue, the home is a classic Jacobian Tudor designed by renowned architect Houghton Sawyer and built in 1923. In 2014 it was beautifully redecorated by LMB Interiors before the new homeowners moved in. Pictures can be found on our website.

Please consider supporting CSL’s mission and mark your calendars for the last week of April 2019 for the next tour!

Painter Spotlight, Meet our Painters

We are excited to announce that one of our long time Painters, Jonathan Barrientos, will be promoted to the position of Production Coordinator in our Company! With him we will bring even more skilled management and experience to Field Production.

This is what one of our clients had to say about him:

“Wanted to pass along that Jonathan, the painter who was here last time, was awesome! I appreciated
his craftsmanship and patience! And his dry sense of humor!

We look forward to serving you even better!

To-Do’s: Your May Home Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

1. Check outdoor lighting. Make sure all outdoor lights are in working order, including porch lights, landscape lighting and motion-sensing security lights. Replace bulbs or schedule repairs as needed.
   
2. Give potted plants some TLC. If you have potted plants that stay indoors over winter, bring them out once the danger of frost has passed. To help your plants acclimatize, find a protected spot out of direct sun for the first several weeks outdoors.
   
3. Inspect kitchen and bath fixtures. Keeping an eye on these areas can help prevent costly water damage and repairs later on. Make a plan to regrout or recaulk around counters and tile as needed. If you come across any slow leaks, have these repaired as well.
   
4. Check safety devices. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month and replaced every 10 years — even if they still appear to be in working order. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace it if necessary.
   
5. Get ready for grilling season. Giving your grill a deep cleaning before the start of the season will help it work more efficiently and prevent flare-ups. Clean the grates and interior with a grill brush and wash the exterior with warm, soapy water. Clean and organize your grilling tools (tongs, spatula, skewers) and pick up charcoal or propane if needed. If you have a gas grill, be sure to check the fuel line for cracks and clean out any clogged burner holes.
   
6. Maintain and repair garden paths. Create neat edges, pull weeds, fill in gravel paths with fresh gravel and replace or reposition broken steppingstones.
   
7. Clean walls and touch up paint. Use a dusting attachment on your vacuum or an electrostatic
   duster to remove dust from walls, paying special attention to corners and baseboards. For a deeper
   clean, wipe down walls with warm, soapy water after dusting. Rinse with clean water, using a lint-free
   cloth. Touch up paint as needed on interior walls and trim.
   
8. Clean items on open shelves. Infrequently used items stored on open shelves can get pretty grimy over time. For items with a thin layer of dust, swipe with an electrostatic duster. If there is a thicker layer of dust, of if the items are in the kitchen (where cooking grease can be an issue), wash each piece in a tub of warm, soapy water.
   
9. Refresh bedrooms. Rotate the mattresses on all beds and flip over if possible. Dust nightstands, lamps, headboards, blinds and decor. Swap heavy duvets for lighter-weight bedding for the warmer months.