Hi, my name is Al, and I represent Michigan's most professional painting company, T. L. Hart, Inc. They say I'm the 'Dudley-Do-Right' of the painting industry. So in this section of T. L. Hart's website, I will do everything I can to answer you painting and related questions. Simply email me at painting@tlhart.com I'll email your answer and post it here.

WHAT MAKES PAINT YELLOW?
Yellowing occurs with oil-based paints and is caused by the alkyd resins used to make the paint. These tend to yellow with age. Other causes include light exposure and ammonia-based cleaners. How can you reduce paint yellowing? If you insist on alkyd paint, ask for one with high-grade resins with low-yellowing qualities. We recommend using the newer 100% acrylics, which eliminate yellowing, are extremely durable, and are not hazardous.

CAN YOU PAINT OVER VINYL WALLCOVERING?
You sure can - we do it all the time! First, we make sure it is clean, washing it as necessary with a good commercial cleaner. Next, prime it with a high quality alkyd or acrylic primer. Finally, apply the finish coat specified by the customer, usually a top line semi-gloss or eggshell enamel. You can also apply popular multi-color paints over the primer too.

WHAT IS THE BEST PRIMER FOR WALL COVERING?
Most manufacturers recommend and we concur that the newer acrylic primers are best since they provide a more porous surface for the wall covering adhesive to grip to. Oil-based primers are very hard and actually inhibit adhesion because they are too glossy and don't allow the moisture in the adhesive to escape. To be safe however, always read the wall covering, adhesive and primer instructions.

CAN YOU PAINT NEW CONCRETE WALLS?
Sure can, but first make sure concrete has cured for 30 days. Then test the PH level. It should be in the 7-9 range. If it's not, then you have two options. Either neutralize the PH with a mild acid solution, rinsing thoroughly after the acid wash, or, better yet, take advantage of newer products on the market designed specifically for high PH surfaces. One such product being Sherwin Williams Loxon Primer. Then coat the surface with a high grade acrylic paint. Be sure, however, that the surface is thoroughly dry before coating, using either a moisture meter or an ASTM-approved method, to test it before hand.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I CHECK WHEN COATING MASONRY?
Another enemy of paint on masonry surfaces is efflorescence. Efflorescence are salts inherent to most masonry products which leach out with moisture. Most common with concrete block, efflorescence must be cleaned off prior to painting.

WHAT IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF PEELING PAINT?
Without a doubt, the main reason for paint failure is moisture. Water trapped in wood or masonry seeks escape through the paint film, usually on the sunny side of a building, causing bubbling and peeling. To determine whether the problem is a poor paint job or moisture, check for bare substrates beneath the peeling. A bare substrate usually indicates a moisture problem.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF CAULK ON THE MARKET?
There sure is, and it is important that you choose the right one for the job. Included in the list are latex, acrylic, elastomeric, siliconized, urethane, pure silicone, adhesive, butyl plus others. When making a decision, assess where the caulk is needed and determine your expectations. Is it inside? Outside? Will the surfaces expand and contract? Will you be painting over it? How wide and deep is the area to be filled? As a good, all-round caulk we prefer the acrylic with silicone and the adhesive types of caulk. If in doubt, ask a supplier or call us for help in determining what is best for your application.

CAN YOU EFFECTIVELY PAINT OVER SILICONE CAULK?
Many folks use silicone caulk because of its superior qualities, but when they go to paint they find out that paint will not stick to it. Generally speaking, you can't paint over silicone caulk, but there ways around the problem. One is to simply apply a paintable siliconized acrylic caulk over the top of the siliconized caulk. Allow it to dry. Then paint it. Another is to purchase a primer specifically designed to prime over silicone. These are usually available from a specialized caulk supplier.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STRIP EPOXY FROM A CONCRETE FLOOR OR BLOCK WALL?
You would never guess: STEAM. That's right, using an 'old-fashioned' wall-paper type steamer (larger unit for big jobs) will safely and efficiently remove epoxy coatings from concrete or masonry surfaces.

YOUR COMPANY TALKS ABOUT "REDUCED CYCLE-TIME." WHAT IS CYCLE-TIME?
Cycle-time is the time it takes to service the customer, from the initial request for painting to the final billing, including the time it takes to estimate the work, schedule the work, perform the work and invoice the work. T.L. Hart, Inc. is committed to reducing this overall process, thereby better serving the needs of our customers.

DOES T.L. HART GUARANTEE ITS WORK?
Absolutely! Because we believe in the integrity of our products and services, and are committed to the satisfaction of our customers, T.L. Hart, Inc. warrants its products to be free of defects for a period of one year following the completion of work. We can also custom-design longer warranty periods for certain types of products and applications.