Odor Free Paint

Valspar Launches Valspar Plus

The Valspar Plus paint, certified as asthma and allergy friendly, decreases airborne irritants and enhances the painting process of people with respiratory sensitivities.

The Valspar Plus is odor-free and has zero volatile organic compounds. The antimicrobial characteristics of the coating provide resistance to mildew and mold. The company has developed the Valspar Plus in response to the market requirement for a paint that meets the needs of Americans suffering from allergies and asthma.

The benefits offered by the paint include one-coat coverage with lifetime warranty, stain resistance, high durability, exceptional quality and performance. It is easy to wash and maintain once the paint has dried.

The Valspar Plus coating is available in a wide range of colors for trim, ceiling and wall applications. It is offered in three types such as semi-gloss, satin and flat.

Last month, the company released its second-quarter earnings. Net earnings moved up 3 cents to 64 cents in the second quarter of 2011 from last year’s 61 cents and were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Adjusted net earnings excluded charges relating to acquisition of 5 cents per share and restructuring actions of 1 cent per share. Including these charges, earnings per share came in at 58 cents in the second quarter of 2011.

Quarterly sales jumped about 23.5% year over year to $992.7 million, driven by new business efforts, pricing and acquisitions, offsetting rising raw material costs and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $953 million.

Sales in Valspar’s Coatings segment increased 15.2% year over year to $509.1 million and sales in the Paints segment shot up to $418.4 million, up 37.6% from the prior-year quarter. Sales from intersegment business increased 13.4% year over year to $65.2 million.

Gross margin decreased to 31.8% in the reported quarter versus 34.0% in the comparable year-ago quarter. Operating expense as a percentage of net sales inched up 21.8% from last year’s 21.0%.

Valspar expects adjusted net income per share to be in the range of $2.45 to $2.65 per share in fiscal 2011. The company continues to raise its selling prices and take steps to further reduce its cost structure while maintaining investments in its brands and technology.

Acrylic Painting 101 - hljtfxx.com

Acrylics dry very fast, usually within only minutes, so it's wise to keep the paint in the tube and only use a little at a time. If you prefer to use a palette, there are now palettes that will stay wet during use so your paint won't dry out. Or, you can use a regular palette and keep it wet by spraying it with a small amount of water occasionally. This keeps your acrylic paint in a ready-to-use form. With fast-drying acrylics, blending colors can be a trying task in itself. You can blend colors several ways. Colors can be mixed and stored in tubes or containers and then blended using a web palette. Also, you can use very small dots of different shades and overlap the colors to blend them. You can also layer shades instead of trying to blend them while wet. It's wise to use pre-drawn sketches as the starting point of your acrylic drawings. Trace or copy the sketch onto canvas or board. Then, use a thin layer of acrylic paint to prime the sketch. Be sure your sketch-work can still be seen through the thin layer. You can also prime the canvas or board first with white color and then copy your sketch onto the primed surface. Watercolor masking fluid works well for layering colors or saving areas of your painting to paint later. The masking fluid can be applied to keep an area of the painting clear. You must remove the masking fluid only after it has completely dried. It can be removed by rolling it with clean fingers. Also, be sure to use a brush specifically for masking fluid. Don't use your regular painting brushes.

Knack Green Decorating & Remodeling, Design Ideas and Sources for a Beautiful Eco-Friendly Home

Popular Mechanics

Popular mechanics

Green building products, the GreenSpec® guide to residential building materials

Paint and Wallpaper