Ghaster Painting & Coatings October Newsletter

Dear customers and friends,

Did you know that we offer more services than just painting? Please consider us your one-stop shop for projects that often go hand in hand with painting:

1. EIFS/stucco repair


2. Parking lot striping and curb painting


3. Stenciling (no parking, etc.), numbering and lettering on doors, handicap and other sign painting


4. Carport painting


5. Professional color renderings for exterior color changes


6. Window cleaning after painting


7. Wallpaper and wallcovering installation or removal


8. Interior design services and consultation


9. Tenant improvement work (removing/installing doorways, removing cabinets, install new walls)


10. Drywall repair


11. Installation of corner guards, chair rails, wainscoting and rigid vinyl sheeting (protects walls from damage due to pedestrians and wheelchairs etc. while enhancing décor)

This is the perfect time of year to paint due to the weather and our special end of the year pricing so do not wait to call.

We are new members of the Arizona Multihousing Assocation (AMA) as well as Arizona Commercial Real Estate Women (AZ CREW). We look forward to the opportunity to meet other members at upcoming events.

Sincerely,

Brad A. Ghaster
Ghaster Painting & Coatings

Ghaster Painting & Coatings
3120 W. Carefree Highway Suite 1, PMB #347
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Ph: 602.277.8541
Fax: 602.277.8576
Toll Free: 888.277.8541
www.ghasterpaintinginc.com

Ghaster Painting & Coatings August Newsletter

I wanted to take this opportunity to give you an update on things going on at Ghaster Painting & Coatings. It is almost the end of the summer and it sure has been busy and HOT. It really makes me appreciate the quality and quantity of work that our crews put forth while working in the harshest of elements.

Have brush, will travel

We are excited to be the exclusive painting contractor for the southwest region of a national retail chain. We have been traveling to Texas and Nevada to paint, install wallpaper and display graphics in their stores. If you have any buildings in the southwest region that need to be painted (exterior or interior), please allow us the opportunity to give you a bid.

Family versus Franchise

I wanted to comment on the trend I have noticed of franchisee owned painting companies. These companies are popping up around town and are often owned or managed by people who have little to no painting experience. Make sure that whatever painting company you hire has an owner who has extensive experience in the painting business. Before you get a bid, first check to see how long the company has been in operation in Arizona. A good benchmark is to use companies that have been in business for at least 20 years. Second, check on how long the ownership has remained the same. Third, ask how long the key employees have been with the company. What you find out might surprise you - high employee turnover is usually a sign of trouble or poor management.

Colors Trends 2010

Once a year, Dunn Edwards releases a "Color Forecast" which is a list of colors that they anticipate to be the trend setters in the coming year. Some of these colors are: TARNISHED SILVER, ASHWOOD, PLUM PASSION, AMBER DAWN, BISON BEIGE, LOG CABIN, BRONZED ORANGE and CHAPARRAL. Please call or write if you would like a copy of the complete list.

Have a great rest of the month.

Sincerely,

Brad A. Ghaster
President
602-277-8541


Ghaster Painting & Coatings
3120 W. Carefree Highway Suite 1, PMB #347
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Ph: 602.277.8541
Fax: 602.277.8576
Toll Free: 888.277.8541
www.ghasterpaintinginc.com

Ghaster Painting & Coatings June Newsletter

Dear friends and customers:

Ghaster Painting & Coatings is Now an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. To protect against the risk of lead poisoning, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rue requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

*Why Do You Need to Be Concerned About Lead?

Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead also can be emitted into the air from motor vehicles and industrial sources, and lead can enter drinking water from plumbing materials. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk, more than adults.

EPA requires individuals conducting lead-based paint activities in target housing and child-occupied facilities to be trained and certified. Ghaster Painting and Coatings Inc. are now accredited to ensure quality, and certified individuals must follow specific work practices ensuring that lead hazards are addressed.

*Health effects of lead

Lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States. People can get lead in their body if they: put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths, eat paint chips or soil that contains lead, breathe in lead dust, especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces.

Lead is more dangerous to children because: Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them; children's growing bodies absorb more lead; children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from: Damage to the brain and nervous system. Behavior and learning problems, such as hyperactivity, Slowed growth, Hearing problems, Headaches.

Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from: Reproductive problems (in both men and women). High blood pressure and hypertension, Nerve disorders, Memory and concentration problems, Muscle and joint pain.

*Most Common Sources of Lead Poisoning:

In general, the older your home, the more likely it has lead-based paint. Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found: In homes in the city, country, or suburbs; in apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing; inside and outside of the house.

Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can't always see, can be serious hazards. Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention. Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear. These areas include: Windows and window sills, Doors and door frames, Stairs, railings, and banisters. Porches and fences.
Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep or walk through it.

As of April 22, 2010, federal law requires that renovation firms be certified under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. Individuals be trained in lead-safe work practices and Training providers be accredited by EPA. Contractors must use lead-safe work practices and follow these three simple procedures: Contain the work area. Minimize dust. Clean up thoroughly.

You can rest assured that, as a Certified EPA Lead-Safe firm, Ghaster Painting & Coatings will follow every single work practices as specified by the rule to ensure that all potential lead hazards are addressed. It is part of our continuous commitment and dedication to you, our customers and friends.

Sincerely,

Brad A. Ghaster
President
Ghaster Painting & Coatings

*Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Ghaster Painting & Coatings
3120 W. Carefree Highway Suite 1, PMB #347
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Ph: 602.277.8541
Fax: 602.277.8576
Toll Free: 888.277.8541
http://www.ghasterpaintinginc.com/

Ghaster Painting & Coatings February Newsletter

Dear customers and friends,

I have been asked several times lately if we offer particular services in addition to painting and I wanted to take a moment to go over some of those services. Here is a list of services that we offer that you may not have known about:

1. EIFS/stucco repair


2. Drywall repair


3. Wall covering


4. Installation of corner guards, chair rails, wainscoting and rigid vinyl wall sheeting (protects walls from damage from wheelchairs and pedestrians while enhancing décor)


5. Stenciling, lettering on doors, parking lot stenciling,/handicap signs, carport painting and stenciling/new vinyl numbers


6. Minor tenant improvement work (removing cabinets, removing or installing doors/doorways, install new walls)

There are often other services that are needed at the same time as painting so please consider us to be your one stop shop. Please call me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Brad A. Ghaster
Ghaster Paintings & Coatings

Ghaster Painting & Coatings 3120 W. Carefree Highway Suite 1, PMB #347 Phoenix, AZ 85086Ph: 602.277.8541 Fax: 602.277.8576 Toll Free: 888.277.8541 http://www.ghasterpaintinginc.com/

Ghaster Painting & Coatings January 2010 Newsletter

Oscar Wilde wrote "a New Year's Resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other". Maybe a "new month" resolution is the way to go. Fifty percent of Americans make some kind of New Year's Resolution. Half believe that they will be successful. Research has shown that after six months, fewer than half of the people who make New Year's Resolutions have stuck with them and after one year, that number declines to about ten percent.

Some simple strategies which can help us stick with our resolutions or goals are:

1. Set specific and realistic goals
2. Share the goal with someone (accountability is always a good thing)
3. Focus on the benefits of achieving the goal.

Some obstacles we may encounter along the way are:

1. Negative self talk or we replay a critical parent or friend telling us that we will never make it (a.k.a. "baggage")
2. Our own emotions of fear, anger, sadness or frustration. We can be our own worst enemy.
3. Our environment, the people we surround ourselves with, the places we go, the activities we do, the sense of comfort we might get from certain things….all of these things can derail you from your goal and may not be for our own good.

Change starts with a simple yet powerful conviction that comes from a very deep and personal place inside of us. Often that voice is saying something like "I just cannot continue living like this any longer". If I keep doing the same things over and over but expect a different result, that is what defines insanity. Faith and belief are potent motivators for change, inspiration, hope and even a healthy fear of losing something valuable.

Courage is essential because changes requires risk and willingness to be honest and confront aspects of ourselves that need to change.

Determination - we need an unwavering determination to resist obstacles and to persevere moment by moment, one day at a time. A momentary falter is not failure - quitting is.

Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

May this year of 2010 be everything you want it to be and more.

Happy New Year from Ghaster Painting & Coatings

Ghaster Painting & Coatings 3120 W. Carefree Highway Suite 1, PMB #347 Phoenix, AZ 85086Ph: 602.277.8541 Fax: 602.277.8576 Toll Free: 888.277.8541
http://www.ghasterpaintinginc.com/