Is There A Difference Between Reflective and Insulating Paint?

There is a very big difference between reflective paint and the paint that has an insulating factor such as ceramic microspheres.

Air, or even better a vacuum, is one of the best insulators, next only to inert gases such as Argon. That is why double and triple glass windows work, not because the glass has any thermal value, but because it has air trapped between the pains of glass and air is a very poor thermal conductor. The same applies to any insulation, it is not the material, such as foam or fiberglass it is the amount of air pockets that are trapped within the insulation. That is why insulation has little benefit if you crush it or shove it into a space.

The ceramics microspheres are small hollow balls, with a vacuum in them, hence the vacuum acts as a thermal barrier, keeping heat out or in depending on which direction is hotter.

Reflective paint, has the ability to reflect some UV rays which slows down the heating of objects, however, once the object (paint) is heated it transmits the heat as a thermal conductor. It is similar to a well insulated home, it takes longer to heat it from outside hot air and sun, but once it is heated up it takes longer to cool it down.

As reflective paint is exposed to the elements it picks up dirt and grime. The reflective effect of the paint only works if it is getting directly hit with the UV rays. As soon as there is a layer of dirt or grime the UV rays heat those items and the reflective paint has no value.

The advantage of the ceramic microspheres is that you can paint over it with other paints, it can get covered in dirt and grime and it still performs because the insulation is in the transfer of heat through the ceramic microspheres, the surface has no effect.

If you want a perfectly smooth finish, and are using a paint with microspheres, the manufacturers recommend painting over the insulating paint with an enamel.

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Caulking Tip

When placing caulking around sinks, countertops, and bathtubs make sure that there is no soap film on the surfaces that you are going to caulk. Caulking will not stick to soap film!

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Drywall, Concrete Board, Sheetrock, Green Board Calculator

We have added a downloadable (Microsoft Excel)drywall, concrete board, sheetrock, green board calculator to the website.

The calculator allows the input of:

• any material size


• 4 wall dimensions in feet and inches


• 1 ceiling dimension in feet and inches


• 3 window dimensions in feet and inches


• 2 door dimensions in feet and inches

Output provides:

• Number of sheets with allowance for windows and doors


• Number of sheets without allowance for windows and doors


• Number of screws needed for wall, with and without allowance


• Number of screws needed for ceiling


• Amount of joint tape required in feet


• Amount of joint compound required in pounds

Follow the link!

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Choosing a Paintbrush

Choosing A Paintbrush.

In order to choose the correct paintbrush there are three items to consider.

• The type of paint – oil or water based.


• The surface texture being painted – rough or smooth.


• The size of the area.

Follow the link for more information.

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New Product Showcase

We have introduced a new feature:

New Product Showcase

Follow the link!

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Mixing Drywall Joint Compound

One of the biggest mistakes, made by the home handyman, when using drywall joint compound is that they do not mix the product thoroughly. It is next to impossible to mix a large pail of drywall compound without the use of a power mixer or mixer mounted in an electric drill.

Taking out small portions from a large container and mixing those individually will not work. Joint compound separates after sitting in the pail in a few days. It is important, in order to have a workable product, that you will be able to feather out, is to make sure that the compound is emulsified, that it is evenly mixed throughout.

Unique Homes and Locations

Many people dream of a home that has an unbelievable view, or is architecturally different, or isolated with uncompromised privacy.

Follow the link to view some of the most unique homes and locations that are truly beyond imagination.

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Organic Fertilizers - Have Their Drawbacks!

There is a lot of confusion on what truly can be designated an organic fertilizer. An organic fertilizer contains nutrients that have been derived, in one manner or another, from an organism. As an example, organic fertilizers may be manufactured from cottonseed meal, an emulsion derived from fish, animal manure, sewage sludge, and bone meal or a combination of some or all of the aforementioned items.

Some fertilizers that call themselves organic are made from Urea, which is made from inorganic products hence at best it is a synthetic organic fertilizer.

If a product is sold as a fertilizer in North America, it must state the NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) formulation on the package. In order to avoid having to guarantee a NPK of a product, many manufacturers will sell their fertilizers as soil conditioners. A soil conditioner does not have to state the nutrient formulation of the product. One of the reasons that manufactures do not want to state a guaranteed nutrient formulation is that with organic products the nutrient levels vary dramatically from batch to batch. Organic products that are made from sewage sludge and manures will only have small amounts of nutrients present in the formulation.

Some organic fertilizers are fortified in order to bring up the nutrient levels and to allow the manufacturer to maintain a guaranteed level of formulation.

Organic fertilizers work best in moist warm soils as it is the organisms in the soil that breakdown the fertilizer which is what releases the nutrients into the soil. Because an organic fertilizer must be broken down in order for it to provide any nutrients to the soil, organic fertilizers are classified as very slow release and a gardener must determine if a slow release is what any specific plant variety might need.

It is also important to understand the side effects of the organic fertilizer. As an example, cottonseed meal is acidic. If you are growing plants such as azaleas or rhododendrons, an organic fertilizer derived from cottonseed meal may be the exact product you are looking for. The common formulation for cottonseed meal is 7-3-2.

With an organic fertilizer such as blood meal, derived from the blood of cattle, one must be cautious because it has a very high nitrogen content and if not used carefully can easily burn plants.

Organic fertilizers have there place in the garden, but they are no different than synthetic fertilizers in the fact that you must understand the formulation of the product and how it might negatively affect the specific plants that you are trying to enhance.

Read and follow the manufacturers instructions and guidelines before usage! For additional information on organic fertilizers, follow the link.

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