I am not a paint expert, but do have rental properties and really like to paint ;) You have my sympathies. Why some people trash the home they live in is beyond me (although it's not their 'house', it is their home while they are staying there.) Personally won't take Sec8 for a variety of reasons. We have rental property and for 7 years have been using Glidden Spred Ultra Satin, stock color "Off White" in them. They tout is as 'one coat' but we always do 2 coats (second flies because coverage of first is very good). Only comes in low sheen Satin finish. Not overly shiny, cleans very well. Holds up to higher than average abuse. Has enough 'depth' in the color that it will show a contrast against white. It's economical (on sale I've gotten it for as low as $12/gal at Menards). I checked Glidden site and don't see it, if I recall last can I bought they changed the label. (The Ultra always had a cream colored can with red band on the label.) Stock "Off White" is a good neutral, warm, cheery, will match most any flooring colors and easily adapts to tenants furnishings. I have not switched because it's a paint that has done well for us. If I were to switch, I'd go to Ace paint. I did use Pittsburgh mid-level paint on one house this summer that we did a major overhaul on. Just for a change. Probably won't make a habit of that. (Not slamming it, have Pittsburgh high end Manor Hall in my own home in a couple rooms and it's good paint. Just didn't care for Pburgh mid-level paint.) In that same house a tenant painted the bathroom with an Ace paint. She was a lousy painter ;) She moved (leaving a mess for me). There was half a can of the Ace paint left, so I gave the bath a good finish coat and hit the areas she missed, etc. Ace paint went on very well, I must say, and once dried felt 'tough'. So if I ever switch from Glidden at rentals, taking cost and performance into consideration, I'll probably go to Ace. (I use a preferred customer card, they regularly send me $5/$10 off coupons, so it helps.) As far as color, I have stuck with the "Off White" because of undertone issues in taupes/light tans. Haven't found one yet that will blend well with flooring and universally with various tenants furnishings. I have not had a single tenant complain about the color, most comment they like it. I tried with Pittsburgh this summer to switch to a taupe. Poster board samples looked good but once on all walls in certain rooms it takes on a greenish undertone. That's what I want to avoid, so stay with off white. I have used Glidden on trim, no issues. All houses are pre-1940 construction. 2 have all plaster walls, one has some plaster and some drywall. Only one house has paint on a door (interior of bathroom door) and Glidden has held well on that. As far as painting cabinets, I spent extra $ on Cabinet Coat. A royal pain for a rental, but longevity and durability does factor in. It's a much tougher enamel for cabinets. One house has cabinets painted 5 years ago with CC and they still look very good. (No abusive tenants there, though.) So far it does not need re-touched as often as a regular interior latex applied to cabinets. Cabinet Coat is a job that can't be rushed tho, so you might not be able to exercise CC as an option at this point. For scrubbing pre-paint I only use Soilax or Dirtex. Good stuff, gets off gunk. Mr Clean Magic Eraser on bad spots. For primer I use Zinsser Bullseye 123, also good stuff. If new tenants come in I generally give it a refresher coat, no primer. If damage has been done, or bad mess, I prime with Bullseye. Candle soot has become a problem. So much so that I had to put a clause in the lease about it. I ran into a situtation where tenants burned candles so frequently that the walls had soot that would not come off the paint. Even with heavy duty scrubbing it was a slick, gray, cloudy mess. My HVAC contractor said that scenario could really mess up the mainboard on the new furnace, I put a clause in leases now that any evidence of candle soot of any kind is automatic loss of security deposit. Soy, clean burning or candle warmers are acceptable alternatives. (You can tell if there's soot, can't miss it on the walls, there's either a black streak from the flame or gray 'cloud' if candle was near but not at wall.) Good luck, I've been where you're at and it's not fun.

What state are you in?? I'm in Fargo, ND.... I'm curious since you mentioned Fleet-Farm! You're almost gonna need a carpenter on this one!! (and LOTS of sandpaper....) I'll tell ya more soon! FAron

I am afraid I don't have a really good answer. Some scientist should research the nature of the adhesive that is on those feet, as it is just about impossible to remove short of physically sanding them off. I would use a sharp pull scraper to get the majority of the material off, and then load up a pad sander to sand the little critters off. Obviously, you will then have to prime and paint the whole area to some good cut off spot. You are lucky if the vines haven't gone up and under the clapboards. I have seen ivy do much damage, prying boards loose from the siding.

You have a really nice looking house. Would keep the brick-- it looks really good. The brown in the forward facing gable on the right side -- entry door side -- looks best with the brick. The gray may well be the trendy color of the day but the brown -- not boring -- that you have around the entry actually goes much better with the brick. Using that brown over all the rest of the painted surfaces on the entire house will make your home more classic than trendy (in my opinion, a much better look). You don't even need a different/contrasting trim color. What is needed is the two parts of your house to ... match itself by making the colors of the center and left side of your home match the right side your home..