Lawn & Garden

LAWN Garden & 6 SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2020 SPECIAL SECTION Ask Us About Our Safe Protocol to COVID-19 WE'LL MAKE YOUR HOUSE LOOK LIKE NEW 204-417-1668 ASK ABOUT OUR SENIOR DISCOUNT NEVER PAINT AGAIN! STUCCO PAINTING HOMES THAT NEED 50% OFF ELASTOMERIC STUCCO COATING H Professional Painters H Hundreds of Colours H Exterior House Painting H Waterproof Coating H Bridges Stucco Cracks H Expert Stucco Repair H Exceptional Warranty H Colour Consultation FREE ESTIMATE WWW.PAINTSTUCCO.COM Mehdi Madani is a business owner, but there are times when he feels like a bit of a magician. Madani is the co-owner and general manager of Madani Group Painting and Stucco Coating, a Winnipeg-based painting company that pro- vides interior, exterior and commercial painting services as well as specialized stucco coating. For Madani, the most rewarding aspect of his company's work is seeing older homes trans- formed to look like new again. "The reaction of a lot of our customers is, 'Oh my gosh, my house looks like new,' " he says. "That has a double effect. It helps give a home more curb appeal and it also helps to increase the value of the home." While Madani Group handles all kinds of residential and commercial painting jobs, a big part of the company's focus is stucco coating. Madani says stucco can be a particularly chal- lenging surface to work with and requires a highly specialized approach to ensure its done right. Properly preparing the surface before applying any kind of coating is crucial. To that end, the company follows an exhaustive prepa- ration check list before applying any paint. The first step is pressure-washing the surface to remove dirt and debris. Madani and his team then closely analyze the type of stucco on the home to make sure they use the right kind of paint. The company even has its own in-house stucco repair specialist, who is able to fill in any cracks or gaps to perfectly match a home's existing exterior. "This is really something we really pride ourselves on," Madani says of his company's stucco repair service. "Something I see in the painting industry is the stucco repair is often not up to par. If you are repairing stucco you need to do it right. If you don't match it exactly then it's not going to look as good." One of the more unique services Madani Group offers customers is an interactive colour consultation. A company representative will meet with homeowners to discuss their colour preferences, answer any questions they might have about colour choices and offer suggestions. As part of the consultation, they can even provide homeowners with a snapshot of what their colour choice will look like on their home's exterior, courtesy of a specialized software system they use. "Sometimes people will look at a house in their neighbourhood or a magazine and say, 'I love those colours, they would go great on my house.' But that's not always the case because the layout is different," Madani says. "That's where we come in and give you some options and tell you what we think. Customers like that and find it helpful." Madani Group was formed in 2010 by Madani and a friend who met while attending univer- sity. The company has since grown to employ nearly a dozen people. One thing that hasn't changed is the fact that Madani and his part- ner remain involved in every aspect of each job from start to finish. "We've had opportunities to grow more but we didn't want that. We want to keep our base smaller. It's all about quality control and that personal interaction with the client." To learn more about Madani Group services, visit the company online at www.paintstucco.com. QUALITY STUCCO PAINTING Fresh paint and stucco make your house look new again Gear up for Games It don't mean a thing if it ain't got a swing. How about an old-fashioned porch swing, a sturdy, reinforced tire swing, a two-seater that lets you face your partner or just a good old hammock that fits the whole family? Bocce ball, croquet, and soft archery get friendly competition started. Stock up on skipping ropes, bubbles, shovels and pails, pool noodles, chalk, flying discs and more at a dollar store. A sturdy kiddie pool works as a sandbox. Put it inside a pop-up tent to shade the kids and keep critters out. Enlist the baby bathtub or a few plastic tubs as mini-pools for quieter, but still fun playtime. Bring Play Doh outside. Let the kids paint the fence or the deck with water. Paint a section of fence, the side of the shed, flower pots or even a whole picnic bench with chalkboard paint for outdoor art. Pop-up tents and canopies give you instant shade and easy tear-down. Got a dog? How about creating a DIY agility course for Fido. You'll find simple plans at k9ofmine.com. The pooch will love the attention and everyone will hone their dog-handling skills. time to get out and enjoy STEP 4

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