Preventing Surprises

Preventative Tips for Your Next Painting Project in Central Oregon

With more than 30 years in this business you would think we’ve seen everything that can happen on a paint job… but I am still surprised myself!  We know that our clients don’t like surprises – but we also know that they don’t want ten page contracts and/or a whole hour session on what could happen on their job.

Keep in mind if something comes up on your job we will “live the golden rule” and work out something that seems fair to both parties.

For clients that want to be better prepared and want to think through different scenarios, this list is for you!

SCHEDULING:
Reminder we rarely commit to “hard starts;” rather, we focus on letting you know which week we will be starting – and our production manager, Bobby, and the lead painter will work out the details with you as they know how their current jobs are progressing. You
can contact Bobby from OUR TEAM page.

WINDOWS AND DOORS
Important – Although the windows will dry to the touch in several hours, they will not completely cure for 30 days or so. Please open and close all windows every several days or else THEY WILL STICK ! Also, to prevent doors from sticking apply a small amount of Vaseline or liquid dove soap to the stripping before closing.

PAINT
Depending on the situation with your painting project we may not arrive with the tinted paint the first day – even if you’ve chosen your colors prior. We always like to have the opportunity to confirm with you paint colors and sheens before we purchase the paint. The first day is usually a pressure wash and preparation day.

CHANGING YOUR MIND ON COLORS ONCE WE START
If you change your mind on colors we will need to charge you for the additional paint we need to purchase and any time spent repainting the areas that were already painted.

COLOR SAMPLES
We are happy to purchase samples that you can apply for your project. We allow up to 5complimentary samples. In some cases, we may have to charge you for additional samples. We highly recommend using samples and suggest you paint a 4×4 section of siding (or wall for interiors) and some associated trim paint next to it. Please apply in a section that gets good light and a section that does not. Please look at the sample areas in different lighting conditions. Lori, from the office, can also help you pick your colors if you need some additional help. Please see OUR TEAM page for Lori’s email address if you would like her advice. We are committed to helping you pick the best color combinations for your project.

ACCENT WALLS
If you want more than one color on the walls, you will need to pay for accent walls (typically $75/wall).

CHANGING COLOR ON TRIM
If you change the trim color from its current color even slightly, expect that a 2nd coat will be necessarily and there will be a charge for that (most often outlined on the proposal)

CARPENTRY
Carpentry is not typically included in our bids – but our crew chiefs can quote additional work for you and we are considered very fair – 95%+ of our clients say “that sounds great, please go ahead.”

Any carpentry work to be done by anyone other than CertaPro Painters must be 100% complete before we can begin the painting work.

NUMBERS OF COLORS

Exteriors: Our typical proposal assumes you will choose one color for your siding and one color for your trim. Unless we are painting stucco the sheen is always satin on all exterior surfaces. We use a flat sheen on stucco. If there are more colors, there may be additional charges. We typically will make exceptions on the front of the home for items like the front door. Please ask your estimator for clarification.

Interiors: We typically have one color for the walls, one for the ceilings, and one for the trim. The sheen for the ceilings is typically flat, the sheen for the walls is satin, and the sheen for the trim is semi-gloss. If there are more colors, there may be additional charges.

COLOR MATCHING
If you are choosing to have a color matched from an existing sample, we cannot ensure 100% accuracy. Color Matching though accurate is not an exact science, and human/mechanical error does come into play. If additional coatings are necessary to ensure your satisfaction, a charge for the additional paint and labor may be applied to your final bill.

NAIL HOLES
Please leave the nail in when you take pictures off walls and want to put it back in the same place after painting. If you want the hole filled, please take the nail out.

PAINTING CREWS
Be aware we have different size painting crews – we try to match the best crew (many factors) to YOUR job. Typically you will want to get several rooms ready for us, but several of our crews have the capability to get much more done faster and they may ask you to get more rooms ready so they can be efficient and you get your house back sooner.

EXTERIOR PAINTING BASICS

EXTRA PAINTING:  It is fairly common to find more painting to be done while we are there (and want us to get it done before we leave).  That is highly encouraged – Our Crew leaders are more than happy to put together a change form and give you prices for anything you want to add to the job we are doing  . . .  and we should be able to complete it before we leave!

MANY LAYERS OF OLD PAINT ON THE EXTERIOR: Be aware that unless you have us strip all of the old paint there is a chance that the paint that is left after scraping or sanding will come off during the warranty period taking off the new paint with it. This is technically NOT included in our warranty but we may do several hours of touch-ups for you at a nominal charge – consult your sales associate.

BUSHES: Please take time to check bushes and shrubs surrounding your house to see if they may inhibit the painters. If you can prune these bushes before the painters arrive it would be very helpful.

PREPARATION: Please be sure you have chosen the level of preparation you will be happy with when the job is completed.  Review the exterior preparation info if you haven’t already.  We have found that this is the area where expectations are the most important – if you expect more preparation than the level you have chosen you will probably be disappointed in the final job.

WINDOWS AND DOORS: Important – although the windows will dry to the touch in several hours, they will not completely cure for 30 days or so. Please open and close all windows every several days or else THEY WILL STICK ! Also, to prevent doors from sticking apply a small amount of Vaseline or liquid dove soap to the stripping before closing.

COLORS:  By this stage you should be fairly certain of the final color selections.  Have your foreman apply a sample patch the first day if you’re not 100% certain of the colors you’ve chosen.  If colors are changed mid-stream, we do need to charge for any lost time and product purchased.

CARPENTRY:  If you are interested in any carpentry work please let us know.  If we find any rotten wood during the washing or preparation stages we will point it out to you, and offer to give you a bid to replace.

DECK STAINING: We apply stain to decks using a combination of these three methods: spraying, brushing and rolling depending on the deck and conditions. We have found all to be effective.

WINDOW WASHING:  We recommend having your windows professionally washed after the painting is completed. If you are interested in a proposal, let me know and I will arrange to have Jeremy Fanucci from I Do Windows, Inc. to stop by and quote your job.

CLEAN-UP:  Your crew leader will be performing a daily clean-up so your property is presentable, and a full clean-up upon completion.  Although our final clean-up is thorough, there are often many very small chips that give a “salt and pepper” look to your mulch until the first rain comes.

PATCHING vs CARPENTRY: Whenever possible we recommend replacing rotten wood with new wood.  While it is often more economical to patch rotten areas, this work is NOT under warranty. Eventually it will fail (could be years, but sometimes months).

VARNISHED SURFACES: We do not warranty varnished surfaces. Keep in mind that if varnished surfaces get any direct sunlight they often start deteriorating in six months to two years. It is recommended that you get a “refresh” including a very light sand and re-varnish before the varnish fails, as that is much less expensive then waiting for the varnish to fail – at that point we need to completely remove ALL varnish, re-stain and re-varnish. Some of our clients ask us to put a fresh coat on their door yearly to keep up on it.

CLOSE HOMES: If your neighbor is very close to you ( property line within 15 feet of your house) please make arrangements for us to be able to place the feet of our ladders on their property. If you prefer we use a lift or scaffolding the additional cost would be on you.

CLAPBOARD SIDING FAILURES: If the clapboards on your home’s exterior siding were installed too snugly, they have the potential to trap moisture within the siding construction. Over time, this moisture can weaken the wood, rust the nails and cause exterior paint to crack and peel. You can stop the damage before it is too late, though, by ventilating the siding. Not ventilating the siding will void any painting warranty.

DECKS & STEPS NOT UNDER WARRANTY: Horizontal surfaces take a beating from foot traffic, rain, ice, and snow and will show wear before anything else. Many people choose to maintain them biannually or annually.