10 Questions to Ask Your Painting Contractor
Posted on June 2, 2020
Hiring a contractor is stressful. Bringing an outsider into your home for any reason is intrusive and anxiety-inducing. Go into the process armed with the knowledge to help ease your worries.
Whether you are looking for painting inside or outside, or updating a color, or having a repair made in conjunction with painting, knowing what to ask will help you choose what’s best for you, your family, and your paint job. Here are 10 questions to ask your painting contractor.
Do you have references you could share?
Painting contractors are very familiar with this question and any worth their salt will be happy to give you a list of contacts they have worked with. Any contractor that rebuffs the question should be taken with high consideration. Be sure the list is diverse in area and names. You don’t want a list of the contractor’s family members who will all speak highly of this person.
Do you carry insurance?
You will want to make sure your chosen contractor carries two insurance policies: workman’s compensation and general liability. Workman’s compensation insurance covers the painters on your property during the course of their work. Even with the most cautious work, accidents can happen. This policy covers any medical requirements from injuries at work. The general liability policy covers your property if accidents happen that cause damage to your house. Should anything go wrong with the painting and damage happen, this policy will repair it.
Is the contractor licensed?
Painters will be happy to provide licensing information to homeowners that request it. This means the contractor has gone through some level of certification through your local government. Basic standards of work have been met and the painter is in good standing with the local governing body. It also means that if the job is a failure, there is something they could lose.
How big is the crew for my project and how long will this take?
It’s important to understand the size and length the crew will be on your property. Before the job starts, your painting contractor should provide you with an estimate of how many crew members you should expect. This will affect the length of the job. More hands make lighter work and will get your job done more efficiently. Keep in mind that there could be delays due to weather.
How will my house be prepped for painting?
Any painting crew will tell you that the key to a professional paint job is the preparation that’s put in before the paint goes on. Your contract should include exactly what to expect in terms of preparation. Repairing holes, applying primer and scuff sanding walls should be part of the process and if it’s not, ask some questions.
What paint will be used?
Most professional painters will have paint manufacturers they rely on for their jobs. This means they have had good success with the paint as well as their warranties. There are specific manufacturers that create blends for high traffic, bleed-through and color changes. Premium paints use less water in their blends and it typically feels more luxurious with stronger pigments. Usually, this is what you will be recommended.
How much will the job cost?
With low-cost paint jobs, it’s always buyer beware. Low price can mean the contractor is using sub-par techniques, supplies and contractors. With that, you will want a bottom line cost. There are two reasons a contractor won’t provide a hard and fast bottom line cost for your job. Those are prices that can change for supplies and crew, and more often, homeowners change requests through the job process. Adding or changing the work expected once the work has started will of course change the final bottom line price. Any requests should be discussed with your contact so that you can be aware of the price changes as you go.
What will be cleaned up after the job is finished?
As a homeowner, you expect that your property will be left in the same condition as it was found, if not better. Make sure the contract you sign lays out that this is the case. It’s easy for a crew to finish their work and book for the next gig. Protect your property by ensuring that the clean up is listed with the job.
Does this come with a warranty?
Premium paints and professional applications should last a decade or more. In the event it doesn’t you’ll want to find out about your warranty before you need it. Guarantees are usually very specific and outlined in your contract.
Will there be someone to answer phone calls to answer any questions?
There’s nothing worse than starting a big job like this and feeling left out in the dark. Make sure you have a dedicated point of contact to go with with questions and concerns throughout the project.
If you find yourself ready to begin the painting process, our teams are ready to help. Schedule a no-obligation estimate appointment with our crew today.
