Questions to Ask at Your Painting Estimate

Hiring a painting contractor can be a very intimidating prospect. Knowing what to look for before will help you feel more confident with your choice in professional. You may have some questions to ask at your painting estimate, and here are a few more to get you started.

How long has the painting company been in business?

You may want to be cautious about a brand new company. They tend to be less experienced and less reliable with their results. Our pros say a good rule of thumb is to find a company that has five years experience. This will also make sure you don’t end up with a fly-by-night contractor that will collect your deposit and skip town.

Does the company use subcontractors?

Some companies utilize subcontractors to fulfill their needs for crews. It is up to the company to vet their contractors. It’s important for you to understand the process and the requirements they put on their contractors.

Is there a warranty and are they insured?

Warranties should be offered on the work completed and in case of failure of paint. The company should stand by both their work, and their products used.

You should also inquire about insurance. Reputable companies will be able to provide insurance information to you if asked.

Can the painting company provide references?

Past references, or online reviews, are a great barometer on the work of your contractor. Review sites give you an opportunity to hear from prior customers, sometimes with photos. Do not feel out of place asking for references and photos from past jobs done by the paint company. If they can’t provide any, be cautious moving forward.

Do they keep a clean workplace?

Before you get started with a potentially messy job, it’s important that it is very clear who is providing clean up and what it entails. It should be detailed out in your estimate that the area will be kept neat on a daily basis and cleaned at the end of the job.

What brands of paint do they use?

Paint contractors have a lot of experience using different brands of paint. Most will have allegiances to brands with good finished results, warranties and ease of use.

How much prep is included in the estimate?

There may be some suggested preparation for your walls before the paint goes on. You should make sure whether your estimate includes this prep work, or will it be additional.

If you are concerned about the final price, you can opt to provide some of this work yourself, but it may void warranties since the paint crew did not complete it.

Ready to get started?

Call CertaPro Painters® of DeSoto, TX at 800-462-3782 or click here for a free estimate.