FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I get an estimate for painting my home?

Most professional painting companies will offer you a free in-home estimate. You can sign up for a free in-home estimate here or call us at:757-744-9178.

Do you paint commercial properties?

Yes. CertaPro Painters® of Chesapeake paints a variety of commercial properties ranging from industrial, HOA communities, office space, retail buildings, and more. See our commercial portfolio here.

Do you offer a warranty?

Yes. We offer a 2-year warranty that covers any areas on your house (interior or exterior) where there is failing paint that is not adhering to the surface.

What licenses do you have?

In Virginia, painters are required to have a contractor’s license through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). We have that, as well as our Painting and Wall Covering Specialty (PTC) License.

Are you insured?

Yes. We have $2 million in Liability and $1 million in Workers’ Compensation.

How many people will work on my project?

Every project is unique in its own way, and as a result, the crew can be larger or smaller depending on what makes the most sense. Whether it’s 8 crew members or a crew of 1, you can rest assured that they will have the ability to take care of anything that may need to be done to your home from a painting standpoint, along with carpentry, sheetrock repair, cabinet painting, etc.

Do you have a project minimum?

Yes. In the Spring and Summer months, we have a project minimum of $750. However, we are willing to complete smaller jobs for repeat customers! We take great pride in the fact that we have customers that repeatedly use us for their painting needs, and we will do what we can to ensure they remain customers for life.

What paint product do you use?

We use Sherwin Williams paint products on most of our interior and exterior projects. We partner with them so we get great deals on all of their products.  We also use Benjamin Moore, Spectrum, PPG & Behr. We will use whichever kind of paint our customers prefer.  Sherwin Williams actually manufactures the Behr.  Something we hear often is customers wanting to use one brand’s paint color such as Benjamin Moore or Behr, which is not a problem at all as Sherwin Williams can match almost any competitor’s paint colors and vice versa. We can keep the job and paint prices lower by using Sherwin Williams instead or Behr, for example.  It is also good to know that every paint manufacturer has different lines of product that range in quality and price.  Typically, the more solids that are in the paint, the higher the quality and price.

Can you help me select colors for my project?

Yes, we can. CertaPro Painters® of Chesapeake offers a complimentary color consultation for any interior or exterior painting projects that are priced at $2,000 or more.

How many colors are included in a typical proposal?

Most of our estimates and proposals include 3 colors. The majority of our customers choose one color for their exterior siding and then a second color for their trim, which is typically something that’s brighter and has more sheen.  For interiors, customers will have their common areas one color, bedrooms a second color, and bathrooms a third color.

How much will it cost to paint my house?

There are many factors in play. We start by finding out your objectives such as how long do you plan to live in the house, the impact of kids and pets, and what the colors will be, the amount of repair or extra prep work required such as wood rot on the outside or holes in sheetrock on the inside. Ballpark prices can be given, but until a thorough evaluation is performed a firm price cannot be calculated. But once you get a price from CertaPro it will be a firm, fixed price.

Can the price of my estimate change during the project?

There are a couple of things that can change the price of a paint job during the project. There have been cases when we reduced the price because there was less involvement with what we needed to do to get the job done. And there are other cases where we find carpentry on upper levels of homes, and we will stop, take a picture, talk to the customer about it, and decide on a go-forward strategy from there. Also, homeowners can decide to add scope items mid-project, like adding an additional room, and we write up a quick change order and continue working.

When is the best time to paint?

With modern technology, there really isn’t a ‘best’ time. We follow the manufacturer’s guides on temperature and moisture. In Southern Virginia, we can paint outside almost throughout the year. In the winter, there may be a few weeks that are too cold for most paint products and the days are shorter, but otherwise, we can paint when it’s warm enough and not raining. 

Do you have eco-friendly paint options?

We have many low and zero-VOC paints, particularly for interior work.

How often should people paint their homes?

This is another difficult question to answer. There are many factors that influence this including exposure to the elements. One other factor is the quality of paint and prep work that went into the house for the previous paint job. Many builders use value-priced paint so many times we see new homes that need painting after just 3 or 4 years. In general, with our sun, heat, and humidity, 7-10 years is a good starting point.

What are the benefits of painting a home before moving in?

Buying a new home can be one of the most exciting days of our lives. With a new chapter just behind that front door, you can’t help but want to move in as soon as possible. BUT, if you can push the move-in date back a bit and paint your house ahead of time, there can be quite a few benefits.

What should I do to prepare for painting?

Exterior: Bushes, trees, or other landscaping that is in contact with areas to be painted should be cut back a few feet to allow proper access. Things such as small potted plants and furniture cushions should be moved. We will move or cover large objects. Please let us know of anything such as landscape lighting or sprinkler systems of which we need to take special note. Please understand that ladders are heavy and the more room we have to work the better! Bleach will be used when we wash to kill mold and mildew, so please advise of anything, in particular, that could be damaged by the bleach. Also, please make sure windows are tightly closed and screens are unlatched on the inside. We will remove the screens from the outside if we are painting the windows, but they need to be unlatched. After we wash it’s a good idea to check around windows and doors for any leakage.

Interior: Please move all small, breakable, or high-value items. Disconnect wiring if electronics need to be moved. We can move TVs from walls but request that you are present while doing so. We will move or cover large items such as sofas and beds. We work based on “see a nail, leave a nail, see a hole, patch a hole” – which means if you want to put pictures back in the same place leave the nail, any holes we see will be patched. If there are nails you can’t reach or can’t pull put a sticky note by them so we know to pull them. Finally, if your project entails multiple colors, and/or accent walls it is helpful if you label the walls with tape or sticky notes just to be sure we get it right.

Is there anything special to know about decks?

To prepare for the deck project, please move small or breakable items. We will wash the deck and allow it to dry before returning to stain it. Normal prep work on decks includes scraping loose stains and peeling wood. Some light sanding will be included. Normal prep does not include sanding to a perfect finish. If you would like a higher level of prep please make sure to mention it to your salesperson. After staining the deck should be allowed to dry for 24-48 hours before replacing furniture, especially heavy items like grilles. Stains are available in transparent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid. When decks are new, they can be brought to an outstanding appearance with the use of any of these products, typically the solid stains will last longer than the transparent or semi-transparent ones. As the wood ages, it is frequently advisable to use only solid stains. These cover up all the variations in the wood and the varying level of color left from previous stains. When decks are extremely weathered, the use of an elastomeric product becomes advisable. This is a much thicker product that will fill small cracks and imperfections.

How will my project be managed?

In terms of how your project will be managed, our goal is to deliver an extraordinary experience through our Certainty Service System. This includes our Certainty Pledge, which is a series of questions tailored to your priorities as our customer. In a residential painting project, they ask things like “should we make sure the gate is closed to ensure your pets do not get out” or “do you have a preference on arrival and departure times for the crew while working at your home”. For commercial projects, the questions are slightly different and are typically asking things such as “What are the security protocols regarding entering and exiting the property”, and “How can we make sure we don’t need to interrupt you during the project while you are working on other things”. These are just some of the ways in which we help to manage your project.

Can the painter work alone in my house?

Yes. Our painters can be trusted in your home. We ask that you be there to start the project and for a final “Pride Walk” with the crew to make sure the project meets your expectations. On the off-chance any touch-up work is noticed, it is much easier while the crew is there as their next job may be some distance away.

When did you become the owner of CertaPro Painters of Chesapeake?

I purchased the CertaPro Painters® of Chesapeake franchise in 2017.  The business has been operating in the area since the early 2000s.