4 Things You Must Know Before Hiring a Painter

House paint does more than make your house look great, it also is the first line of defense against the outdoors. Paint is only made to last for about 10 years, meaning every decade you’re looking for help with an exterior paint job on your home. Heading into a big undertaking like this can be scary but with knowledge, you can feel confident in your choices. Here are 7 things you must know before hiring a painter.

1. Should You Do it Yourself or Hire a Pro?

Painting is a fairly easy task, so it seems. Taking on a large exterior job can be tedious and cumbersome. You’ll need a fair amount of tools plus an even larger amount of time. Painting an exterior is so much more than just dipping the roller in paint and getting to work. These are a few of the reasons to consider hiring a painting crew.

Time Savings

Saving a few dollars by doing the work yourself can seem tempting. Remember that a professional crew of several painters will take several days to paint even a modest sized home. That’s several sets of hands working for a full day, for several days. It can take a surprising amount of time to put in the preparation and paint time to finish the project.

Safety

Being a professional painter means spending a lot of time climbing on roofs, leaning out windows and climbing tall ladders. Most painting is safe and done from the ground but there are those hard to reach places that can cause accidents if not approached properly. Professional crews have the tools and knowledge to keep themselves safe while working in these precarious positions.

Quality

Anyone can put paint on a wall but to make it look good is another challenge. Techniques and preparation are key to creating a professional finished product. In addition, the knowledge and tools of the trade come with a hired crew. If you set out to do the work yourself, it could end up costing you more in supplies and frustration. Since paint is your first line of defense against mold, creepy crawlies and damage, do you want that responsibility on your shoulders?

Speed

Hiring a professional usually means hiring a crew for your exterior. Most companies won’t send any less than a few painters to complete an exterior paint job. If you tackle the project on your own, you’re looking at a couple of weeks to a month of weekends and evenings painting. Rather than putting in that much elbow grease, bringing in a crew will have you in a painted home much more quickly.

2. What You Need to Do to Prepare for Professional Painting

Depending on the crew you hire, there may be some things you need to do before the painting. Some companies include preparation for their paint job. There is no standard expectation across the industry. This can be an area where you contribute some elbow grease to reduce costs.

Move Furniture

Painters usually cover furniture with plastic sheets but it can still get in the way of the painters. To keep it safe and allow for the quickest job, it’s better to remove the furniture from the room if possible. Stumbling over furniture with paint in hand is a recipe for a mess. Removing any extra items in the way will allow the crew to get right to work. Remove wall hangings and any extra furniture in the room to save on your bottom line.

Outlets and Switch Plates

This little step can eat up the time of a crew. Avoiding or taping of plate covers costs time and energy when painting a room. It’s easier to take them off the wall so there is nothing to worry about. Removing paint from plastic covers isn’t always an easy task. With inexpensive options, getting paint on a plate, there’s no issue. Be careful with nicer ones.

Allocate a Staging Area

Especially if you are having a larger area worked on, you might have painters in your house for more than a day. Create a space for them to store their supplies and tools. They may want to keep their items in your home overnight between shifts. Allowing the space for this means your crew won’t have to stop early to load out or use time in the morning to load in. This will ultimately save you on your work hours.

Clean the Walls

The first step to any painting job is always to clean the walls. Even the cleanest homes need to have the walls washed before a paint job. The smallest amount of dust or cobwebs mixed with paint can make a big mess of your job. To reduce your bottom line and painter time on site, you can contribute to the job by washing the walls down. Don’t just say you’re going to do it, actually do it. Mix water and mild detergent, then use a sponge to wipe down the walls. Don’t completely soak the walls, just clear away surface stains and dust.

Put Away Pets

It’s happened over and over. Painters get all set up and in bounces the family pet. You’re sure to end up with paint everywhere. Be sure to coop pets up away from the work zone. This keeps the painting and the pets safe.

3. Where to Start Looking for a Reputable House Painter

Typically, there are 3 ways to find a good, professional painter. To be sure you have the best option available, use a combination of the 3.

Online Searches

The quickest way to get some paint provider options is to do a quick search on the internet. There are a lot of results and websites will never give you the full scope of experiences. Use this as an early step to get quite a few options to narrow down from.

Referrals

Referrals are a great way to get a feeling for a painting crew. A personal referral of a provider is the highest compliment the company can get. If you have friends or family that have painted recently, inquire who provided the service.

Review Websites

There are any number of review websites online. Once you have narrowed down your list of painters, use the review websites to get a better glimpse into the good and bad experiences some customers have had.

4. Things You Should Expect from a House Painter

Hiring a professional painter means a few standards for your job. Here’s what to expect.

Timely

From estimate to job, your painter should be timely. This means no extended lunch breaks and arriving on time to start the job in the morning.

Walk-through

More than likely, you’ll get a walk through for your estimate. Otherwise, be cautious hiring the painting company. How are they to know how much paint you’ll need or any repairs that might need done. Once you have hired a crew and the job is done, expect a second walk through. This is your chance to inspect the work and let the contractor know if there are any problems.

Colors, Finishes, and End Goal

A professional painter wants you to be happy with the end result. When you discuss your work, make sure you’re on the same page about finishes, colors and finished product. This allows the workers to have an end goal in mind as they work.

Insurance & Licenses

At the estimate appointment (or before) inquire about insurance and licenses. Professional companies are used to this question and happy to provide further information. They can provide you with providers and policy numbers. This is just a layer of protection should there be problems with the work or any injuries on your property. Hopefully you don’t need it but keep this information on hand just in case.

Thorough Estimates

Estimates should be thought out, well-researched listings of the necessary tools, time and products for your job. Do not accept a scribble on a napkin. A poorly written proposal can indicate a poorly run company or poorly painted room. The estimate should provide information on labor and materials for your specific job. While the number isn’t a hard, fast cost, it should give you a good idea of the cost and where the money is going.

Questions?

Now is the time to ask questions you may have. Painting is a big cost and huge investment into your property. Your time with the estimator is the opportunity to ask any questions you may have and make sure you feel well informed before signing a contract.

If you’re ready to move forward with a painting job, we’d be happy to schedule an estimate appointment with you. Our team is happy to answer any questions and create a painting plan for your job.