Preventing Surprises

GENERAL

SCHEDULING

We typically don’t pledge to “hard starts.” Instead we notify you of the week we’ll start work. Additionally we’ll inform you of who your crew leader will be, and your crew leader will be your point of contact in regards to your job’s details and progress. Your team leader can be contacted via our “Our Team” page.

PAINT

You may choose your colors before the job, but we will ALWAYS confirm the precise colors with you before you buy them.

CHANGING YOUR MIND ON COLORS ONCE WE START

If you later select to change your initial colors, we will bill you for the additional paint we need to purchase plus the time spent repainting any areas that were already painted.

COLOR SAMPLES

We will gladly buy and apply samples for your project. For samples outside of our complimentary samples, we do charge $45 per sample.

Projects under $2000:  up to 2 complimentary samples
Projects $2,100 – $10,000: up to 5 samples
Projects over $10,000: up to 7 samples

DIFFERENT PAINTS

The majority of our paint is from MAB, Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore UltraSpec. Regarding any other paint, expect to pay the cost beyond $20/gallon.

WINDOWS AND DOORS

It’s important to know that although windows dry to the touch in hours, it will take around 30 days to fully cure. As a result, it’s imperative that you open & close your windows every few days, otherwise they will stick. Furthermore, we recommend applying small amounts of Vaseline or liquid dove sap to the stripping before you close it to prevent sticking.

HOW LONG WILL YOU BE OUT OF A ROOM WE ARE PAINTING

It varies depending on the size of the room, it can take one to three days. We believe it’s best to not use the room for a number of days as we paint. However, need be we can make arrangements for you to use the room in between time.

CHANGING COLOR ON TRIM

Changing the trim color makes it necessary to add a 2nd coat. There will be a charge for that, as outlined in our proposal.

WALLPAPER STRIPPING

Wallpaper stripping tends to be unpredictable. It’s normally difficult to remove. In these situations we offer the option of charging an additional fee to strip the wallpaper, or to paint over the wallpaper for a lower fee.

CARPENTRY

We normally don’t include carpentry in our bids. However our team leaders can quote additional work for you.

Furthermore, if you are having carpentry done by any non-CertaPro company, it must be complete before CertaPro can commence the painting work.

NUMBERS OF COLORS

Our standard proposal assumes you will choose one wall color per room, with a total of five wall colors in all.

BATHROOMS & POWDER ROOMS

Our standard procedure for bathrooms & powder rooms includes the application of Sherwin-Williams Satin paint for mildew and moisture resistance. Some clients also choose to use Sherwin-Williams Satin paint in their kitchens. Therefore, if you select another paint, in particular a flat paint, please be advised that watermarks and stains can occur as a result of water being splashed on the walls. Consequently if this occurs in the future, it’s not considered a warranty issue.

DEEP BASE COLORS

In rare situations, certain deep base colors (such as dark reds) can require more than two coats for ample coverage or depth of tone. So if after we apply two coats & you are not satisfied with the look, we will fill out a change order and proceed to apply additional coats at $50 per man hour and materials (if needed) to achieve your desired outcome.

COLOR MATCHING

If you select to have a color matched from an existing sample, we can’t ensure 100% accuracy. Color Matching is accurate, yet not exact, as human/mechanical error can happen. If we need additional coatings to complete the job to your fulfillment, we will  charge for the additional paint and labor may be applied to your final bill.

WALL PREP AND SHEEN

We specify walls in this proposal as flat. Our pricing includes wall preparation, we base this on what’s visible under flat conditions. If you select a higher sheen (Matte finish, Eggshell, etc), it’s likely that other wall imperfections will become visible. The wall repair of these imperfections is beyond our scope.

CEILINGS

Most of the time ceilings need just one finish coat, we include this in our “Full Coverage.”

NAIL HOLES

We advise that you leave the nail(s) in when you remove pictures from walls if you want to put it back in the same place when the painting is completed. If you want the nail hole(s) filled, we advise you remove the nail(s).

PAINTING CREWS

Our painting crews vary in size in effort to fit your job the best way possible. We recommend that get several rooms ready for us so our paint crews can complete your painting job faster.

OTHER SERVICES WE PROVIDE

CertaPro Painters of Downingtown & West Chester, PA is a full-service painting & home improvement company. We also provide a number of interior services such as decorative and faux finishes, paper hanging, molding and trim installation, and staining to name a few.

Our exterior services include but are not limited to power washing, deck sealing and staining.

ITEMIZED ITEMS ON THE PROPOSAL

Options marked “Y” for Yes means they are included in the Grand Total. Items marked “N” means they are not included in the grand total.

DECKS & STEPS NOT UNDER WARRANTY

Horizontal surfaces are subject to stress from foot traffic, and the elements (rain, snow, etc) which will show wear and tear before anything else. Many people choose to maintain them biannually or annually.

POWER WASHING 

Our power washing service may be used as a preparation step for painting that we do to remove dirt and debris. Plants are watered down, and we treat the building with a mixture of low pressure water and cleaner.

We follow up with washing off the cleaner with high pressure water. This does not always result in even cleanliness, yet renders the house ready for painting.

If we are power washing a home that is not being painted, we power wash more thoroughly and  spend more time. Be advised, that since cedar is a soft wood, it can’t always be aggressively cleaned. We also recommend not to power wash old aluminum siding without painting it, because the chalked paint would be removed with the power wash.

Additionally certain types of molds, such as target mold cannot be power washed off. Although sanding will temporarily remove it, it will return quickly. Lastly, aggressive mildew removal can leave a stained look where the siding is a slightly different color in the areas where we cleaned.

CLAPBOARD SIDING FAILURES

If your home’s exterior siding clapboards were installed too tight, the clapboards may potentially trap moisture within the siding construction. As a result, moisture can weaken the wood, rust the nails and cause exterior paint to crack. However, the damage can be avoided by ventilating the siding, if the siding isn’t ventilated, the painting warranty will be voided.

SEMI-TRANSPARENT STAINS

Semi-Transparent stains result in some areas being lighter and others darker. It’s not a uniform color.

HOUSE ALARMS

Please contact your home security firm to post their smoke alarm system on “test” during the work period. That way our drywall sanding won’t potentially set off smoke alarms.

WINDOW FRAMES

In the event that a previous paint job overlaps from the window frame onto the masonry or brick, we’ll paint a clean line in a standard placement. Be advised that this may leave remnants of old paint on the brick or masonry. The old paint can be removed with sandblasting, which will be a separate charge.

MASONRY POINTING AROUND WINDOW FRAMES

We don’t re-point or repaint masonry around wood windows that are set into stone or brick.  Pointing is best reserved for pointing experts as it’s a separate and highly specialized service.

LAWN SIGNS

Our procedure is to place a lawn sign either before or during your job. If you don’t want our CertaPro sign on your property, inform us when you accept our services.

ACCESS TO YOUR STUFF

Be sure to remove any items and belongings before we arrive. Because when we start your job, the area we’re working in may be covered and your items won’t be easily accessible until we’re complete.

BASEBOARD HEATERS

We don’t normally unscrew and paint behind baseboard heaters attached to the wall. However if you want us to do that, let us know and we’ll gladly add it to your job.

DECK STAINING

Our three deck staining methods are as follows:

•  Spraying
• Brushing
•  Rolling

INTERIOR PEELING

We don’t normally strip all old paint before we start the job. As a result, we tend to paint over multiple layers of old paint. There is a chance that another layer of paint may fall and cause our paint to peel. Even though this isn’t under warranty, reach out to us nonetheless. Way may fix it for free, or for a small fee.

OIL PRODUCTS

Our preferred paints and products are latex as they’re better for the environment. However we also realize there are times when oil primers and paints may be more ideal:

•  Very shiny surfaces
•  Post wallpaper removal
• Kitchen cabinets
•  Ceiling stains

If oil products trigger allergic reactions, it’s best to leave your house for a number of days. In those cases we can use a latex product as an alternative, but we don’t offer a warranty in those cases.

AIR FILTER

Once we complete your project, we advise you check your air filter because drywall dust can pollute your air filter.

STRIPPING BRICK & MASONRY

We aren’t responsible for pitted or porous bricks or damaged mortar. So please check with us early and often to make sure you’re comfortable with our progress.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We don’t normally remove the following items:

• Hardware
• Doorknobs
• Light fixtures

However, if you would prefer us to remove said items and the like we can do so at an additional charge.

EXTERIOR PAINTING BASICS

Extra Painting: In the course of our jobs, we frequently come across more painting we can do. As a result we want to complete the additional painting before our job is done. Our paint crew leaders  are happy to compose a change form to give you prices on any additional work. That said, we plan to complete the additional work in our initial time-frame.

Bushes: Make sure the bushes and shrubs around your home are safe. Be sure to prune the bushes and shrubs before our painters start their work.

Preparation: To ensure your satisfaction with our work, please choose the level of preparation you desire.   We advise you review the exterior preparation information. The proper level of preparation is extremely important in making sure the job is complete to your satisfaction.

Windows and Doors: Windows will initially dry to the touch in hours, but take around 30 days to completely cure.  Be sure to open all windows every few days or they will stick. To prevent doors from sticking, We advise you to apply a small amount of Vaseline or liquid Dove soap to the stripping before you close it.

Colors:  On the first day of the job your paint crew leader will apply a sample patch the first day if you’re not certain of the colors you’ve chosen. If you change your mind on the colors after we start, we will need to charge you for lost time and product purchased.

Carpentry: We also offer carpentry as a service. During our job we’ll inform you of any rotten wood and offer you a bid to replace it

Window Washing:  It’s best you have your windows professionally washed after we complete our painting job.

Clean-up:  Your paint crew leader is responsible for the daily clean-up, keeping your property presentable, and a full clean-up at the completion of the job.