5 Common Questions Professional Painting Clients in Massachusetts Ask

One of the biggest benefits of hiring a professional painting company comes in the form of expertise. The experience and technical knowledge gained from years in the field allow pro painters to work more efficiently, choose the best materials for the job, and get the work done with minimal messes or mistakes.

Having that expertise also means receiving plenty of questions before, during, and after each project. Some are specific to the job at hand, but most are broader inquiries about how the painting industry works. To help you stay informed as you get ready for your next professional painting job, we’ve compiled five of those most common questions (and their answers) so you know exactly what to expect before your estimate even begins.

Let’s get right into it!

1. What Kind of Paint Do You Use?

At CertaPro Painters of Metrowest, we use high quality paints from reputable brands – namely Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Both manufacturers have a variety of high quality products for different uses, and we have our preferences for each scenario we encounter

• Interior: Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Sherwin Williams Duration
• Exterior: Benjamin Moore MoorLife or MoorGlo, or Sherwin Williams Latitude
• Solid Stain: Benjamin Moore Arborcoat or Sherwin Williams Woodscapes

While paint from big box stores is less expensive, we find that it doesn’t provide the same coverage – which means more coats and more labor. To provide our clients with the most cost-effective service, we opt to use higher quality paint – which in turn reduces labor (which is the most expensive part of the project).

2. What’s The Difference Between Paint and Solid Stain?

As technology continues to advance, it’s harder and harder to tell the difference between paint and solid stain when it’s already on the exterior siding of your home. While they both serve to protect your house from the elements, paint is designed to sit on top of the siding to keep moisture out, while solid stain penetrates into the wood to seal it. When it’s time for a refresh, solid stain will fade and flake, where paint will bubble and peel.

In our experience, it’s usually best to stick with one or the other. If you already have solid stain on your siding, we’ll use solid stain to update – and the same goes for paint! While it’s possible to paint over stain, it can sometimes lead to trouble with adhesion. Similarly, using solid stain on top of paint can prevent the stain from fully penetrating the siding. For new builds or bare wood, we typically choose solid stain because as it ages, some fading is more aesthetically pleasing than bubbling, peeling paint.

Both have their advantages, and we choose according to project-specific factors each and every time!

3. Bathrooms Are Small – Why Do They Cost More to Paint?

Bathrooms are typically among the smallest rooms in any house, and this reduced square footage can lead to some misconceptions about painting costs. As mentioned above, it’s not the paint itself that constitutes most of the costs of a painting project, but the labor of painting.

Bathrooms have fixtures, tiling, hard to reach spaces, and so on – all of which makes painting more time consuming. It’s as simple as that!

4. Why Is Cabinet Painting So Expensive?

Like bathrooms, painting cabinets is more labor intensive than one might expect. From removing doors and handles to carefully labeling each piece, as well as the attention to detail required for the actual painting, cabinet painting is a meticulous process.

There are numerous surfaces that need priming, sanding, and painting. Countertops and appliances need masking (and sometimes floors and walls too). Unique designs, glass panes, and special pieces like built-in wine racks need even more delicate attention. Painters need to be careful not to spray too much paint while still providing complete coverage, and after the painting is finished, the cabinets need to be properly reassembled.

All of this stacks up to quite a bit of labor, which raises the overall cost of the project.

5. Why Is Your Price Higher Than _____?

As you may be able to tell by now, we got quite a few questions about money. People want to understand what they’re paying for – whether that’s the specific project or why a professional painting company uses a particular pricing structure.

While it may be tempting to turn to friends or an amateur painter to cut down on expenses, hiring a professional painting company comes with the added peace of mind of licensing, insurance, equipment, and experience. The higher price point covers these costs, and means that your painting project will be taken care of by conscientious, well-trained painters that have the tools and know-how to get things right the first time!

To get started on your next painting project, or to ask questions you didn’t see in our list, contact CertaPro today!