Top 5 Questions to ask a Painter: Plano Painters Answer
Posted on February 15, 2019
Painting your home can be a big undertaking with a lot of tools you may not have and time you might not want to give up. The decision to hire a pro is a big one, but you can rest assured with your choice if you follow our guidelines of questions. Here are the top 5 questions to ask a painting pro from Plano painters.
“Do You Have Insurance?”
A reputable painting contractor will carry two kinds of insurance: Comprehensive Business Liability and Worken’s Compensation.
The Comprehensive Business Liability protects your property from any damage incurred through the project. It’s expected that a million dollar limit in coverage is carried by any contracting company.
Workmen’s Compensation protects the workers, and you, from any injuries incurred on your property during a job. This can be a costly coverage for a company, and some will try to work without it.
“Are The Workers On My Project Employees Or Subcontractors?”
A company can save on employee benefits and social security taxes by hiring subcontractors, rather than employees. Because the subcontractors are paid a flat fee, the company you hire may be tempted to find those offering the lowest possible fee. Translation: a risk of low quality work in your home. There is no relationship between the company and the worker, so corners are cut to get in and out of the job quickly.
Subcontractors are not employees, meaning they will not be covered by any workmen’s comp insurance. You could be found liable for any injuries on the job. More than likely, there have not been any background checks or employee screenings done. You are letting complete strangers into your home to finish a large job, with all of the risk falling on you.
“How Long Is Your Warranty, What Does It Cover, And How Is It Funded?”
Be wary of an unrealistic warranty. Some companies give 10 years, 20 years or even lifetime guarantees. Unfortunately, companies offering this kind of coverage will likely go out of business long before your warranty is up.
So what is a reasonable warranty? Commonly, a 1-year warranty is expected. If the work is done well, signs of paint failure will come up before the year is up. More often, you’ll get a 2 or 3 year warranty. Coverage of the warranty will include both material and labor required to fix any failure in their work. Exclusions are to be expected, for example, any undo wear and tear to the paint resulting in damage.
“Do you require any payment up front?”
Painting companies will vary on this answer. It’s most common for reputable companies to ask for a partial payment up front to reserve dates and get supplies for your project. Once the job is completed, the remainder comes due.
“What is included in prep and will my property be protected?”
Ask your potential painting professional what kind of preparation is included with their bid. Will they do minor touch up to dings and divots? Will the walls be sanded and primed prior to painting?
Who is responsible for clearing out the room, removing hardware from walls and other pre-painting work? Should you plan to remove furniture or cover it in the center of the room with tarps? These are all questions that should be gone over prior to the day of work. It’s best to ask rather than hope for the best when the crew arrives.
