How to Hire a Professional Painter

You need your house painted and decided to hire a professional. Now what? Here’s how to hire a painter.

Some jobs are just bigger than you want to undertake on your own. Whether you are having your fascia touched up or starting over painting the foundation to roof, a home paint job is a big one. Go into meetings with contractors with knowledge of what you are looking for and what to ask for piece of mind.

What is a painting contractor?

A painting contractor could be a subcontractor, general contractor or part of a painting company. They will provide the painting service for the outside of your home. Depending on exactly their line of work, they may also provide painting preparation, repairs and other necessary services.

What does a professional painter or painting contractor do?

Most contractors will take on any painting job of many sizes. Some require minimums to commit to a project. Others are willing to paint just small amounts.

What is included with the contractor’s work?

Normally a painter will provide the following:
Protection that will not be painted, including floors, windows, kitchen counters, cabinets, etc. with plastic or canvas drop cloths.
Minor to major surface preparation work before painting. This could include sanding, scraping loose paint, repairing nails or repair of other small issues to create a paint-ready wall.
Taking off electrical plates, lights and other items on the wall.
Moving furniture either from the room or to the center of the room.
Priming walls.
At least two coats of color paint.
Trim paint.
Touch up on missed spots or holidays.
Accident clean up, and spot cleaning where necessary.
A final walk through of the finished product.
Not all of the listed items may be performed by the same contractor of a company. They might also carry charges in addition to the paint job. Confirm all of this with your contractor prior to beginning work.

What questions should I ask?

While some contractors have fancy lingo and specialized jargon, painting is a mostly understood process. If there are terms you don’t understand or need further clarification on, ask.
Further questions to consider before you sign the dotted line include:
Is the cost of the paint included in the estimate?
What kind of paint will be used?
How many coats are expected to be used?
What kind of protection do you employ to protect furniture and floors?
How long do you estimate the job will take?
Do I, or my pets, need to leave the house during the job?

How much will this job cost?

Some homeowners feel sticker shock after receiving an estimate from a painting contractor. Remember, this cost includes the products to be used, the preparation and the piece of mind that you don’t have to complete the work.

When do I pay?

Never, never pay the whole job up front. Beware any shady requests like cash and all before the work begins. It’s a sure sign of an individual with malicious intent. It is normal to give a deposit to purchase products and reserve dates with professional painters.