Final Paint Walkthrough Tips

It’s the words you’ve been dying to hear: your painting project is done. Before you begin putting your house back together, take advantage of a final walk-through with your lead painter. Now is the time to make sure you are satisfied with the job they have done before you politely show them the door. Our pros have given us a list of things to look for before you call the job a wrap. Here are the final paint walkthrough tips that will leave you feeling confident with your paint job.

Inspect

The last step of any project in your home should be an inspection. Do not wait until the crew has left to look at the work they have done. There could be small repairs that need to be corrected before they move on to the next house. If they are already gone, the company might hesitate to make a new appointment for such a small fix.

All sides

Don’t feel like a quick glance at your project is all you need to get a feel for the work. Walk around, view the job from close up and far away. Check different angles to make sure you don’t have any potential holidays that need to be repaired.

Foundations

The foundations of exterior work are the cornerstone of the project. A messy foundation makes a professional project look haphazard and rushed. Check your foundations around the ground line to make sure the paint goes below the dirt. Reputable painting companies will take time to shovel dirt and rocks away from the home, and put them back afterward to create a seamless blend from home to the ground. Look around to see if there is overspray on the plants or grass along the paint line. At the same time, there should be no missing patches of paint where the foundation shows through.

Peeling

Before your project starts, you almost assuredly did a full estimate with a representative of the company. The estimate should include any areas of peeling or other imperfections that will need repair prior to painting. You should make note mentally of these areas too. After the project is completed, make sure the repair is in place. Shady companies might just paint over the repair hoping you will miss it. An improper repair is a shoddy craftsmanship, and the imperfection is sure to return again.

Stucco cracks

Cracks in stucco are not generally anything you should worry about as a homeowner. You should make a note of it in estimates and keep an eye on it after the job is complete. It’s important to have a crack repaired by filling it with a full masonry patch. If the crack is just painted over, it will most certainly return once the paint has dried. It’s especially important, if you examine stucco cracks on the exterior of your home, and will need an exterior stucco repair.

Trim

Wood trim can be finicky when it is painted. Professional painting crews know to take time to seal any cracks in the wood prior to painting. Small cracks can use a paintable caulk while larger ones might require a new piece of wood to be cut and places.

Baseboards

The baseboard requires a very sharp cut line between the wall and the trim. Check for straight lines. If the painters used tape to mark off the lines, check to make sure the tape didn’t cause imperfections when they pull it off.

Window Sills

Preparation and coats are often forgotten when dealing with window sills. Make sure you are happy with the coverage and coats of the trim around the window and the sill.

Gates and fences

When there are gates and fences are part of your project, there are particular items to look at after the project is completed. Whether you are working with wood, iron, or other metal materials, repairs are inevitable prior to painting. Caulking or replacing wood might be in order, or removing rust before the painting can begin. When the work is done, check around handles, hinges, and grass lines to make sure your lines are acceptable.

Clean up

When your crew is done with the project, you should not have incurred any additional messes. Drips, oversprays, and any other messes should be removed and cleaned. Garbage and supplies should all be removed leaving the room in at least the same condition as you gave it to them. If you have questions, reach out to your painting contractor, call us at 805-430-2080!

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