 Hiring
Professional House Painters are some of the easiest
ways to improve the look of your home, and increase
your property value. House painting is also a
good do it yourself project, though keep in mind
there are many benefits by hiring a professional
painting contractor to the job for you. A professional
house painter / painting contractor can complete
a home painting project in a fraction of the time
it would take a homeowner to do it alone, needless
to say the cost of paying for all the individual
professional painting tools you’ll to complete
the painting project at hand may exceed the cost
than hiring a professional house painter outright.
Hiring a Painter, By Stu Silverman
Hiring a painter? This informative guide will
help you choose a qualified professional and avoid
common painter pitfalls.
Because anyone with a paintbrush and a ladder
can call themselves a painter, when it comes to
hiring someone to paint or stain your home or
deck, you need to take extra precautions. You
want to trust your home – and its contents
– to a contractor who has the skill and
experience to do the job properly, and without
damaging your carpets or other belongings. Also,
because a fresh coat of paint usually looks great,
it's not always so easy to tell if a job has been
done properly.
 Check
older references
With painters it is especially important to check
references. Because much of the work will be done
when you're not around, there's no way to know
after the fact if, for example, the entire surface
was primed or even how many coats of paint were
applied. The important thing when checking references
is to make sure you get a reference from a job
done several years ago, because the true test
of a quality paint job is how it stands up over
time – especially outdoors.
A picture is not worth 1,000 words
Don't simply rely on photos taken by the painter,
as they will all be from freshly painted jobs,
and they're usually taken from a distance, making
it impossible to see wobbly cut lines, drips and
brush marks. Go inspect their work, looking for
any peeling, flaking or cracking, and evidence
of spilled paint, platter or overspray.
Make sure you get a reference from a job done
several years ago, because the true test of a
quality paint job is how it stands up over time.
Ask your references whether their landscaping
(for outdoor work) or personal belongings were
damaged during the paint job. Did the painter
stick to the budget and time schedule? And be
sure to ask the key question: would you hire this
painter again?
Protect yourself – put details
in the contract
When it comes to the contract, be specific. More
than just stating the rooms or surfaces to be
painted and the price, the contract should include
details about prep and application methods, the
materials to be used, how the site will be protected
and cleaned up, as well as the time and payment
schedules. It is also a good idea to inspect the
job site with the painter before the job starts,
making note of all pre-existing damage, especially
for outdoor work. Record all existing paint spills,
cracked window panes and ripped screens to avoid
disagreements about what damage existed before
the job started and any new damage.
 Proper
prep makes all the difference
For outdoor work, proper prep makes the difference
between a paint job that will last versus peeling
and flaking. For wood siding, include in the contract
that the house will be power-washed with a bleach
or TSP mixture and that siding will be disk-sanded
and then feathered for smoothness. State that
all gaps will be filled with caulking, and that
the entire surface will be primed using a slow-drying
primer. Also, ensure that oil-based surfaces will
be primed before painting, especially when covering
with latex paint.
For inside work, the painter should ensure that
all drywall joints are smooth, fix damaged walls,
fill nail holes and seal knots in wood trim, and
prime with a slow-drying primer. If you require
woodwork to be sanded between finish coats, be
sure to stipulate that in the contract.
Brush or spray?
How will the paint be applied? The contract should
state that for exterior work the primer is applied
with a brush. For topcoats, either spraying or
brushing is fine – as long as the painter
is experienced with a sprayer and providing proper
overspray protection. One thing to consider is
that spraying uses more paint.
Specify in the contract how much time will be
allowed for drying. In the interest of speeding
up the job, some painters will apply a second
coat before the previous one is dry. It is best
to leave at least a day between each coat. And
make sure you specify which paint will be used
– including the manufacturer's name, the
grade of paint and the color, gloss and base.
Painters may recommend a paint that they get at
a good price, but it is your prerogative to use
the paint you prefer to get a quality finish.
 Insist
that they use protection
Although it should be standard procedure for painters
to protect the area they're working in with drop
cloths or paper and masking tape, it doesn't hurt
to stipulate this in the contract – especially
for outdoor painting or staining projects. And
specify that the site be returned to its original
condition upon completion of the project, including
an agreement of who will clean the windows.
Recommended payment schedule
It is recommended that you never give a painter
more than 10% of the total cost up front. Then
give a third of the remaining cost on the first
day of work, another third at a specified point
halfway through (e.g. after the prep work is complete
and primer is applied), and the final third after
the final cleanup has been done and you've inspected
and approved the work.
Whether you're painting or staining the interior
or exterior of your home, the deck, fence, patio
or porch, it is a good idea to put as many details
into the contract as you can. Hopefully these
tips will help your paint job go smoothly. And
before hiring any contractor, review these more
general hiring tips for best results. Good luck!
Stu Silverman is a home improvement advice columnist
and freelance writer.
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Things you’ll need for professional house
painting
• Painter pants
• Steady hand
• Good eye for detail
• Ladders
• Drop clothes
• Professional paint brushes
• Professional paint rollers
• Roller handles, frames, polls
• Roller pans
• Paint sprayer
• Power washer
• Drills
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