Home Repair Handyman.com

10 Steps To Finding The Right Painter

Painting projects can be messy and annoying. Finding the right painter for your painting project can be the same. Follow these 10 simple steps to help you find the right painting contractor for your painting project.

• Resource Section

Ten Steps To Hiring The Right Painting Contractor

Taking on large painting projects around the house can be very labor intensive and time consuming. For most people, weekends are the only available time to accomplish such projects on your own. Add to this family commitments and unexpected interruptions and even a single large room can prove to be a daunting task. Before getting out the ladder and paint cans yourself here are a few things to consider:

1. Are you comfortable with heights? Climbing ladders is a major part of any paint job.
2. Are you capable of moving heavy objects, like furniture? Lifting and moving things are also a big part of painting. Make sure you are physically able to do it.
3. Time is another factor to consider. Depending on the project, it could take several days of effort to finish the painting. This is especially true for exterior painting.
4. Can you live with things being unfinished for a while if the project takes longer than expected?

There are countless things to consider before determining whether to do it yourself or to hire a professional. Although hiring a professional painter is typically more costly than doing it yourself, it's a quick and easy way to get the job done right. Here is some advice for hiring a top-quality painter if you should determine that leaving it to the professionals is the best approach:

Walk your entire house inside and out to determine which areas of your home need to be painted. It is much less expensive to have all the painting completed during a single project and often you can negotiate a better overall rate.

Consider any other work you want to have done before painting. For example, do you want to replace or repair moldings, patch damaged drywall or hang new doors?

Decide what colors and paints you want to use. You can get paint swatches for all major brands at your local home improvement centers or paint stores. The painter you hire may also have suggestions - take these seriously.

Ask friends, neighbors, builders and designers if they can recommend any good painters. If you're having difficulty, Home Repair Handyman can help you find a prescreened, professional painter in your local area.

Have the painting contractors inspect the project site and provide an estimate for the job. Make sure the contractors are quoting the same project specifications - areas to be painted, types of paint, number of coats, etc.

If you intend to have highly customized painting done (such as sponging or other decorator techniques), make sure that your painter has experience doing this type of work.

Consider asking prospective painters for references and then contact them. Were their customers pleased with the results of their work? Did the painter complete the project in a timely and professional manner?

Consider all the information before hiring your painter. Evaluate price, referrals and each painter's capabilities before making your final decision.

Execute a contract specifying the work to be done, total cost, payment schedule, start date and estimated completion date. In addition, here are a few additional items that are a great idea to include in writing on the work order contract:

1. List the brands and specific color mix ratios of the paint to be used in each location. Having this information can be very handy if you should need to purchase additional paint in the future for additional areas or touch-ups.
2. Number of agreed upon coats of paint. A good-quality paint job typically consists of one coat of primer and two finish coats of the color.
3. Make sure to specify that the painter is responsible for clean-up and the removal of paint from all surfaces (windows, floors).

Remove all furniture and other movable items before the painter is scheduled to begin. Anything not removed should be piled together in the center of the room and thoroughly covered with drop cloths.

Considering a house painting project? Let Home Repair Handyman help you find an expert painting handyman in your area.