Do you need A house painter?

Once you’ve gone over all the really, really important stuff with a painting contractor, you can then start to get down to the nitty-gritty details of the project, and of the contractor. It’s important that as the customer, you understand just exactly what can be expected of your Chester County painter, and what you shouldn’t expect. A new paint job will help protect the walls and the outside of your home from damage and as such, there are certain considerations that painters need to take in mind while they work. However, because it’s your home and you are responsible for maintaining it, the lines between homeowner responsibilities and painter responsibilities can sometimes become blurred. Here are a few things that you should do before the painter gets there, and what you can leave for them.

If the painter is painting the interior of your home, you will generally be expected to at least move the furniture away from the walls so that the painter can access the area. Don’t worry about the drop cloths, as this is part of the convenience of hiring a painter and they will provide them. Along with moving the furniture away from your walls, you should also clean any walls that are going to be painted. While a painter will spot clean as they go along to get rid of grit and grime, the majority of the cleaning should already be done when they get there.

The only area of your home that you won’t need to clean before the painters arrive is the exterior of your home. Because siding, brick, and other materials used to construct homes are constantly exposed to the elements, they become very dirty and the dirt can become quite stuck to the surface. Because of this, a powerful power-washing is usually needed before any painting can be done. Again, this is pretty heavy-duty equipment and you shouldn’t be expected to run the cost of renting it or injury to yourself by doing this for the painters.

Outside your home, you should also clear away any garbage cans, barbecues, patio furniture, or anything else that you can easily move away from the side of your home. The painters will need a clear area outside to work too and it is your responsibility to make sure that your personal belongings are stored safely away. However, things like drop cloths are also needed outside for things like decks, bushes, and flowers. If paint falls onto a bush or into your garden, it can not only look bad but it can also be harmful to the plants. A good painter will know this and will try to protect them.

Caulking is another paint preparation technique that will need to be done in certain areas inside and outside the home such as windows, holes, and trim around the doors. Caulking protects the surface from water dripping in and becoming trapped behind the paint, which can quickly cause mold and mildew. It also keeps out bugs that love to find their way into woodwork and make their homes there. Any good painter will take care of any caulking that needs to be done for you, so don’t worry about getting out your caulking gun before the painters come over.

These are general guidelines that most painting contractors follow, and these expectations are pretty standard. For anything more involved about your specific project, or the way a specific company operates, you’ll need to prepare a list of questions to ask each house painter that’s still on your list. While you may already established some sort of impression of the different house painters you’ve spoken to, it’s the answers to the following questions that will really give you a clear indication of what kind of company you’re dealing with, and how happy you’ll be once the job is complete.…

What you should ask your painter before signing a contract. Are you insured?
Yes, you already know how important it is to ask any house painter about insurance. But don’t just ask; make sure that you see actual proof. Any house painter who’s honest will have no problem showing paperwork proving so. Are you licensed?

Just like insurance, you have to not only ask whether a business is licensed, but also ask to see it. If you visit their office in person you may see this hanging on the wall. But if you don’t, make sure that the contractor brings a copy with them when they come to look at the property for a quote.

How long have you been in business?
Unfortunately, a painting business is pretty easy to “start” yourself. This means that any student looking for summer work, any individual between jobs, or anybody else who’s just looking to make a quick buck, can pick up a paintbrush, call themselves a contractor, and start charging you by the hour. To make sure that you’re not caught in this situation, ask how long the company has been in business for. If it’s been for over five years, you have a good idea that these are professionals who live to paint, and only paint. If they’ve been in business for less time than that, don’t become too discouraged by it. Just keep it in mind if the price seems too good to be true, or if the overall feel of the company is that they’re not very professional.

Are the other painters that will be working on my home employees or independent contractors?
This is an important question to as well. It’s not rare for painting contractors to hire their own sub-contractors to take care of certain parts of the job. However, if the other painters are not direct employees to the painting contractor, they will not be covered by the main contractor’s liability or Worker’s Compensation Insurance. Therefore, it’s important that you ask and that if the contractor is hiring sub-contractors, that you also see verification of their insurance.

What do you know about lead and how do you handle it?
Everyone in this day and age knows how harmful lead paint can be; and it hasn’t been used in interior or exterior home painting for years. However, a dishonest painter will try to shrug off the lead issue in order to get your business. If any painter tries to tell you that lead is a non-issue, thank them and walk away. Then hire a painter who will not only acknowledge the issue of lead, but will also outline how they deal with it.
What brand of paint do you recommend?
Of course, you definitely want to know what type of paint is being used on your home, but there are other reasons to ask this question too. A good painter generally prefers to use the same kind of paint over and over again; it helps them become more familiar with the paint and know how it will react under certain conditions. However, if the brand they use is too expensive or you prefer another kind of paint, a good painter will be open to trying another brand of paint. Beware of any painter that is trying to push one brand on you just because it’s the most expensive kind. On the other hand, also be wary of any painter that uses a cheap paint, simply to cut back on costs.

Will you show up on time every day?
Of course, you always need to make sure that any contractor you’re working with shows up when they’re supposed to, on time and every single day. Unfortunately, some painting contractors take on far too many jobs at one time, all so that they can make as much money as possible. While doing this is fine if they have certain teams dedicated to certain jobs, it’s not okay if one team is running back and forth between jobs. This will result in many times when the painters are not there working on your home when they said they would be, and many days when they won’t even show up.…

Wood siding
Deciding to remodel your home is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s always fun to think about a new look on your home, an updated paint job, new siding, or even additions to a home that’s too small for your growing family, but applying those dreams to reality can have very different results if you don’t pay attention to and use the expertise of a professional contractor.

Choosing the correct materials to make changes to your home is an important piece of having a successful remodel. It’s not enough to just want to change the look of your home in one way or another, you also want to choose materials that are cost effective, are long lasting and will give you the best overall look and efficiency for your budget.
There are very few home improvements that can ultimately pay for themselves the way new siding on your house can. New materials on your home can relieve you of constant painting and give you much better curb appeal later on if you choose to sell the property.
Before making decisions on what siding will work best for your home, there are some things you’ll want to consider:
• Make sure you properly calculate the amount of square footage needing to be installed. This will also give you a better estimate on the overall cost of the project.
• Check out different types of siding and decide what works best for your home, the look you want and your budget. Vinyl and aluminum siding are less expensive options and typically require less maintenance than say wood, shakes or clapboard siding. These sidings are more expensive and require more maintenance and care than either aluminum or vinyl.
• When choosing between a wood type siding or aluminum and vinyl, keep in mind that the color of aluminum and vinyl siding cannot be changed without completely re-siding the house. Wood siding can be painted if a new color is desired later on.
• Using home improvement magazines and guide books can help you determine what look will work best for your home. Most home improvement stores have a section on remodeling and you’ll be able to find printed material on whatever project you’re working on.
• Consider quality as well as price. Shopping by price alone can result in poor quality workmanship and siding that May not last as long or look as good as a more expensive option. Siding is usually sold in squares (100 square feet) and typically ranges between $60 and $200 per square depending on the quality and type of siding. In wood siding, look for good quality wood with few knots or other imperfections in the grain and be sure to inquire about warranties for your siding.
• Shop around. Get at least three price estimates from different suppliers before settling on one. Use specialty suppliers and home improvement stores to get a variety in your estimates. When you have chosen your installer, make sure you read contracts carefully and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. It is also important to verify the amount of siding needed to complete the job against the other estimates to make sure they are all accurate. You may also want to ask for other references from your chosen installer to make sure they have happy past customers.

Siding your home will not only add a fresh, updated look to your home, it will help change your entire neighborhood. Choose colors that match the community you live in and aren’t too bold for your area. You can accent windows and other areas with different colors to increase visibility.…

Whether it’s the interior or the exterior of your home that needs painting, the chances are that you’ve at least toyed with the idea of doing it yourself. After all, how hard can it be? With a couple of ladders, some brushes, and a little paint, you should have the job done in no time, right? Well, that’s not actually the way it generally works. While house painting may look like something that just about anybody can do, there is a level of skill involved and, even more than that, a whole lot of time.

Many people assume that hiring a house painter is much more expensive than just doing it yourself; and in some cases this is undoubtedly true. But when you consider how many tools and equipment you will need to buy in order to complete the job, you might find that it all adds up pretty quickly, and that in the end it may actually cost you more to do the job yourself. Of course you’ll need to buy all the paintbrushes, rollers, paint trays and – oh yes, the paint! But, you’ll also need to buy things such as ladders for painting ceilings or high walls, scaffolding for exterior multi-storey windows, drop cloths for interior spaces, and all the tape in between. That’s a lot of equipment needed for the job and if you don’t already have it, you could pay a lot of money for it.

The equipment isn’t the only thing that will cost you though. The time involved in a paint job, whether it’s the interior or exterior of your home is enormous. Every good paint job needs at least one coat of primer and then two coats of color, with complete drying time in between. Not only does it span a lot of time, but you have to take it slowly while you’re actually painting. A rushed paint job is going to show through in paint transfers between the walls and the ceilings. A professional painter will display this patience in their work; but they will also come in every single day and devote the entire day to the job, until the work is completely finished. If you do the job on your own however, you will most likely end up doing it only on the weekends that you don’t feel like just relaxing and doing nothing else. Do it this way, and you might find that your paint job is a permanent on-going project.

Hiring a professional painter for your painting needs is usually the best way to go. If you’re only painting a room or going around your house doing touch-ups, you may not need a professional, and might even benefit from doing the job yourself. But for any exterior painting, or when you’re painting several rooms indoors, hiring a professional for the job is usually the only way to get the results you’re looking for.…