Articles
Why Hire a Professional Painter?
Is it really that important to hire a professional painter? Can't I do it myself? Before you decide to hire the least expensive painter you can find, or "do it yourself", here are important points to consider that suggest the lowest price may not be the best value.
Safety
Painting can be hazardous work, whether it's working on a ladder or dealing with solvents and dust. Hiring a professional contractor means you don't have to worry about these problems.
Health
If your home or business was built before 1978, it may have been painted with lead-based paint, which can cause serious health effects when it is scraped or sanded in preparation for repainting. Professional contractors will take appropriate steps to protect you. Painting contractors are required to furnish EPA-produced pamphlets to their residential customers before they begin a job that involves disturbing lead-based paint in or on a residence. Professional painting contractors will understand and be willing to follow the recommendations on this pamphlet.
Preparation & Painting
Getting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right.
Knowing Paints and How to Apply Them The choices today are more complicated than just oil or latex, and professional contractors will know what works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job.
Cleanup and Disposal
Hiring a professional contractor means you don't have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.
Once you've decided to hire a professional, learn how to choose the right contractor
The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America is a full-service national trade association representing over 3,100 companies engaged in all sectors of the coatings application industry. PDCA has developed this article to assist you in making an informed decision when you next contemplate a painting or decorating project.
Once you have decided to contract with someone to do a particular painting and decorating project, how do you go about selecting the right company? Do you make your selection on price, size of company, years in business, or other criteria?
To locate the names of reputable contractors, there are many sources of information. Some of these sources are the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (www.azroc.gov), friends, relatives, architects and design professionals, and local "quality- oriented" paint supply stores. However, these sources can only give you limited general information. In order to make an educated decision, you need some specific information about any person or firm you are considering hiring.
Always verify the contractor is licensed and insured.
Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their certificates of insurance. They should provide bonding information (if the job is large enough to require such) and documentation of safety training and compliance programs. Not all states and municipalities require licensing however business registration with your state and municipality is generally a minimum requirement.
Written Contracts are a Must
Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted, methods and extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment procedures. Knowing the total scope of the work enables you to carefully evaluate the different bids you may receive with the proper information and keep them on a level playing field. The contract serves to protect both you and the contractor.
Invest Time in Verifying References
Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person, address, and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees treated you professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, some of the projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done.
Discuss any guarantee or warranty programs the contractor may offer. Ask about the manufacturer's warranty on the products to be used on your project. Remember you are looking for long-term durability from the paint job. The use of high quality products is as important as the selection and performance of the contractor. Verifying references will provide a return on your project investment.
Does your contractor have a good record with the local Better Business Bureau?
Determine if your contractor has a clean record with the Better Business Bureau. It has been in existence a long time and is a highly regarded reference source. The Better Business Bureau is a Non-Profit Association who is interested in making the contracting world better, not just selling their products, which many marketing and sales type association groups are in business for.
In Closing
Good contractors are very eager for your business. They are also very proud of their craftsmanship. Once you have made your selection, step back and give the professional room to execute the project. You have both done your homework, so give the professional the opportunity to meet and exceed your expectations. Remember, as with anything else in life, you get what you pay for. If you want high quality and reliable service, be willing to pay the price that comes with it.
Here's to your successful painting projects.
For your reference, the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association has provided this information on lead base paint.
Lead in Your Home: A Parent's Reference Guide
To heighten awareness about lead poisoning prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed Lead in Your Home: A Parents Reference Guide. The Agency believes this is an essential resource for anyone from owners to tenants concerned about the dangers of lead in their home and environment.
If not conducted properly, certain types of renovations can release lead from paint and dust into the air. Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. Federal law requires that contractors provide lead information to residents before renovating a pre-1978 housing: Pre-Renovation Education Program (PRE) RENOVATORS have to give you a pamphlet titled "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home," before starting work.
If not conducted properly, certain types of renovations can release lead from paint and dust into the air. Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. Federal law requires that contractors provide lead information to residents before renovating a pre-1978 housing: Pre-Renovation Education Program (PRE) RENOVATORS have to give you a pamphlet titled "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home," before starting work.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is concerned about homeowners and building professionals who may be exposed to lead as a result of remodeling or renovation projects. The purpose of this pamphlet is to help reduce lead exposure then conducting home renovation and remodeling activities. This pamphlet will be updated as new information about lead hazard reduction becomes available. 26 page PDF – English Version
The National Lead Information Center
Call 1-800-424-LEAD (424-5323) to learn how to protect children from lead poisoning and for other information on lead hazards. To access lead information via the web, visit www.epa.gov/lead and www.hud.gov/offices/lead/ .
The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America is a full-service national trade association representing over 3,100 companies engaged in all sectors of the coatings application industry. PDCA has provided this information to assist you in making an informed decision when you next contemplate a painting or decorating project.
Here are the basic steps to painting interior walls:
Remove all wall hangings and switchplates and pull furniture away from the walls and toward the center of the room.
Lay a high-quality drop-cloth on the floor as close to the wall as possible to protect the floor from any drips, spills, or splatters. Then, apply tape and masking paper to the joint where the wall and baseboard meet and let it hang out beyond the baseboard. This will protect the floor from paint landing between the wall and the dropcloth or on your baseboard. Also, cover any furniture that was pulled away from the walls as an additional precaution. Use large sheets of thin plastic for this.
Take a good, close look at your walls. Many times there will be minor cracks in corners, window sills, and anywhere drywall joints are. We will repair these cracks as well as any nail holes using joint compound and in some instances, acrylic caulk.
Now it's time to get into the paint. Spread the paint out smoothly and evenly using the best applicator for the job.
Cut the top of the wall into the ceiling using a brush and cautious strokes.
Once the finish coat is complete, check the room carefully for any necessary touch up, complete the work, and allow time for the paint to dry.
Clean, Renew, and Restore Baseboard and Door Trim
Your door trim and baseboards are subject to a lot of abuse. Vacuums like to leave black marks, feet like to kick them, groceries like to bang against and dent them, etc. After a while, they start looking weathered and need some attention. Luckily, it is possible to rejuvenate them with a little time and effort.You will want to start by dusting off the loose dirt that collects on the top edge of the trim. A soft bristled brush of any kind works well for this. Then you can wipe off some of the dirt and marks with a mild soap and water solution on a soft towel or cloth.
Of course, many scuffs will not come off with the soap and water solution. When this happens, the only resolution is to prepare and paint over these scuffs. Use a medium grit sandpaper to lightly sand any affected areas. This will help with paint adhesion and durability. It also reduces the chance for paint runs and sags. Depending on how confident you are in your steady hand, you may want to use masking tape and possibly masking paper to ensure you do not accidentally get the paint from the baseboard/trim on the adjacent surface (unless sheen and color are the same). Remember that the tape is only an aide as paint may find its way under it . If the marks/scuffs are very dark it will likely take at least two coats of paint to cover them completely.
After you have dusted, wiped, prepared, and painted, your baseboard will look as good as new!!
We are a licensed painting contractor who proudly provides painting services throughout the Phoenix Metro Area including: Avondale, Ahwatukee, Buckeye, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Higley, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Mesa, Queen Creek, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, and more.
