What to ask when Painting your Home

So you've finally decided--it's time to tackle that big painting project around the house, and you know you'll need a pro to do it!  After all, you don't want to spend the next 6 weekends doing it yourself, do you?

Now, you've got to find a contractor that will do the job that you can trust.  There are a lot of things to look out for to ensure you get a great job and a pleasant experience.  Here are three things you should ask every contractor about to ensure you hire the right company:

1) What kind of prep will be done before the painting?

I can’t stress enough how important prep can be for any paint job.  “Prep” is a term we use to refer to the preparation of the surfaces that will be painted.  For Exterior Painting, it could include detailed mildew treatment, power washing, scraping, sanding, feather sanding, priming, caulking, puttying, and more.

These steps will determine if your paint job is set up to succeed or fail, in both the short and long term. Make sure the proposal you receive explains in detail the type of prep you will receive as part of the job.

And While we are on the subject of the proposal...

2) Will they give you a detailed scope of work?

Every quote a contractor gives you should always be in writing.  Anything not in writing leaves details of the job up to interpretation, and you don't want to assume anything.  Even things you may discuss when you meet should be written if it concerns how the job would be performed.

You want to be sure that each surface to be painted is listed in detail as a part of the scope of work. Anything left out could indicate a lack of attention to detail, and result in change orders later during the course of the job. You also want to ensure how many coats will be applied--two topcoats (not including primer) is the standard for a high-quality paint job.

Now for the paint!

3) Are Paint and other materials included?

When comparing quotes, you want to make sure they each include the cost of materials, and the same type & line of paint. There can be big differences in cost and quality when it comes to different paint brands and the selected line of paint chosen.

Painting Contractors can negotiate significant discounts with paint providers, which should save you money. Additionally, a paint contractor that asks you to buy the paint probably doesn’t have the relationship with those providers, and probably isn’t funded well enough to provide the money up front for the materials.

Now that you've got some of the basics covered, you can make an informed decision on who to hire.

Have a question about a Painting Project?  Give us a call at (225) 614-9520 and I’ll do my best to be your guide in maintaining your home.  Or, look below and schedule your estimate today!