 Interior
Painting Commonly Asked Questions
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If your question
is not asked here. You may search our site or read information in the painting library. If
you are unable to locate what you need, contact us
by phone, mail or e-mail, and we would be happy to assist you. |
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| No. In our particular area normally both husband
and wife many times have to work outside of the home. This presents no problem whatsoever
for us. We normally arrive on the job before you need to leave for work and special
arrangements can always be made to pick up a key ahead of time if needed. We have never
had a problem when it comes to the trustworthiness of our painters. Your home will be
respected the same as it would be if you were there. However we also realize that many
people are uncomfortable with leaving workmen in their house unattended. We understand
this hesitancy by some and are not offended by that. |
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| When we come in to paint your home we are expecting
to handle everything ourselves. We move all of the furniture into the middle of the room,
remove pictures from the walls and take down any window treatments. All furniture and
belongings are carefully covered and all floors are protected with the proper drop cloths
during painting. The only items we ask the customer to move are the small knick- knak type
items. Upon completion of the painting we will place all furniture back in the location
that it was removed from and re-hang pictures and window treatments. If the painted
surfaces are not ready for the pictures and window treatments to be reinstalled then
we can return the next day and do that if you would like. We do offer a setup discount of
5% of the total cost of the job if you would like to set the areas up for painting
yourself. Setup would consist of placing all furniture in the middle of the area to be
painted, removing all pictures, window treatments, switch plates and receptacle covers.
Upon completion you could then put everything back in place. With customer setup you do
not need to cover all of the furniture and belongings. We will provide all coverings and
drop cloths. If the areas to be painted are empty or the home vacant when we give you your
estimate then obviously we can not offer a setup discount as that is already factored into
your estimate. |
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Many factors can contribute to that.
1. The quality of the paint used is of the utmost importance.
2. The amount of traffic through a particular area.
3. Whether or not there are smokers in the home.
4. Is there a fireplace that is used on a regular basis during the winter months, and does
the damper work properly ?
5. How many children and their ages ?
There are too many factors to take into consideration, and each home can be different.
However a good quality job done by a professional crew under normal conditions should last
anywhere from 6-10 years. Call us and we will be happy to evaluate your particular
situation and offer you a more precise answer. |
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| After moving the furniture into the middle of the
room it will be covered in plastic. All floors will be protected by canvas drop cloths. We
use clear plastic on the furniture so that you can always see what is under the covering.
Many times if the furniture is covered with canvas you do not know what is under it and
damage is much more likely to occur from the canvas when it is removed. Not to mention the
fact that who wants canvas with old paint all over it on top of there belongings. |
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| All holes are filled and sanded. All cracks are
properly scraped out, filled and sanded. Caulking is inspected around all windows and
frames, doors and door frames and re-caulked as needed. Crown molding, chair rail etc. are
all caulked and properly prepared. All nail pops are repaired and sanded. Any water
stains, crayon marks etc. are sealed before painting and grease and heavy dirt
accumulations are cleaned. Any mildew that is present will be removed prior to painting. |
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| While every job is different normally you can
expect a crew of 3-4 painters. |
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| We only use top of the line paints and primers for
our customers from what we consider to be top of the line companies. Sherwin Williams,
Benjamin Moore and Duron are the preferred brands. As to the type of paint, oil based or
latex, homes and requirements are different. We would have to evaluate your home and see
what your particular needs are. And we are certainly willing to meet your wishes. |
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| We want you happy upon the completion of your job.
But regardless of the quality of work done, if at the completion you are unhappy with the
color you chose, you most likely will not use our company again. Every painting contractor
has had a job where the customer liked the quality of work, the crew and everything about
the company but they were unhappy with the colors used and now their whole perspective is
clouded and they view the job as a bad experience. After selecting a painting contractor,
the selection of colors to be used are the next most important decision that you need to
make. Take your time on color selection and only use a company that is willing to assist
you in making those decisions. Ask for color charts ahead of time and buy a quart or so of
paint to try it on a couple of different areas of your home as well as in different types
of lighting if you feel you need to. The cost of a few samples of paint is much cheaper
than repainting a room or entire house if you end up unhappy with the color chosen. |
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| Yes. However there are necessary steps that must be
taken first in order to assure success. Only use a contractor who is knowledgeable about
those steps and one who is willing to explain the proper procedures to you. |
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| You may either contact us or use our request an estimate link. |
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| We can get the same color, but keep in mind that
every house is different and the color may not look the same or have the same effect in
your home as it does in theirs. Find out from your friend what the color is and get a
sample. Paint an area approx. 6' x 6' in a few different sections and check how it will
look in your home. Lighting, carpet, furniture and other factors may give it a different
look in your home. |
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| Cracks can always be repaired and regardless of the
preparation done some may reappear. However your best chance at successfully repairing
those cracks is to dig out the crack, fill it, tape it with a fiberglass mesh tape and
sand it smooth. Then prime over your patched area before repainting. |
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| Contact us
and we will send you a contract and schedule your work. |
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| Our painters are all experienced in drywall repair
and replacement. Virtually any repairs that need to be made can be done as part of the
preparation work we do prior to painting. |
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- I have received a
number of estimates from different painting contractors and there seems to be a wide
variance in prices, why is that?
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| There are a number of good painting contractors to
choose from and what you will normally find is that the established companies are usually
fairly close in price. However at times you will get an estimate that is a lot lower than
others and at times you may get one that seems excessively high. There could be many
factors here. Is the company licensed and insured? Do the painters work for the company
therefore being subject to all of the additional payroll expenses? or are they daily
labor? I suggest you read our article, Homeowner Beware for a more thorough
discussion on this subject. Also read the article "Why Hire A Professional Painting Contractor" |
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| We feel that a house is a lot like an automobile in
the fact that the investment is large and the maintenance is a must. If we don't wait
until the engine blows to check or change the oil we can protect our investment. Please
read the two articles, "Protect
Your Investment" and "Why Paint"
for a few more thoughts on the subject. |
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| There is an increasing exodus from many of the oil
products, but ask 10 people and you may get 10 different answers. Review our short article
titled "Do I Choose Oil Or
Latex Paint" |
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| The only answer I can give you is, lighting,
lighting, lighting ! Light and reflections in any given room affect the outcome of your
color. Read " When Color Is
Critical, Switch On The Lights" for more information
on the effect of lighting on your colors. |
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| Yes. The difference can be a big one depending on
the surface and area that you are preparing to paint. Read about the differences. |
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| For most applications on
interior walls, a latex paint will offer many advantages over alkyd paint. In most
available products you will receive better color retention and the finish will be
non-yellowing. Additionally, the latex products will have a lower odor, dry faster, and
you will be able to clean up with soap and water. |
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| There is an old saying
"You only get what you pay for." This is especially true for paint. Discuss what
you want the paint to do with your professional installer or your paint store, to
determine the best product for your needs. Remember that the paint is only a small part of
the job. It is always the best decision to use the best products. |
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How long should I wait before cleaning my windows after
painting? |
| We always recommend waiting
two weeks before allowing any cleaning agents to come in contact with the new paint.
Paint dries in a matter of a few hours but all paint goes through a curing process
which takes longer. |
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- What
happens if I contract with someone who is not properly insured and one of their
workers later claims to have gotten hurt while working on my home?
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| You as the
homeowner can be held personally responsible for injures sustained by an uninsured worker
while they are on your property. You can be in a very awkward position with your own
insurance company as a result of this type of accident. Most people do not realize this,
but it can be verified by a phone call to your attorney or insurance agent. Always ask for
verification of insurance if you have any doubt. And remember a companies general
liability insurance is not the same as workers compensation! |
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| Painting like everything
else is expensive. We realize that. In the last 20 years, what we have to pay out in labor
has tripled. The cost of paint has increased about $10.00 per gallon. Insurance for a
business is astronomical. So you are absolutely right, it is expensive. But not when you
look at the cost of painting compared to carpeting, fabric, wallpaper etc. at about $25.00
to $50.00 per square foot compared to painting at about $1.00 to $2.00 per square foot, it
doesn't seem to bad. To see the true cost, look in our library at "The True Cost Of Painting." |
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| Leftover paints and other hazardous waste must
be disposed of properly. We have directions for doing so in our library. Click here to go to the Hazardous Waste Disposal Page. |
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If your question
is not answered here. You may search our site or read information in the painting library.
If you are unable to locate what you need, contact
us by phone, mail or e-mail, and we would be happy to assist you. |
Search Site
Library |
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 Exterior Painting- Commonly
Asked Questions 
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