Discussions To Have With A Painter Before You Hire Them

The types of services and quality of services offered by a painting contractor can be very different. With that in mind, there are several things you need to discuss before you agree to have them do the work for you. Painting is a chore and there is more to it than just rolling some paint on the walls and using a brush around the edges.

Estimate

Always have a painting contractor give you an estimate for the job. Share with them what you need to have done and they can go from there. The estimate is going to be based on the size of the area and the prep work that has to be done. It can take hours to peel away old paint and to do prep work before the real painting can begin.

How many coats will the offer for their price? You should get at least two coats. Will they place a primer underneath it as a sealant? There are types of paint that have the primer in them so that saves a step but still offers a high level of protection.

Timeframe

You may be in a hurry for the work to be done, but you have to find out what the timeframe is for the painting contractor. They often have several jobs lined up at once and they will get you on the schedule as soon as they can. You also need to find out how long it will take for them to finish the job.

Some painting contractor services are people and they do all the work on their own. Others have a crew so they are able to send several people to get the job done in less time. Ask who all will be working on your home and what types of insurance, background checks, and other details have been conducted. You can’t be too careful when it comes to anyone you don’t know.

Specifics of the Work

Do you have to be home for them to do the work or can they do it independently? If you don’t want them there when you aren’t at home, it can be harder to get everything scheduled. You also need to ask about what you may not have access to while the work is being done. For exterior painting, you may be asked not to use your garage or park in the driveway.

For indoor painting, the rooms they are working on may be off-limits or have limited accessibility until the work is done. For larger projects, they can often work in sections. This ensures only a small part of the home is being worked on at a time. This reduces the interruptions to your normal routine and access. The painting contractor should be willing to work with you.

Payment

The agreed upon payment for the painting contractor work has to be completed before they are hired. They should give you an estimate of the cost for the materials and for the labor separately. This gives you great information to compare. If you decide to give your own paint, then you would just pay them for labor and any other materials.

It isn’t a good idea to pay for the entire project at once. Instead, you want to pay for it as the work is done or at the end. It isn’t unreasonable for them to ask for a deposit though. Never pay this amount in cash. Provide them with a check so there is a record of the money being exchanged. This is a way to safeguard your investment.

Discuss the rest of the payment with them before they start so you are both on the same page. For example, you may give them a deposit, pay half of the balance when they are half way done with the work, and then you will pay the balance when the job is done. Find a solution where both of you have reduced the risk of not getting what you should out of the deal.