10 Questions to Ask Your Painter Before Hiring

Feb 16

A coat of paint is one of the best tools available to you in the interior or exterior aesthetic of your home. Whether you want to freshen up or modernize a few areas, or do a complete remodel and color scheme shake up the first step is to pick your colors and get your walls looking crisp and gorgeous so the rest can fall into place. There are two options here, you can take the do-it-yourself approach, or you can hire a professional. While DIY projects can save you money, without the training and experience the job will probably not come out with the professional look and quality you imagine. Hiring a professional may not save money, but it will definitely save time, frustration, and actually, money as well if you have to hire one anyway to fix the first attempt.

When hiring a professional painter the options can be overwhelming. How do you know which company to choose that will be able to bring your vision to life, charge a fair price, get the job done correctly and in a timely manner, and leave your home looking better than before? To answer this question you in turn will have to ask the painter you are looking to hire some essential questions during your estimate process.

10 Questions to Ask Your Painter:

Are you adequately insured?

Painters should carry General Liability insurance for no less than $1,000,000 in coverage. Insurance will provide you and your home protection in the instance of an accident or event that results in any damage to your home, or a worker being injured on your property. You should also ask for a copy of the insurance certificate, just to be safe and have it for your own records.

Are the painters coming to my home employees or subcontractors?

This matters because employees of a company will be covered by their employers’ general liability insurance, independent contractors should each be individually insured. It’s fairly common for painters to hire independent contractors; it is much less common for each individual contractor to be properly insured. A company’s general liability policy does not cover independent contractors. Subcontractors also will not have gone through a background check and the hiring process.

Do you offer a warranty?

A reputable painting company will offer a warranty on their work. Meaning they’ll fix any problems that were caused by their paint job and on any failing material, such as blistering, peeling, or flaking paint. Therefore, you want to select a painter who will guarantee their work and make sure to have a printed and signed copy of the warranty kept on file in case any issues arise down the road.

Do you provide all the supplies?

Once you receive a quote for a job, this is what you should be responsible for. If this doesn’t include the price of paint and other materials needed, you may have turned down a quote that was in fact a better price, and these expenses can add up. Not to mention these things will be more expensive when buying as a homeowner. Be sure to know all that will be included in the quote.

What prep work is included? Will my home and belongings be protected?

Generally, the majority of a high-quality paint job will be spent on preparation work such as caulking, sanding rough wall surfaces, repairing drywall, and protecting furniture and flooring.

However, some painters may not offer intensive prep, and others may not offer it at all. It’s important to find out what the Painter will be doing before any of the painting begins. And, if the Painter does offer these services, are there any additional costs involved? Furniture should be covered and moved away from all walls before any painting commences. You want to make sure that the Painter you hire will go the extra mile and thoroughly protect your furniture, fixtures, and floors from any paint splatters.

A good painter will use drop cloths, which will absorb any paint that should spill.

Upon completion of the job, verify all surrounding areas and items, and make sure that you see zero paint where it shouldn’t be.

Do you have experience with both newer and older homes?

Homes more than 30 years old have many layers of lead paint, aluminum storm windows to remove and replace, window putty, deeper soffits, and very often more architectural detail. These homes require a slower, more methodical pace and different work processes. It is important to know the painter you hire has experience with these more complex details in an older home to ensure work performed is up to standards of quality as well as safety.

What is a properly painted surface?

Painting & Decorating Contractors of America, has established clear standards for its members. A surface uniform in appearance, color, texture, hiding, and sheen. It is also free of foreign material, lumps, skins, runs, sags, holidays, misses, or insufficient coverage. It is also a surface free of drips, spatters, spills or overspray. The company you hire should be aware of this definition.

Do you require payment upfront?

A large up-front payment is often an indicator of an under-capitalized business. A reasonable approach is to make a partial payment after a couple of days. The painter has committed labor and equipment to the project and the homeowner sees that work is progressing so both parties have an interest in satisfactory completion.

Do you hold your staff to professional standards?

It is important to know the painters in your home will be respectful of your property and will not be allowed to use inappropriate language, listen to blasted music, or be unprofessional in your home in any way. Painters should adhere to PCA (Painter Contractor Association) standards at all times.

Will you follow the timeline provided to me?

Your time is valuable. It is important that when you are hiring a company to do a project you will be able to plan accordingly. Late starts or missed deadlines can result in your life being disrupted in more ways than it already will be. Checking on the companies references is a great way to find out their ability to stick to a provided schedule.

If a company is able to provide satisfactory answers to all the above questions, you are at least working with a professional with knowledge and experience. The answers themselves can also be used to discover anything that sets a company apart from others or if they impressed you with any of the answers. Paint Positive is a company that prides itself on the quality of the completed project of course, but they also take great care in the process leading up to completion. They understand both the monetary value as well as the sentimental value of your home and everything inside and they make protecting your home a priority. Everyone on staff is knowledgeable with years of experience in homes both old and new. Schedule your free consultation today and why you’re there you can review our gallery to see for yourself the beautiful results Paint Positive is known for providing.