Painters

Painting: Your Questions Answered

What are the most common mistakes homeowners make when painting their home's exterior?

Surface preparation is often a much bigger task than people think it is. Preparation is the most critical element in achieving a long-lasting paint job, and each home will have its own unique requirements that may involve many steps. Failure to kill and remove mold and mildew is a common mistake made during preparation. Also, homeowners don't always allot enough of their summer vacation to perform the project!

When a homeowner gets bids for a paint job, what questions should he ask?

Are you licensed, bonded and insured? Do you have references? (Ask for these in writing and check them out!) How many years has your company been in business? Are you affiliated with an industry trade association such as the PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America), and do you follow its standards and practices? What are your payment terms? I never recommend that a homeowner make any down payment prior to work commencing, and it's preferable that the terms be "payment upon completion."

Other questions include: Will you describe the scope of work in your bid in detail? What brand and quality level of paint products do you use?

Remember that you are hiring a professional to perform long term maintenance on your most valuable asset; use the same care as you would choosing any other professional.

How long should a quality exterior paint job last?

A quality job done with proper preparation and with quality materials used according to the manufacturer's instructions will last 7 to 15 years before a re-coat is required. The variables that determine how long the paint job should last are the home and its location, exposure to weather, age, the color selected, previous or hidden problems, moisture problems, etc. It is very rare that a paint job has a catastrophic failure due to poor-quality paint. Even if a problem occurs, it usually is an isolated problem that is easily repaired. Homeowners should do a walk-around inspection of their paint job annually to catch any of these problems early if they occur.

Written by Curt Wikstrom of Tracy’s Quality Painting, Inc., with 28 years in the paint and coatings industry as both a supplier and as a professional painting contractor.