Painting Contractors

When and how to hire a painter or painting contractor

Painting projects, inside and out, are just so much paint, right? If you've ever painted a room, you know that just putting the paint on the walls is only a fraction of the project. The quality of painting is determined not only by the quality of the paint itself, but also by the preparation.

Interior walls and trim need to be washed first and all imperfections need to be filled or smoothed. Taping off trim and molding can take longer than painting. A primer coat is then be applied, followed by the paint itself.

Exterior house painting, if you try to do it yourself, can take the better part of most weekends over the course of the summer to wash siding, scrape exterior paint; repair, seal, and fill holes in siding; prime and paint.

Hiring a qualified, experienced painting contractor can take the burden off you by making sure the job is done quickly and correctly the first time. To make sure your project is a success, the following tips can help:

• Choose a painter with excellent references, all appropriate licensing and certifications, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Call to check.
• Verify the quality of paint. High quality paint results in an attractive, durable finish.
• Get warranties—in writing—for both workmanship and materials. You want the painter around to resolve any problems that surface during the warranty period. Make sure any exceptions and exclusions are noted and that you understand them.

Hiring a painter makes sense. It's hard enough choosing the color scheme.