When You Need a Painting Contractor
Undertaking a paint job always demands some forethought beyond color choices and decorative schemes. Painting an area is simple enough. Actually, it's nearly the perfect do-it-yourself home improvement project. Nevertheless it is a job that places demands on your time and effort, finances, and skills. So before you haul out the brushes, paint cans, and ladders, consider a few pre-determined questions.
• How much preparation am I going to be required to do and will I have available time to do it?
• Am I up to the difficult elements of the work, such as climbing ladders and moving furniture?
• Do I have the patience to learn a fresh skill, and can I accept that my initial progress might be slow and somewhat frustrating?
• Will I have the ability to live with a house left unfinished if I am called away or when I have to return to work after the weekend?
• Are there aspects of the job I can do but merely don't enjoy? Is there parts of the task I could do myself and parts I want to contract out?
In case your answers to these questions make you opt to contract all or a portion of the job, then go about gathering bids and searching for a contractor methodically.
First, talk to friends and neighbors and get their tips about contractors they used. Take a look at the quality of the work done for individuals you know so you can make sure the quality of the job meets your standards.
Then, contact at least three of the most notable contractors to go over the job you want done. Talk with each of them individually to check out the job and discuss the precise job details.
Interviewing Painting Contractors
• For each surface (including trim, stucco, aluminum siding, walls, etc), ask what will be done to prepare it for priming including which type and make of primer. Then ask your contractor about the final coat, including the type and brand of the paint, how it'll be applied, its quality, and the amount of coats. Make certain the contractor use high quality paint. An excellent acrylic latex paint will cost more initially, but its durability will save money in the long run.
• For exterior work, ask what will be done to protect landscape plants. For interior work, learn how furniture will be protected and moved.
• Ask when the contractor can begin the job and exactly how long it will take. You should also know what cure will be available if the job is not completed on time.
• Discuss the guarantee on the job, just how long it is, whether it covers both labor and materials, what kind of failures are covered (peeling, cracking, fading), and exactly what will be done to rectify such failures.
• Make sure the contractor is bonded and insured. Bonding will reimburse your costs if the contractor fails to complete the job. Insurance will cover any injury to the workers. Without such insurance, you may well be liable for such injuries. Insurance may also cover damage done to your house.
• Ask each contractor for the names and contact information for previous customers. Call a few of the references and ask if you can see the contractor's work.
• Get written estimates from at least three contractors. Be wary of any bids that are significantly higher or lower than others. Bids from reputable contractors are usually fairly close to the other person’s for the same work. The estimate should demonstrate material and labor costs and show payment terms.
Before you make your final choice, consider the contractor's demeanor. She or he should be responsive, punctual, and business like when returning phone calls or arriving for an appointment. The contractor should take time to reply to your questions and clarify details of the job.
Deciding on a Painting Contractor
Once you have selected a professional painter, that contractor should submit a formal written contract for the job (unless the bid or estimate was already in contractual form). The document should spell out everything you've discussed with the contractor about your painting. It will specify these things:
• the work to be done
• the materials to be used
• the starting and completion dates and remedies for failure to stay on schedule
• methods for resolving disputes
• procedures to make changes (change orders are alterations to the contract to which both parties must agree)
• evidence of insurance and bonding and licensing if required by local ordinance
Before you make final payment, inspect the job with the contractor, making notes about anything that needs correction (proper coverage, cleanup, and so forth). The contractor should correct the problems before you make final payment.
Sound Quality Painting
824 90th Dr SE suite B
Lake Stevens WA 98258
(425) 512-7400
