subject: Best Toronto House Painter [print this page] Things to Look For in a Qualified Painter
There are a number of qualifications that can set a professional painter apart.
1) Insurance -- Be sure that the prospective painter you are considering is fully insured, having both workers' compensation and liability insurance. Your selected painter should be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy.
2) Better Business Bureau -- Contact your local Better Business Bureau to ascertain if any complaints have been filed against your potential candidate.
3) Use Angies List -- This is a PHENOMINAL service to see what others have to say about this person. If a painter has good Reviews on Angies List then it is a good bet they will do good work for you too.
Safety Commitment
Accidents can happen with almost any home improvement project. So ask your prospective candidate what steps he or she will take to prevent injuries and property damage. Again if a painter is good at his work he or she will be able to answer this question with ease.
Clean Up
Ask the painter how he or she intends to leave the work area once the job is completed. You don't want to be cleaning up after a painter for hours after they've left your home. Also, ask about disruption during the project. If for some reason the job must be put on hiatus, you will want to ensure you are not left living in a mess until the job is resumed and completed.
How to Hire a Painter
Think about the last time you purchased a car. Chances are you didn't go to the yellow pages, choose a dealership at random, and buy your car from the first lot you visited. Many times, though, this scenario describes the way homeowners find a painter -- they look in the phone book and call the painter with the largest ad or the first one listed. But much like purchasing a car, finding a qualified painter requires research and comparison shopping.
Ask Questions
HOW DO THEY PLAN TO PREPARE THE SURFACE FOR PAINTING?
Proper prep work is the key to a long lasting paint job. Make sure your contractor has a clear plan for washing, scraping, and sanding the surface.
WILL THEY PRIME BEFORE CAULKING AND PAINTING?
All bare surfaces require a primer; previously painted surfaces usually do not require primer.
WHAT AREAS ARE THEY PLANNING TO CAULK?
The most common cause of paint failure is due to moisture from water going behind the paint. For that reason caulking all joints, seams, gaps, and cracks in the surface is a must to ensure a tight seal.
WHAT KIND OF PAINT DO THEY PLAN TO USE? WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?
Good quality paint will be recommended by good painters, you probably don't need the most expensive product, but don't cheap out on this either. Make sure the painter can explain the benefits of the paint they are recommending and ask for documentation of any manufacturer's warranty info and product data.
Ask For a Quote
Invite painters to look at the job and ask for a quote in writing. In the quote also ask then to specify the time it will take to complete the job. It sucks to try and live in a house that is covered with drape cloths. Make sure the contractors are quoting on the same specifications - areas to be painted, number of coats and so forth.
Execute a Contract
Execute a contract specifying the work to be done, total cost, payment schedule, start date and estimated completion date. Make sure the contract includes the paint brands and colors to be used in each location, as well as the number of coats. Make sure the contract specifies that the painter is responsible for cleanup and the removal of paint from all surfaces (windows, floors).
FINAL TIPS
1) Small business painters will be much more affordable because their overhead is lower.
2) If it's a big job, ask a number of painters and discard the cheapest and most expensive options. The cheapest will have underestimated and will sting you for it later and the most expensive doesn't really want your business, probably because they have work up to their eyeballs already.
