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5 Must-Ask Questions for Painters:

1. Are you licensed and insured?

This seems pretty basic but is extremely important. You would be amazed how many painting companies say they are licensed and insured but cannot provide the proper documentation.

If a painting company is licensed and insured, it should be pretty easy to send over a copy of insurance or licensing. The last thing you want is a lawsuit on your hands if something goes wrong and there is no insurance to protect you or your home.

2. Can you provide local customer references?

Always ask for references. If a painting company is hesitant to provide real customer references, this is a HUGE red flag. Also, quality companies should be able to provide references for work they’ve done locally (without you even asking). This will give you a chance to call the references and inquire about their experience, or drive by the referenced home and see the quality of work first hand.

3. How do you prepare the home before painting it?

This is a BIG one.

This question could make or break the deal for the painter you are choosing. The prep-work required for house painting is EVERYTHING. It’s also where many painters cut corners.

If a painter does not emphasize their step-by-step process on correctly preparing your home, DON’T choose them as your contractor. If a home has failing areas like peeling, fading or chalking, it is imperative that it is prepped well. If not prepped correctly, the paint job will fail within a couple years (if not sooner).

4. What type of paint are you using?

Prep-work and quality of materials: The two most important factors in a paint job that lasts.

Always ask what brand of materials the painting company is going to use on your home. This includes the actual paint, caulking, primer etc.

Do your own research on the brands to make sure they are quality and durable. We actually surveyed 12,000 contractors on what the best exterior house paint, here are the results.

You do not want contractor-grade (AKA Cheap) materials used on your house. The labor is usually the most expensive part of a paint job, so make sure they are using high-end materials. Most painters will let you change the materials used on the house if you request it.

What kind of guarantee/warranty do I get?

You’ll want to choose a painting company that stands behind their work. This is usually demonstrated with some sort of warranty like a 3-year, 5-year, or 8-year. The warranty should cover BOTH Labor AND Materials should areas of the paint job fail.

Sometimes painting companies will offer a good warranty but not cover the labor or materials should they have to return. This defeats the whole purpose of a warranty. This means YOU’RE STILL PAYING if they have to return.

Make sure they cover all costs should the paint job fail and make sure the company will actually be around for the next 6-8 years so they can cover the warranty.

Summary

A bad paint job can cost you dearly. Unfortunately there are many unreliable painters out there. These 5 questions will help you decide who’s best.

Again, if you need a solid painting contractor, use our list for free. We’re the only painting company that refers other painters, so we know what to look for:

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Thank you for reading! May your next hiring decision be a wise one!

Sincerely,

Chandler Zieg,

PainterChoice

Painters don’t return calls, companies have their schedules booked, and you’re busy! But that’s no reason to skimp on getting 3 quotes. Here’s why…

1. Peace of mind. Trust is something that is hard to come by in the contracting industry. If you only get one quote, it’s hard to know if this is a good company without having anyone to compare them against. After chatting with 3 different companies, there is going to be someone who stands out to you, who you feel most comfortable with, who addressed your concerns best. It may not always be the best price… but you can sleep at night knowing you did your homework.
2. Get the best price. When home owners use Painter Choice to get quotes from local painters, these painters know they are competing. When that happens, they tend to error on the side of a lower price to try to earn your business. You are getting the best price that these companies can afford to give you. Often times, companies will even drop their price an additional $100-$300 to earn your business if you have a competing estimate to show them.
3. Educate yourself. A good painting company will actually meet with you and walk the project with you. During this time, they’ll point out different problem areas and concerns. You can ask questions about the concerns you have on the house. Each painter will have different comments and recommendations… and sometimes they’ll conflict, or someone will notice something another company didn’t. This way, you have all of the information. You can ask more good questions, and you can be sure that you are getting the paint job that you need and want.

You can almost guarantee you’ll get a better paint job, at a better price, and feel more confident in your decision when you get multiple quotes.

-The Painter Choice Team

Make sure your painting estimates are competitively priced. The purpose of this article is to help you get a ball park price for your exterior painting estimate.

Exterior painting prices can range from $2,000 to over $10,000 to paint the full exterior of the house depending on several factors. We are going to consider at a few of the most important factors.

How big is your house?

1 story: Start with base price of $1800
2 story: Start with base price of $2500

Condition of house?

Good Condition: Multiply base price by 1.1
Fair Condition: Multiply base price by 1.2
Bad condition: Multiply base price by 1.3

How many coats?

1 Coat: No change to price
2 Coats: Multiply price by 1.3

Quality of paint?

Low grade: No change to price
Mid grade: Multiply price by 1.1
Top of the line: Multiply price by 1.3

Example…

2 Story House ($2500)
Fair Condition… $2500×1.2 = $3,000
2 Coats… $3,000×1.3 = $3,900
Mid Grade Paint… $3,900×1.1 = $4,290

If your home was built before 1978, it needs to be checked for lead paint. If your home does have lead paint on it, your price will increase by 2x-3x due to the EPA regulations on lead paint procedures.

The best way to make sure you are getting a fair price is by getting estimates from multiple painters. Painter Choice makes it easy to get 3 estimates from local companies to ensure you get a fair price.

You can request a quote by visiting our home page and we will refer up to 3 painting companies for you to get estimates from.

-The Painter Choice Team

There are 3 common paint problems on homes. Simply take 5-10 minutes to walk around your house to identify any of these problems.

Problem #1: Fading Paint

You’ll notice the paint on your house fading on the areas that get the most sun…. typically the south and west sides of the house. If you wipe a dry, dark colored rag or towel on the house, you’ll notice some chalking paint come off the house. If your are noticing this happening, your wood is not very well protected any longer. Moisture can get into those boards and cause warping. The solution is to get a new coat of paint on there to protect it!

Problem #2: Peeling paint

This problem occurs on all parts of the home. The first places to peel are the areas that get the most moisture. Examples of this are window sills, bottom of the garage trim, bottom of the door trim, or other places that snow sits. Once paint peels off, the wood is no longer protected. Moisture gets into the wood and can rot the boards. The solution to peeling paint is to scrape the loose paint off, sand the area down to create a good texture, apply a full coat of primer to protect the wood, and a finish coat.

Problem #3: Cracking paint and failing caulking

Cracking is a very common problem you’ll notice in the joints of the house where boards meet. Check around door frames, window frames, and anywhere the siding meets the trim. If you notice cracks, this is where water can get behind the boards and rot them from the inside out. The solution to this is simple: recaulk those cracks with fresh caulking.

Now that you’ve found problems and identified, do you need to paint? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no.

The purpose of paint is to protect the house, and beautify your home. If the house LOOKS bad, and it’s embarassing, you should paint.

If you’ve noticed problems listed above, it doesn’t mean you have to paint. If you choose to wait, you can expect those problems to get worse, you can expect more damage to be done to the wood, you can expect your paint price to go up the next year, and you do risk having to repair boards.

Repairing one board on a house could cost up to an extra $50-$100 per board. If this is the first time you are noticing the peeling paint, fading paint, or cracking paint… it’s probably not that urgent.

Our recommendation: If you’ve noticed problems on your house, now is a good time to paint. It’s only going to get more expensive. The longer you wait, the lower quality the job will be (because the surface is in poorer condition).

When you get estimates, we always recommend getting 3 estimates to make sure you find a painting contractor you trust and feel comfortable with.

If you’re choosing a different color-scheme from your current house colors, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Easier said than done right? It is very important to feel comfortable with the colors you’re choosing. After all, it could easily be another 8-12 years before you get another chance to paint again. We seriously recommend getting color test patches for ALL the colors you’re considering. Leave the test-patches up for a week or two to see which colors you’re still comfortable with after a period of time. The last thing you want is a rushed color decision followed by 10 years of house color regret.

Step 2: HOA Approval

Now that you have chosen you’re house colors, you must submit them to the neighborhood HOA for review. Some neighborhoods do not have covenants or HOA’s. If this is the case, move onto step 3. If you DO have to submit colors for review, it is always better to submit them sooner rather than later. Some HOA’s take months to review and approve you’re colors. Some HOA’s require you to paint test-patches of the proposed color on your home so an HOA member can drive by and approve the colors. Your HOA or Covenant usually has a form in their office or on their website that you can fill out proposing the colors you want.

Step 3: Get Multiple Painting Quotes

It sounds like an old cliche’; “Always get 3 estimates”, but it couldn’t be more right. Getting multiple quotes will not only get you a much better price through competition, but you’ll learn what each company does differently to cater to your needs. Also, let the competing painting companies KNOW that you’re getting multiple estimates. The pricing will drop once they know other painters are fighting for the job.

Step 4: Clear the Way!

After you have chosen and scheduled a painter, make a clear path for your painter around your home. This includes: removing patio furniture, clearing your siding of any decorations or obstructions, keeping pets away from the work area, moving all cars out of the driveway and away from the home. Basically move anything away from the home that is in the way of what’s going to be painted. Not only will your painter seriously appreciate it, but you’ll eliminate any unnecessary obstruction problems.

Step 5: House Preparation Audit

Unfortunately, many painting companies will cut corners on the most important aspect of a paint job: The Prep-Work. It is highly recommended that you get all the prep-work to be done in writing and guaranteed on your project agreement. It is almost impossible to inspect the level of prep-work AFTER it’s been painted over. This is why it’s extremely important to do a prep audit before the painters apply the paint. Simply ask the painters if you can see the prep-work they’ve done before they start painting. If they do great prep-work, they’ll be happy to show you their work. Not only will this emphasize your need for good prep-work, but it will also keep shabby prep-work from being covered up by paint. Ask for a prep audit!

If you take care of these important steps before painting your house, the whole process will be exponentially easier for you and your painter. All of the painters listed on Painter Choice take these necessary precautions. Thanks for reading and happy painting!

First off, you want to get the best price for your house while still being reasonable with the painting company. If too much money is discounted off the price, simple economics proves that they will have to make up their costs elsewhere, which usually means cutting corners if the house is underbid. Don’t let this happen, be fierce but reasonable in the negotiation process. Ask for the best price they can offer.

Emphasize how you want extensive prep-work.  Paying extra for solid prep-work is worth its weight in gold. After all, this is the defining factor in duration and longevity. Ask to see the prep-work they have done BEFORE painting. This will allow you to see that they have properly prepped the house before covering it up with paint. It is difficult to see the extent of the prep-work after paint has been sprayed or rolled on the house.

Ask for material upgrades. Sometimes, painting companies will quote you for contractor-grade materials, aka, cheap materials. You’ll want to ask what materials will be used and do your own research on the best, lasting products. Since established painting companies often have seriously discounted contractor accounts with paint stores, it is worth paying a little extra for premium paints. Ask if you can get the paint for the discounted rate that the painting company gets it for. They won’t always grant it, but it’s definitely a question worth asking.

Last but not least, make sure everything promised is ON THE CONTRACT. Any painting company can use lip-service to earn your job, but remember, it means nothing and is not legally-binding until it is in writing. Don’t let the contractor make empty promises, get it written down.

If you follow these guidelines, you will get more than you originally expected from your painting company. Thanks for reading!

Our software will automatically take the specifications you have listed for the type of work needed, and will match you with Highlands Ranch Painters that specialize in your project.

You’ll still want to follow our “5 must-ask questions for Painting Companies” article to make the best decision for your painting project.

Getting a Better Price: If you get multiple house painting quotes, you’re automatically going to get a better feel for the market and what your price should be.  Also, make sure you let the painting companies know that you’re getting multiple bids. You will be amazed how much this limits price-gouging just letting the painter know you have other bids coming. They will automatically make their price more competitive to keep up with the competition.

Educate yourself: If you get 3-4 estimates, which is recommended, you are educating yourself on the entire process of painting your home. This is very important so you can prudently choose who you want to contract with. If you listen closely, you can uncover a lot of information about a companies’ step-by-step process and choose which one will give you the longest-lasting job.

Leverage the bids: Once you have multiple bids, you can leverage them against each other for the best possible price. However, do not over-use this. The painting industry often follows the divine rule; you get what you pay for. If a painting company is knocking off huge sums of money, they have to make up the cost somewhere. This could affect the outcome of the quality of your paint job. The last thing you want is a resentful painter watering down the paint or skipping important preparation steps because you wanted a “larger than typical” discount. Be fair, but negotiate.

Overall, it is highly advised to get multiple painting estimates. You will be amazed how much a little competition can benefit you, the savvy consumer. Thanks for reading!

Article 6: “Big Painting Companies vs. Small Painting Companies; Which is better?

There are 3 tiers of painting companies like most service industries. This article describes the pros and cons of each tier so you can choose a painter you’ll be happy with.

Tier 1: A man and his painting van.

Pros: This is often the most common setup; a solitary owner who possibly has a couple helpers and his painting van. This is not bad by any means. In fact, these guys often have loads of experience and can charge a much lower price since their overhead is much lower. They often do not have a huge marketing budget and get a lot of business from referrals.  Contracting a smaller painting company can also result in much more personal attention and customization for your project.

Cons: The smaller and less-known a contractor is, the bigger the necessity for reliable references and licensing documentation. Smaller operations will sometimes cut corners with licensing and insurance. They might quote an appealing price, but it might come with risk and liability should they do damage to your home or hurt themselves on the job without licensing.

If you choose a painter from the first tier, it can save you money and deliver a great painting job. Just make sure they have the credibility they say they do and can provide numerous customer references.

Tier 2: A medium-sized local painting company with 5-15 employees.

Pros: Again, with the small to medium sized companies, the price is going to be solid. Companies that are a little larger and have been around locally a while can be very good at their trade. Plus, their growth shows they must be doing something right. You often will have no issues with licensing and insurance with mid-range companies. However, you always want to check to make sure. You will also get a lot of personalized attention with the small-to-medium sized companies which can be comforting during something as important as painting your house.

Cons: Painting Companies like this often have a larger marketing budget since they do more volume. As always, they have to make up these costs somewhere. Your bid will be slightly more expensive than a smaller operation.

Choosing a painter from the second tier can be a great personalized experience, as long as you don’t mind paying a little bit more for their marketing expenses.

Tier 3: The big guys.

Pros: The big painting companies often have a national reputation and have been operating a well-organized system for multiple years. This usually means good service and organization for your project. You can also be pretty sure that they have good insurance coverage should a mistake happen on your painting project. Larger companies also have well-established relationships with material-providers which translate to savings. Above all, larger companies have a large stake in their reputation and reviews which means they will be more willing to fix a bad situation should it happen.

Cons: Expense. Larger painting companies have huge marketing budgets that get added to your bid price. They also have many more employees and managers that they have to pay for. Remember, overhead walks on two legs. Also, with so many clients to manage, sometimes you do not receive the personal attention you want for you painting project.

If you choose one of the big guys, it’s a pretty safe bet, but it might come with unnecessary costs added to your painting bid price.

Overall, if you follow our “5 must-ask questions for Painting Companies”, you will choose wisely. So any tier painter can work out great for you. Ask yourself what level attention you want and what price range you want and choose the appropriate tier. Thanks for reading!

Our software will automatically take the specifications you have listed for the type of work needed, and will match you with Littleton Painters that specialize in your project.

However, you will still want to follow our “5 Must-Ask Questions for Painting Companies” article to make the best decision.

1^st Indicator: Good Communication and Punctuality.

A reliable painting contractor will stay in good communication with you and keep you advised of each step of the process. They will also follow-through on their commitments and be punctual with their appointments. If a contractor is consistently late or not following through, it is time to take this as a warning and choose from your other bids as recommended in our “Save Money, Get Multiple House Painting Quotes” article.

2^nd Indicator: Reliable references on command.

Reliable Painting Contractors will usually offer customer references, or will have no hesitation when asked for references. The references should be local and recent. This ensures that the painting contractor is not picking ancient references that were “good”, but few and far between.

3^rd Indicator: Small or no deposit required.

If a painting contractor is asking for a huge deposit upfront, like 50% or higher, run away as fast as you can! Most of the time, contractors will ask for a small deposit like 10-30% just to cover the materials which is completely fair. Paint stores like Sherwin Williams or Kwal Paint will not allow refunds once a certain paint color is tinted. Taking a deposit does two things for the contractor, it shows a commitment on your behalf that they can actually block out a week for your project and line up a painting crew. It also allows them to purchase your exact colors without paying out of pocket should you decide to change colors after they have already invested in the color scheme. No deposit is always a plus, showing that they are willing to completely finish the job confident you will like the work enough to pay the full amount upon completion.

The most important rule in choosing a reliable painting contractor; go with your guts. You will sense if something is off, do not let an appealing price woe you into a nightmare job. Also, read our Blog and you will know more than most painters themselves. Thanks for reading!