Do It Yourself or Hire a Painting Contractor?
Undertaking a paint job always demands some forethought beyond color selection and decorative themes. Painting a room is simple enough. In fact, it's nearly the perfect do-it-yourself house improvement project. Nevertheless it is a task that places demands on your time and effort, financial limits, and skills. So before you haul out the brushes, paint cans, and ladders, ask yourself a few questions.
• How much preparation am I going to be required to do and will I have enough time to do it?
• Am I up to the hard elements of the job, 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 be able to live with a house left unfinished if I am called away or when I must go back to work following the weekend?
• Are there areas of the job I can do but simply 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 part of the project, then start gathering bids and searching for a contractor methodically.
First, talk to friends and others who live nearby and get their tips about contractors they may have used. Take a look at the quality of the work done for folks 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 work you want to have done. Meet with each of them individually to understand the job and discuss the precise work details.
The Contractor Interview
• For each surface (including trim, stucco, aluminum siding, walls, etc), ask exactly what will be done to prepare it for priming including what type and make of primer. Then ask your contractor about the final coat, like the type and make of the paint, how it'll be applied, its quality, and the number of coats. Make certain the contractor use high quality paint. An excellent acrylic latex paint will cost more initially, but its toughness will save money in the long term.
• For exterior work, ask exactly 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 require. You should also know what solution will be available if the work is not completed promptly.
• Discuss the warranty on the paint 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 does not get the work done. Insurance will cover any injuries suffered by any of the workers. Without such insurance, you may well be responsible for such injuries. Insurance may also cover damage done to your residence.
• Ask each contractor for the names and contact information for several previous customers. Call some of the references and ask if you can look at the contractor's work.
• Get written estimates from at least 3 contractors. Be skeptical of any bids that are significantly higher or lower than others. Bids from reputable contractors are usually fairly near to the other painter’s for the same work. The estimate should break down material and labor costs and show payment terms.
Before making your decision, consider the contractor's demeanor. He or she should be responsive, punctual, and business like when returning calls or arriving for an appointment. The contractor should take time to reply to your questions and clarify details of the job.
Select 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 work. it must specify these things:
• the work to be done
• the materials to be used
• the starting and completion dates and remedies for failure to remain on schedule
• methods for resolving disputes
• procedures for making 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, etc). 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
