What should my painting project cost?

I talk to customers regularly who are struggling to find out how much they should budget for their painting project. These are some of my recommendations:

1. Get a professional estimate: Most painters will do a free estimate. (write down what you want done so that you will have consistency with both prices)



2. Define area, number of coats and specific products to be used.



3. Be clear about your priorities and then ask you professional for cost saving strategies. (Remember that quality still counts be clear that it is waisted time or inefficiencies that you are cutting out.)

Some assumptions about pricing that I see regularly.

1. Many customers think the exterior should cost more than the interior, but that is rarely the case. This is because people imagine that they could paint their own interior, but have a harder time imaging themselves tackling their exterior. The truth is that other then heights the interior is much more labor intensive because the details never end.



2. The the price should be the same whether I use one color of ten. Extra colors means extra labor and material and adds up quickly.



3. If you have painted once or twice you can't fully understand all that goes into painting professionally so learn from your painting professional. When you understand the process you can understand where the cost come from.

Happy Painting!

Ethiopia - checking out how they paint

I spent the past three weeks in Ethiopia. Of course I was interested to see how they paint in Ethiopia. I was in Addis Abbaba so it was a big city and not in the country where I'm sure things are quite different.

The first thing I noticed was that there were many advertisements and billboards throughout the city advertising paint. New high rise buildings are going up everywhere. The most common Buildings are UN and government and private housing (apartments). Plaster and stucco abound. It was not until I moved into the Ghion Hotel that I was able to see a painter. He was doing maintenance painting with a five inch brush. Painting walls with a five inch brush patiently and consistently. Dipping into a fresh new bucket of paint. I smiled at my fellow painter and he smiled back with a great big grin. I blurted out, "salaam!" and he smiled even bigger.

I couldn't help falling in love with Ethiopian people. One painter to another joined by a common profession. God bless Ethiopia!

Pros and Cons Pre Finishing the Exterior of your Home

I am a painting contractor who does new construction painting so I would have something to lose by recommending pre-finished siding. As a servant of my customers best interest I need to recommend the processes that are best for my customers. The question I would ask is, what would I want on my house?

First some of the problems that are often associated with pre finished materials. When you use a pre finished product you have to be extremely careful to not damage the finished product as it is transported and installed. It takes commitment and expertise to get it right. It is very important to use an experienced installer.

What are some of the reasons for using pre finished siding?

1. Finishes are applied in a very consistent contorted environment.
   
2. Paint on all four sides of the siding. If you paint bare wood after it is installed you can only paint two sides. If the wood shrinks you will have some bare wood exposed.
   
3. Lumber companies and paint manufactures recommend that siding be painted as soon as it is installed. This can be impractical for the builder because it can take weeks or months to install all of the siding.

To find out more visit the prefinishing company I have worked with...

For those who are still not convinced you have other options. One way is to have the prefinishing company put a one or two coat primer/finish on the siding. (It is important to use a primer that does not need to be coated right away. Many primer will break down very quickly in the elements.) Some of my builders have opted for this option as the best of both worlds.

Final thoughts

My opinion is that it is important to protect the siding as soon as possible and prefinishing is a very valid option worth looking into. I recommend using a siding installation company that has successful experience with prefinshed siding. If you use preprimed siding and trim make sure it is able to handle the elements for the time period that it takes to get the final coats applied.

Value of a Good Paint Job

Your home is most likely the largest investment that you will maintain through out your life. Using quality paint and professional painters can save you in the long run. Here are some reasons to use the best even if you pay a little more.

1. Don't cut corners! It's the corner that get cut that hurt the most. This past year we repainted a project that had only been painted two years earlier by another company. Some one thought they were saving money by cutting corners. The principle is that is costs you now and latter to cut corners.



2. Quality paint is reasonably priced for professional painter. Professional paint companies are able to negotiate good prices for quality paints. Most paint companies make money from their labor not paint. I pass along my prices to the customer. Usually the difference between the price of the good paint and the best paint is only about one hundred or two hundred dollar more to the total price of the job.



3. Frustration! I have several customers who have said, "you are my painter from now on because you give me so much more for the money". They were tired of the frustrations and not getting what they paid for. How much would you pay extra to be able to trust the person who is in your home maintaining your largest investment? I may be ten present more, but I give twenty percent more in customer service and making sure everything we agree to gets accomplished.

Ready Set Paint - Spring is Coming!

This is the time of year that many of us are itching for. The winter thaw. As a painter and home owner looking at spring is a bit like looking up at a nice big wave getting ready to crash in on me. At Shiloh Painting we are gearing up for another busy year. Because of the slow down in the housing market we are gearing up for repaints and new custom homes. That spring/summer to do list keeps getting longer.



How do you know when your exterior is ready for some fresh paint?

1. Check your window sills, overhangs, door casings that contact the groud, for pealing chiping or rot. (these are usually the first areas to have problems)



2. Does your exterior paint look faded of chaulky? Somtimes if you aren't looking close your paint or stain looks like it is in tact but the boards are dry and begin to cup and loose there original shape



3. Gaps - Do you have large gaps in your siding? Culking and then fresh paint will help seal out the elements as well as bugs and pests.



4. If you have a clear toner or sealer on your deck you need to reseal it every couple years depending on the exposure to the sun. (most solid color stain is recomended every six years and semi-transparent every three)

Interview with Building Green TV

Read our interview with Building Green TV

Choosing the Best Paint Products for You

When you begin a painting project there are always a thousand details. Which painter to use? What colors? What is the best paint? It is important to find a professional painter who will work with you to find the best solutions for your needs.

There is no one best paint to use. It is important to match the right paints for the job. Sometimes you may just want to let the painter make those decisions. Other times it does not hurt to dialogue with your painter to be clear about your specific priorities. Each job is unique and has different needs. It is important to trust and respect the painter, but he/she should be willing to explain and teach you about the process.

The right kind of interaction can save you from costly mistakes.

Some of those common questions are:

1. What Products?


2. What Sheen (reflective quality)?


3. Which products has less smell?


4. Which products are better for the environment and indoor air quality?


5. If you have pets or children, which paint will be durable and washable?

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