The right contractor for your painting project

Podcasts > September 2009 > Finding the right contractor for your painting project

Most Popular Posts

Local Tips & Advice

Atlanta, Georgia
Boston, Massachusetts
Chicago, Illinois
Dallas, Texas
Houston, Texas
Los Angeles, California
Miami, Florida
New York City, New York
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
San Francisco, California
Washington D.C.

Consumer reviews in more cities

Post archive

February 2010(2)
January 2010(1)
December 2009(3)
November 2009(2)
October 2009(2)
September 2009(3)
August 2009(2)
July 2009(2)
June 2009(3)
May 2009(3)
April 2009(3)
March 2009(4)
February 2009(4)
January 2009(3)
December 2008(2)
November 2008(1)
October 2008(3)
September 2008(2)
August 2008(2)
July 2008(1)
June 2008(2)
May 2008(3)
April 2008(2)
March 2008(2)
February 2008(1)
January 2008(3)
November 2007(2)
October 2007(0)

Sites We Recommend

Angie's Blog
Angie's List
Angie's List Magazine
Blue House Blog

RSS

Finding the right contractor for your painting project

Posted: 9/7/2009 7:53:02 AM By Twinkle VanWinkle | 17 comments | Transcript

Finding the right contractor and the right materials for a painting job is essential for a project’s quality and success. In this episode, painters from St. Louis, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Cleveland Heights, Ohio, give you insight on what’s involved with a painting project and what to look for when choosing a contractor.

written and produced by Twinkle VanWinkle

Comments

	dave
	looking for a painter
	9/15/2009 8:50:33 PM

	christy
	This podcast seems to be more about exterior painting than interior painting (although contract tips are similar for both). I'm interested in more specifics on what to look for in the contract - what kinds of things are most likely to "bite you" later if something goes wrong. Also - how do you actually check if someone has liability and workmens comp insurance coverage? Or that subs have been paid?
	9/18/2009 1:50:24 PM

	Michael Hughes
	If you want to know for sure that your contractor is covered by worker's comp and liability you can have a certificate of coverage provided to you by the insurance company. Tell your painter to have it mailed or faxed to you. It is merely a phone call for him. Also, in reading the contract, be sure it spells out the procedure, how many coats of primer and finish, caulking and putty if necessary and the exact products being used. There are many products offered by the paint companies. Some are excellent and a bit more pricey and some are junk. Just because the contractor says he uses Ben Moore doesn't mean he uses the better lines.
	9/18/2009 3:08:11 PM

	IL Lead Program
	We encourage safety when removing old paint such as using plastic to prevent contamination of the soil and protective gear for the contractors. It doesn't appear that either of these are being used in the video. Also, we discourage the use of power sanding when removing paint, again due to the exposure to the contractor, residents and contamination of the soil. It is important that people are aware of the dangers of exposure during renovation activities and know that lead safe work practices are imperative to prevent exposure and contamination. Look for a certified and licensed lead abatement contractor who will issue the residents the Renovate Right booklet required by EPA for disclosure before renovation activities begin in a pre-1978 home or facility where children frequent and those who will use lead safe work practices.
	9/18/2009 5:25:21 PM

	Ralph Scott
	While this video at least mentions lead paint and the need to use lead-safe work practices for pre-1978 properties, it shows people engaged in unsafe practices working on old-looking homes. It shows dry scraping and the use of power sanders without HEPA exhaust filtration. No one is wearing a proper respirator or disposable protective clothing. Two years ago, Angie's list sponsored a major lead paint safety educational program in cities across the U.S. What happened to all that good information? Your video needs to show people using proper precautions. Starting in April 2010, new federal rules will require contractors for hire to use trained workers and follow lead-safety practices when painting most pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities. More information about this rule is available at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.
	9/18/2009 5:39:44 PM

	Lois
	I am going to echo Christy's comments. I would like much more in the way of specifics. This was minimally helpful
	9/18/2009 5:40:55 PM

	Candi
	I was hoping for more suggestions on interior planting.
	9/18/2009 8:46:26 PM

	Pam
	If you can find an office for Association of General Contractors or "(your locations)" Builders Association they might be able to lead you in the right direction. Also, check your city's department that issues building permits or the city or county building code enforcement department - they might be able to tell you who to call.
	9/18/2009 11:35:02 PM

	Floyd
	This is very long on self-promoting Angie's List and very short on information or insight on what’s involved with a painting project. I'd advise you to do your own research and pay attention to prep work and quality of materials used if you want a quality job if not any good ol’ boy with a spray rig in the back of his truck can give you a headache and part you from your money.
	9/19/2009 7:17:17 AM

	Cher
	We used Women at Work to do the trim on our house. Fabulous group. The price was fair. They did it in two days, were neat efficient, cheerful. We'd recommend them to anyone in the Syracuse NY area.
	9/19/2009 8:05:47 AM

	Heather
	I agree - more specifics. This is too general. We were once "bitten" - the woodwork was fine, but the painter also managed to get paint on all the weatherstripping of a huge number of the rather expensive windows. Our insulation factor was greatly diminished, and the cost to replace the weatherstripping was prohibitive. The painter was not helpful and we're not the type to sue.
	9/19/2009 9:14:18 AM

	Pamela S. Carle
	Real specifics about how to paint and get straight edges, better to do trim first or last? How to make painted surface (wall) look very smooth?
	9/19/2009 12:56:16 PM

	sue
	I'm with Christy. I need a good contract as well as a good painter.
	9/20/2009 2:35:14 PM

	Catherine
	I was pleased to hear and see the text about lead-based paint and lead safe work practices. It was a scary, though, to see the contractors sanding and scraping the old paint that most likely was lead paint.
	9/20/2009 6:22:01 PM

	Jon
	I have been involved in 3 paintings as a homeowner over 32 years. I look up the best exterior paint from Consumer Reports. Then I bid the job telling the contractors I will supply the paint. If a contractor is not comfortable with the paint I select, get a different contractor. I figure paint is only 20-25% of the total cost of the job. By buying the best paint myself the contractor has no incentive to use inferior paint, dilute or stretch paint. This has worked well for me with paint lasting 15-20 years in the Cleveland area.
	9/21/2009 10:41:11 AM

	David
	In my experience the key to a good paint job on any surface interior or exterior is PREPARATION. I agree with the comments about sanding lead based paint surfaces but the top coat is only as good as the bottom surface. Today's contractors are good at applying paint but poor at preparation. If you have lead based paint, it should be stripped down to bare wood if necessary, then the surface can be caulked and sanded safely. In some cases it might be cheaper to replace trim, baseboards etc than to strip them. If lead is not involved, make sure that your contractor plans to spend at least as much time in preparation as he does in painting.
	9/21/2009 11:56:54 AM

	Angie's List Staff
	Thank you for your comments! About the podcast and lead-based paint: This podcast was to help homeowners get a general sense of what to look for and expect when hiring someone to paint the interior or exterior of their home. We felt it necessary to mention lead-safe work practices as getting the word out about the dangers of lead paint is one of Angie's List many missions. Due to your comments, we will be doing a follow-up podcast on the subject to make sure homeowners understand the importance of lead safety.
	9/21/2009 5:56:39 PM

Leave comment

Name:

E-mail:

Your URL:

Comments:

Enter security code:

Most Popular Posts

Recent posts

Local Tips & Advice

Post archive

Sites We Recommend

Subscribe

Finding the right contractor for your painting project