A well-planned home or office painting can save you from various headaches and hiccups in the process. If you are giving your space a revamp with paint, bookmark this blog post—you can thank us later!
Painting your home or office can be a big decision as it breathes life into your space and will stay for a long time. Added to this, the struggle of choosing between a DIY and commercial painter, hiring a contractor, selecting the colors, and many other considerations can be challenging. Even the tiniest factor, like the choice of tool or equipment, plays a vital role in the final outcome. Well, we completely understand how you feel and are here to help make your decision-making and planning more straightforward. Please scroll down for our comprehensive, step-by-step guide to put your imagination to life with a hassle-free and unmatched painting experience.
WHY HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PAINTER?
Addressing the creative and adventure-loving heart in you, let’s first discuss whether you should hire a professional or DIY. Are you tempted to try the DIY trend and save some bucks on the painting project? That can be a good idea, but only when you have some experience in the domain. Otherwise, you might find your hands dipped in paint and troubles halfway down the road. And you might have caused more damages than there were, eventually spending more on the process. Hiring professionals is a wise option as it saves time, minimizes chances of error, and gives excellent results. A responsible contractor will not only help you with the paint but other associated tasks like:
- Moving the furniture (not small objects)
- Covering not-to-be-painted areas to prevent damage
- Preparing surface (scraping out loose paint, light sanding, filling holes)
- Priming of surface (might carry additional charges)
- Painting 2 coats
- Cleaning up and removing drop/tarp
- Touching up post-inspection by homeowner and foreman
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BEGIN YOUR PAINTING PROJECT
We have covered everything you need to know to bring your imagination to life, from hiring a contractor to finding the right paint and getting started.
#1 SHORTLISTING THE CONTRACTORS
This is the first and the most crucial step in determining your complete experience. You do not get multiple contractors to bid on your project, but those are right for you. Here’s how you can do that:
- Getting Leads for Your Project: You need to reach out to contractors for your project. You can find the contractors in your region by searching online or asking for references from people you know. It’s important that you streamline your search by aligning it with your intent. For instance, if you are planning to renovate your office space, try reaching out to contractors who specialize in that domain. Your aim should not be getting the highest number of leads but reliable leads. Moreover, few options will save you all the confusions and uncertainties that come along with bulk options.
- Analyzing Reviews and Interviews: Now that you have many professionals interested in your project, it’s time to review and interview to weed out the less likely options. For this, you can check out reviews posted online by people, visit their website to understand the painting firm, and, if possible, reach out to people they’ve worked with previously. Word of mouth is the most reliable and authentic form of review. On the other hand, while conducting interviews, you must do some homework to clarify your scope. Compare how each of the contractors is planning to address your concern and then make the right decision.
- Experience: You can request their portfolio to understand their experience and capabilities. Another way to gain knowledge of their expertise is by checking out their Instagram or other social media accounts. Today, many businesses maintain an active social media presence to showcase their work and engage with clients. It will be a great place to know the company and what others say about them.
- Quality of Workmanship: While there might be numerous paint firms, only a few maintain the quality standards in the long run. To understand if this is a priority for your contractor, ask if they have received any certificates and/or awards for their work before making your final decision.
#2 UNDERSTANDING THE COSTS
Budget is another important factor in hiring a contractor. The cost to hire a contractor can be estimated by analyzing the area to be painted per square foot (measuring the amount of work), labor, and materials’ quality. Professional painters suggest the cost of an average project can be $1500 to $3500. It would be best if you asked your contractor to estimate the expenses so that it does not come across as a surprise to you in the end. Below are a few things that contribute to the cost of hiring a contractor.
- Area to be Painted: On average, a 2000 sq. ft area may need 5.5 gallons of primer and paint each. However, if the surface is rough or textured, it would require 20% of the material. Using a tinted primer can save some cost as it provides a unified finish without applying two paint coats.
- Quality of Materials Used: The price of interior primers and paints can be $25-$50/gallon $30-$70, respectively. On the other hand, exterior primers and paints can cost between $30-$60 and $35-$80, respectively. This way, depending on the material you choose, an area of 2000 sq. ft. can cost you somewhere between $300-$650 for interior and $350-$750 for exterior surfaces.
- Labor: On average, a worker can paint a wall at the speed of 150 sq ft/hr and take 50 sq ft/hr to prepare a wall surface. This way, a 2,000 sq. ft. area can take 54 hours in the wall preparation and painting. Considering the average labor cost is $40/hr, a 2,000 sq. ft. area will incur $2160 in labor.
This way, the project will be around $2500 to $3000 (with one coat of paint). Now that you know the standard cost, it will be easy for you to assess if your contractor is providing a reasonable estimate or not. This cost does not include painting different surfaces like brick, metal, stucco, or wood, and elements like window frames, roof overhang, doors, porches, etc., which might be expensive.
Some additional costs could be moving extremely heavy furniture, unexpected plumbing issues, and so on that may be outside the scope of your contractor. You ask your contractor to provide you with an estimate that includes these additional costs. Hire a contractor if they had additional costs in their quote (suggesting their transparent attitude & work experience).
Here’s a pro tip for you—do not go for the cheapest quote as it may turn into poor outcomes. Ask for cost breakdown and materials to be used to choose the best quote without compromising work quality.
#3 CHECKING INSURANCE AND COMPLIANCES
There’s a saying that better be safe than sorry, and it applies very well in the cases of construction and painting businesses that carry a certain degree of risk. There are high chances of accidents happening in such on-field jobs. Below are some steps you can take to cover for such unforeseen events:
- Make sure that your contractor has Workman’s Compensation in place for workers to cover for such accidents. You must ask for a copy of the Insurance certificate to prevent any trouble for yourself if a worker gets injured at your job.
- Ask for the Safety Practices followed by your contractor, like using certain equipment while on challenging parts like a roof or in moisture-prone areas.
- Demand to sign a release by the contractor at the end of the project so that you are not chased by suppliers or any third party for your contractor’s actions.
- Know whether your contractor checks for lead. Olf constructions, built before 1978, sometimes contain traces of lead paint which was common during those times. Most likely, a home that old would have been repainted multiple times by now, traces of lead can sometimes be found. While some contractors overlook this step, lead can be extremely hazardous; thus, checking and treating (if found) becomes very important.
#4 DRAWING THE CONTRACT
Once you’re through with your comparisons and have finalized the contractor based on the above factors, it is time to draw the contract. This contract will be the basis of your relationship with the contractor and will determine the outcome. Make sure it specifies all the terms clearly, including the penalty for not finishing the job. You can also ask your contractor to provide a guarantee of keeping the project on track as they often end up as a no-show. Below are a few things that your contract must include:
- Surface preparation details
- Material details (paint, primer, etc.)
- Timing and schedule
- Terms of payment (avoid paying in cash, or get a written communication over email to acknowledge the cash exchange)
Lack of proper documentation can cause trouble to both parties.
#5 CHOOSING YOUR PAINT
The paint color ascertains the tone of a room and forms an integral part of your decor. It’s a color you have to live in the years to come, making it a difficult and sometimes frustrating choice. But don’t worry as you’re not in it alone. When you hire commercial painters, you have a crew to provide you with professional advice, helping you find a color that goes well with your home and personality. A painter will work closely with you to bounce ideas, provide elaborate shade cards and test samples, and discuss options for placement. This way, you will have a close idea of what your choice will look like at the end and can make an informed decision. There’s no additional cost for this process, and the painter will repeat this process until you are 100% happy with your color.
#6 PREPARING FOR WORK
Home or office renovation often calls for multiple aspects like plumbing, repairs, upgrades, and more. Before you begin with your new paint, make sure you’re done with the other things because fixing your plumbing just after the fresh paint is definitely a bad idea and ruins the complete look. Fix issues in bathrooms or kitchens where there are high chances of finding grease/soap deposits—ensuring that all such projects are completed before paint allows your contractor to work efficiently and quickly.
Another thing you might want to prepare for before painting is moving things. While your contractor can help you move furniture and other belongings, it is advised to move delicate goods and valuables by yourself into an altogether different room to prevent damages.
Following these steps can help you experience a seamless transition for your space. And while you’re at it, we’re here to take more load off your shoulder further. We’re Perrysburg Painter, providing the best interior and exterior painting services in Ohio. Trusted by our clients for exterior, interior, and commercial painting services, we specialize in creating unparalleled
outcomes that put a smile on their faces every time we deliver a project. Connect with us for details!