Choosing a Painting Contractor

Making the right choice can be difficult, but it does not have to be. The following guide, assembled by the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, can help you make the right choice.

Why hire a professional painting and decorating contractor?

Before you decide to "do it yourself" or hire the least expensive painter you can find, here are some points to consider that suggest the lowest price may not be the best value.

Health
If your home was built before 1978, it was almost certainly painted with lead-based paint, which can cause serious health effects when it is scraped or sanded in preparation for repainting. Professional contractors will take appropriate steps to protect you.

Cleanup and Disposal
Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.

Safety
Painting can be hazardous work, whether it’s working on a ladder or dealing with solvents and dust. Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about these problems.

Preparation
Getting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right.

Knowing Paints and How to Apply Them
The choices today are more complicated than just oil or latex, and professional contractors will know what works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job.

How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Project

Once you have decided to contract with someone to do a particular painting and decorating project, how do you go about selecting the right person or firm? Do you make your selection on price, size of company, years in business, or other criteria?

Always ask if the contractor is licensed and insured. Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their certificates of insurance.

Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted, methods and extent of surface preparation, and payment procedures. Knowing the total scope of the work enables you to carefully evaluate the different bids you may receive with the proper information and keep them on a level playing field.

Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person, address, and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees treated you professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be from projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, these projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done..

Simpson Comany Painting Contractors
2992-H Spring Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
Telephone: (650) 361-1588
License: 452396

Copyright 1999