Don’t Underestimate Painting Contractors
Clients often question why painting their home is expensive. Forgetting the fact that ‘expensive’ is relative, quality painting is not easy, and is the surface finish seen forever. You cannot hide the imperfections of painting and often painters are hiding the imperfections of drywall or finish carpentry.
Preparation
Before applying any paint, proper preparation is crucial for protection and a smooth and durable finish. This includes:
- Protection: Everything around the surface being painted has to be protected. This may be just by covering, but could be as extensive as scaffolding.
- Cleaning: Remove dust, dirt, and grease from surfaces using a mild detergent and water solution. Allow surfaces to dry completely before proceeding.
- Preparation: Fill finish nail holes, cracks, holes, and imperfections with spackling compound or putty. Caulking around finish carpentry. Wiping every surface of drywall dust, grout haze, sawdust, etc. Sand smooth once dry to create an even surface.
- Priming: While not always necessary, especially with modern paints that offer built-in priming properties, priming can enhance adhesion and coverage, especially on bare surfaces or areas with significant repairs.
This stage has to happen to ensure an eventual quality finish, and it requires a lot of materials, many of which cannot be reused, and time.
Which Paint?
The ingredients a manufacturer uses for a new formulation will determine that paint’s performance. Substituting a new additive might increase durability, but at the expense of stain resistance. A change in pigments could affect the depth of color. Different binders might improve adhesion but not smoothness. Adding or removing solvents will impact odors and off-gassing.
Not all paints are the same. All manufacturers have a cheaper line and a more expensive brand. Some are smoother than others. Some are more stain-resistant, while others have more coverage or fade resistance.
Our recommendation is to seek advice from suppliers and manufacturers and buy directly from the painter. The supplier can ensure you purchase the correct amount. This will ensure that the painter uses the right amount of paint to ensure the correct coverage.
Although cheap paints may save money initially, they can cost more in the long term if they require frequent repainting and maintenance.
Choosing Paint Types
Different surfaces require different types of paint to achieve optimal results:
- Interior Walls: Latex or acrylic paints are versatile and easy to use. They dry quickly, emit fewer odors, and are available in various finishes like flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss.
- Ceilings: Flat or matte finishes are ideal for ceilings as they help to hide imperfections and minimize glare.
- Trim and Woodwork: Choose semi-gloss or gloss paints for trim and woodwork as they are durable and easy to clean.
- Bathrooms and Kitchens: Opt for moisture-resistant paints that can withstand humidity and frequent cleaning.
Tools and Application Techniques
Having the right tools and knowing how to use them can make a significant difference in the outcome of your painting project:
- Paint Sprayers: Paint sprayers have a paint tip or nozzle—these come in different sizes—that is suited to the type of paint or stain you are using. Otherwise, you risk clogs, blotches, or sputtering.
- Brushes: Use new, high-quality synthetic brushes for cutting in edges and corners. Foam brushes or rollers are great for larger, smooth surfaces.
- Rollers: Select the appropriate nap length (short for smooth surfaces, longer for textured) and quality to achieve a uniform coat of paint.
- Techniques: Applying paint in even strokes, working from top to bottom, is not easy. Feather edges to avoid visible lines and overlap wet edges to blend seamlessly.
Conclusion
A great painter has well-trained, highly skilled, detail-oriented, and conscientious employees. They use good-quality, well-maintained tools and take their time over three separate visits (priming, first coat, and final quote) to the site. Does that sound cheap?
Written by Simon Amesbury, Partner