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Friday, 28 October 2011

Should You Use A Contractor To Paint Your Home?


Why You Should Use A Contractor To Paint Your Home By Eric Moore

Many people choose to hire a contractor to paint their homes. Usually the decision comes down to time and the finished results. To guarantee a long-lasting, durable paint finish on your home, you need to hire a professional to do it. It's a combination that means lower costs over time.

House painting requires a lot of work. This work is mostly tedious chipping, scraping, and sanding in order to properly prepare the surface for paint. It's very time consuming as well. Compared to the cost of materials alone, hiring a professional appears expensive, but once the time is factored in, it is likely to seem a bargain.
Of course, it's also important to find a quality pro. use The Trades Network. Talking to your neighbors who've recently painted their homes about the contractor they might have hired is a good first step towards finding a good painter. Find out who your neighbors used and what they thought of the pro's services and quality of work.
Ask the following questions of your sources: 
-Did the professional do quality work at a fair price?
-Did the contractor take steps to avoid damage to unpainted surfaces?
-How reliable was the professional and did he or she finish on schedule?
-Was a written warranty offered to guarantee the work?
These four questions will tell you whether the painter was a contractor or just pretending to be. A good professional will not only be bonded and insured against any damage that might be caused during the painting of your home, but will also take steps to avoid causing that damage whenever possible. A real pro will always be on time and have a good schedule to finish when promised, barring unforeseen circumstances or problems.
Once you have a small list of contractors, contact them to get an estimate. Compare that to quotes from at least 3-4 of their competitors to get an idea how fair the price is. Most likely, a fair price was offered. Ask questions during the estimate process to find out about included warranties and expected time frames for work. It's also a good idea to ask about the paint to be used and whether they will provide it or if you should purchase your own. Most contractors will include the paint in their estimates, but will not always quote the highest-quality paint available.
Once the job begins, try to stay involved without getting in the painter's way. Unless asked to do so, don't "lend a hand." If you want to offer labor as part of the deal, make this an up front offer and don't be afraid to be rejected. These offers often make professionals leery, and usually for good reason. It's recommended that you only offer to help when asked, such as to hand up tools or bring refreshments as a courtesy rather than be hands-on involved with the painting itself. Many painters will have insurance or warranty requirements that don't allow the homeowner or unpaid helper to be involved. You should respect that.
You'll see why hiring a professional was a good decision once you see the results. Nothing beats a craftsman's quality work.

1 comment:

  1. All contractors are able to do their jobs but each and every one of them would have their certain groove that is they all work differently according to their working styles. You must know this and consider this heavily when you are hiring a contractor.
    Residential Painting Toronto

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