Painting and Decorating
How to select the best painter and decorator
When it comes to making your house a home, it’s the personal touches like custom painting and decorating that take the environment from stale and unremarkable, to warm and welcoming. There are many surfaces in your home that you may want to have painted. Each of them requires specific knowledge to prepare and paint it correctly for lasting results.
Oftentimes, homeowners will hire a general handyman to paint their home, or many will even attempt to paint themselves. This can potentially lead to disappointing results. To get the best workmanship, it is worth hiring a painting and decorating specialist. Today, we are going to show you the best steps to take when trying to select a tradesman for this job.
- Learn painting and decorating basics
- A specialist is always better
- Get process details
- Ask for a thorough written estimate
- Determine the length of time the job will take
- Research experience and reviews
Let’s focus on each of these areas in more detail.
Research basic information on painting and decorating
Different surfaces require different types of preparation work and painting materials than others. It is an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with basic knowledge about the specific project you are looking to have completed.
By arming yourself with some simple trade knowledge, you will be able to have an informed conversation with the painter or decorator you are looking to hire. This information provides you the opportunity to ask relevant questions, as well as clearly understand the information they are looking to convey to you, such as process steps, materials usage and work timeline.
Seek a specialist who works in the type of painting and decorating you require
There are many types of decorating and painting including interior walls and ceilings, exterior painting, those who specialize in faux finishes and fine decorative painting work and restoration painting. Each of these areas requires job specific knowledge.
There are different preparation steps and materials needed for each different style of painting and decorating. If you want the highest quality job, it makes sense to find someone who has vast experience working in the type of painting you are requiring.
Get the details of how they will perform the job
When you are interviewing potential painters and decorators, inquire about the specific details of how they will perform the job. This will give you good insight into their knowledge base and quality of work. Pay special attention to the amount of time they plan to spend on making preparatory steps for your project.
Preparation is a huge part of painting and decorating, and tradesmen who do not perform adequate preparation will leave you stuck with disappointing work. Such preparation can include filling holes and patching irregularities, then sanding. Cleaning surfaces and taping them off, as well as covering floors, furniture and other areas of your home that will need protection is another thing you will want to ensure are part of the job. Finally, if your painter is working with raw wood, they should be taking the time to use things like knot filler to prevent uneven surfaces once the paint dries.
Get a detailed written estimate
With any major painting or decorating job, you will want to get at least 3 identical written estimates. Make sure that your tradesman includes things like labor, materials, travel expenses, special equipment like scaffolding, and waste removal and disposal.
A plan of payment should also be included in any written estimate. Typically, a materials deposit or labor deposit is initially expected. Then, installments or a final payment is the norm once work is completed. Be very wary of any painter or decorator who expects payment in full before any work is completed.
Research job experience and reviews
One final way to feel confident about the painter or decorator you wish to hire is by speaking with references they should be happy to provide. Ask to see photos of their work or even visit recent job sites. Finally, looking at online reviews can be a great way to ensure you are hiring a quality worker.
We hope that these recommendations help you to choose an excellent painter or decorator to partner with you in making your home beautiful.