How to Hire a Painter

Your house’s exterior is what people will see the most when they arrive at your property. The paint is an important part of this. It doesn’t matter if you plan to live in your house for a while or are looking to sell it, it is important to ensure that the exterior color looks clean and crisp.

Most homeowners hire professional west auckland painters to repaint their exterior. This will ensure the best results. Paint cracks and fades over time. Rich Handel, Consumer Reports’ lead paint tester, says that siding is more susceptible to damage than it looks. A fresh coat of paint in a modern color can transform a house from dull to dramatic.

These benefits are only possible if you hire a competent contractor. Follow our essential advice to avoid disappointment and miscommunication when hiring a painter. A little diligence can ensure a quality job that will enhance your home’s curb appeal.

11 Tips to Hire a Painter

Get to know the pros. Talk to at least three professional painters about your job. Referrals are best obtained from family and friends. Be available for the first meeting. This will allow you to see how long each contractor takes for a home inspection. The more time it takes to assess your house, the more accurate the estimate will be. Even an experienced exterior painter may need to take more time than just a walk around your home. Ask each contractor about the experience and size of his team.

State your expectations. The quality and price of the project will not be determined solely by the number of coats used. It is important to prepare the surface. You should tell contractors if you want to avoid uneven surfaces from previous paint jobs. Be prepared to pay more. If you are able to live with imperfections, then agree on the level of preparation that is acceptable.

Get estimates. Ask each contractor for a written estimate. The estimate should include details about the work to be done, including the labor and material costs.

Examine past work and check references. Call each contractor to get a list of references and learn about their experiences with them. Positive references are a sign of a solid contractor. To see the quality of each contractor’s work, make sure you look at jobs from years ago. Also, look at the latest projects to see if current crews are skilled.

Credentials are important. While membership in a trade group or local business group does not guarantee quality work, it does show a commitment and reliability. Also, verify that the licensed pro is current. The Contractor’s License Resource Site contains information about your state’s licensing. To find out if the contractor has any unresolved complaints, check with the Better Business Bureau or the local consumer-affairs agency.

Get a complete contract. Include all the key information, including the name of the contractor, address, office, cell phone numbers and license number. It is important that the contract clearly outlines what is and is not included in the job.

Request a copy the worker’s compensation and painter’s liability insurance certificates. You could be held responsible if he does not have insurance.

Ask for a guarantee. Ask for a guarantee. The painter should promise to fix any flaking, chipping, blistering, flaking or excessive fading within two years. The painter should not tell you that the warranty covers only the paint. Labor is much more expensive than painting.

You can choose the paint. You might be tempted to choose a paint that your painter recommends. But, you should always use the paint you prefer. Handel states that good exterior paint protects siding from the sun and moisture. This helps to reduce the likelihood of weather-related deterioration. CR members can view our most recent paint ratings below.

Check for lead. Older paints could have lead if they were applied to a home built before 1978. This means that the painter may need to take additional precautions to prevent any potential hazards. Learn how to spot lead paint in your house and what steps your contractor should take to remove it.

Do not panic. Do not make a large downpayment before the job starts. Although contractors are different, a deposit of 10 to 15% is acceptable. Handel suggests that you make quarter-payments as the work progresses. To ensure that nothing is missed, take a look around the house before you make a final payment. You should not make the final payment until you are satisfied with the results.

The Best Exterior Paints from CR’s Testing

Poor-quality paint can ruin even the best painters’ ability to complete the job. Our engineers tested more than a dozen different paints to find the best options. These picks were the best for resisting cracking and color change in extreme environmental conditions equivalent to nine years.