Choosing a painter or painting service
Hiring a professional painter or painting service to paint your home is not a decision to take lightly. Painting is a skilled trade and it takes considerable expertise and experience to get a high quality finish. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when choosing a painter or painting contractor:
Written Quotation
Always get three written quotes. Each quote should set out all points you agree on such as the price, estimated job duration, brand, progress payments and terms and conditions. Prepare a written specification (we have a "Painting Specification Checklist") of your requirements and give a copy to each painter so that you can ensure they are all quoting on the same things. Never choose a contractor solely on price. A quality paint job takes time and costs money.
Insurance & Licenses
You should ensure that the painting contractor has both public liability insurance and workers compensation insurance and verify licenses. Public liability insurance protects your personal property and your family, while workers compensation protects you from being liable if a painter injures themselves while in your home. Ask for insurance numbers, name and phone numbers of insurance companies and call to verify insurance status.
Experience and Professionalism
Does the contractor use sub contractors? Knowing who is going to undertake the work may impact the time taken and the quality of the work. Are the staff identifiable, do they wear uniforms. Good paint contractors will take pride in their appearance and the appearance of their staff.
Professional Affiliations
Is the contractor affiliated with professional industry organisations? Legitimate, quality-minded painting contractors would be members in good standing with organisations like the Master Painters, Decorators and Signwriters Association and Consumer Affairs. Members of the MPA aspire to the highest standards of workmanship, efficiency and reliability.
References
Ask for the names of satisfied customers or for references. If possible, visit completed jobs so that you can see the quality of the work for yourself. Some questions to ask the referee might include:
- Was the job completed in a timely manner?
- Was the result satisfactory?
- Was the amount charged the amount that had been agreed on?
- Was there much disruption to the household?
Preparation
Ask the contractor to give you a complete rundown of preparation procedures and ensure that these services are clearly outline in your quote. Preparation can range from spot sanding to full sand down. Poor preparation results in a poor finished paint job and premature paint breakdown.
Quality
Make sure the contractor is buying premium quality paint. Ask your painting contractor how many coats of paint they will be applying. Standard practice is to apply two full coats of paint after application of a primer coat. The number of coats required may vary depending on the colours you choose. Some bright colours take up to five coats to achieve coverage. The Master Painter's Association also recommends three coats of paint for all new homes.
Service
It is important for you to feel comfortable with the level of service your painting contractor will provide. Make sure you meet face-to-face to discuss your project's requirements and ask lots questions. Find out about their preparation and clean-up procedures, can they help you with colour selection, will they leave you with touch-up paints? Face-to-face meetings with contractors will help narrow your choices.
Get 3 painting estimates now! Use the Quotify Painting Quotes Registration Form Page. All our painters are prescreened so you can be confident in your selection. The service is FREE and it only takes a minute to complete the Painting Quotes Registration Form Page.