Brenda Nyawara is an editor at Archute. She is a graduate architect with a passion for edge-cutting ideas in design, fashion, art and modern world interests.
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Painting your house, whether inside or outside, dramatically affects the structure’s appearance. A good paint job can enhance the architecture, while a poor paint job can detract from even the most beautifully designed building.
Thus, many design experts recommend hiring a professional instead of doing it yourself. Yes, painting is one of the most common DIY projects, but just because you can paint your house yourself doesn’t mean you should.
Another popular role that people occupy when painting their homes or businesses is local painters. However, there are some difficulties in dealing with local painters for an outsourcing agreement. These issues may vary from the poorly done work to the unethical practice; and the consumers should be able to know that in order to avoid the same. This article will now examine the typical issues posed in hiring community painters.
1. Poor Quality Work
Another issue that stems from hiring local painters is the poor work they perform. Other reasons why an external façade can come out ugly include inexperienced painters, low quality paint products and so on. For domestic jobs or painting services offered by a local painter it is important to search and find a credible local painting company or an individual.
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Ask for the contact details of previous clients of the painter and try to communicate with him/her. This will enable you to gauge the quality of their work and this would help you a great deal in avoiding someone who does not understand the work you have in mind.
2. Unreliable Service
We bring you another challenge that might come in hiring local painters – unforeseen service. This can present itself in a number of ways; for example; delayed deliveries, holding up production, or lack of operations in the supply chain. It is not easy and can easily lead to stress of people involved and businesses that depend on painters to complete their work in time.
The use of painter should be with written expectations to prevent the occurrence of this problem. This entails negotiating schedules for completing tasks and agreeing on set completion dates and often touching base with each other to ensure both of you know what the other person is doing.
3. Unethical Practices
Sadly there are some local painters who are involved in unethical practices as they use poor quality of paints, they skip through a lot of steps to cut cost and they also over charge people. Such practices can be easily disguised and may only be recognized by those well versed in the painting industry.
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They all are the outward manifestation of people attempting to opt for these practices; hence it is crucial to do your homework and ask questions to avoid getting behind the trap. Interview the painter and ask him or her about the products used, processes, and any other specific information. It is not out of place to request an explanation if something is unclear or go for a second opinion if the issue is still in doubt.
4. Safety Concerns
While painting may appear mundane, it is quite a dangerous undertaking and there are some safety considerations that need to be taken care of. This applies both to the painter and potentially any clients or passers-by who happen to be present in the proximity of the painter’s activity.
However, there are local painters who lack time and demonstrate a lot of carelessness which may result in injuries or injuries. To prevent this in-house painters who take safety conscious or those with little information on how to perform this work should be avoided.
Read more on commercial general contractors.
5. Hidden Costs
Another ethical problem that may arise with hiring local painters is the inflation of the expenditures. These can be charges for materials or any other cost incurred while providing the project other than what the contract requires or if there are any other services given that the contract does not mention. Unpredictability in pricing can be quite disappointing especially when clients are planning to budget for the painting expenses and it can also lead to dissatisfaction from the clients.
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To avoid this problem, it is essential to establish clear expectations from the beginning and to get everything in writing. This includes a detailed breakdown of all costs and any additional fees or charges that may apply.
Why Hire a Professional Painter
Why hire with liability insurance? You should skip the DIY paint job and hire a professional:
1. Gained Time
Hiring a professional painter gives you back the time you would have spent painting your house and more time to enjoy a fully painted home. When you’re only working on a paint job part-time, it will seem like forever before you can enjoy sitting in a freshly painted room or outside on your patio in front of a newly painted house.
Image credit: timeforkids.com
Another ethical problem that may arise with hiring local painters is the inflation of the expenditures. These can be charges for materials or any other cost incurred while providing the project other than what the contract requires or if there are any other services given that the contract does not mention. Unpredictability in pricing can be quite disappointing especially when clients are planning to budget for the painting expenses and it can also lead to dissatisfaction from the clients.
2. Better Results
Most novice painters who only actively engage in painting once every few years typically need help replicating the job a professional can do. After all, they’re trained to paint a room or house correctly, and if you select the right professional, they have many years of experience painting all types of surfaces. Plus, they usually have preparation procedures and cleanup processes down to a science.
Quality also drastically differs between professionals and DIYers. Many homeowners start painting their houses carefully, ensuring the fresh coat is even, and the edges are sharp. Still, their efforts usually dwindle by the end of the project. After all, this is only natural when you’re spending your free time doing a job.
On the other hand, professionals will not only put the same effort into every part of the job, but because there are usually two or three painters per project, they’ll get it done faster too.
3. Safety
Professional painters are trained to follow industry safety regulations, whether climbing a ladder or ensuring an indoor space is adequately ventilated. As a homeowner, you might need to learn these safety standards and could take risks leading to a disaster.
There’s no reason to put yourself at risk of an injury or illness when you can hire professionals who know how to mitigate these risks as part of their job. Homeowners often associate painting with a DIY task.
However, that’s only sometimes the best idea, especially considering how long it will take you to complete it and the results. Instead of taking on this task yourself, consider hiring a professional so you can enjoy professional results for the years to come.
4. Professional Painting Services
Expert artists have decades of experience painting. They have the required skills of preparing surfaces, selecting the right product and applying or painting to produce a smooth even finish. They have the knowledge of what kind of paint should be used, the techniques and procedures involved and how to deal with the problems that occur during the process.
5. Saves Money
Sometimes the homeowner may ask whether they need to get a professional painter but in the long run it saves money. Paints and materials for the professional painters can be purchased at wholesale prices which let them to pay less money than the regular client. They also have the expertise to execute the project within a short time or perhaps save the client from costly redesigns or corrections.
6. Increases Property Value
Every home or business is more costly and appealing to potential buyers or renters with high-quality paint. If one employs a house painter to paint the house, they can be sure that the house will look the best that it should to get a potential buyer or tenant.
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A fresh coat of paint by a professional may also keep the exterior of your property from getting ruined due to exposure to the elements and typical wear and tear that usually lead to expensive repairs in the future.
Different Types of Professional Painters
1. Portrait Painters
Painters who are more interested in the paintings in which subjects are people are called portrait painters. Other painters are given orders of portraits of people, families and sometimes even pets. Portrait painters are well-trained and ensure that they portray the correct facial features of the subject while simultaneously painting his or her moods and feelings through the strokes of the brush.
2. Landscape Painters
Marine artists draw images of the seas and oceans’ creatures such as whales, sharks, and turtles. These painters work primarily on site and are well able to translate the beauty of nature in their paintings. Landscape painters may also paint works that include represent hills, buildings, seas, ships or other man-made structures.
3. Still Life Painters
Still life is an art of painting lifeless elements between meals like vegetables and blossoms as well as utensils. These painters are able to depict these objects in great detail particularly the textures in addition to producing an exciting composition. Even the pictures of objects might have a specific symbolism and demonstrate, for instance, the impermanence of life.
4. Residential Painters
House painters are residential painters who have their specializations in dwelling homes’ painting. Some of these painters will work for painting companies while others work for construction companies and there are those who are independent contractors. Contractors who deal with residential painting may paint the interior or the exterior of houses or even a combination of both using different methods and materials to accomplish the task.
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5. Commercial Painters
Commercial painters are house painters who specialize in residential buildings but always focused on commercial properties like office buildings, stores, and warehouses. These painters can be either with these companies fulltime or be employed by construction companies or work as freelancers. Commercial painters may deal with both the walls and ceilings of the campus as well as the trim and window frames.
6. Industrial Painters
Industrial painters are house painters whose work environments are for the most part industrial environments such as warehouses, factories, and other sorts of buildings that are industrial in nature. Such painters are charged with the task of painting machines, components among other industrial items. Industrial painters may work with protective additives and materials to make the surfaces less vulnerable to corrosion and other forms of physical damage.
Where to Start Looking for a Reputable House Painter
When it comes to home renovation, painting is one of the most common and cost-effective ways to update the look of your house. But finding a reliable and skilled painter can be a daunting task. With so many options available, here are ideas to get you started:
1. Ask for Recommendations
One of the ways to find a suitable house painter is to ask for recommendations from people you know and trust. Ask your friends, family members, and colleagues if they’ve recently had their homes painted and if they were happy with the results. If they were, ask for the painter’s contact information so you can contact them directly.
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Another way to get recommendations is to ask your local paint store or home improvement center. These stores often list painters known to do good work and have a history of satisfied customers.
2. Look for Online Reviews
The internet keeps changing every day, and now fast internet speed can provide people with reviews and feedback from other people regarding the services providers. Look for local painters at Google, Yelp, and other sites that provide ‘honest’ reviews. Avoid hiring the service of painters who have negative feedback and reviews from their customers.
However, one should be ware that the review on the internet are not of equal weight. Reviews may also be neither trustworthy nor independent and include a mixture of authentic and false feedback; therefore, it’s best to focus on more than just one review and try to find specific trends or issues that appear in several pieces of feedback.
3. Check Their Credentials
One should also always make sure that they get several quotes from different painters who can work in their houses as painters. This will enable you to compare the quality of services and their overall price alongside the delivery time.
When getting prices, it is advisable to request the contractor to provide a quote that clearly outlines the expenses involved in the job from labor, resources and any extra fees. This will also keep you away from the common pitfalls that users encounter when dealing with different hidden charges.
4. Get Multiple Quotes
One should also always make sure that they get several quotes from different painters who can work in their houses as painters. This will enable you to compare the quality of services and their overall price alongside the delivery time.
When getting prices, it is advisable to request the contractor to provide a quote that clearly outlines the expenses involved in the job from labor, resources and any extra fees. This will also keep you away from the common pitfalls that users encounter when dealing with different hidden charges.
5. Ask for References
Before hiring a house painter, ask for references from previous customers. A reputable painter should be able to provide you with a list of satisfied customers who can vouch for their work.
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When contacting references, ask about their experience working with the painter, the quality of the work, and whether they would recommend them to others. This will give you a view of what to expect and whether the painter fits your needs.
7. Get a Written Contract
Always request for and get a legally binding contract that lists the specific details of the project including the duration, price, and completed product. This will act as a guard for you in case of any disagreement later.
8. Be Clear About Your Expectations
Also, information should be provided about how the project is going to be finalized including any expectations that might exist. This could enable you to both agree on what the painter is to do and what you require from the work of the painter.
How Much Do Painters Charge?
The cost of hiring a painter can vary depending on many factors, including the paint type, the job size, and the project’s location.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Painting
Several factors can impact how much a painter will charge for their services. Here are some of the most critical considerations:
1. Size of the Job
The size of the job, or “how much paint is needed,” is one of the most critical factors that will impact the cost of painting. A small room or a single wall will be much less expensive to paint than an entire house or commercial building.
2. Type of Paint
The paint type will also impact the project’s final cost. High-quality paints will be more expensive than lower-quality options, but they may also last longer and require less maintenance.
3. Location of the Project
The place where the project will be undergone also affects the price of painting. The other thing is that the fees that the painters are going to be charging may be higher where the cost of living is also high. Further; if the project implies the cost for travelling and accommodation; this cost will be transferred to the customer.
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4. Condition of the Surfaces
The condition of the surfaces to be painted can also impact the cost of painting. The project’s cost will increase if the walls or ceilings are in poor condition and require extensive preparation.
5. Labor Costs
Last of all the overall cost of the labours will also influence the price of the project. There are some artists who quote their service to be based on the time spent while others quote for the whole process. The labor rate depends on the painter’s experience and degrees of expertise as well as the difficulty of the project.
Average Cost of Painting Services
With all these factors in mind, let’s look at some average costs for painting services. Remember that these are just estimates and that the actual cost of your project may vary depending on your specific circumstances.
1. Interior Painting
It can be very expensive to paint interior; it may cost depending on the size of the room and type of painting used. The cost for painting indoors will range between two and six dollars per square foot. This includes average costs to paint a 1,500 s. f room between $3,000 and $9,000.
2. Exterior Painting
Painting of an exterior will be more expensive than painting an interior wall because more steps needed to be taken in the painting process of the exterior. Depending on the type of the house and the scope of the work, the cost of the painting may go from $3 to $9 per square foot. This would mean that a 2,000-square-foot home could range anywhere from $6,000 – $14,000 to be fully painted.
Image credit: coloradopainting.com
3. Commercial Painting
The cost of commercial painting will range from a minimum of $1500 for simple jobs to $5000 for elaborate projects and from $200 per square feet to $250 per square feet for $100, 000 and above buildings respectively. The average figure of commercial painting work is approximately $1 to $4 per square foot. This implies that $10,000 is the estimated cost of painting 10,000 square feet and $40,000 being the highest projected cost to paint such a building.
Factors That Can Impact the Final Cost of Your Project
While the average costs we’ve discussed can give you a rough idea of what to expect, it’s essential to remember that many factors can impact the final cost of your project. Here are some of the most critical considerations:
1. Type of Finish
Different types of finishes can impact the final cost of your project. Glossy finishes tend to be more expensive than matte finishes, for example.
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2. Accessibility
If your project requires painting in hard-to-reach areas, such as high ceilings or awkward corners, this may increase the project’s cost.
3. Timeline
In addition, some charge extra for removal of wallpaper and painting of trim. Please, inform the painter about other services you require before they work to avoid conflict in the future.
4. Additional Services
In addition, some charge extra for removal of wallpaper and painting of trim. Please, inform the painter about other services you require before they work to avoid conflict in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions on Professional Painters
a) What is a professional painter called?
On the other hand, a professional painter is usually referred to as “painter” or “professional painting contractor”. They might also be called “decorative painter” if they are specialized in doing decorative painting styles like the faux, mural painting, and even trompe l’oeil.
Other specialized terms might be used depending on the nature of the painting that the person might specialize in such as house painter which would refer to painting on houses both on the inside and outside as well as automotive painter which refers to painting of cars and other vehicles.
b) What is the difference between a professional painter and a painter?
The main difference between a professional painter and a painter is the fact that an individual who is a painter is a person who specializes in painting unlike a professional painter. An experienced painter is usually in a position to deliver higher skills in the painting industry. Some of them may have acquired formal art and painting education and may be licensed or certified in this career.
At the same time, a painter may be a professional and use painting as a main occupation or may be a painting as a pastime or secondary employment. not yet proficient in the complete range of painting even though they may specialise in particular techniques or styles.
c) What is the qualification of a professional painter?
The requirements that need to be met in order for a person to become professional painter differ from one country to the next and each region of the country. An expert painter will always have had formal education or training in the field of painting or another related field.
Professional painters need formal education but most importantly have to have years of training and experience. It should have skills in applying many different painting methods such as the use of a brush, roller, and paint sprayer. They should also have understanding on the aspect of color and how to mix colors to produce the desired color.
d) Is it worth getting a professional painter?
It may pay to hire a professional painter if one really enjoys the quality of work and does not want to overexert oneself. But this may take less time and money if done alone especially if you like doing DIY activities and have the time and skills to do the task.
e) What is the job description of a professional painter?
The responsibilities of a professional painter consist of the following: surface preparation; selection and mixing of paint; application of paint; surface protection; clean-up; interaction with customers; and safety. A professional painter’s function is to make transforming a space by professionally and skillfully applying paints and to make sure that it is finished safe and satisfactory with the client.
About the author
Brenda Nyawara
Brenda Nyawara is an editor at Archute. She is a graduate architect with a passion for edge-cutting ideas in design, fashion, art and modern world interests.