Most homeowners consider painting to be a relatively easy task. Who isn’t capable of dipping a roller or brush into the paint and then apply it evenly to your walls. For the most part it is that simple and homeowners can definitely paint their own home if they really want to. It saves you money, and you can take pride in your own work. But when it comes to hiring a professional, there are a few considerable advantages, including time savings, safety, quality, and speed. A painting pro will do everything better and faster, saving you precious time to focus on other things. Before you get going on hiring your interior painting specialist, below you will find more information regarding what to expect, when to paint your interior, important things to consider, and how to find a trusted local painting professional.
interior paintingWhat to expect from your painting professional
The painting pro will make sure to cover all areas that will not be painted, such as floors, windows, kitchen counters, and cabinets. The contractor will assume that the house is mostly in paint-ready condition and he/she will only have to prepare minor surfaces before painting. Minor surface preparations include light sanding and scraping away loose paint, tapping in nails that stick out, cleaning off woodwork, using tackcloth in some areas. A well-organized painting professional will remove electrical plates, lights, doors, other obstacles, and move furniture around to better access the areas that need to be painted. It is not a standard among painters, so definitely make sure to confirm this beforehand. You can also expect for a new drywall or the current paint to be primed with an interior primer, two coats of the color of interior paint on the walls, and two coats of ceiling paint. The contractor will also paint the trim and molding, such as baseboards, window trim, etc. Some drips of paint will most likely happen, but your painting specialist will do touchups of missed spots and cleanups for accidents, so don’t worry. Finally, the painting foreman will evaluate the paint job with you.
Guidelines WHEN TO PAINT YOUR INTERIOR?
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Kitchen
Grease, spills, steam, and smoke are naturally a result of any good kitchen. To reduce stains and odors, repaint every 4-5 years.
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Hallways
Over time, you’ll see scuff marks, scratches, and dings build up in the hallways. Repaint every 3-4 years to keep your home looking clean and new.
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Bedrooms
The playroom will probably have to be repainted faster (every few years) than grandma’s guest house. A bedroom rarely used can easily last ten years.
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Baseboards, Trim, & Ceilings
Baseboards will see heavy foot traffic and probably need repainting every 3 years. Applying a new coat to your trims can be done at any time. Usually you will repaint a ceiling every 10 years, unless you live in wet and moldy conditions, a smoke prone area, or if you are repainting a room.
Important to consider1 – Preparation and extra costs
Check for lead paint. Most of the houses built before 1978 contain paint made with lead, which today is known to cause a host of health problems, especially for children. Initially used for its fresh appearance, quick-drying properties, and moisture resistance, lead-based paint was proven dangerous decades ago. Older homes still have lead paint in the original layers. Make sure to hire a qualified lead expert to check out the walls in your home before starting any project.
Paint preparation is the foundation for any painting job. Therefore, paint performance is directly linked to preparation. Even the best paint will crack, peel, or chip easily if done incorrectly. Clean all dirty walls, especially near the stove and sink. Greasy deposits and soap scum can interfere with paint’s adhesion. The contractor might charge extra for removing heavy furniture and having to paint crown molding, baseboards or walls/ ceilings taller than the average of 8 feet. You also want to complete any necessary repairs before having your interior painting pro start the project.
Important to consider2 – Hiring a professional
The contract should include what will be done and the products used. This includes the type and amount of surface preparation, priming and type of primer, and paint brand. Also include how many coats of paint will be included.
Paint preparation is the foundation for any painting job. Therefore, paint performance is directly linked to preparation. Even the best paint will crack, peel, or chip easily if done incorrectly. Clean all dirty walls, especially near the stove and sink. Greasy deposits and soap scum can interfere with paint’s adhesion. The contractor might charge extra for removing heavy furniture and having to paint crown molding, baseboards or walls/ ceilings taller than the average of 8 feet. You also want to complete any necessary repairs before having your interior painting pro start the project.
Important to consider3 – Paint color and finish
Interior paint adds variety, color, and a touch of your personality to any room. Different interior paint colors can also be a great design tool, making larger rooms feel cozier and smaller rooms feel more spacious. You should test two of your favorite colors by investing in the smallest can of paint size available and paint a small portion of your wall. Watch the color in different light settings throughout the day to make sure it is the color you want. Depending on your walls’ imperfections, the painting pro will advise you on what finish to choose.
There are two ways to find a trusted painting pro
With so many painting professionals to choose from, it might seem overwhelming having to do all of the time-consuming research and then deciding which one to hire to accomplish your goals. Here are several steps to find the perfect Painter and two ways to go about it, depending on how much time you actually have.
OPTION 1USE A FREE DIGITAL HOME SERVICES MARKETPLACE
Every homeowner has several small home repairs he/she would love to take care of but can never seem to find the time to complete them. Remember that many small home repairs are likely to turn into big service bills if you leave them unchecked. The Internet is an excellent source for conducting your research to find and hire a handyman. You do need to invest a considerable amount of time and effort. If you don’t feel like researching on Google and Yelp, asking friends, family, or neighbors for recommendations, and having to call and drive around, there is a solution! A digital home services marketplace and free service like PoweredByPros is a great way to get the job done without cutting into any of your free time.
PoweredByPros matches homeowners with screened service professionals they can trust to successfully complete any type of home improvement, maintenance, and repair project. PoweredByPro’s mission is to connect our homeowner customers with service professionals they can trust and provide them with the best home improvement experience. And believe it or not – it’s free!
OPTION 2Do It Yourself – INVEST TIME AND EFFORT
Again, the Internet is an excellent source for conducting your research to find and hire a painting pro. You can find a Painter on Google because Google searches are all about local. Search by the type of painting professional and your city. When reading reviews, ask yourself if the reviews sound like a friend of the individual who posted that review or if it’s an actual client. Three more options to find the professional Painter you want for you project:
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Look on Powered BY Pros.
Powered by Prosoffers reviews for a wide variety of products and services. You can easily find contractors, maintenance companies, and handymen all listed with detailed contact information, photos of their work, and plenty of customer reviews to help you decide how the person’s work really is.
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Ask your Realtor
Your Realtor works with several painting pros. He/she can give you a referral if you ask. The Realtor wants to be your agent for life, has an interest in making sure you are happy and taken care of, and vets his/her referrals very closely. Your Realtor’s reputation is at stake
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Visit Your Home Improvement Store
It is very unlikely that someone at your local hardware store is looking for just a small project. But most hardware stores have a bulletin board on which local painters post their business cards, web addresses, or phone numbers to advertise their work.
Once you have found and selected a painting professional, hire them on the contingency that they stick to their plan, timeline, and estimate and don’t make any changes without your authorization. Also, keep your second and third painting pro choices in mind. You never know when your first choice will screw up, and you’ll need to call your second choice and ask them to come and finish up.