6 Essential Steps to a Beautiful Interior
Choosing a Painting Contractor
- Choose a contractor you feel comfortable with.
- Verify that your contractor is insured; ask for a “Certificate of Insurance” showing both liability (for your property) AND worker’s compensation (for their workers)
- Confirm the references
- Review their professional affiliation, i.e.—PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America), BBB, etc.
- Check for home improvement or appropriate contractors license; such as Mass HIC License No. 130101 RI CRB #22948
Beware of
- Someone who doesn’t use contracts or is very vague in their scope of work (A written contract elps both the contractor and the customer get what they expect)
- A painter that competes based on price alone. (If these guys even show up to do the work, you may have far more problems than the cheap price is worth)
- Setup
- Rooms and areas to be painted are scheduled with the customer.
- Large furniture is moved into the center of the room.
- Wall and ceiling fixtures are removed.
- Furniture is covered with plastic.
- Floors are covered with drop cloths.
- Preparation
- Walls are scuffed-sanded.
- Holes and cracks in walls are filled.
- Gaps in trim are caulked.
- Stains, such as watermarks, are sealed.
- Washing is done where necessary.
- Painting
- Repaired areas are primed.
- Paint is applied with brush, roller or sprayer depending on the surface.
- Ceilings and walls are painted to proper coverage and finish color.
- Clean-cut lines between trim and walls.
- Only premium quality paints are used.
- Clean-Up
- Furniture is moved back to original positions.
- Wall and ceiling fixtures are replaced.
- Floors and carpets are thoroughly vacuumed and swept.
- All supplies and refuge are removed.
- Touch-up paint is labeled and left with the customer.
- Inspection
- Before the cew packs up their equipment, a “wet-walk-around” is done to ensure all contracted areas are painted properly.
- Final touch-ups are noted on a Quality List and are completed before the crew leaves.
- A Inside Out Painting Standard Inspection is performed by a Foreman or Project Leader.
- The Inside Out Painting Customer Comment Card is completed by the customer