There’s more to having your home successfully painted than just calling a house painter and paying the bill. If you want the best possible results, here are six things your painter wishes you knew. Get these right and your new paint job will look better.
1. Communication is crucial
This is a big one, and failure to communicate before the job starts is one of the biggest sources of avoidable trouble. Besides the obvious task of settling firmly on colour, you need to think about sheen level. My own personal preference is the lowest possible sheen, or a flat paint with no sheen at all. This hides surface imperfections much better than anything with a gloss.
It’s also important to talk about patching, and what items will go back on the walls after painting is done. Clearly communicate your expectations and preferences to the painter before the job begins. Some house painters are good at patching and others not so good. If you’re particular about your house, consider asking your painter to complete a couple of patches so you can see the quality.
Also, as simple as it sounds, share cell numbers with your painter. This way you can settle on unexpected details together as they come up. Photos and videos go a long way towards this.
2. Take time to choose your colour
“You should use all available resources to help you with colour selection,” suggests Matt McNamee, co-founder of Oasis Painting in Ottawa. “Paint sample cards or booklets are a great start, and there are tools online that let you upload a picture of your space and insert different colours on your walls.”
McNamee offers colour consultations and provides real samples of paint that you can apply to your walls to see how they look with your lighting. I’ve found a colour analysis device like the Nix colour sensor works great. It reads the colours of all kinds of surfaces and pairs with your phone. Nix makes complementary colour suggestions based on what you’d like to match, too, so it takes the guesswork out.
3. Remove items and furniture before painting
Most painting companies will move large items for you, but small items should be taken from their usual spot, especially items hanging on walls. If anything is going back on the wall in its former place after being taken down, take note of where it goes as it may be hard to find the right spot after painting.
4. Opt for quality products
Given the cost of paint in relation to the hourly rate of professional painters, it makes financial sense to use the best paint you can afford. These look better, last longer and scrub down better than cheap paints.
These days there’s no need to use anything other than latex paints, but not all latex is created equal. The best have 100 per cent acrylic latex formulations, and this will be stated on the label.
While it may be tempting to cut costs with cheap paint, superior paint offers better hiding and longer working life.
“Ultimately, paint choice is up to the homeowner, but paying more for paint is definitely the most economical approach,” says McNamee.
5. Choose the right house painter
When selecting painting professionals, prioritize quality over cost. Opt for experienced and knowledgeable painters who may not be the cheapest but who offer the best value in terms of expertise and results.
Ask for and check out references from previous painting clients. Every skilled painter with nothing to hide will have references ready to give you.
6. Spread the word
These days word of mouth advertising and online reviews are the way most painters get their name out. So, if you’ve done your homework and found a great house painter, reward them with an honest review. Consider it a kind of tip for good work done.
