Why hire a licensed professional painter?

Hiring and Contracting with a ProfessionalPainting and Decorating Contractor

Before you decide to hire the least expensive painter you can find, or "do it yourself", here are
important points to consider that suggest the lowest price may not be the best value.
SafetyPainting can be hazardous work, whether it’s working on a ladder or dealing with solvents and dust.Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about these problems.
HealthIf your home or business was built before 1978, it may have been painted with lead-based paint, which
can cause serious health effects when it is scraped or sanded in preparation for repainting.
Professional contractors will take appropriate steps to protect you. Painting contractors are required tofurnish EPA-produced pamphlets to their residential customers before they begin a job that involvesdisturbing lead-based paint in or on a residence. Professional painting contractors will understand andbe willing to follow the recommendations on this pamphlet.
Preparation & PaintingGetting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right.
Knowing Paints and How to Apply Them
The choices today are more complicated than just oil or latex, and professional contractors will knowwhat works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job. Professional contractors utilize andpartner with professional paint, coatings, and wallcovering suppliers.
Cleanup and DisposalHiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.

How to Choose the Right Contractor For Your Project

Once you have decided to contract with someone to do a particular painting and decorating project,how do you go about selecting the right company? Do you make your selection on price, size ofcompany, years in business, or other criteria?
To locate the names of reputable contractors, there are many sources of information. Some of these sources are PDCA's Find a Pro search engine, friends, relatives, architects and design professionals, and local "quality- oriented" paint supply stores. However, these sources can only give you limited general information. In order to make an educated decision, you need some specific information about any person or firm you are considering hiring.
Always verify the contractor is licensed and insured
Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their certificates of
insurance. They should provide bonding information (if the job is large enough to require such) and documentation of safety training and compliance programs. Not all states and municipalities require licensing however business registration with your state and municipality is generally a minimumrequirement.Written Contracts are a Must. Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted,
methods and extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment procedures. Knowing the total scope of the work enables you to carefully evaluate the different bids you may receive with the proper information and keep them on a level playing field. The contract serves to protect both you and the contractor.
Invest Time in Verifying References Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person, address, and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees
treated you professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, some of the projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done. Discuss any guarantee or warranty programs the contractor may offer. Ask about the manufacturer's warranty on the products to be used on your project. Remember you are looking for long-term durability from the paint job. The use of high quality products is as important as the selection and performance of the contractor. Verifying references will provide a return on your project investment.

www.durenpainting.com

One thing you should not do is let your home painting become faded or worse yet, let it begin to peel. An unkempt exterior house painting can be an eye sore to a neighborhood, and can make you subject of unpleasant conversations between neighbors.It can be relatively easy to stay up to date with your exterior house painting. Each time you have a new home painting completed, ask your contracted painter when you should schedule the next paint job and then mark that time period in your calendar. Be sure to book an appointment with your contracted painter well in advance of when you would like the project completed because professional painters tend to book up fast, and you do not want to have to let your paint project go overdo, or worse yet, have to take extra time out of your day to find a new reliable contracted painter.Additionally, even if your exterior house painting is not in need of being repainted, if you begin to notice problems with the outside of your home, you should be sure to have them addressed as soon as possible. Some examples of problems that can occur with your home painting include rust stains, mildew growth and cracking paint. Rust stains and mildew growth can quickly get out of control and turn into a large problem, so be sure to get them resolved and prevented as soon as you notice the problem. If you notice that your exterior house painting is beginning to crack or chip, but it is not yet time to have the project completed, this may be a sign that a low quality paint was used in your last paint job, or environmental conditions have sped up the weathering process of the paint. Even if it is not time to have the project completed, if you notice that the paint is peeling or cracking, it is best to call your painter to have the project completed because you could be risking damage to the outside of your home by not taking action.The way your home looks is a statement of how you care for your investments and is a measure of how much pride you take in the things that you own. Let your neighbors know how much pride you take in your home and keep your home looking its best by staying up to date with your exterior house painting. It is relatively inexpensive to do and this simple update can do a lot to improving the look of the outside of your home.

www.durenpainting.com

Protecting your investment

One thing you should not do is let your home painting become faded or worse yet, let it begin to peel. An unkempt exterior house painting can be an eye sore to a neighborhood, and can make you subject of unpleasant conversations between neighbors.

It can be relatively easy to stay up to date with your exterior house painting. Each time you have a new home painting completed, ask your contracted painter when you should schedule the next paint job and then mark that time period in your calendar. Be sure to book an appointment with your contracted painter well in advance of when you would like the project completed because professional painters tend to book up fast, and you do not want to have to let your paint project go overdo, or worse yet, have to take extra time out of your day to find a new reliable contracted painter.Additionally, even if your exterior house painting is not in need of being repainted, if you begin to notice problems with the outside of your home, you should be sure to have them addressed as soon as possible. Some examples of problems that can occur with your home painting include rust stains, mildew growth and cracking paint. Rust stains and mildew growth can quickly get out of control and turn into a large problem, so be sure to get them resolved and prevented as soon as you notice the problem. If you notice that your exterior house painting is beginning to crack or chip, but it is not yet time to have the project completed, this may be a sign that a low quality paint was used in your last paint job, or environmental conditions have sped up the weathering process of the paint. Even if it is not time to have the project completed, if you notice that the paint is peeling or cracking, it is best to call your painter to have the project completed because you could be risking damage to the outside of your home by not taking action.The way your home looks is a statement of how you care for your investments and is a measure of how much pride you take in the things that you own. Let your neighbors know how much pride you take in your home and keep your home looking its best by staying up to date with your exterior house painting. It is relatively inexpensive to do and this simple update can do a lot to improving the look of the outside of your home.

Duren Painting has updated its site.

Hello everyone just a quick note that Duren Painting has updated its website. Please stop by to look at photos of recent work and to learn more about our company. http://www.durenpainting.com