Hiring a Painting Contractor for Painting House Exterior
It is extremely important a home’s exterior is properly taken care of. You should expect to paint the exterior of your home every 7-8 years. Not only does it keep it looking great but it is a protective barrier between the structure of the house and mother nature. It also helps prevent rot and decay that happens over time when the paint starts chipping and leaving openings for moisture to get in. This is why hiring a painting contractor for painting your house exterior is so important.
In painting your house exterior, your painting contractor will first find any evidence of decay and repair it. That is the reason the seven year rule is so important. You want to catch these problems while they are small and the painting contractor can still fix them easily. Small holes might allow in small animals, such as baby squirrels, birds and bats. Imagine what a large hole might let in your home. If these issues are left alone, it might require a carpenter to come in and repair the issues.
So, how do you go about hiring a painting contractor for painting the exterior of your home? It is typically not too difficult to make the choice once you find the right person, however it might take a little time. Your home is the largest investment you will have so you want to ensure it is cared for correctly to prevent future damage.
Here are a few thoughts to consider when looking to find a really good exterior house painter:
• Word of mouth. Ask your friends and neighbors who they have used and were they satisfied with the work. Was the price fair? Did they do a quality job? Did they make their deadline? This will give you a great list of painting contractors to contact. You will want to have a good pool of contractors before you call the first one. Remember though that just because your friend or neighbor had a good experience doesn't mean the painter is great. The job may have been easy, or it looks good but maybe not as good as it could have been, or maybe problems haven't surfaced yet. Make sure you do your due dilligence by checking references and comparing at least a few estimates from other painters.
• Don't be afraid to ask for bids. Have your potential contractors come out and give you an estimate or a bid (bids guarantee the contractor will finish a job at a given price). Don't be timid about asking more than one contractor. In competitive markets, they only expect to win a fraction of the bids they make.
• Be thorough in asking your questions. Will they re-caulk or re-glaze if needed? How do they handle damaged wood (usually window and door trim)? Do they just use wood putty or do they use “Bondo” putty too? In some applications, Bondo works better than wood putty. You may have heard the term “Bondo” in reference to fixing a wrecked car. Bondo is a brand name of body filler made by 3M, who also have a subdepartment of high quality painting products. Can they work around the plants or do some need to be trimmed? There are many more questions that you can ask as they apply to your house specifically and you should not be afraid of asking them or sharing your concerns. Find out specifically what they plan to do.
• Don't be too frightened by the price. One of the reasons you want multiple estimates or bids is so you can determine what is a fair price. Once you get a few estimates you will have a pretty good idea what it is going to cost. One thing you want to avoid is jumping on the lowest bid just because it is low. Painting is like most things in that you get what you pay for and you are better off paying a little more now than a lot more later. You don't want to be replacing door frames because they were not caulked.
• Use the Painter Source directory. You will see above this article that there is a yellow search box. This is where you can input your info to find a qualified painter in your area. It is fast and easy.
All of this might seem overwhelming but it should not be. You know your home the best. Painting the exterior of your house should be thought of in two ways. One, it's like insurance; it is getting a protective coat. The second is a little like a tune up. Over the course of resealing and painting, every inch of your home gets scrutinized and potential problems are found that may have been overlooked otherwise. Repainting the exterior of your home is one of the best things you can do for your home so make sure you find the right painting contractor for the job.
Here are a few thoughts to consider when looking to find a really good exterior house painter:
• Word of mouth. Ask your friends and neighbors who they have used and were they satisfied with the work. Was the price fair? Did they do a quality job? Did they make their deadline? This will give you a great list of painting contractors to contact. You will want to have a good pool of contractors before you call the first one. Remember though that just because your friend or neighbor had a good experience doesn't mean the painter is great. The job may have been easy, or it looks good but maybe not as good as it could have been, or maybe problems haven't surfaced yet. Make sure you do your due dilligence by checking references and comparing at least a few estimates from other painters.
• Don't be afraid to ask for bids. Have your potential contractors come out and give you an estimate or a bid (bids guarantee the contractor will finish a job at a given price). Don't be timid about asking more than one contractor. In competitive markets, they only expect to win a fraction of the bids they make.
• Be thorough in asking your questions. Will they re-caulk or re-glaze if needed? How do they handle damaged wood (usually window and door trim)? Do they just use wood putty or do they use “Bondo” putty too? In some applications, Bondo works better than wood putty. You may have heard the term “Bondo” in reference to fixing a wrecked car. Bondo is a brand name of body filler made by 3M, who also have a subdepartment of high quality painting products. Can they work around the plants or do some need to be trimmed? There are many more questions that you can ask as they apply to your house specifically and you should not be afraid of asking them or sharing your concerns. Find out specifically what they plan to do.
• Don't be too frightened by the price. One of the reasons you want multiple estimates or bids is so you can determine what is a fair price. Once you get a few estimates you will have a pretty good idea what it is going to cost. One thing you want to avoid is jumping on the lowest bid just because it is low. Painting is like most things in that you get what you pay for and you are better off paying a little more now than a lot more later. You don't want to be replacing door frames because they were not caulked.
• Use the Painter Source directory. You will see above this article that there is a yellow search box. This is where you can input your info to find a qualified painter in your area. It is fast and easy.
All of this might seem overwhelming but it should not be. You know your home the best. Painting the exterior of your house should be thought of in two ways. One, it's like insurance; it is getting a protective coat. The second is a little like a tune up. Over the course of resealing and painting, every inch of your home gets scrutinized and potential problems are found that may have been overlooked otherwise. Repainting the exterior of your home is one of the best things you can do for your home so make sure you find the right painting contractor for the job.