F.A.Q.
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: We've booked you to paint for us; what do you need from us to get ready?
A: This is the most common question, especially for people who have never hired a painter.
A painter's ideal job is an empty house with no floors to worry about, perfectly pristine walls and nothing to have to negotiate around. Since we don't live in an ideal world, here's some things you can do to ensure I'm able to get in, get the job done, and get out of your hair in a timely manner:
* I basically need reasonable access to the walls. It would be appreciated if best efforts could be made to put all furniture into the centre of the rooms to be painted. A minimum of about the width of a ladder is a good rule of thumb. I do not want to be responsible for moving your valuables, such as tvs, computers, china cabinets, grand pianos etc. I have tarps and plastic sheeting to cover any furniture/flooring that may need to be protected.
* Art, mirrors, etc should be removed from walls. If you plan on rehanging something you can leave the nail/screw in place and I'll know not to patch it and will paint around it. Otherwise I will patch any holes I come across.
* Curtains and/or blinds that may be obstructing the area to be painted (walls, trim or window casings) should also be removed. Some of those things can be very tricky and time consuming to remove if you're not familiar with them.
* Basically the more prep that can be done ahead of time, the quicker I can get to what I do best, which is painting, and the quicker I can leave you with the result you were hoping for. While not mandatory, it's quite helpful if light switch plates and outlet covers are removed in order to save time.
* Also as a general rule it's important to keep in mind that I am a painter, not a mover, a maid, an electrician, or a decorator. I am more than happy to do little favours here and there without 'nickel and diming' my customer, but any substantial additions to the job may result in a need to adjust the quote accordingly. This of course would be discussed as I never have any surprise added costs.
* No need to move fridges or stoves out if I'm painting your kitchen. They'll just be in the way and I can move them in and out as needed to paint behind them.
Q: I have pets. Do I need to keep them away from the areas to be painted?
A: Yes please, if possible. Paint and pets don't generally mix well, so if they can be kept out of the rooms that are to be painted, that would be ideal.
Q: Do you do two coats of paint?
A: Yes, I always do two coats, minimum. In order to achieve adequate coverage, even with the high quality paint that I use, you must always do two coats. Some people find it hard to believe I can do two coats in the time I've allotted for the job, but I take this as a compliment. When you do it every day and use the right tools, painting is a piece of cake and can actually be quite relaxing, believe it or not.
Q: What if I find you missed a spot or if I'm less than totally satisfied with the work after you're done?
A: I stand by my work, and I tell all my clients that I'm happy to come back in case I've missed a spot or if some touch-ups are required. There is no charge for me to come back and make sure the job is done to the client's satisfaction. Most of my work is from word-of-mouth referrals, so it does me no good to have an unhappy customer.
Q: What kind of paint do you use?
A: Most often, I use Dulux's Lifemaster brand paint. http://www.dulux.ca/en/our-products/paint-products/interior-paints/dulux-lifemaster.html It's excellent stuff. I've used it on million dollars mansions as well as our own little house. It retails for around $75 - $80 a gallon, but I get it at a discount.
Q: I have chosen my colours, but they're not from the Dulux line. Can you colour match?
A: All the major paint stores can colour match and have all the competitions' colours on their databases. Colour matching is no problem.
Q: Do you do wallpaper?
A: No. I tried it once for my mother-in-law years ago with no promises due to my lack of experience with it, and yet was initially thrilled with my professional looking results, until I returned to the room about an hour later and all of the wallpaper was on the floor. I called it floorpaper and never looked back.
Q: Do you remove wallpaper?
A: Yes I do, and I have a wallpaper steamer to help get the job done.