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Even An Experienced Exterior Painter Will Need More Than a Quick Walk Around Your House.

Professional Painters - There Is No Substitute

Consumer Reports – Tips For Hiring A Painter

  • Article credit: Consumerreports.org
  • Photo credit: Earl

Meet the pros. Consult with at least three different professional painters for your job. (Friends and family are good sources for references.) And be home for the initial meeting. That way, you can note how much time each contractor takes to assess the condition of your house. The longer it takes, the more realistic the estimate. Even an experienced exterior painter will need more than a quick walk around your house. Also ask each contractor about the size of his crew and their experience level.

State your expectations. The number of coats applied isn’t the only factor in determining the quality—and price—of the project. Preparation is also key. If you want a surface that’s free of unevenness from past paint jobs, tell the contractors—and be prepared to pay extra. But if you can live with some imperfections, agree on what level of prep is acceptable and what isn’t.

 

Get estimates. Seek a written estimate from each contractor. It should include a breakdown of labor, material costs, the number of coats of primer and paint, the brand and model of materials, and a detailed description of the amount of surface preparation that will be done.

Check references and examine past work. Get a list of references from each contractor and call them to find out about their experience with that contractor. A history of positive references is a good sign. Make sure to examine jobs from several years ago to see how each contractor’s work is holding up. And look at recent projects to check the skill of current crews.

Consider credentials. Membership in a trade or local business group isn’t a guarantee of quality work, but it shows a level of commitment and reliability. And verify whether the pro has the appropriate license(s). You’ll find the licensing information for your state at the Contractor’s License Reference Site. Check with the Better Business Bureau, the attorney general’s office in your state, or a local consumer-affairs agency to learn whether the contractor has a history of unresolved complaints.

Obtain a complete contract. Make sure this contract includes all key information: the contractor’s name, address, office and cell phone numbers, and license number, plus whatever details were in the estimate. Make sure the contract clearly states what is and isn’t included in the job.

Get a copy of the painter’s liability and workers compensation insurance certificates. If he doesn’t have coverage, you could be on the hook if, for example, the crew drops a ladder on your neighbor’s car or a crew member gets hurt on the job.

Ask for a guarantee. The painter should promise to correct any chipping, peeling, blistering, flaking, or excessive fading or chalking that occurs within two years after the job is done at no or little cost. If he tells you the paint itself has a warranty, remember that doesn’t include labor, which is a far more costly proposition than material.

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Michel Bourque
Michel Bourque
1732768880
We got Earl and his team to completely redo our main and upstairs level. Baseboards, window and door trims, as well as paint the entire house, kitchen and bathroom vanity’s. Him and his team showed up on time, completely masked the house in 3 days and completed the work in the time quoted. Very helpful with ideas and problem solving. Earl’s carpenter also came in to do the wood work around the house, also part of the quote with very competitive pricing (best price out of 3 quotes even with extra work added on). Will hire Earl for all my future inside and outside paint jobs. Thanks again guys, you did an incredible job.
Judy C
Judy C
1724282846
Earl and his crew did a great job painting the trim on our home. There were challenges in trying to reach the height in some very tight spaces, however Earl provided a solution that no-one else had identified that was efficient, effective and the job was done at a very fair price. We would highly recommend.
Jesus Fuenmayor
Jesus Fuenmayor
1723650246
Earl did a great job painting our place. We were on a rush since we wanted to get the place painted and the ceiling updated (we wanted to go from a popcorn texture to flat) before moving in and he did a great job accommodating time to finalize the job within the required time with an excellent result. I recommend his services 100%.
Thomas Stevens
Thomas Stevens
1722559995
Earl and his team did a phenomenal job painting our house. The team was professional, courteous, and completed the work in one day! Highly recommend Earl’s Paintworks for all of your painting needs!
Pamela Vigneault
Pamela Vigneault
1699856994
We hired Earl and his crew to paint the baseboards & walls of our basement. He is very good at answering emails and texts. Also is punctual when meeting for quotes and doing the work. I specifically wanted our baseboards lacquered and NOT brush or roller painted. It cost more, but the results speak for themselves. The basement was left clean and the furniture well covered. Great work from this company. Would recommend
Lorraine Townsend
Lorraine Townsend
1691341714
Recently Earl painted the exterior of our house. The structure was very challenging and needed an enormous amount of prep work. Earl and his crew showed up every day on time and went full tilt for 4 days to get all the prep and painting done. The paint was all brushed and rolled.They were very professional and it was obvious that they take pride in their work.I did have trouble deciding on the colours and after a couple of stressful months, I followed up with a colour consultant that Earl recommended. It was money well spent and we are very pleased with how it turned out.I would not hesitate to recommend Earl and his crew.
Warren
Warren
1676676301
Earl and his team helped me dramatically improve the interior of a recently purchased 1960 Bungalow. They prepped and painted the main level completely (ceiling, walls, windows, door jams, etc.) and did some painting in basement as well. Easy to work with from the start to finish. Great job, on time, and at a reasonable price. I highly recommend Earl’s Paintworks. I will most likely be using their services again soon!
Jenn Balderston
Jenn Balderston
1603046794
Earl is the best in the business! We hired Earl to paint the exterior of our 106 year-old heritage home that was in disrepair. Our house is a craftsman bungalow that required highly detailed workmanship. Because of the uniqueness of the house, and its heritage value, we were nervous to hire the job out to just anyone. We met with a number of companies and Earl's Paintworks stood tall above the rest. We loved that Earl was an owner/operator and knew after talking to him that he'd take great care with our beloved home. We weren't wrong! Earl and Jeremy were meticulous - sanding every nook and cranny to ensure a perfect finish that would stand the test of time. We wanted a tri-colour scheme to show off the home's craftsmanship, which required a lot of taping, cutting, and intricate work. Our neighbours would stop by to compliment Earl and Jeremy - blown away by the precision and quality of their work. Both my fiancé and I were sad to see them leave. Earl and Jeremy had become fast friends, always making time to stop and visit with us (despite putting in long days of hard labour). Couldn't recommend them enough! If you are looking for a painter, do yourself a favour, and stop here.
Julie Sontag
Julie Sontag
1594175437
We recently hired Earl's Paintworks to repaint the entire interior of a newly-purchased home and could not be more pleased with the quality of the work and exceptional service provided from start to finish. We were on a very tight timeline & Earl (the owner) and Jeremy showed up ready to work 30 minutes after we took possession of the house. They put in long hours to finish the job in only 8.5 days, despite the fact that it was a massive project (3 storey house with over 30 windows/doors to paint around and some 20ft ceilings). The care they took to cover our hardwood floors, carpeting and cabinetry was remarkable - not a drop of paint left anywhere it didn't belong.Earl was truly a pleasure to work with, responded to our questions in a timely & friendly fashion, and provided knowledgeable (and realistic) advice on different finishes and colour options. He even went above and beyond to point out some small repairs that needed to be addressed around the house which was helpful to us as new owners. We had 4 different companies quote on the job and chose Earl's Paintworks based on a gut feeling that Earl was the right choice. Very happy with our decision - so much so that we're hoping to have them back this summer to do the exterior of our house as well.We would recommend Earl's Paintworks to anyone without hesitation. If you're looking for a hardworking, locally-owned company to do an efficient, professional, super high quality job, this is it!
Ken Cheung
Ken Cheung
1592352771
We wanted the interior and doors repainted in our home in preparation for selling. We obtained a couple of quotes from painters. We ended up choosing Earl due to our positive interactions with him.This is a small but very professional company. It was good to work with a smaller company where the person painting your home is the actual owner and therefore, someone who took full responsibility for the work. Earl was very helpful with colour suggestions. He was easy to communicate with via both emails, phone calls and text. Earl was a perfectionist. He finished our 2 level 2000 sq ft home in about 6 full days. He came a few weeks later to do the exterior doors (garage and entry) when the weather was warmer.I would not hesitate to recommend Earl's Paintworks.
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