Hiring a Painter?

Ron's Painting-Fort Myers will answer all your painting questions at 239-275-0425                     Are you asking the right questions when it comes to hiring a painter ?

                                    Exactly what questions should I be asking?

       Does a painter need to be licensed? In Fort Myers? Sanibel? Cape Coral? or even Bonita?

                                    That's a good start!     But.... there is more!

Ron's Painting-Fort Myers would like to help you with these questions and many more. In the thirty plus years that I have been painting, most of which I have been painting in Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva and Bonita, I have heard a lot of night mares homeowners have experienced with painters. This is why I have created this page to help educate homeowners on what to look for when hiring a painting contractor in Southwest Florida. It doesn't matter the size of your painting project, it is very important to get all of the facts before you commit yourself to a painting contractor to paint your Fort Myers area home. Some of the advice I have written can be used in hiring other types of contractors for different remodeling projects you also may have.  Some of this advice pertains to interior painting and some to exterior painting. This advice will help homeowners who live up north, but some of the advice given for exterior painting may only pertain to homes in warm climates like Southwest Florida.

Please don't hesitate to call Ron the owner of Ron's Painting with any other questions or concerns that you may have when it comes to hiring a painting contractor to paint your Southwest Florida home.  Ron would also like to have the opportunity to give you a complimentary estimate for your next painting project. He can be reached at 239-275-0425,

Hiring a painting contractor in Southwest Florida should involve more than just making a few phone calls and picking out colors. It is one of the most popular home improvement projects you can undertake, but it can be more difficult than you might think. After all, these painters will spend several days painting your home and working around all of your prized possessions. It pays to take some time to evaluate who will be doing this type of home improvement project. Homeowners should understand some of the consequences of hiring a unlicensed painting contractor. They can be left with dangerous, faulty, or unfinished work. The unlicensed painting contractor most likely doesn't have insurance. The homeower will be accountable for accidents on the job and damage resulting from the work. A professional painting contractor will take pride in their work and won't jeopardize their reputation by cutting corners and using inferior paints and materials. Before you hire a painting contractor, here are some things homeowners should take into consideration.

Did they show up on time for their appointment? If not did they call saying they would be late?
How long has the contractor been in business?
Does the painting contractor have the right license? Did you know that in Lee County you have to have been painting for another painter for at least 5 years before you can apply for a Painting Compentency License.
Does the contractor have a Painting Compentency License for Lee County, Sanibel, Cape Coral, Naples as required by law? Many contractors say they are licensed but work off an Occupational License which does not allow them to do painting.
Ask the Painting Contractor to show you there Compentency License for the city you live in. In Lee County the license should start out with the letters "PT" which stands for painting.
Did you know a Handyman or a Maintenance Man are not licensed to do painting, electrical, plumbing?
Does the contractor have Liability Insurance? Ask to see a copy of it.
Does the contractor have Workers Compensation on their employees. Ask to see a copy of it. If they do not show you a copy of it, go to your next choice for a painter. (Please click on this link) http://www.qualityservicepros.com/news/why-homeowners-should-always-demand-workers-comp-coverage/www.qualityservicepros.com/news/why-homeowners-should-always-demand-workers-comp-coverage/
Does the painting contractor do the work with their employees or just send a crew?
How long has the employees been working for the company? Days, Weeks or Years. This can make a difference in the quality of their work. Do they bounce from contractor to contractor, and why.
Does the painting contractor do a drug test or background test on employees before they are hired? After all they are going to be painting your home.
Does the contractor require a large depost before the work even begins?
When they give you a estimate for your painting project do they write down the price on the back of a business card, or do they give you a detailed estimate as to what is going to be painted and what is not going to be painted?
Have they told you what type and grade of paint they will be using on your home? Are the products premium grade or construction grade? This is one of the factors as to how often you may need to repaint you home.
Did you receive with your painting proposal a list of references that you may call?
What type of warranty are you going to receive with your new paint job?
Does the painting contractor offer a maintenace program for your exterior paint job to make it last?
What type of painting does the contractor specialize in? New construction, apartment repaints, or residential repaints. If it residential repaints they will be more familiar with how to move furniture and protecting your possessions from paint splatters. This will also determine the quality of their workmanship.
Do they have all the right equipment to do the job properly, efficiently, and safely?
Have they explained to you the application methods they will be using when applying the paint to your home? Please do not assume all painting contractors use the same methods.
What kind of preperation work does the painting contractor plan on doing for your interior painting project? On the interior do they move furniture? Have clean drop clothes that are just used for interior painting? Seal rooms while sanding to control dust? Vacuum floors before moving furniture back?
Is the contractor going to use the right enamel on my trim on the interior of my home? Latex vs Oil? Did you know if they use the wrong enamel the paint will peel off!
If your interior drywall needs cracks to be repaired are they skilled enough to fix it so the texture will match existing textures? Can you texture be matched?
Does the exterior of your home require a chalk sealer to seal in the chalky surfaces? What type of chalk sealer are they going to use? Did you know there are two different types that can be used and if the wrong one is used your top coat of paint will not stick.
Is the contractor low balling the bid just to get your business and not use a chalk sealer at all?
Have they told you how important color selection is when picking a color to paint the exterior of your home? Did you know that different paint colors fade differently? The color and grade of paint determines how quickly your paint job fade and last?
Is the painter certified to apply NeverFade Paint by APV Engineered Coatings?
How many days will your paint job take? Once they start will they be on your job everyday?
Do they pressure clean the exterior of your home for painting, and do they use bleach?
How do they protect your vegetation when they pressure clean?
Can my home be painted in one day? If they answer this question yes, you don't want them. Ron's Painting does't even start applying paint to the exterior of house until the third day on the job.
How long after the exterior of the house is patched and caulked do you start painting?
Will someone be able to help me with picking colors for my home?
What type of paint can I use on my pool deck? Xylene base or Acrylic? Will it stick?
When is a good time of year to seal my brick pavers?
How do you get the cloudiness out of the brick pavers has appeared since my pavers were last sealed?
Can I have the exterior of my house painted in the summer time in Florida? It rains every day in the summer! Should I wait till rainy season is over?
Can I paint my kitchen cabinets that are now formica? Are stained wood? What kind of primer should be used?

To check on a contractor to see if they are licensed to paint in Southwest Florida, here are some phone numbers to help you. Please ask if the contractor is licensed and if there are any complaints against them. Lee County 239-533-8895, Sanibel 239-472-8321, Cape Coral 239-574-0430.

Many times when homeowners are getting painting estimates they rely on the expertise of the painting contractor to guide them thru the different paint manufacturers and grades of paints. Most painters prefer a certain paint manufacturer and a certain grade of paint. It is not always in the best interest of the homeowner. Before you rely on your painter to guide you thru this process please visit the below links to help educate yourself on the different grades of paint. Depending on the grade of paint from each manufacturer it will determine how often you have to repaint. It can vary from 3 years to sometimes 12 years. At the top of each page is the best grades from each manufacturer.

Sherwin Williams Interior Paints
Sherwin Williams Exterior Paints
Glidden Paint Interior/Exterior Paint Products- "Click on Products"

I hope all of the above imformation has helped you. It is important for homeowners to be educated when it comes to hiring contractors in Southwest Florida. Another good resouce when looking for licensed and insured contractors is Quality Service Pro's. Please visit their website at www.qualityservicepros.com. They also have a e-book you can download on "10 things to should look for before hiring a contractor". Don't get scammed.

Please don't hesitate to call Ron the owner of Ron's Painting with any other questions or concerns that you may have when it comes to hiring a painting contractor to paint your Southwest Florida home. Ron would also like to have the chance to give you a complimentary estimate for your next painting project. He can be reached at 239-275-0425

Ron's Painting-Fort Myers has compiled a short list of important painting questions that you can print so you can compare your painting proposals. The form is a combination of both interior painting and exterior painting. This way you can compare three painting contractors depending on what your next painting project us. To go to the list to please click on "Contractor Comparison Questions for Painting" , then you can downloaded the form into your computer then print the form. I hope this painting comparison sheet will help you make a educated decision on hiring your next painting contractor when it comes to painting your Southwest Florida home. We at Ron's Painting-Fort Myers hope that you will consider us when it is time for your next painting project in Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva Island, Cape Coral, Bonita area's of Southwest Florida. Please call us at 239-275-0425 for a complimentary estimate.