Parnell Painting, Nanaimo B.C.

What kind of paint products do you use?

We only use paints and materials from companies that have top quality products. Our products come from paint manufacturers (paint stores) whos main focus is in paint technology. This ensures we have quality materials from suppliers who back up their products. The exact type of paint used will be determined once we evaluate the surfaces being painted.  The manufacturers we normally deal with are Cloverdale Paint, General Paint and Benjamin Moore.  We use the top quality line of paint each of these companies has to offer. If you have a personal preference we can accommodate for it in our estimate.

Paints are evaluated on many properties (hiding, coverage, burnish resistance, flow & leveling, stain resistance, adhesion over various surfaces, etc.) Each paint product has its own particular balance of properties, and to say which is the best quality depends on what perspective you are looking at the paint. In general, you won’t go wrong choosing a top-line product from a quality paint manufacturer. Feel free to chose your colours from any paint source, we can have them matched into a quality formula from one of the companies we use.

I have a few estimates from different painters for my home. Why are there drastic price variations?

Attention to detail and the time taken to do the preparation work is usually the main reason for a price variance.  The steps taken to prepare surfaces before painting are an important part of the job. Some projects may require a great deal of preparation work, it can often take much longer than the actual painting.

It’s very important that your estimate is detailed and gives a full description of what work is going to be done. In addition to preparation, check to see how many coats of paint are going to be applied. There are very few cases where applying one coat of paint is sufficient.  We will always state this in our written estimate how many coats are going to be applied to each surface. Other factors may be the experience of the painter, or how long they have been in business, who they are using to do their labour and the paint product being used.

I Am Building My Own Home Or Having One Built For Me, Can I Get An Estimate From You?

Yes, it is not always a builder we are contacted by when it comes to new construction. Sometimes a home owner is building their own home, or is acting as the general contractor and getting the quotes directly from the trades people. We can give an estimate during any stage of the building process, whether it is from a blue print or house that is already framed. Contact us to find out our process for new construction painting and what information we will require from you.

Does someone have to be at home during the painting?

No, this is not necessary. We can arrange to be at your home before you leave for work, or leave us a key. However, we realize that some customers are not comfortable with leaving people in their home unattended. Even though we have never had a problem with our trustworthiness, please feel free to do what ever you are most comfortable with.

Can you do drywall repair or fix water stains?

We can do minor drywall repair and patching. What is minor? Small holes, bumps, scratches, and dents such as from furniture hitting the walls. We don’t do major repairs where pieces of drywall need to be cut out and replaced. We leave this up to the drywall professionals. If the cause of a water stain has been dealt with, we can seal the area before we paint. Extensive water damage may mean the drywall has to be replaced.

Do you paint textured ceilings?

Yes we do. We will need to determine whether the ceiling has ever been painted before. This will determine what kind of product we need to use.

I have dark wood paneling in my home. Can it be painted?

Absolutely. It may have to be washed with a solution first. We will use a special primer and then two coats of a paint that has high adhesion properties. It dramatically changes the look of a room to introduce a paint colour to the wood paneling.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept payment by cash or cheque. Payment is due upon completion of the work. A written invoice/receipt will be issued to you. Sorry, we do not currently accept credit cards. We will be looking at this option for the future.

Our house needs painting, but our budget does not allow us to do it all at once. What can we do?

A good place to start is a room that is used most frequently, or on a daily basis. This will provide you and your family with a room you can spend time in and enjoy. You can work from this room to create a colour scheme for the rest of your house in the future. This can be a good way to see how you like a certain colour before committing to painting it throughout your home.

I’m selling my house, if I can’t have it all painted which areas will make the biggest impact?

• A freshly painted front door and/or the foyer area will create a pleasing welcome
• Any areas that appear dingy or look like they are in need of painting
• Areas of the home with bold colours that may not appeal to the majority of home buyers, as well as children’s rooms that have had personal decorating or applications put on the walls
• Spaces with trendy or dramatic faux finishing
• Rooms with extremely outdated colours
• any areas of the exterior that look badly weathered or have peeling or chipping paint

What finish is the best?

This depends on the room and what it’s intended use is. We can advise you on this when the property is viewed during the estimate. It also depends on the look you prefer seeing. Some people like the look of a more matte finish while some prefer a shinier one.

In general, the more gloss a paint has, the easier it is to clean. However, there are high quality paints available now that have a more matte finish but also have excellent durability and can stand up to washing and rooms of high humidity. The flatter a paint finish the more it is possible to hide flaws and unevenness in older walls, but the finish does tend to get damaged more easily. See our article on Paint Sheens.

How often should the exterior of my home be painted?

There is no set rule for this. It is not a good idea to wait until signs of stress have started, such as peeling, cracking, harsh fading or exposure of wood.

Five years might be a very general estimate. Some areas of a home exposed to a lot of moisture or harsh long hours of sunlight may need painting more often. Other areas may be able to hold out beyond five years. Do a yearly inspection of your home. See if any areas of concern have become visible. Remember that paint is not just for aesthetics, it provides protection as well. Don’t forget about your fencing and sheds, if you don’t keep up with re-painting and staining, they will be exposed to the elements. See our article on How To Save Money On Painting Costs.

I have a very small paint job that needs to be done. Is it too small for you to do?

No, not at all. We will gladly accept small jobs. Feel free to contact us for an estimate.

Are there more environmentally friendly options for painting?

Yes there are. Paint manufacturers are coming out with new paints all the time that are more Eco-friendly. They have paints available with lower or no levels of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). These are released into the air as paint is drying. Oil paint is much worse than latex paint in this respect.

Some people still have the belief that latex paint is not as durable or washable as oil paint. This was the case 20 years ago, but paint technology has greatly improved since that time. Latex products are better when it comes to their ability to shrink, expand and accommodate changes in temperature. They are much less likely to crack or peel. They can have just as durable a finish as oil. There is no doubt that the paint industry will eventually phase out most oil based paint products. The use of oil paints have already been restricted in some areas.

What do I do with leftover paint I don’t need?

In the Nanaimo area you can take your left over paint to the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange located on Kenworth Road. Check out their website http://www.recycling.bc.ca/ to see the requirements for what they will accept.

How do I store paint?

If you store paint properly it will keep fresh so you can use it for occasional touch ups. So you can properly identify the paint in the future don’t forget to mark it. Write down which rooms were painted with it and which surfaces it was used for. It is best to put a small dab of colour on the top of the lid. Make sure the colour name number or code is written on the can as well.

Paint should be stored in a dry place. Keep cans off of concrete floors or the ground, so they do not absorb moisture and rust. It is best stored in a cool area, away from direct sunlight or heat sources. Never allow paint to freeze.

Wipe clean the paint grove or rim before closing the can so the lid fits tight and keeps air out. Don’t hammer the lid directly you may distort it allowing air to get in. Use a rubber mallet or place a block of wood over the can and hammer the wood to set the lid in place.

When it is time to use the paint again, check to see if a skin has formed on the top. If there is one, carefully remove it so you don’t end up with pieces of it in your paint. If necessary a nylon stocking can always be used to strain the paint, or a specific paint straining sack can be purchased from a full service paint store.