Before deciding whether to hire a painter or tackle a project yourself, consider a few key questions: What quality of work can you achieve? How much time will it take? Do you have the necessary equipment, and if not, what will it cost to acquire it? For insight into professional standards, explore our Interior Painting Services and Exterior Painting Services.
Essential Equipment And Materials
A Basic Painting Job Reqiures:
- drop sheets and protective plastic
- roller cages and poles, roller sleeves, trays and liners
- brushes, brush buckets and liners
- painters tape
- dust masks or respirators
- sandpaper and sanding poles
- caulking and filler and application tools
- primer or a special sealant as needed
- paint and the time to do the research for the right products
- ladders, including specialty ladders for stairwells or tight access
Professional painters arrive fully equipped with everything they need. They purchase paint and materials at contractor rates, often far cheaper than retail. Factor in time, effort, and cost when deciding whether to DIY.
Painting Knowledge And Experience
A professional contractor knows how to properly prep surfaces for a durable, long-lasting finish. They can identify hidden issues that a homeowner may overlook and apply the correct techniques, paint types, and finishes for your project.
Quality Of The Work
Can you achieve the high quality of a professional painter? Experience is crucial to ensure clean cut-ins and even roller coverage for visually appealing surfaces. Inexperience often leads to wobbly lines, uneven finishes and paint overlapping into trim or ceilings. Professionals bring tricks of the trade and skillful methods to reach tight or difficult areas.
Clean Up
Hiring a professional means you don’t have to worry about cleaning up. Floors and surfaces should be left free of dust and debris. Garbage and empty paint cans are removed, recycled, and disposed of. Work is completed with minimal disruption to your household.
Time And Efficiency
What can seem like an insurmountable task to a homeowner can be completed quickly and efficiently by a professional painter. Even if you can achieve a decent result, do you want a task that should take days to stretch into weeks – eating up your weekends or time off. Hiring pros lets you focus on what you enjoy while they handle the painting.
Safety
Many painting projects require tall ladders or specialty equipment. It’s not worth risking your safety if you’re not confident and comfortable using ladders. Leave this work to an experienced painting contractor who is trained and experienced in these conditions, minimizing risk and ensuring safety.
