Why Hire a Professional?

Before you decide to hire the economy priced painter, a friend who is handy, or "do it yourself", here are important points to consider that suggest that price and inexperience may not provide you the best value.

Safety
Painting can be hazardous work, whether it’s working on a ladder or dealing with dust, paints and solvents. Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about these problems.

Health
If your home or business was built before 1978, it may have some lead-based paint in one or more of the older coats, which can cause serious health effects when it is scraped or sanded in preparation for repainting. Professional contractors will take appropriate steps to protect you. Painting contractors are required to furnish EPA-produced pamphlets to their residential customers and certain other customer types, before they begin a job that involves disturbing lead-based paint in or on a surface. Professional painting contractors will understand and be willing to follow the recommendations on this pamphlet.

Preparation & Painting
Getting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right.

Knowing Paints and How to Apply Them
The choices today are more complicated than just oil or latex, and professional contractors will know what works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job. Professional contractors utilize and partner with professional paint, coatings, and wallcovering suppliers.

Cleanup and Disposal
Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.

Always Verify the Contractor is Licensed and Insured
Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their license or business registration and copies of their current certificates of insurance. They should provide bonding information (if the job is large enough to require such) and documentation of safety training and compliance programs. Not all states and municipalities require licensing however business registration with your state and municipality is generally a minimum requirement. Spend a few minutes to verify the insurance and registrations are current by contacting the insurance broker and regulatory agencies.

Is Your Contractor Registered with the State of Pennsylvania?
In order to protect consumers from home improvement fraud, in 2008, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year in the state of PA to register with the Attorney General's Office. A list of registered consumers can be found on the PA Attorney General's website at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hicsearch/.

Written Contracts are a Must
Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted, methods and extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment procedures. Knowing the total scope of the work enables you to carefully evaluate the different bids you may receive with the proper information and keep them on a level playing field. The contract serves to protect both you and the contractor.

Invest Time in Verifying References
Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person, address, and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees treated you professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, some of the projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done. Discuss any guarantee or warranty programs the contractor may offer. Ask about the manufacturer's warranty on the products to be used on your project. Remember you are looking for long-term durability from the paint job. The use of high quality products is as important as the selection and performance of the contractor. Verifying references will provide a return on your project investment.

Is Your Contractor a PDCA Member?
Determine if your contractor is a member of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. It has been in existence since 1884 and has over 2500 members all over the United States of America, parts of Canada and in other countries. The focus of the association is the education of its members and the promotion of professionalism within the industry. Look for the PDCA logo on your contractor’s business card, bid sheets, or trucks. The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) offer many programs for the education of painting contractors. This education includes training in the area of safety, business management, technical areas of painting and surface preparation, and more. Quality painting and decorating contractors are well educated on the different aspects of any painting project and that knowledge helps eliminate surprises. Excellence in paint application is as important with your selection of a contractor as are the skills to properly manage their business and your project.

This article was adapted from the PDCA website.