If you want to give your home a makeover but are on a budget, painting its interior is the most accessible and affordable way to go. Giving your few rooms a fresh shade of paint is enough to elevate the look of your home.
Before you get started, you have to decide if you are to do the painting work by yourself or if you should hire a pro. Let’s help you weigh both options;
Do It Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro Painter
After deciding that your home interior needs to be painted, the next big decision is whether you will do it yourself or hire a professional painter. Of course, there are pros and cons to taking either of the approaches, and it will depend on the circumstances you are in and the skills that you possess.
Painting your home interior is undoubtedly the most affordable way of the two. The only cost associated with this approach is to purchase paint and application materials needed for the job. You will only need to buy the paint if you already have rollers, painter’s tape, paint brushes, and paint trays. This will help you save a lot.
Prep work is the most time consuming tedious job of painting. If not done right your results will be less than desirable. Painting prep, not done right, will leave your walls with bumps, cracks, streaks, and brush lines. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly clean your walls to remove any grime or dirt on them. Also, you will need to fill in any cracks, holes, and gaps, to have an even surface. Another thing to do is to use painter’s tape to protect your baseboards and ceiling from paint splashes. Don’t forget to lay down tarps on the floor so you don’t drip paint on the floor.
What Type of Paint Do You Use?
Depending on the paint you have purchased, two coats may be enough to make your walls look smooth and shiny. Remember that the whole interior painting process can take a bit of time; thus, you must be patient. If you are impatient, this is not a task you should do yourself.
Also, you may find it hard to do it all by yourself if you have never painted. This is because some regions of your home will look better with specific colors than others. Also, different types of paints offer different shades and levels of coverage than others. There are many things about paints that you will need to know before embarking to paint your home yourself.
Hiring a painter to handle the job guarantees great, flawless results since they will use the best paint for each room. However, you are confident about getting the job done. In that case, you should speak to a sales associate in your local store or inquire about local interior painters before selecting your paint. They may advise on the right color to use for each room.
Overall, it would be best to decide whether you are up to the challenge of painting your home interior. While going the DIY way saves you money. Hiring a professional painting contractor will save you time and guarantee flawless results. Also, you can take a back seat and relax while the work is done.
Questions to Ask Professional Painters Before Hiring Them
Should I do any prep work before you come?
This is an excellent upfront question to ask to avoid the last-minute rush. Some contractors do not require you to do any preparation work, while others may ask you to move furniture or items from the walls. While this may not determine who to choose, it is good to know what you are expected of so you can prepare if needed.
What prep work will the company do?
As discussed earlier, prep work is vital to any thorough paint job. Knowing what your contractors will do is essential. Some companies will take shortcuts in a bid to cut costs. This can affect the longevity of the paint, whereby you will begin to see cracks and bubbling paint after some time. This means you will have to redo the project soon.
Prep work will include masking and taping. Filling in nail holes from wall decorations. Laying down tarps to cover your flooring. Depending on the size of the house and the damage it could be a full day or more.
What are the timelines?
If you would like to be at home when a project is being done, having an outline of the project’s time is essential to help you plan out your schedule. Typically it should take 3-5 days. That depends on the size of the house and what the project entails. I definantly shouldn’t take two weeks. Timelines also help you know when a project is completed for planning purposes. Your contractor will communicate if there are any hiccups in the timeframe that you agreed upon.
How many people will the company send to complete your project? Are they employees or contractors?
These may seem like a lot of questions, but they are important. It is essential to ask about the number of people assigned to your project for several reasons.
First, to know the number of people coming to your home. This is your safe space after all. Who wouldn’t need to know how many people are going to be there? Two, you will know whether or not your project will be completed in time. Expecting 4 painters and two show up means you’re getting less done than you expected. Contact the lead with any questions or concerns when they arise.
Knowing if the assigned people are working as employees or subcontractors is crucial. Working with company employees means they are dedicated to offering the best for the company for reputation. A subcontractor may have little touch with the company and thus might not care as much about the importance of the company. This is why it is essential to know who you are working with.
A company that cares about its reputation keeps employees that are respectful, skillful, and dedicated to their work. Also, employees are covered by insurance, whereas subcontractors, might not have insurance coverage.
How will you take care of the messes and keep my house clean?
Of course, accidents do happen, and it is essential to ask this question to ensure you are not the one who will do the cleanup processes. A professional painting company should promise to clean any messes they create and leave your house better than they found it.
Where will the company store supplies during the job?
Many people only remember to ask this question once the project starts and the mess is created. If the project is intended to take a few days, it doesn’t mean your everyday life should be interrupted.
For safety measures and to make your life easier, a professional company should be organized and leave their tools of work and paint cans assembled in one area.
Does the company have a customer care number to call if a problem arises?
Making sure there is a contact person you can call in case an issue arises is essential. Having the office number of the company you are working with will give you peace of mind. This helps with emergencies such as when you are not at home; you can call to reschedule instead of waiting for them to report to work to tell them.
What makes them stand out from others?
This is another way of asking why I should pick you over others. Many companies will give a generic answer to this question, and that’s fine. Finding a company you can trust will take time. You can read reviews on Yelp and Google. You can always ask your friends, family, and neighbors. It will truly come down to how you feel with a specific contractor. Always go with your gut feeling.
Do you offer any warranties?
Not every local painting company offers warranties, so you should ask for peace of mind. Most companies offer a 1-3 year warranty. And since you will begin to see issues with a paint job after one year, this is an excellent warranty to expect.
Ask what is covered and what is not covered in the warranty. Ask about a final walk though. Every company should do a final walk though after the job is done. This gives you and them the opportunity to touch up any missed spaces and be sure you are 100% satisfied with the job.
If you have made up your mind and decided to hire a professional painter, Wall Works is here for you. We have been providing professional home interior and exterior painting services since 2003. Wall Works has been in the home improvement industry since 1986 providing drywall repair. So we know a thing or two about your walls.
Why Should You Hire Us?
Here at Wall Works, we only use high-quality paint products to ensure that your walls look outstanding for longer. Our estimator will walk you through our interior painting process and give you the estimated cost of your project.
If you are searching for a residential painting company in Murrieta and Temecula, CA, look no further! Our painters are experienced and professional. We go the extra length to ensure that each room gets the right color and is painted to perfection.
We pride ourselves on our customer satisfaction and service. Being in the industry as long as we have we know how to treat our customers. Take a look at our reviews on Yelp and Google.
Our painting experience has given us the skills and knowledge to handle any wall, ceiling, trim, or surface of your home with great precision. With our painting expertise, experience, and premium-quality paint, we can make your home a great place to relax and entertain.
Therefore, do not hesitate to call us if you have any painting projects. We will be willing to discuss your interior painting costs and any other requirements needed for your project.
Give us a call today at 951-695-5588 or email us to schedule your free estimate.
