What questions and information do I ask when hiring a painter?

1.What Kind of Guarantee or Warranty do you offer? Industry standards provide for a one-year limited warranty. We are very confident in our work and thus offer a two-year labor and material warranty. Elastomeric coatings used for stucco and masonry can receive from 5 to 10 year* manufacturer's labor and material warranties. (*Depends on painting procedures followed.)

2.Why Repaint the Exterior? Painting the exterior of your home or business will do more than simply create an attractive appearance. It will provide protection from the sun, the weather, and other environmental factors that can gradually damage your home or building and protect your investment. Important considerations are:
• Choosing attractive colors*
• Choosing correct types of paint
• Selecting proper applicators
• Proper surface preparation
• Following manufactuer's suggested application procedures
• Thorough clean up
*See 3 and 4: How do I Choose the Right Exterior Colors

3.How do I Choose the Right Exterior Colors? Whether you're painting your home for the first time or simply repainting it, you will want to carefully select exterior colors. Here are some points to remember when making your selection:
• Consider Neighboring Homes. You'll want yours to be compatible with those surrounding it and not exactly the same.
• Consider the area in which you live. For example, multi-color Victorians are appropriate in San Francisco, but would seem out of place in some other areas.
• On homes with unique architectural detail, use an additional color to emphasize them. To get ideas on colors to choose, look at actual homes, magazines, or go to a paint supplier's website to use the Virtual house painting wizard. (See Industry Links)
4.How do I Choose the Right Interior Colors? The following are some questions to consider when choosing colors for the interior of your home.
• How do you want the room to feel? We all react differently to color, depending on our associations with it. But it's always extremely powerful. Don't underestimate the effect it can have on your mood.
• How will the room be used? In a small space where you won't spend much time, such as a powder bath or entry, color can be much more dramatic.
• Will it be a day room or a night room? It is wise to paint test swatches on your walls and check them at the time of day when you plan to use the room. The quality of natural light changes considerably during the course of the day.
• What are the predominant colors of your furniture, upholstery, carpets, and artwork? Look to them for inspiration, but fight the impulse to match too exactly.
5.How do I Choose the Best Contractor? No matter who you award the contract to, here is a list of things that every reputable painting company should provide.
• Written estimate The scope of the contract should be clearly defined including areas to be finished, surface preparation, type of material, number of coats, and total project cost.
• How long has the company been in business? Statistics indicate that most contracting failures occur within the first five years of operation. Who will perform the work? Competency of personnel and quality of work is often questionable when completed by seasonal or part time employees or subcontracted painting companies.
• When is the job to be paid? When a contractor requests significant payment before work begins, it is usually a sign of insufficient credit or under capitalization. Either or both could lead to problems.
• Who did you speak with when you were first called? A personal response to your call assures you prompt attention to your needs now and in the future. Voicemail or message service cannot always produce the same results. Ask for the contractor's mobile number.
• Were references offered? References will help you determine the contractor's ability to perform.
• Is the contractor properly insured? If the contractor is not adequately insured, you risk having to insure the project yourself.
• Is the contractor properly licensed? It is illegal for a contractor to contract and receive payment for work without a license. A homeowner has no recourse against an unlicensed contractor with the State Contractors Board.
• What is the warranty on the project? Material and labor warranties which are longer than those mandated by law indicate confidence in the ability to perform as promised.

Article Resource:
George G. is sales manager for Painting Pros Chicago www.yournewpaint.com a Chicago residential painting contractor. I hope you found this article useful. When you need to paint your house, visit : http://yournewpaint.com/ , they are painting contractors based in Chicago.

How to Choose the Right Color for your House

How To Choose The Right Color For Your House

When it comes to decorating, choosing paint color can really be a challenge. www.yournewpaint.com a Chicago residential painting contractor “there are so many choices you're bound to find the right one, you may end up feeling that there are so many choices you don't know where to start.” Many times people choose a unattractive color or too dark trying to be trendy and bold!

The tips here will really help you if you feel stumped by this important choice.

Be Patient
It's great to collect paint chips when planning a room, but hold off making final choices until you've developed an overall room scheme. Paint is available in literally an infinite array of colors and is the most versatile element of your room decor, the easiest to change, and the least expensive. Get ideas but make the final decision after rugs, wallpaper, and fabrics are finalized.

Coordinate Decorating Samples
When you go shopping, you'll need to refer to your fabric, carpet, tile, wallpaper, and trim samples constantly. Be sure to take everything with you wherever you go. No telling where you might see something wonderful.

Really Study the Colors
You'll find clues about the underlying tones of different shades of a color on a full sample strip of coordinated colors. Even if you're not even considering using a darker tone, look at all the colors carefully. Decide if the family of colors is the direction you're headed with your color selection.

Tried and True Formula for Colors
If you're working with a print fabric, you'll probably be happier if you select the coordinating wall paint color from the background of the print. Use the deeper or brighter tones for accents throughout the room or adjacent spaces

Trim it Out
More often than not, you'll select a shade of white or off-white for the moldings, doors, and windows. If you're feeling brave, consider the palest shade of color to coordinate with the walls. For a really striking look, try lighter walls and dark tones or bright color for trim.

Choose the Paint Finish for the Job
Consider which paint finish might be best for your project. Matte or flat finishes hide wall imperfections, but glossier finishes will reflect more light.

Here we will learn how to choose a color scheme

Follow this simple how-to to help you choose a color scheme for your home. Learn to mix colors and fabrics and how to repeat color throughout the room. Read some of the principles of decorating and learn how to use coordinating fabrics and dressmaker details.

1. First, choose a style (formal or casual) and a theme for your room (such as American country, English garden, techno modern).
2. With the style and theme in mind, decide on an 'anchor' fabric that has 3 or more colors.
3. Use the background color from the fabric as a wall color.
4. Pick a mid-toned color from the fabric for flooring and large furniture pieces, which could be a solid or patterned design. Upholstery can also be done in your anchor fabric or coordinating fabric.
5. Use the brightest colors from the fabric for accessories and accents like welting, picture mats, and decorative pillows.
6. Place your anchor fabric in at least three places in the room (upholstery, pillows, curtains, etc).
7. Use coordinating fabrics in other scales (larger or smaller) as accent fabrics on chairs, pillows, cording, and tablecloths.
8. For example, to use an 'anchor' fabric with an American flag design: use white (the background color) for walls, navy (a mid-toned color) on floor, blue and white ticking on the sofa, and red (the brightest color) for accessories and accents.
9. To continue this example, the coordinated prints could be the blue and white ticking stripe, a navy star print fabric, and a red and white mini-check used on chairs, curtains, and pillows.

Tips:

1. Repeat colors evenly throughout the room, and in at least 3 places.
2. Adding dressmaker details in cording and trims is one way to disperse color and add interest.
3. Divide color use to approximately 60% of the room in the background (lightest) color, 30% in the mid-tone color, and 10% in the brightest, accent colors.

Bio box:

George G. Manager with Painting Pros of www.yournewpaint.com a residential painting contractor.

I hope you found this article useful. When you need to paint your house,

visit : http://yournewpaint.com/ , they are painting contractors based in Chicago.

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Painting contractor, color painting, house painting, residential painting

Summary:

Follow this simple how-to to help you choose a color scheme for your home. While you may feel that there are so many choices you're bound to find the right one, you may end up feeling that there are so many choices you don't know where to start!

Article Resource:
George G. is sales manager for Painting Pros Chicago www.yournewpaint.com a Chicago residential painting contractor. I hope you found this article useful. When you need to paint your house, visit : http://yournewpaint.com/ , they are painting contractors based in Chicago.