It’s Not About How Long A Contractor Has Been Painting, It’s About How Many Houses They’ve Painted

Some contractors have painted 20 houses. Some have painted 200, and some have painted 2000 -- or more. But all of those contractors might have been in business for the same length of time. "In business for 10 years" doesn't mean a lot if the exterior painting company you're considering only paints 20 houses per year.

When you want the best painters San Diego has to offer, you want a company that's established their business and has painted a lot of houses. So, how do you know what you're getting? Here's what you should consider, when you're looking for the right company for exterior or interior painting services.

Choose a Contractor Who Knows Their Job and Industry Well

To find a knowledgeable contractor, ask a lot of questions. And don't just accept the answers. Ask why the contractor feels their recommendation would be the best choice. For example, you can ask the contractor what type of paint and sheen you should be using on your exterior upper trim, and why. The contractor should recommend using high-end paint, because of the sun load on the trim.

Contractors Should Be Knowledgeable About Paint and Surfaces

If you're not completely confident that the contractor you're considering hiring for exterior or interior painting services has the knowledge to protect your unique home, ask them some technical paint questions. For example, you might ask if they use the same paint for baseboards and doors as they do for the walls. A good painter will use a much more durable paint such as a polyurethane alkyd enamel on the doors and baseboards, as opposed to the grade of paint necessary for the walls. This is because doors and baseboards receive a lot more foot and hand traffic, as opposed to walls, and so require a more durable paint. 

Fixing Issues is Part of a Contractor's Job

If you have areas of your home where the paint is damaged or peeling due to poor choices by previous painters, you'll be looking for the best painters San Diego has to offer in order to fix that. Fortunately, good painting contractors who have painted a lot of houses and seen all the issues that can arise can fix issues more easily than those with less experience.

Ask How Many Houses They've Actually Painted

It's always good to choose a contractor who has a lot of experience. If you're trying to find the best painters San Diego has to offer, look for a company that paints a lot of houses. The longer they've been in business, the better -- but only if that comes with painting houses frequently and consistently. Just being a licensed business isn't enough to show that they do a lot of work. The more houses they've painted, the better they'll be at getting yours done right.

So, What Are the Takeaways?

Takeaway 1: Remember that it's not about how many years someone's been a painting contractor. It's actually about how many different houses and unique projects they've come across. The more houses a contractor paints, the more experience they have under their belt and the better they can do the job you're asking of them.

They'll have seen single story and multi-story homes, along with wood, vinyl, and stucco sided homes. They will have been to high-end luxury properties in La Jolla, along with homes in serious disrepair in other locations. Some homes require spraying, while others need artists' brushes for fine lines and small details.

Repairing drywall, patching stucco, and prepping oil based paint will all be part of their experiences. Ask to see their portfolio, so you can get a picture of the variety of their work. If they've worked on something similar to your job, the pictures will show you how it turned out.

Takeaway 2: The more houses a contractor paints, the more different types of clients they run across. That makes it easier for them to do business with and communicate with all different types of people, many of whom have different expectations for the completion of their job. Each client has a unique set of expectations regarding how business should be done, which includes more than just the quality of the paint job.

The level of communication, etiquette on the job site, the level of communication, and other details can all matter, and can make or break whether you want to work with that contractor or choose someone else. A knowledgeable painting contractor will be aware of that, and will adjust the way they do things accordingly, so you can have a good experience with their company.

Takeaway 3: The more houses a contractor has painted during their career, the more likely they are to be able to answer your paint-tech related questions in detail. You want to work with someone who has a lot of product and service knowledge, so you can trust the contractor who's going to paint your house.

Some examples of questions you might want answers to include: what causes paint to chip and peel? When is primer necessary? And why is semi-gloss often used in bathrooms and kitchens? The better and more detailed the answers a painting contractor gives you, the more likely they are to do a thorough job, and the more comfortable you'll feel hiring them.

Select the Painting Contractor Who's Right for Your Needs

The bottom line with an interior or exterior painting company is that the company is only as good as its workers and the level of experience they have. If the company hasn't been in business as long as some others but the painters who work there have been in the industry for a long time, that may be a better choice than a company that looks more established but doesn't have painters with as much actual experience.

When you reach out to companies and ask questions, you can get a good idea of who has the kind of knowledge base you're looking for. Then you can have peace of mind that your painting job will be done right.