The Paint Pit Blog: Interior & Exterior Paint Pointers

[#1]

One of the most frequent questions DIYers ask at The Paint Pit is, "shouldn't I just hire a painter?"

I most often answer NO! And include this summary of the cost.

The largest cost associated with painting is not the cost of the paint (usually 15 percent), but rather is the cost of labor (usually 85 percent).

What this means is the average DIYer will save 85 percent of the estimated cost of painting a room if they do the job themselves.

The trick for inexperienced DIYers is not to strike out on their own and create new and different methods of painting ... though I really love creative solutions. Their best resource includes forums like this and manufacturers' sites where simple, detailed instruction will give the "best practice" for applying products.

Painting is one of the easiest ways to give your home or office a facelift.

When I walk into a freshly painted room, it feels like "new" space.

So, DIY!

And then, take yourself out for dinner with the money you save!!!

[#2]

 I would certainly agree that the material costs of a paint job are only a few percentage points of the quoted dollar amount. However, there are many other cost that must be factored in:

How much is the homeowners time worth, especially if he is self-employed? If he can make as much or more than the contractors per hour bid, he is better off doing what he does best and let the contractor do what he does best. They are both better off!

How much is the homeowners well being worth? I have a pediatrician brother who decided to paint his own house one summer. He fell off the roof and shattered his ankle. Six months later he got to go back to doctoring. False economy!

What equipment does the homeowner really need? What does it cost to buy or rent? Sure, a few pans and rollers don't cost too much, but how much does the purchase or rental of ladders neccessary to reach the second story of a house cost? How much does the scaffolding neccessary to get up to the ceiling of an 18foot lofted ceiling cost to rent for several days? What does enough dropcloths to totally cover that livng room cost? What does it cost to replace the italian leather sofa that got nailed with the falling paint? I contractor will ( or should) liability and workman's comp insurance.

If you should hire the kid down the block to help you and he is injured on your house, YOU ARE LIABLE. You are also liable if your "contractor" does not have Workman's Comp insurance. Even if the neighbor helps you for free, there is liability. It behooves the homeowner to ask for Certificates of Insurance from his contractor! If he can't ,or won't produce it, get another one!  Don't accept his word for it!

How good is the homeowner working at 20 feet or more in the air? Brushes on the end of 20 foot extension poles just don't hack it! It doesn't hack it for pros either. If your "contractor" isn't getting his nose up to the surface being worked upon, he isn't doing a good paint job either!

These are just a few musings of an ol' contractor. I am a realist, however. The average young family trying to make a go of it on 40 or 50 K a year is in no position to hire a painter. My average customer was into his middle years, probably close to his maximum earning years and was finally in a position to say "I don't want to do this anymore!"

[#3]

DIY ... Do It Yourself is one of several segments served by The Home Depot.

In an effort to provide customer service to this audience, The Home Depot goes to great lengths to train and deploy associates with a wealth of product knowledge.

Associates who have detailed experience in their product area are referred by other associates and sought by contractors and pros for their advice.

In my current customer base, I have helped more than twenty-five former DIYers cross the threshold and become pros.

Enabling all of my customers to be confident enough to DIY and save on their own projects or to select the correct product and make a living by selling pro services to their customers is the most essential part of what I do for The Home Depot!

My sole reason for being there ... Customer Service, Product Knowledge, and ensuring my customers understand their product options and ultimately have success using the products they choose!

I'm thrilled to see my customers grow successful businesses, but I'm just as thrilled to help a DIYer save enough on a paint project that they can afford new appliances, granite countertops, or whole-house carpet.

NOTE: One of our product experts on The Community, GardenGail, tags her posts, "Can't Never Could Do Anything."

My ultimate job is to remove the "Can't" from all of my customers' vocabulary!

AFTERTHOUGHT: If you take time to read my posts, you will periodically see a recommendation to hire a contractor. This is not a global recommendation, but is based upon carefully listening to my customers' concerns and judiciously acting to ensure not only their success but also their safety and well-being. It is a complex mix!!!