Before you hire anyone
Questions homeowners actually ask
The things that go wrong on painting jobs, answered plainly. Ask any
painter these, including us.
Getting a quote
Will I actually get the quote after the visit?
You get it in writing within [X days]. If we're not the right fit, we tell you that instead of going quiet.
Do you visit the house, or quote from satellite images?
We visit. Aerial images can't show rot, stucco cracks, chalking or mildew, and those decide whether the job lasts eight years or eighteen months.
What's written on the quote?
Every surface painted and not painted, coat count, the exact paint product and sheen, prep steps, repairs, start and end dates, and the price. If it isn't on the quote, it isn't in the job.
Is my job too small?
[YOUR MINIMUM — e.g. "We take projects from a single room upward."] Either way you'll hear it on the first call, not after taking a morning off work.
Should I just take the cheapest of three quotes?
Only if all three describe the same job. Compare coat count, paint product, prep steps and repairs. A bid thirty percent lower has usually dropped sanding, caulking, priming or the second coat.
Price and payment
Can the price go up after you start?
Not without your written approval, and never for something we could have seen at the estimate. If we find hidden rot or water damage we stop, photograph it, and price it separately for you to approve or decline.
How much do I pay upfront?
[YOUR DEPOSIT STRUCTURE] The balance is never due before your walk-through is finished. Avoid anyone wanting full payment in cash with no written agreement.
Do I pay extra if you come back to fix something?
No. Correcting our own work is never a billable visit.
How fast do refunds happen?
[e.g. "Within 10 business days, by the method you paid."] With written confirmation of the date it was issued.
Licensing and crew
How do I check a painter is licensed and insured?
Verify the licence number with Pinellas County and the Florida DBPR yourself, and have the insurance certificate sent directly by the agent. Without workers' comp, you can be liable if someone is hurt at your home.
Do you subcontract the work?
[ANSWER HONESTLY — employees, or vetted long-term subs, and how they're screened and insured.]
Will it be the same crew every day?
Yes, and you'll have the crew lead's name and number. Rotating crews are why nobody owns the quality and the punch list gets long.
Prep and quality
What prep is included?
Cleaning, scraping loose paint, scuff-sanding, filling and sanding flush, caulking, and spot-priming bare areas. Exteriors get pressure washing and mildew treatment. It's all itemised on your quote.
How many coats?
Two over properly primed surfaces, sometimes three for big colour changes. One coat over an existing colour shows through within months.
Will my furniture be covered, or just moved?
Moved and covered. Floors go wall to wall, switch plates and hardware come off rather than getting painted around, and blinds are stored properly.
Am I supposed to find the missed spots myself?
No. The crew lead inspects every room in daylight and fixes what's needed before you're ever asked to look.
Why does exterior paint peel here so fast?
Almost always prep, not paint. The best product on the market fails within months over a chalky, damp, mildewed or unprimed surface.
Schedule and finishing
Once you start, will you stay until it's done?
Yes. You get a start date and an end date in writing. We don't book a start we can't staff through to completion.
What happens if it rains?
Exterior work stops and you get revised dates the same day. Painting a damp surface in Florida causes blistering within a season.
What if I find a problem a week later?
Call and we come back. Some things only show once furniture is back and the light changes. Warranty terms: [YOUR WARRANTY], printed on the contract.