Opinions and Articles

Is Hiring a Student Painting Company Right for You?

As spring nears, the student based painting companies begin to pop out of the woodwork, and it seems like 1 out of 10 houses on your block has hired them. Why is that? And should you make the same choice?
Working for these companies was our starting point over 12 years ago, and since then Brothers’ Painting has been modeled after compensating for many procedural and quality related deficits faced when hiring these companies. If you care to listen to more of our “educated opinion”, please consider the following points before hiring one of these many companies:

Experience There is a high turnover rate of employees in these companies, both laborers and managers. This makes sense as students are really only looking for a job for 2-4 months over the summer.
Procedure It may be satisfying to see the final product, but do you know how it was done, and what is underneath that coat of paint? In painting, surface preparation is 80-90% of the job, and if done incorrectly, will mean that top coat of paint you see is nothing but a nice looking color – providing no protection or abrasion resistance to what is underneath. Brothers’ Painting only accepts work for which we are well skilled in the preparation techniques that we have gained through personal experience and research.

Price We can’t deny that a student painting company will more often than not quote a cheaper price for your painting project. Many home and business owners are ok with this, as the final look of a painting project can appear similar from one company to another. Their quoting rubrics seem fair and precise. However, a professional painter produces a quote based on the ability to see what needs to be done, and predict the unseen issues that will need to be addressed. As well, they spend the time needed to produce an interior or exterior job that lasts longer. You may spend more, but the result will be a job that looks great on the outside, and has been done correctly from step one; it will protect that which it covers.

Middle Men The cheaper price you are paying is being split among more people: manager, foreman, laborers, company. Therefore, those directly working on your home are getting a lower wage and are often less motivated to produce a great job than to work faster to move on to the next one. Brothers’ Painting is a small company, in which all of its employees also own the company. This means we are able to work at a more reasonable pace to produce quality, and we are also working for pride in our company.

Products Professionals have detailed knowledge on products for all surfaces, inside and outside your home or business. Inside, this means you will get the finish and durability that you want. Outside, it means you will get products to suit the many variables that must be dealt with – moisture, surface temperature, surface condition and age, sunlight exposure, surface type, color, etc. For all of these things, many different products will need to be used, and a paint professional with his or her business at stake will always use the best.

We would recommend hiring one of these student based companies if you are on a tight budget and your only other choice is not painting at all. Our advice is that you get more than one quote – and judge the quotes on more than just price (see our article below). Make sure you trust the students and foreman working on your property.
We have yet to see a student drywall, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, or interior design company. So why is painting so different? Find expertise and knowledge in someone you can trust. Give us a try, let us provide you with a free quote!

How to Judge a Quote

Here are some tips and things to consider when evaluating companies for your next project:
Communication: How well has the individual representing the company kept in communication with you? Have email/phone conversations been satisfying? Consider how the in-person meeting was, and how friendly or honest the contractor was. This is a good indication of how communication will proceed when work commences. NEVER accept a quote over the phone!
Quote Appearance/Detail: Is the paper/electronic copy of your quote neat and tidy and professional looking, or scratched on some paper? This quote should be extremely detailed, outlining the products to be used, and the methods to use them. Be concerned about specifics, so you can be sure of what your contractor will be doing when they arrive at your home/business. The quote should provide you with a time frame for the work, as well as a good indication of who will be doing the work. Many people who quote the work don’t actually show up for the job! The quote should provide some detail as to how the company operates in/around your home or business – clean up procedures, flexibility in schedule to fit your needs, etc. You CANNOT have to much detail, and do not feel it is out of your place to comment or ask hard hitting questions after you have read the quote. Detail in a quote and contract protects you, not allowing the contractor to back out or change things that were agreed to. So – DETAIL!
Price: Often, this is the first (and sometimes only) stipulation home and business owners seem to care about when viewing a quote. Are you receiving a “quote” or an “estimate”? A quote usually implies price will not change unless work is added or changed by the customer. An estimate implies that the price will most likely change, slightly or dramatically, as new information is gathered during the job and work needs to change. Some professions have to give estimates because variables fluctuate so quickly as work progresses, and labor hours and materials therefore need to change. Ask your contractor what his price implies in this case. In painting, a quote should be sufficient. If work changes, it is mainly the customer who chooses to do so, therefore changing the price. But do not be surprised if your painter discovers variables along the way not evident during the quote that requires more funds. This seldom happens, ban can nonetheless. We all want to save money, but try and judge the price based on your evaluation of the trustworthiness/communication skills of the contractor, as well as the detail of the quote and the quality you believe it will result in. In most cases, the lower price would result in something not worth paying for in the first place. Like in most purchases, you pay more, you get more – so learn from your contractor and his quote/estimate what his/her business can do for you!

We offer free, extremely detailed quotes – done in your home/business at your convenience. Contact us for yours now!

Spraying VS Brushing and Rolling

Spraying
Where It Is Commonly Used: New Construction, Trim/Doors/Windows, Cabinetry, Built Ins, Stair Railings or other Complicated installations, Application of product to walls, Ceilings
Not Commonly Used: Stucco (especially exterior), Uneven surfaces, Previously rolled surfaces where one expects a smooth sprayed finish look.
Pros:
- Spraying can provide a very smooth finish, which is why it is used on show pieces such as built ins, doors, and cabinetry. This smooth finish can provide durability, as well as be more aesthetically appealing than some rolled finishes.
- On average, spraying will use less product to cover a surface than rolling will. This is because spraying puts the product on extremely evenly, whereas a roller will distribute the paint or coating slightly unevenly.
- One all preparation is done, spraying will cover surfaces much faster than rolling will. As an added bonus, spraying also allows one to cover hard to reach areas (inside cupboards, railing spindles, etc) and still apply product evenly by the hand of an experienced sprayer.
Cons
- Preperation must me meticulous before spraying. Due to the fine, smooth finish, any imperfections on the surface will show through the final coat. Dust and other materials must be completely removed from the surface, as sprayed products may have more problems bonding to a surface than those rolled on with force. Areas not to be painted must be taped and plasticed off, which can take 80% of time needed to spray a job.
- Spraying requires materials and tools that the average homeowner does not have, and would cost a lot to rent or purchase. Many desirable results can be had by using aerosol cans for small projects. However, it does take practice and expert knowledge (and initial time!) to execute a mid to large size spraying job.

Brushing and Rolling
Common Uses: Repaints (older homes or previously painted surfaces – walls, doors, trim), Stucco surfaces (especially exterior), Floors (garage, decks), Fences, Exterior Wood
Not Commonly Used: Where even small amounts of visible texture are not desired, Where past drying products are used (lacquers, industrial products, Large surfaces where it would not be feasible to roll (Exterior of large buildings, Factory and warehouse ceilings, etc)
Pros
- Rolling and brushing paint on surfaces is the most common method for homeowners because, while practice makes perfect, it is a method that anyone can learn and do for themselves. Materials and tools are much more affordable than spraying.
- Brushing and rolling works the product onto or deep into the substrate – which is a fancy word for the material you are painting. This is important when the surface in uneven or porous. Wood for example, when being stained, will most likely benefit from an application technique where the paint is more “pushed” in to is, such as rolling or wiping. Stucco, especially on an exterior where paint is applied to protect it, should be rolled to ensure the paint completely surrounds the texture, and does not just sit on top for aesthetic effect.
- Preperation is always the most important part of any painting, but is slightly less for rolling. Rolling provides a small amount of texture which can cover small imperfections on large surfaces. While spraying atomizes paint that can get on other surfaces all around a house or surrounding area, rolling and brushing usually simply requires a few drop sheets and taping to protect other surfaces.
Cons
- Even when a fine roller is used, a small amount of product texture will most likely be observed. On a wall, cabinet door, or piece of trim, small (but evenly distributed) texture will always accompany rolling.
- When compared with spraying, more product is needed to cover the surface. Because rolling puts product on slightly unevenly, a larger amount of product is needed to result in full color coverage and full protection in most cases.
- Rolling and brushing surfaces usually takes more time than spraying. This ratio gets more observable the larger the job is.

Bottom Line
Spraying: Costs more, usually looks better, applies paint faster, takes practice or hiring of an expert!
Rolling and Brushing: Economical, easier method to learn and “do-it-yourself”, Possible to easily fix mistakes if made.

Oh, The Horrors of Silicone!

More often than not, if a homeowner is looking to seal a gap around a sink or tub, a tile backsplash or counter top, or a bathroom vanity, they will turn to silicone. Well, before you do… consider the following: There is NO truly effective way to paint over silicone. Silicone does last longer than most types of caulking. However, there are some significant downsides to using silicone.

First, silicone may last longer chemically, but once silicone has cured, it doesn’t always stand up to certain specific stresses. This is because silicone does not bond to some common household surfaces. Stainless steel, glass, and porcelain are examples of surfaces where silicone will not easily bond. In these situations everyday scrubbing and wiping will easily loosen or break down the silicone over time.

Second, the clean-up of 100% silicone products can be full of difficulty. When wet, silicone will not fully wash off with water, and only some harsh solvents will be of assistance. When dry, the task becomes more troublesome, as solvents will seldom be of any use; from this point clean-up is relegated to tools such as scrapers, knives, and sandpaper.

Finally, silicone has a chemical nature which keeps the vast majority of paint from sticking to it. Oil or latex, household paints will typically bead up on the surface and easily flake away when dry. Also, due to the hyper-flexibility of silicone, even if paint does not bead up on the surface, slight bumps will cause the paint to flake away over time. From our experience there are only a select couple of shellac-based primers which will bond to silicone; but, since paint is only as good as whatever substrate upon which it has been applied, paint which is not designed to flex once it has cured will inevitably crack and flake away from a flexible substrate. Furthermore, many tapes won’t stick to silicone, so finishing with a nice straight line is nearly impossible. Using a clear silicone over a previously painted surface ensures you will see the color underneath it for years to come, even if you repaint!

What else is out there? Well, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t need to sacrifice longevity and durability to obtain ‘paintability’. With the vast majority of brand name caulking guaranteed from 25-50 years, it’s unlikely you’ll need to reseal the same area twice in a lifetime. Not to mention, most common types of caulking are ‘siliconized’, which means that they have been augmented with the durability of silicone, but maintain the positive benefits of latex caulkings.

Siliconized latex caulkings will bond easily to most household surfaces; they are easily washable with water when wet, and will easily soften for removal with basic solvents even once they have fully cured; they will remain flexible enough to allow for minor expansion and shifting, but will not flex enough to cause paint to flake away; and, most importantly, siliconized latex caulking is entirely paintable!

So, next time you’re thinking of sealing a gap, don’t just reach for silicone. Make sure to plan ahead, and choose a product that suits the final look that you hope to achieve. Never hesitate to contact us for more information on any product selection you might be facing.