Completey OT... House Painting Question
Jennifer
I'm a fairly new homeowner, 5 years now... and I find my home is in need
of an exterior paint job.
It is an older (1930's) Spanish style stucco home... one story... 1700
sq feet with a two car detached garage... in the Los Angeles area.
So.
I'm looking for a list of things to expect / ask the painting contractors.
What kind of prep should he/she be doing?
What kind of paint should he/she be using?
Etc. etc. etc.
And if you know... what kind of cost should I expect?
Thanks in advance.
Jennifer
Ma¢k
<jennife...@earthlink.net> Maniacally Screamed the following like
a drunken Jennifer <jennife...@earthlink.net> into the madness of
usenet:
go to any Paint store. Ask the questions about prep, paint and
primer. They can even tell you how much the material would cost. Then
call around to different painters and get price quotes.
Hopefully they simply won't paint over the existing paint. Needs to
be removed, then the surface cleaned, then primed and then painted.
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Cheri
knowledgeable there and have been very helpful to me. I had mine painted
about 2 years ago, it's smaller than yours around 1300 feet, and cost
$2450.00. I think a lot depends on how much prep work they have to do.
The main thing I made sure of, was what was included, power washing,
stucco repair, wood sanding etc, and a written estimate that had to be
signed by me before they went over so there were no hidden costs. They
asked for no more than 10% down, and did an excellent job. I did have to
wait about five months to get them, which is not unusual if they're
good.
--
Cheri
Jennifer wrote in message ...
Cheri
were done before giving the rest of the payment. :-)
--
Cheri
Cheri wrote in message ...
Freckles
"Jennifer" <jennife...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:izNJg.3913$xQ1...@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
Have you considered having your house re-stuccoes instead of painted.
When I lived in California my older stucco home needed painting so I called
companies to get bids.
I don't recall the price, but they all pointed out that there were parts of
the old stucco that had water damage and needed to be chipped off and
patched. There were also other areas where the stucco had already fallen off
and would need to be patched any way before they could begin painting. They
recommended I have the entire house patched and re-stuccoed. The stucco
would contain the color and the job was guaranteed for many years.
I had the house re-stuccoed, it took one full day and they came back a week
later and sprayed a protection coating on it to protect it from dirt, rain
and weather damage.
It looked like a new house and continued to do so up until I sold it and
moved out of state many years later.
It was well worth the cost which, if I remember correctly, was not very much
more than a paint job would have been.
The house would have needed to be painted every few years to continue
looking good and the stucco was guaranteed for, I believe 20 years.
Gene
news:izNJg.3913$xQ1...@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:
Jennifer - I know this. I built a few houses in my time.
With things like this it's better to not shop price but shop quality.
Painters save money by using cheap paint, using less coats, avoiding trim
work, not masking, not doing cleanup and hiring unskilled labor.
Avoid these guys.
If you have the cash hire a professional service with a brick and mortar
operation (Not three guys in a truck) and be very specific about what you
want done (Trim, Garage door, windows, be very detailed - spend time
looking at your home deciding what's painted and what's not) and keep
approval rights on any changes to the contract - ANY.
MOST IMPORTANT - Put the EVERYTHING in writing on a CONTRACT. Pay at the
END of the job. Don't pay full price for less than full service.
Once I had a painter leave with all his empty paint cans still on the
site. I took them to the dump and charged him 70 dollars an hour for my
time and deducted it from his bill. He couldn't complain because clean up
was in the contract.
Remember, there are more painters looking for a house to paint than there
are home owners looking for painters. You're the boss.
Do this even if it's your brother in laws second cousin or three guys in
a truck.
If you pick wisely, grasshopper, the head guy can answer all your
questions and much better than anyone that has not seen the house.
If not then go to a good high end paint store and ask what paint to use
on the materials you have. The better the paint the longer it will last -
generally.
Cheap paint, sprayed on for a cheap price may look like hell next year.
If you don't pay heed, then think as the painters as a group of three
year olds with spray guns and act accordingly.
Good luck Jennifer.
--
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rk
Jennifer,
Make sure they check for cracks in the stucco and get them
repaired. When we had our place painted when we lived
in the high desert, it was 2400sq ft and the cost was $1900.
They did check for all stucco damage, repaired it as well as
wood rott under the ease of the roof.
They pressure washed the house prior to painting because
of the high winds we got on the hill. (I lived right off Cajon
Pass on Oak Hills) Both Paint and Primer were Behr which
they got at Home Depot.
Best of luck
--
Aloha & Peace,
Reisa
T1, Animas IR1250 Pumper
June 28th, 2006, A1C = 8.7% :(
July 6th, 2006, Radical Fusion @ 2 levels
July 27 2006, A1C = 5.9!!!
No Diabetic Complications
"Jennifer" <jennife...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:izNJg.3913$xQ1...@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
:I figure there are a lot of people here. People who have or do own homes.
:
Alan S
wrote:
Hi Jennifer
I also built a couple of houses, and painted and renovated
several others over the years. I do my own interiors, but
these days I use painters to do the exteriors. Too old to be
standing on ladders for hours:-)
I agree with everything Gene said - but add this. Get at
least three quotes. Even if the first quote looks terrific -
get the other two to compare. Check all those details Gene
mentioned. I'd also get a couple of re-stuccoing quotes as
suggested by Freckles - makes sense.
A final tip - I doubt that California is less litigious than
NSW - make sure the contractor has full insurance to cover
the contractor, the workers and the job.
Having said all that, you can get lucky sometimes. When I
needed the exterior of a duplex painted when I moved up
here, a retired painter from a local retirement village
offered a quote.
He was in his 60's but very fit. Of course, 7 years ago I
was 52 and fat and thought 60's was old (now I pass the big
60 in six months:-)
I bought the paint, so I knew it's quality and could get a
good price, he had all the right credentials and insurance
coverage and I let him do it at his own speed (it was a set
price, not by the hour). Worked out at half-price. Cash of
course, but with a correct receipt. It also let me keep the
leftover paint for later repairs and touch-ups.
Make sure you post a picture of the finished sparkling
home:-)
Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 500mg
--
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operation" in the Los Angeles area unless you have money to burn.
There a plenty of smaller contractors here who will do excellent work.
Just make sure they are licensed and bonded and have lots of verifiable
references (i.e., names, addresses and phone numbers of happy
customers).
Earlier this year I paid a measly $2200 for a very decent exterior
paint job on a 2500 sq foot house I own in the San Gabriel Valley.
Cheers,
Bob
Jefferson
Jennifer
Great advice... I'm excited to get going.
I also found this which seems quite comprehensive.
Now to start getting bids!
Jennifer
Gene
news:bBZJg.4145$xQ1....@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:
> http://www.osh.com/Cultures/en-US/Articles/PaintFinishingWallCoverings/
> ChoosingaPaintingContractor.htm
Perfect.
Jennifer
> Jennifer <jennife...@earthlink.net> wrote in
> news:bBZJg.4145$xQ1....@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:
>
>
>>http://www.osh.com/Cultures/en-US/Articles/PaintFinishingWallCoverings/
>>ChoosingaPaintingContractor.htm
>
>
> Perfect.
I thought it was perfect too... and I read some more articles by that
Owen Whetzel and now I'm a fan!
But tell me Gene... since I can't ask Owen ; )
He says: "Specify the primer you want applied"... so......... what kind
of primer DO I want applied? Does he mean latex or oil? Or a specific
brand? Or what?
I'm doing some paint brand research right now (though I have picked
color chips from two different companies, I assume (?) that any company
can mix any color? Should the primer be the same brand as the paint?
Thanks in advance.
Jennifer
Loretta Eisenberg
painter and he comes in.
I think it is about 200 to 250 a room now in New York
Loretta
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Gene
@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:
There are three biggies -
1. Always make sure the primer is chemically compatable with the paint
and of at least equal or better quality and wears at least as long - or
longer. I like to use the same brand primer as paint if I can.
You may put a cheap paint on good primer but you should never put good
paint on a cheap primer.
2. Always use a primer that will not show through the paint as it wears
(Close to the same color - the painter can match the color)
3. The surface and material determines the primer. If you have mixed
surfaces like some wood, stucco, metal. The painter should bring the
appropriate primer for each surface.
The painter should know the above already.
Then there may be additives like mold resistance you want that may be
available in the paint you're using.
I'd be careful with additives if you have pets or small children that may
come into contact with the paint.
Be a pest and look over their shoulders ask all the questions you may
have and expect answers you understand. Paint isn't brain surgery, anyone
can understand it.
Go get'em Jennifer - Be 'da' paint:)
Jennifer
Gene wrote:
> There are three biggies -
>
> 1. Always make sure the primer is chemically compatable with the paint
> and of at least equal or better quality and wears at least as long - or
> longer. I like to use the same brand primer as paint if I can.
>
> You may put a cheap paint on good primer but you should never put good
> paint on a cheap primer.
>
> 2. Always use a primer that will not show through the paint as it wears
> (Close to the same color - the painter can match the color)
>
> 3. The surface and material determines the primer. If you have mixed
> surfaces like some wood, stucco, metal. The painter should bring the
> appropriate primer for each surface.
>
> The painter should know the above already.
>
> Then there may be additives like mold resistance you want that may be
> available in the paint you're using.
>
> I'd be careful with additives if you have pets or small children that may
> come into contact with the paint.
>
> Be a pest and look over their shoulders ask all the questions you may
> have and expect answers you understand. Paint isn't brain surgery, anyone
> can understand it.
>
> Go get'em Jennifer - Be 'da' paint:)
Thanks Gene...
I now feel well equipped to head into the fray!
Jennifer
Trinkwasser
also request pictures of their buttcracks
you may be seeing rather a lot of them <G>
Loretta Eisenberg
Anon
<jennife...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Thanks everyone!
>
>Great advice... I'm excited to get going.
>
>I also found this which seems quite comprehensive.
>
>http://www.osh.com/Cultures/en-US/Articles/PaintFinishingWallCoverings/ChoosingaPaintingContractor.htm
>
>Now to start getting bids!
You may find a considerable difference between a cash price with no
paperwork and price with an official receipt and paperwork. The
underground economy is booming. I saved $400 on a job I had done this
week.
Jennifer
Jennifer
Jennifer
The thing that would concern me about that is that they also may not
have workmans comp / insurance etc. I would consider it for a smaller
job, but putting people on ladders around my house makes me want to have
it all on the up and up.
Jennifer
Loretta Eisenberg
together.
Jennifer
But... I will be in NYC for part of November... let's hope irony doesn't
make it the same time ; )
Please feel free to email me off group. Take out the NOSPAM from my
address to get me.
J