painting house contract
Jim Aylward
I am having my house painted in the next few weeks.
What do I want to have in the contract to ensure there
are no misunderstandings? Is a completion date with penalty
clause necessary?
Thanks for any imput or experiances you may share.
ddrake@ctron
Trip Farmer
I would give them maybe a 2 week window. Also, I would specify the
name brand of the caulk and paint. If you don't, you'll get the
cheapest they can find. Labor is the most costly part of painting
a house so to spend a few $$ more for the best paint/caulk is very much
worth it.
You may also want to specify the method of painting. Spraying is very
common but I don't think you get the best long-term job. If yo're
about to sell your house then go the cheap route. If you're there
for long-term, then I have the house caulked with $4-5 per tube of
caulk and use the top-of-the-line Benjamin Moore, etc.
Last summer I caulked the entire outside (house is only 4 years old but
they don't do a very good job the 1st time and I bought it at 1 1/2 yrs
old) and brushed all the trim. I used a lot of caulk to do it right
and spent about $50 on caulk (lots of labor) and spent about $75 for 3
gallons of BM's best grade of exterior latex (lots of labor). If I had
used lessor quality of both I'd have only saved $20-30. It's just not
worth it. I'm going to sell w/in 1 1/2 years and want to guarantee the
buyer that they have a good paint job. I also replaced all the
"birdhouses" with spruce (they were made with plywood...yuck!). Cost=
$100.
This summer I will complete the painting of the exterior siding and
estimate about 8-10 gallons @ $23 per gallon (ask for the contractor
price instead of $28/gal). When I finish I will have painted the house
(and caulked) for about $350-400 max. I got one price of $2,000 and that
didn't include caulking. I really enjoy getting out in the summer and
doing this project. Makes me feel good to accomplish.
Good luck,
Trip
rick
>If you're there
>for long-term, then I have the house caulked with $4-5 per tube of
>caulk and use the top-of-the-line Benjamin Moore, etc.
Could you elaborate on what exactly you mean by caulking a house as part
of the painting process?
Thanks,
-rick
Trip Farmer
>Could you elaborate on what exactly you mean by caulking a house as part
>of the painting process?
>
>Thanks,
>
>-rick
Rick,
You want to seal any places where water could get into and behind wood and/
or bricks. This is done using a sealer, namely caulk. You caulk first
so you can then paint over it (if you buy the right kind) and it
won't show. Tops of doors and windows are the most common places to caulk
as well as around chimneys, shutters, etc.
Caulking is a messy job but very necessary.
Rick, I would get a price from the paint contractor for just his labor and
supply the cualk and paint yourself. That way you know he is using top
quality materials. It would be good to either be there or drop by on your
lunch hours to let them know you're watching. Do not give them all the
paint when they walk up. Ask how much they'll need for the day and give
that to them. They're known for taking extra paint (@ $25 per gal) home
with them. I know that some are honest but it seems that most aren't.
Do not pay him up front either. Pay at the and of the job, ONLY!
Trip
Degerberg
>painting house contract
In addition to spelling out exactly what is to be done as far as painting and
glazing is concerned, in the contract. I would suggest no money paid until job
is finished and a copy of his insurance policy furnished from his insurance
company..
Grandfather Bob(dege...@aol.com)
Modesty in the face of talent is hypocrisy.
Better honest arrogance than false modesty
a...@bigfoot.com
In article <6cd1np$6...@maze.dpo.uab.edu>, Tr...@uab.edu says...
painter wants is another can of paint...even if it's free.
I don't know many painters who will wait until the job is completed for
payment. Why should we put out hundreds, or thousands, of dollars in
labor and materials when the homeowner doesn't have anything invested?
Deposits and draws are the norm in construction. The main thing you can
do to protect yourself is get a quality painter in the first place. This
means quit trying to find the cheapest price. If you want quality you
are going to have to pay for it.
It's easy to say that most painters are dishonest but it seems to me that
there is about the same percentage of crooks in every profession. I
think we would agree that the exception would be for politicians.
--
Bruce
A.&B. Construction
Houston, TX
mailto:a&b...@bigfoot.com
SKI333
Trip Farmer wrote:
>
> In article <6c9prb$t0r$1...@mer-news.ctron.com>, ayl...@ctron.com (Jim Aylward) says:
> >
> >I am having my house painted in the next few weeks.
> >
> >What do I want to have in the contract to ensure there
> >are no misunderstandings? Is a completion date with penalty
> >clause necessary?
> >
> >Thanks for any imput or experiances you may share.
> >
> >ddrake@ctron
>
> I would give them maybe a 2 week window. Also, I would specify the
> name brand of the caulk and paint. If you don't, you'll get the
> cheapest they can find. Labor is the most costly part of painting
> a house so to spend a few $$ more for the best paint/caulk is very much
> worth it.
>
> You may also want to specify the method of painting. Spraying is very
> common but I don't think you get the best long-term job. If yo're
> for long-term, then I have the house caulked with $4-5 per tube of
> caulk and use the top-of-the-line Benjamin Moore, etc.
>
>
I plan to paint my home soon also,I have stucco with wood trim. Do you
think a brush and roller is the way to go as opposed to spraying?
I have always used brush and roller,but I was kind of thinking about
spraying this time. Bill in Calif.