painting and rooffing question

[Steve Lu]

When interviewing a painter and roofer, what are some important
questions that I should ask in determining whether he/she is qualified?
Also, type of paint and primer is usually used for painting the exterior
of houses in the northern California region? Thanks.

Steve

[MDBuilder]

>When interviewing a painter and roofer, what are some important
>questions that I should ask in determining whether he/she is qualified?

Steve
I just posted this in another newsgroup in response to a similar question about
roofers - the same general idea would apply to any trade you are interviewing.
Sorry I can't help with the paint part of the question since I'm in Maryland.

Make sure your roofers spell out everything they will do - many I've seen are
way too general on their proposals. Brand/type of shingle, weight of felt,
warranty, drip edge, ridge or roof vent, pipe and chimney flashings, removal of
old shingles if necessary, trash hauling and cleanup, and shrubbery protection
are some of the things you should consider. If you have a low pitch situation
as indicated, ice and water shield may be needed in that area. Establish a
price per sheet of plywood for sheathing repairs, but don't include any in the
basic price unless you're absolutely sure you'll need it . Try as much as
possible to have all proposals be for exactly the same specs and items. I
would look for a roofer who has been in business for at least 5 years, because
roofers tend to come and go and you want them to be around if service is
needed. Get recent references and CHECK THEM! This last item is one of the
most important things you will do in this process. Hope it helps -

John Watts
Coastal Builders, Inc., Ellicott City, MD
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[Jim Ilkay]

John has some excellent suggestions here. I'd like to some more.

Get a certificate of liability insurance. In the Austin, Texas, market it's
amazing how many so called roofers and painters are working without
insurance. If you had an asset of any value you'd insure it. You have to
wonder how much these people value their business and hence their
reputation. Asking if they have the necessary insurance is not good enough.
We hire sub-trades regularly and most say yes to this question at the first
meeting. When we don't see a certificate in a weeks it usually turns out
that the insurance is "being renewed" or something like that. Get a
certificate with yourself named as additional insured if you can. This is
not a big deal and doesn't cost the contractor (at least not in my market,
don't know about others).

Jim Ilkay
bui...@texas.net

MDBuilder wrote in message
<19980316224...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...

[Foster Vista]

A qualified painter would be familiar with certain methods, products, and equipment.
Ask your painting "applicant" if he (or she)...

"Boxes" the paint before application- simply intermixing of like products to insure
consistent color, resin suspension, etc.

"Backbrush" - use a brush on already applied coatings to even out coverage and sheen.

What is the "wet mil thickness" - mils is the measurement of a coating thickness...
required for specialty coatings such as elastomerics (stucco, other masonry coatings)

Uses "Staging" for off the ground work- use of scaffolds, ladder jacks, etc. for
getting to the high work.

Uses "Penetrol" in alkyd bases or "Floetrol" in latex bases- chemical additives used
to enhance adhesion, lenghten wet edge time.

If your painter gives you a really dumb look on most any of these terms...you may
actually be conversing with an unemployed telemarketer. And that insurance
certificate will really be the ultimate factor. He's either got it, or he does
not. He'll have a copy on him if he's in the bidding game. Good Luck!

Mike Foster
Titan of Texture
Lord of Low Lustre