10 Questions to ask before your DIY home painting project
You picked out just the right shade of white – not too cool, not too warm. Or maybe you have a daring red that you just love but aren’t quite sure how to ensure the edges remain crisp where the wall meets the ceiling.
It’s time to decide if you’re going to paint your home yourself… or if you want to hire professionals. We’ve got 10 questions you should ask yourself before you tackle the living room.
1. What type of paint should you use where, and how are they different?
Yes, paint technology is actually a thing. Professional painters can help you pick out the types of paint that will wear best for each room. For example, did you know that you should use a high or semi-gloss finish in the kitchen because it’s more durable and easy to clean, but you can use flat or matte in the bedrooms to save money in those low traffic areas?
2. Do you have all the right tools (and do you want to buy them)?
Painting comes with a lot of accessories. Besides the paint, brushes, and rollers you will need painters tape in different thicknesses, drop cloths, ladders, and probably even more brushes and rollers is various sizes. All these tools are part and parcel of hiring professional painters and end up saving you a lot of space and money in the long run.
3. Are you prepared to prepare?
What’s there to prepare? Well, the walls, actually. Depending on how long it’s been since your walls were last painted (and how many layers of paint are already on there) you will need to scrape, mitigate spots and stains, and smooth out the surface so the paint will last. Even the best primer on the market can’t do all that.
4. What is the ventilation like in your home?
Safety first! Paint fumes can be dangerous, as can ladders and hard-to-reach corners. Professional painters are trained and experienced in proper ventilation and how to paint both safely and well, even while several feet above the ground.
5. Is your insurance going to cover a DIY mishap?
One of the top reasons to hire a pro is license and insurance. Someone or something could be seriously injured if a ladder falls through a window or a bucket of paint spills and causes a slip. Professional painters are insured in the event of accident and experienced at preventing them.
6. What are you going to do if you end up with streaks or bubbles?
Did you know that a lot of professional painters come in to fix DIY jobs? Quality is a big reason to hire professionals from the start. Professional home painting will last longer and look better, with crisper edges and no streaks or bubbles in the paint.
7. What could you be doing instead of painting?
We know your home is important to you, but so is your time… and hiring professional painters saves you a lot of time. Not only does it take far less time for a crew of professional home painters to come in and paint your house, but you can be doing something else while they’re rolling ecru onto the dining room walls. Between other responsibilities and interruptions to take tea with your daughter and her dolls in the garden, your home paint job may take weeks. Professional painters will have your home back together in a matter of hours.
8. You’ve painted. Do you really want to clean up?
It’s a trap! The couch looks so comfy and you just want to sit down and gaze adoringly at your new marine blue walls. But wait! There’s still tape to take down and paint to properly store and brushes/rollers to clean, not to mention ladders to put away and drop cloths to dry and fold. If you don’t clean up the mess right away, you might end up with paint on the floor, not just the walls. Professional painters are trained to make less of a mess and clean up thoroughly after the job is done, turning your couch from a trap into, well, a cozy seating unit that comfortably fits 3-4 people.
9. Is a yellow kitchen worth your relationship?
Whether you’re moving into a new place or sprucing up the old one, home DIY projects often start out fun and end up stressful. Choose your battles because IKEA furniture comes some assembly required. Hiring professional painters can reduce your stress 100-fold. They’re insured, the job is guaranteed, and they clean up after themselves. Plus, since professional paint jobs last longer on average than DIY home painting, you won’t have to worry about your walls again for years!
10. Isn’t the best part looking through paint chips, anyway?
Keep painting fun! Leave the drudgery of taping and smoothing and painting to the professionals.
Need to Hire a Professional Painter in Upstate New York?
If you’re looking for professional painters in Glens Falls, Saratoga, Lake George or the Adirondack region, trust our team to get the job done. Call Atherton Painting & Renovations today at (518) 415-5845 to request your FREE consultation for our painting services for your home or business.
