“How can you guarantee you’re getting your money’s worth?” asks Paul Demosthenes of Paul Demosthenes Painting and Decorating in Burlingame. “You should definitely demand references of previous customers.” Moreover, he suggests clients contact those references for additional information about the company. “I’ve been in this industry long enough to know a lot of people are in this for the money rather than for the right reasons,” he says. “Background and reputation are important.”
Mr. Demosthenes also warns against contractors who quote prices over the phone. There are just too many variables for the information to be accurate, he says. “Do you have aluminum windows that don’t have to be painted? Do you have fancy wood sash or ornate trim? Are there 10-foot ceilings or eight-foot ceilings?” Basing a quote on square footage alone is “almost ludicrous,” says Mr. Demosthenes, something a reputable contractor will rarely do.
Mr. Demosthenes also deems it “a bit foolish” to buy cheap materials, particularly paint. He recommends you spend as much as you can afford, within reason, on top-of-the-line brands. “Paint has pigments that give it its color. It has a binder that holds it all together and causes it to stick on the substrate. And it has a vehicle which makes it spread, which is either water- or oil-based,” he says. These factors have a considerable impact on the quality and durability of the final product. Moreover, he says, materials are a relatively small component of the overall cost—particularly on high-end jobs. “It’s just not a good place to cut corners.”
