Contra Costa – Painting - Contractor

As you’re interviewing local painters in Contra Costa County, it’s wise to use a list of prepared questions. This will keep you on track during your interview and will help ensure you get the answers you need. You may want to write down the answers so you’ll be able to recall which Contra Costa County painting company answered each question most adequately.

• Do you have a valid contractor’s license? What is your state license number?
  
• Do you have active liability and workers’ compensation insurance?
  
• Do you have residential painting experience?
  
• How experienced are your painters. How were they trained?
  
• How many times have you done a job like mine?
  
• Do you charge for estimates?
  
• Do you have your own crew, or do you hire subcontractors or outside painters?
  
• Who will be in charge during the project?
  
• Do you recommend a specific brand and type of paint for my paint job (Sherwin Williams, ICI, Dulux, Kelly-Moore, Glidden, Behr, Valspar, enamel, matte finish, flat paint, semi-gloss, high-gloss, low-voc, non-voc)? Why?
  
• What guarantees do you offer?
  
• Do your paints come with manufacturer warranties?
  
• I live in _____ (Alamo, Kensington, Oakley, Rodeo, Vine Hill, Hercules, Clyde, Maltby, W Pittsburg, Port Chicago, Hilltop Mall, Bethel Island, etc.). Will you charge more to come to my location?
  
• How long have you been a painting contractor in Contra Costa County?

It’s best to choose a Diamond Certified painting company because all certified companies have passed an in-depth ratings process that most other companies can’t pass. If you want quality from a painter in Contra Costa County and the greater Bay Area, including those it the larger cities of Brentwood, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond and San Pablo, you can have confidence choosing a Diamond Certified company.

Diamond Certified reports are available for all certified companies. And you’ll never be fooled by fake reviews. That’s because all research is performed in live telephone interviews of actual customers.

If you can’t find a Diamond Certified painter within reach, you’ll have to do some research on your own. If you do, it’s wise to call some references provided by your contractor. Keep in mind, though, that references given to you by the painting companies themselves are not equal in value to the large random sample of customers surveyed during the Diamond Certified ratings process. That’s because references given to customers from companies are rarely arbitrarily chosen from all their clientele. Instead, contractors usually give out references that they know were satisfied, so the results you get from your reference phone calls may be skewed.

When requesting references, ask for a list of the painting company’s 10 most recent customers. This will help avoid them giving you the names of only customers they know were satisfied. You may also want to ask for a list of customers that live within your area of Contra Costa County so that you can get a feel for the services they’ve provided to your neighbors and those in your city.

When talking with references, use some of the questions below and come up with some of your own to get a feel for the quality of the painting companies’ services and customer service record. Sample questions include:

• Were you satisfied with the services from _(Contra Costa painting company name)_?
  
• What type of painting did they do for you (interior or exterior painting, room painting, faux finishing, painting touch ups, etc.)
  
• Did the painters finish the work in the time promised?
  
• Did the contractor tell you about the status of the project, or did you have to call for updates?
  
• If you live in a smaller town such as Bethel Island, Briones, Canyon, Knightsen, Port Costa, Rheem Valley or Walnut Heights, did they charge extra to travel to your home?
  
• Did the company show up on time?
  
• Did they clean up after completing the job?
  
• When you need new interior or exterior paint in the future, will you consider hiring this painting contractor again?
  
• Would you recommend this painting company to your friends and family?

Once you’ve found a local painting company that meets your needs, you should arrange to sign a contract for their services. This contract should include the price, paint quality and materials to be used, as well as the intended start date and completion date.

Before signing the contract, read and understand all the terms. Contracts are binding, and they should be written to protect your property and your interests, as well as those of your contractor. Never sign a blank or incomplete estimate.

Don’t be afraid to request or write in details or verbal agreements. This will protect you and help you get the services you expect. Along with project end dates and special instructions, these add-ons may include issues that aren’t always covered by a standard contract. For example, care of your property, length of work day and how often you will be consulted about the schedule of the job.

You can also protect your property by proactively using the contract to guard your interests. Before the work begins, accompany the crew supervisor on a walk through to inspect your property. List or photograph specific details of your landscaping, home and property and discuss reasonable expectations for protecting your home and yard during the painting work. When you’ve reached an agreement, both you and your contractor should sign and date the contract. Once the work is done, inspect the property again together and verify that your expectations were met.

Prepare for New Interior and Exterior Painting in Contra Costa County
Professional painters are able to handle the large and small aspects of their work, including those in the major Contra Costa cities of Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Danville and Brentwood.

And there are a few things you can do in preparation to their arrival and while the work is in progress to help their job go more smoothly. You may even cut down on billable hours or the possibility of damage to your home and belongings.

Remove furniture and keepsakes from the workspace. Remove all furniture, wall art, draperies, rugs, and other items from the rooms that are to be painted. Anything remaining should be moved to the center of the room and covered with drop cloths or thick plastic sheets. You may also want to move heirlooms or expensive items from high-traffic areas of your home to prevent them from being accidentally broken.

Trim plants and bushes outside your home before exterior painting. If you’re hiring a Contra Costa County painting company for exterior painting, you may be able to save time and money by trimming back trees, bushes, vines and plants that are growing on or too close to your home. Talk with your contractor about the amount of space they require around the perimeter of the job.

Provide parking space for work trucks. If your painting companies has large work trucks that require more clearance and parking space than average vehicles, the firm may expect you to make room for them while they’re on the job. Contact the company before the work begins and ask them whether the vehicles are oversized and whether you’ll need to provide parking space. You may find it beneficial to walk through the site with your contractor ahead of time so they can point out any possible clearance issues or visible hazards you can take care of before the painting begins.

Keep children and pets away from the painted areas. Your contractors will be focused on the work at hand and shouldn’t have to watch out for children and pets before, during or after the work. Cordon off the rooms that are to be painted and keep pets and kids away until after the work is done and the paint is fully dry. You should also take precautions to keep children and animals out of the path of the painters if they are walking through your home. This will prevent accidents, injury and the expense of touch-ups and repainting. If the painters will be going through gates or doors, be aware that they may be accidentally left ajar and could pose an escape hazard for pets and young children.

When the painting is done, most good painters will give you a detailed invoice. This invoice usually includes:

• The contractor’s name, physical address and license number.
  
• A list of all painting services performed.
  
• An itemized list of all paint and painting supplies used.
  
• The total cost for painting services, including the amount due for labor.
  
• Warrantees or guarantees extended by the paint manufacturers and the painting firm.

It’s smart to compare the actual work to the written invoice. Ask your company representative to walk through the job site with you and show you the work, so you’re sure all areas were done correctly. During this walkthrough, check what you see against the invoice. Before the contractors leave the jobsite for the final time, ask if there are any special instructions for maintaining, cleaning or caring for your new paint.

If you have questions about the work that was done, the materials used or the warranty coverage, this is the time to ask. Once the painters leave your home, you may not be able to negotiate changes to the contract or ask for written confirmation of items you were promised before or after the work.

The most common painting requests made of in Contra Costa County painting companies are listed below, as well as a description of what those services entail.

House Painting
The term house painting can include interior and exterior painting. The entire process of painting a house, including color selection, prepping, taping, priming/primering, paint application and paint sealing is generally included in a contract for house painting.

Interior Painting
Interior surface painting is commonly referred to as interior painting. Interior paint for walls and ceilings comes in many colors and finishes, including faux and decorative finishes, wood stains and clear finish. Many modern interior paints are available in environmentally-friendly formulations that have lower toxicity than exterior paints.

Exterior Painting
Exterior paint is applied to the outside of homes and buildings. Exterior paints must be more flexible and fade-resistant than interior paints to stand up to changing weather conditions and the fading effects of the sun.

Paint Color Selection
Some painting companies in Contra Costa County provide paint color selection assistance. Paint selection considers possible colors, existing colors in the home and overall room scheme, and may be done by an experienced painter or by an interior decorator or paint specialist. Paint matching services may also be available to homeowners who need to match new paint to an existing color for touchups, repainting or finishing a paint job.

Decorative Painting Techniques
Sometimes known as faux finishing or faux painting, decorative painting techniques such as tromp l’oeil, sponge painting, rag rolling, venetian plaster, marbling, striping, color washing, pickling, wood grain painting, verdigris and antiquing are popular methods that add a custom touch to newly-painted surfaces.

Faux Painting
Like decorative painting techniques, faux painting is a technique that adds a faux finish to the surface. Venitian plastering, faux suede, faux marble or marbleizing and wood graining are examples of popular faux painting.

Commercial Painting
Any painting in commercial buildings, including stores, schools, offices, museums, public buildings and hospitals is referred to as commercial painting. Some contractors only offer commercial painting, while others provide a combination of services that includes commercial, industrial and residential painting.

Low VOC Paint
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals that may be harmful to human health. VOCs are commonly found in paints, paint thinners and lacquers used in homes. New low-VOC paints are often suggested for use in areas where people live and work. The use of low-VOC and no-VOC paints may help improve indoor air quality and prevent illness due to contaminated air.

Industrial Painting
Industrial painting services in Contra Costa County offer painting for large industrial and commercial buildings. Industrial painting often includes metal building interior and exteriors, ceilings, walls, floors, metal siding, metal roofs, office buildings, parking structures, factories, manufacturing plants and warehouses.

General Painting Services
Painting services is a term that encompasses all services offered by local painting companies. General painting services include house painting, interior painting, exterior painting, residential and commercial painting, paint preparation, paint spraying, paint rolling (roller application of paint) and high-volume painting services.

Top 10 Brand Requests

1. Sherwin-Williams
2. Behr Paint
3. Glidden Paint
4. Dulux Paint
5. ICI Paint
6. Benjamin Moore
7. Valspar Paint
8. Dutch Boy Finishes
9. Kelly-Moore
10. Olympic Paint

The following questions and answers are the most commonly asked by clients of painting companies in Contra Costa County. Read on for more information.

Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified Painting Contractor?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a painter with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only painting companies rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified painting company.

Q: What is lead paint and why should I be concerned about it?
A: Lead paint can cause brain damage and slowed physical development, and it is a leading source of lead poisoning in children and adults in the United States. Lead-based paints are found on interior and exterior surfaces of older homes, chiefly those built before 1978. This isn’t usually a problem if the old paint is repainted over with lead-free paint. However, when paint chips, cracks, peels or is scraped off, any lead paint underneath can pose a hazard to children, pets and other people in the home or building.

Most homes that were built before 1978 were painted using lead paint. A simple lab test can prove if your paint contains lead. Some painting contractors in Contra Costa County will test for lead paint, and lead paint tests are available at most hardware stores. If your home contains lead paint, Contra Costa painting contractors legally need to take precautions when removing it. Typical containment procedures include sealing off the rest of the building or home, wearing respirators to circumvent inhaling the lead particles, disposing of all clothing items worn while removing lead paint, using filtration systems, and post-removal cleaning procedures to remove microscopic lead particles that can endanger residents.

Q: Can I paint my home myself?
A: It is possible to paint your home yourself. If the area you want to paint is small or you have experience painting, you may be able to do the job yourself. However, painting can be time-intensive, messy work. You may be wise to hire a expert to do the job. Professional painters have the knowledge, talent and tools to do the job right. Most also guarantee their work, so you’ll be assured of getting an excellent paint job that lasts.

Q: Why can painting estimates vary so widely between different painting companies?
A: Painting contractors base their prices on a number of factors—the cost of labor, the time needed for surface preparation and needed repairs, the quality of paint applied and the number of coats needed. Cheaper bids may reflect a lower quality of work or less experienced painters. However, it’s smart to question the contractors when one bid is much lower or much higher than the other bids you’ve received to make sure the painting company is bidding on the same details of the job. If one bid is much lower than the others you’ve received, it can be a sign that the estimator either missed something during the bidding process or serve as a warning that the company may not provide the same quality application or products as the other companies you’ve interviewed.

Q: Does the quality of paint matter?
A: With paint, the old saying usually holds true: You get what you pay for. It’s true that top-quality paints are more pricey, but they are often made better, so they go on more evenly, re more durable and last longer than cheap paint. By using good quality paints, you’ll repaint less frequently and your home will look better between painting, meaning you may save more money by spending a little more at the outset.

Q: What is the difference between paint finishes?
A: Exterior and interior paint is labeled according to its sheen and gloss. The higher the sheen, the more light reflects off of the paint and the glossier, or shinier, it appears. Your choice of paint will depend on the area and surface you’re painting, the color of paint you’ve chosen and the need to clean the painted surface and hide imperfections.

Matte and flat paints have very little to no sheen. They are generally used on walls and ceilings and are best for hiding imperfections in the surface. Eggshell finish has a slight sheen and has a lustrous appearance. It is often used on interior walls. Satin and silk finish paints have a finish that is in between that of eggshell and semigloss. They are easier to clean than flat paint. Semi-gloss finish is a shinier, glossier paint. It is easy to clean and resists staining. However, the glossier a finish is, the more likely it is that imperfections in the paint will be obvious.

Q: My exterior house paint is peeling. Why is this happening and what can I do about it?
A: Paint can peel when exposed to moisture and weathering, or if it’s cheap paint. Your paint may be peeling because it is the wrong type of paint for the surface, it was applied in a poor manner, or the surface was not properly prepared before it was painted.

If your paint is already peeling, there isn’t much you can do. The peeling paint will need to be scraped off, the surface sanded and prepared, and a new coat of quality paint applied. Your best course for dealing with peeling paint is to remove the entire coat of paint, not just the damaged area. That’s because the rest of the paint will most likely also fail, since it was applied in the same way to the same surface. Contact a local Contra Costa County painting company to assess the damage and advise you on your specific situation.

Q: What are low-VOC and no-VOC paints. Should I consider using them?
A: VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals that emit potentially harmful gasses when applied and over time. Paint, lacquer, varnish, paint thinners and paint strippers often contain these chemicals. In recent years, paints with lower concentrations of these toxic compounds have become available. There are also some paint brands that offer products with no VOC content. These natural paints and finishes are durable, cost effective and less harmful. Talk with your painting contractor and ask if they are familiar with low-VOC paints and whether they would recommend them for your home.