With employment becoming increasingly scarce, many people decide to go on a new career path. Hats off to individuals who choose the trades to make a living and support their family; nevertheless, the trades, like white-collar jobs, are not immune. As it takes years in college to acquire sufficient education to become a doctor, lawyer, CPA, Engineer, Scientist, and so on, it also takes years of being properly mentored to become outstanding in one of the crafts, particularly as a top painter. The major problem in the Painting profession is that it requires not just solid instruction but also some inherent talent that cannot be taught. There are so many distinct aspects of painting to study that being an expert in this discipline is quite challenging. Power washing is a talent that must be mastered in the area of exterior painting. It is necessary to utilize the proper machine, as well as the proper tips, chemicals, and skill level. Before painting, surfaces must be clean, dull, and dry.
Mold and mildew must be removed so that the paint finish does not deteriorate prematurely. Power washing must sometimes be done from ladders, which increases the risk and necessitates more skill. If the Tradesman is not completely focused on the work at hand, the external siding of the building can be destroyed in an instant by going too near with the incorrect spray tip. Following a thorough power washing, the structure should be thoroughly inspected for flaking paint. At this time, the job site should be properly prepped for restoration work to begin. Drop cloths and plastic should be used to preserve the grounds and ensure that the property is left in the same condition as when you arrived. Peeling paint should be scraped completely with excellent carbide scrapers before being feather sanded or smooth sanded, depending on how far the customer is prepared to go to repair the structure. In any case, the paint job should last a long time; smooth sanding simply needs many more man-hours, which comes at a higher out-of-pocket expense.
Painters must be conversant with the appropriate grades of sandpaper and sanding machinery for the job at hand. The building should be inspected to detect bare-wooded sections, which should then be spot primed with a premium bonding exterior painter. Caulking should be applied around window trim, door trim, and other locations at this stage so that water does not seep behind these areas and prematurely deteriorate the paintwork. A dripless caulk gun should be used with good grade paintable external caulk. If the structure is to be spray painted, extra precautions should be taken to avoid overspray problems caused by hurrying the project.
Tape and plastic should be used to protect windows. Spray shields and the appropriate tip for the substance being sprayed are recommended. We advocate using high-quality paints and stains; do not skimp on the purchase of the correct goods. Two coats are suggested for the greatest results in terms of lifespan and proper coverage; however, if money is a constraint, a competent technician can often make one coat work in many situations. This will most likely shorten the lifespan of the paint job, but it should still last at least five years.
Buildings have various degrees of difficulty when it comes to exterior painter’s treatments. Some of the structures are rather tall, which slows down the procedure. Some have dormers built onto the roof and steep roof slopes, making exterior painting services riskier without knowledge and manpower. Some structures are so difficult to paint that staging or lifts must be brought in. In any case, these are problems even for top pros, let alone a “weekend warrior.” When buildings grow larger, the ladders become taller, requiring two strong men to manage. Sloped lawns can present additional problems, and there is always shrubbery, flowers, and lawn decorations to cope with.
All of these distinct elements add up to increased expenses for a professional paint job. Let's face it, there are many dishonest individuals in the world, the cost of living in Connecticut is expensive, there is a lot of drug and alcohol misuse in the “Trades,” and many artists were never appropriately mentored and picked up a lot of bad habits along the way. Because of these and other variables, many consumers wind up with a Contractor who will not produce a high-quality project. Also, even if the Contractor is a “Master” painter himself, if he has not passed on His expertise to His exterior painters and does not go out in the field anymore, His contracts are only as good as His assistance; and the adage “When the Cats are gone, the mice will play” still holds.
