What happens when it rains for painters?

What happens when it rains for a painter?

Rain happens, it's going to rain that is for sure but what happens to painting companies or any contractor who works on exterior projects?

Managing any schedule for the service industry is difficult to start with, then throw in rain, snow, ice, call-offs and you have a big puzzle to put together while minimizing upset clients.

We realized years ago the schedule will never be perfect and to try to make it perfect will only create disappointment from all ends, you will be upset as the contractor you can't make everyone happy and the clients will be happy as you try to throw painters on every project, when you react like that and make decisions quick you will have projects that are not manned accordingly or with the quality they deserve.

So what do you do? 

You need to manage the expectations of the clients on the initial estimate and keep letting them know how the schedule works, no one customer is more important than the others, some will bark, grumble and groan but as long as they knew the process before they accepted the project there should not be an issue.

We give broad date ranges, that is the only way unless you have an unlimited amount of staff to cover all projects and no one does. By giving broad date ranges you never lock yourself in until a week or so before the actual start date. Even at that point if it rains and a job is ushed back it ushes back all the jobs behind it even if they are interior projects.

There is simply no other way

This is the fairest way for all clients to get their work done in a professional and punctual way while minimizing disruptions. It will still not be perfect and you will continually be reassuring clients how the schedule is going, you must have great communication. The moment a client feels you have not communicated doubts creep in and then you will be explaining things again.

Your price is too high to paint my home ?

Your price is too high to paint my home?

We occasionally hear this when we receive feedback from the estimate that we do and we always caution the price comparison. 

Deciding on price alone monetizes your contractor and makes them nothing more than a number to be beaten by ANY other low number that comes in.

Disregarding their experience from past jobs which enables them to make field adjustments on your projects can be a recipe for disaster.

What happens if something goes wrong on a project or your project, yes it's true many people can paint but a craftsman or woman will know what to do when things change, someone just painting will have no idea how to adjust onsite. 

Will they know the roper dew point to paint? Or the recoat times or adhesion issues? Ho about the proper primer that really will work and perform, not just the one the paint store tells you to use. 

It's your risk

It's your choice and your risk when selecting that low price, sure you may luck out and get a nice job, but what happens if something goes wrong and you have a warranty claim? Will they back it?

What about when you have questions and there is no one to answer them for you?

What about when you ay them but there is still work left, will they show up? Or will they be worried about the next job that has more money in it for them?

Not all low prices are bad

It's true not all low prices are bad but how can you tell?

Paying a fair price to a legitimate company helps pay for their expenses and overhead, it allows them to pay a fair hourly wage that supports their families, it keeps money in the community.

Paying that to any low ball painter that comes along is not a great idea, you drive down the prices companies can get and lower the ultimate quality of all jobs in the area.

We know that is hard to think about when selecting a contractor, but it's true

Just ayign cash to someone does nothing for the area, nothing is being paid into taxes that are used locally to support many great things.

Should you want a fair price and need an estimate please contact us here

Kitchen Cabinet Painting Changes Your Kitchen

Kitchen Cabinet Painting

Have you wanted to change the look of your kitchen and do it without having to renovate your entire kitchen?

Painting your kitchen cabinets can dramatically and affordably paint your kitchen cabinets using a professional painting contractor who has experience painting and refinishing cabinets and has successfully done so many times.

This is not the type of job to take lightly and hire the cheapest price that comes along, sometimes looking for that low price will equal low quality.

Types of products

The quality of the products you use  will make or break your project, using low-quality products will have a direct effect on washability, longevity and the quality of the finish itself (how it looks)
using low-quality paint products can make a surface impossible to be scrubbed or washed when dirt and oils get on it. Remember you're going to be using them every day and they will take heavy use from you and your family. It is important to take this project seriously

Can I do it myself?

Yes, you may be able to do this project yourself if you have good experience painting and repairing surfaces, you still may not be able to achieve the finish a professional would be able to offer not to mention the time it will save you so you can do what you do best. I would take every precaution if you decide to take this project on yourself and do your homework. One wrong move and you could have peeling paint or runs and sags in your finish. A professional will have the experience should somethign go wrong and know how to correct it

Sports Themed Epoxy Floors

Themed Sports Epoxy Floors

Epoxy floors are an amazing way to bring your loyalty to your sports team to life and in the first place, you come home to each day, your garage floor.

You have the big screen tv, the hat, the sweatshirt, the matching socks, and boxer shorts but do you have a custom sports epoxy floor?

An epoxy floor can protect your biggest investment, your home and the concrete in the garage is very important. From all the oil and grease that hits it daily to the hot tires and things being dropped on it, we have seen some concrete floors needing complete resurfacing and that is costly. 

Catch it early

We want to catch this early and protect the concrete and there is no better way than with an epoxy coating and by adding a flair such as your favorite team's colors and possibly their logo embedded into the epoxy is something not many other people will have, the ultimate fan space

Here is the process

Once we work with you to select the exact look you want we will make a plan tailored to your floor, no two floors are the same as they all require different preparation and products. Typically the process is as followed.

• Remove the grease and oils from the floor
• Diamond grind the concrete to promote adhesion 
• Apply epoxy with flakes, full or partial 
• Apply clear coat
• Enjoy your floor 

How long will we need to wait to get back on the floor?

This depends on what products were used but typically 72 hours before you can put your vehicles back on the floor however we do also have products with a 24-hour turnover

There is a difference

What we have been seeing is lower pricing coming from other companies that is unbelievable and it certainly is, epoxy is measured in coating thickness and that is where we found they are saving, they are sacrificing the longevity of your floor to get you a lower price that sounds too good to be true, typically we have seen coating half the thickness of what we are using. This makes it hard to compare proposals, always ask how think of a floor you are receiving when it is dry.

How much will a floor like this cost?

The price of epoxy floors can vary greatly and it is mainly because of the prep needed or not needed.

Do you have a current coating on the floor? Even if you think there is nothing on it you could have a sealer on it, pour some water on the floor if it absorbs that is a good sign.

Was it trowled hard which closes the pores of the concrete and means we may need to grind which increases the cost slightly.

What are you using the garage for? Normal everyday use or will you be working on cars, welding or having heavy items on it? This all means we need to switch products.

Typically we have seen ricing in the $4-6 a sq ft area, maybe more but probably not less.

Add a logo? That also increases the cost of buying the vinyl as well as another added clear coat. 

Floors can be easily affordable and consider the money saved by not having to correct concrete issues down the road, also it will be easily washable now.

Call us

Ryan Amato Painting

Easton, Pa 

bidrequests@ryanamatopaintingllc.com

484-821-7112

How to get a kitchen cabinet estimate

How to get a kitchen cabinet estimate

We are asked all the time how to get a kitchen cabinet estimate and this process cannot be easier.
I have attached a video below explaining this entire process.

Gone are the days of having to wait around for someone to show up, give you a song and dance on how great their company is and then they try to usell you on other services.

All we need is for you to fill out our information form along with a few pictures and the count of the door and drawers and we can have a price over generally the same day.

How much easier can it be?

Once we send the price over, all you have to do is click accept, we will send a deposit request over and get your project scheduled as soon as possible.

If you're having other work done we suggest you get that work done first to avoid any damage or added costs touching up other people's work.

Epoxy Floor Easton,Pa Full Flaked

We recently completed this fully flaked epoxy garage floor in Easton, Pa

This project started with cleaning the concrete as it had oil and other car fluids on it. It is important to do this before you do anything else to the concrete.

After cleaning we used a diamond grinder to properly prepare the concrete for adhesion of the epoxy. Once we cleaned the floor we applied a polyurea/polyspartic product along with a full broadcast of epoxy flakes to the epoxy.

After that step we let the product dry and we removed the extra flakes, cleaned the floor again and applied a clear coat to the entire surface. Needless to say it turned out amazing and the client was thrilled and left a video review for us.

Here is a video of this project

The Ole Switcheroo

The Ole Switcheroo

When I say please be at your estimate there are many reasons why but expectations of the final product are one of the top reasons for sure.

I know in my house or really in any relationship you have we all have different opinions and things that are important to us and some things that are not important.

So many decisions in your home are done together to make sure both people are happy with the end result and the decision being made, whether that is a new dog, a new car, or new furniture the person or people who will be living with the decisions should be part of that process.

No more important is the decision when you are hiring a service such as a painting contractor

One issue we sometimes see is I have done an estimate let's say for the husband, he walks me through the house and shows me the work being done, the only issue is he could care less on the final appearance and only wants a color change.

He never explained his wife really is the one who this is very important to and will be judging the final work.

Why is this bad?

This can be disastrous to your project because no expectations were ever mentioned so it was estimated for a basic color change, minimal patching and a quick repaint project.

When the project starts the other partner expects the walls to look brand new, ultra-smooth even though they are not currently that way.

And so it begins

This is where it can all go south, you can have an angry spouse who doesn't think the job is the quality they expected although it really is what was explained on the estimate, they weren't there though and trying to explain this is what they asked for is a mute point now because it will only get worse. So you end up spending more time on a project, extra hours spackling and patching or extra coats of paint.

The walkthrough

This is where you can end any of these issues, do a pre-job walkthrough and fully explain to everyone how the project will be done, what to expect and what the final appearance will look like. What you can do and cannot do. Make it a point and requirement everyone is there and why they should be there. If they cannot be at the estimate or the pre-job walkthrough I know it sounds tough but they should not be communicating with you once the job starts.

It takes clear and direct communication to achieve this, if you're afraid to tell them the truth or be direct it can only get worse from here. Yes, you may upset a few people but reflect back on the estimate when they could not be there for the most important part of the job.

The relationship

This can happen in any form, it could be the wife or girlfriend not there or vice versa or on a commercial project they typically have a secretary walk though who has no say in anything once the job starts and along comes someone else who knows nothing about the conversations we had long before the job starts. Address this issue right away or be prepared for a long, tough project

Epoxy Flooring Solutions

Epoxy Flooring Solutions

When you think of an epoxy floor normally you picture a warehouse or maybe those box store kits you see at the stores but epoxy floors can and are used throughout homes and many places in the business setting.
Don't lock yourself in a box, you can be so creative with where you use an epoxy floor, you can embed a logo or design into any floor using the right products to truly make the floor an extension of your personality or brand your company. How awesome would it look when people walk into your business lobby and your logo is sitting on the floor with a nice shiny clear coat over it. 

Stand Out From The Competition

When your clients arrive at your business this may in some cases be the first impression they get about you and your business, a peeling floor or vinyl tiled floor is not the best impression.

Make a splash and show them what your company is all about, a metallic floor may be an option to make a grand entrance whether in your business or home. We can help with samles and design ideas for any floor. Trust me there is a solution for almost any application or surface.

Epoxy is for safety too

Epoxy floors offer protection of not only the surface but also anyone walking on it, by adding flakes or another aggregate (sand, silica) we can make any floor anti-slip which is important as epoxy floors can be slippery when wet or when they have grease or other contaminants on them, by simply adding something to the epoxy or broadcasting into the coating this can be taken care of right away which is perfect to protect your clients or family from slipping.

Price is an issue?

Is price an issue with a floor? It may seem that way but when you break down the costs it is actually a very competitive option for a floor. To have an easily cleaned, anti-slip coating with unlimited options in design it is very comparative in price to vinyl, wood or almost any other type of floor installed and much more protective and durable and in a food manufacturing facility it is a must.

Schedule your Epoxy Floor Estimate Here

Top ways to get a good painting estimate

The top ways for you to get a good paint estimate

You have decided it's time to paint inside your home, maybe it's a few bedrooms or possibly the trim or maybe your just going to paint your entire interior. 

So now what?

You will find out quickly when you start calling around, many companies will either not call back or it will take a few days if they call back at all. Once your lucky enough to get someone either pick up the phone or call you back now your issue will be them showing up at all. 

One of the comments I receive all the time is "wow you showed up on time just like you said" Sounds crazy right? People are in business but won't call back or show up.

If your lucky enough to have someone show up now the issue is they won't be honest and tell you they are not either interested in your project or capable of doing it, so they will never send a proposal over or price it very high so you never call them.

So this is why it is very important on your end to be prepared when your ready to call a painting company or any trade for that matter. Here are some things you should be prepared with.

1. Know your budget and don't be afraid to share it, when asked. A good company can generally work within any budget but without having an idea of what it may be you may receive prices all over the place. With painting there are varying levels of quality, no two companies will paint a residential project the same. 
2. Know exactly what you want to be done, are all the ceilings being done or can they be left out to help reduce costs? Is the trim being done? Again by not having all these details, your pricing will be all over the place and you may be surprised with the end result
3. What is important to you? Is quality most important or is the cost? You typically will not be able to get a low priced job with top quality work but if you're real about your expectations and budget missed expectations can be avoided
4. Be at the estimate, the person who will interact and "judge" the work should be the person at the estimate. I can't tell you how many times people don't take this seriously and leave a parent or babysitter home to show the work or even the other spouse who when the job starts isn't the person judging the work, another area where you will have missed expectations
5. Be realistic, it will rain, people will call off or be sick, other things will come up. Every company does it's best to make sure everyone works each day all year long but we will all be disappointed with workers who are not responsible, all anyone can do is make it right and move forward. Remember things can always be worse, have patience and understand everyone has a story and things going on in their life.

There are no apples to apples

When you say you want to compare apples to apples what you're really implying is every company does the exact same thing, the same quality, the same training and the only thing separating them is the rice they are about to give you.

Let me let you in on a little secret, you could put 5 painting estimators in a room, using the same paint, same application and you will get 5 different prices, don't assume each company knows what they are doing and certainly you cannot compare this with price alone.

Don't forget about the things not said, communication, the extra value they bring, will they be around if you need something down the road? Or once they are paid are they gone and forgot your name. Trust me I am involved heavily in the painting industry and there are some very questionable workers and companies out there, just as there are some great people and companies out there, but if a bunch of estimators cannot agre on a price what makes you think you're qualified enough to be able to compare them?

Things may still go wrong

Even after all of this, you may have some things go wrong, they may spill paint, or have drips or not prep as you think they should or the color may be wrong. The mark of a good company is just to correct these things if it was their fault. There is no need to yell and scream, no one wants to work for anyone like that, the painters end up trying gto go faster to get out of there, the client is upset and the office is tired of those "phone calls" Remember it's a team effort that includes the painters, the office and the client. Everyone must be on the same page for a successful project

Ryan Amato

www.ryanamatopainting.com

484-821-7112

Ryan Amato painting completes epoxy floor in Bethlehem

Ryan Amato Painting completes floor in Bethlehem, Pa

We recently completed this awesome floor for an even better client, it was a thrill to be able to help Ryan and his family out with their floor.

It was always a dream of his to have a nice functional floor that looks great too.
We started by cleaning the floor and applying a hard surface primer to be assured of adhesion.

Without preparing a floor correctly you can have some major issues. Once it was clean and rimed, we added WB 250 base coat and then an intermediate coat with a heavy partial broadcast of flakes

Once that was done we returned the next day, removed the extra flakes and added a clear top coat to help protect it all.

If you need an epoxy floor done for your home, facility or business lease call 484-821-7112 or email bidrequests@ryanamatopaintingllc.com.
www.ryanamatopainting.com

Here is a video of this entire process.