Exterior Painting Season

It's almost exterior painting season, how can we tell?
Every time the weather breaks for a day or so we get ten calls asking why we haven't started someone's project yet.

It never fails, we can come out of the coldest, wettest winter, it can snow yesterday but when it hits 40 degrees or so everyone will call, we chalk that up to excitement in getting the project done.

However we must have realistic expectations and know when it is really time to start your exterior painting, what no one wants to do is start a project and then the weather goes back down and we have to stop, and now we have ten projects started that we cannot finish, have to start new ones to keep everyone working and just a cluster of incomplete work.

Every painting contractor I know has come out of the worst 2018, weather-wise and many projects were held over to be done in the Spring, add to that your other work still scheduled and you have an interesting painting schedule to deal with.

Also, the temps are still dropping below freezing at night if you paint too far into the afternoon and the temperatures fall you could have some issues with the coatings.

We like to watch the weather closely and look ahead at the long range forecast and try to set projects up that way in the order that they were booked.

Remember there are other projects going on then just one and many that were booked ahead of yours, patience is the key when working with any good contractor.

Most paints now can go down to about 37 degrees, maybe a bit lower but we try to not press that if it is not absolutely needed. For the typical homeowner, this is not needed and they should simply wait, the projects that have to be done for a sale or a business or other reason other than we simply want it done are the priorities this time of the year.

Let's all hope for a great mild Spring and awesome summer so we can get all of our projects done early and or on time. We get to work with so many great people and businesses I wish we could do them all at one time but obviously, that is impossible.

Can you go lower in price?

Can you lower your price?

"We received your proposal, we are still getting other estimates but yours is the highest so far, can you do any better on your price?" John A. Easton,Pa


Thank you for emailing, we can certainly discuss the price, I am glad you reached out but first, can we review the time and conversation we had while I was out there?
You mentioned when I was there that quality was the most important thing to you. has that since changed?

The reason I ask is now you are comparing our proposal to price alone. in my experience comparing price alone only works when you're comparing the same product or experience, we do not feel anyone can match our experience, communication and value at all. were top quality products still important? someone to be available to answer any questions you may have?
Do the other companies have someone answering the phone 24/7 or allow you to text or chat with them?

Are their painter's employees or subcontractors? Not knowing who will do your project until they scramble to find someone? These are all questions you should ask not to mention the insurance and workers compensation needed to protect your amazing house or business.

There are certainly more things. the un saids that are important such as training our painters, safety and knowledge and relationships in the painting industry that we bring.

If this has all changed please send us the other proposals and we will review and make sure we all match one another in promises, experience and being able to give you the project you hope for the price promised by others.

Ryan Amato 


This is a real conversation guys, one we get frequently and we always answer the same way, we're not a commodity, we are offering our experience and training over the years and the value our companies bring. don't let under cutters threaten you, they are just disrupting the market with sales pitches, getting things done in one day the lowest price etc.
there aren't many shortcuts that can be taken that will not effect your projects. there will always be a lowest price but at what expense.?

Sherwin Williams Vs Benjamin Moore Dry Erase

          Sherwin Williams Vs. Benjamin Moore Dry Erase 

Who Will Be The Winner? Let's See

For those that do not know many companies make a dry erase coating, it can be clear or white, it will allow you to write on the wall or other surfaces you choose.

This is based on personal experience as I have used almost every dry erase coating including, Idea, Rust-Oleum and a few others. These coatings are not inexpensive some costing hundreds of dollars to cover about 100sq ft but when you consider the actual cost of a dry erase board and the flexibility of putting this almost wherever you want the cost is comparable.

Remember the coating you see in the big box stores are typically homeowner variations, they are not even close to the quality of the contractor versions.

 

So I decided to test two after I had no luck with some of the other coatings, some issues I saw were not able to be erased, ghosting (seeing the marker even when erased) Not curing, the coating sagging when applied no matter what we applied it with or how we applied it. Obviously, we want a dry erase coating that actually erases.

Through our relationships with Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore, I was given these coatings to test. First up was Sherwin Williams Sketch Pad, it is a two-part water-based epoxy coating and came in a clear.

We decided to paint the under color red, we used Pro Mar 200 and put on a few coats after patching the wall.

A kit goes about 50 sq ft, after mixing you have one hour of pot life to use this product. 

Everything you need will come in the kit, dry time is four hours, 1 day to recoat and 7 days to cure before using.

So I masked out the wall and rolled on using their roller cover one coat and then coated it again the next day. What did I see? it certainly runs a bit so make sure you mask down the wall a little more than normal and don't over apply.

After 7 days I pulled out the markers and wrote away, it did initially erase but however a few weeks later it got worse and subsequently worse until it would not erase, we had to use a solvent (xylene) to get the marker to erase.

Ease of application 10

Erasability initially 10, after a few weeks 0

Smell not bad

Would we use again no

Would not recommend for a homeowner or on a project

Next up Benjamin Moore Notable.

I will say after using every other product I really wasn't looking forward to another one.

But I was given the kit to try and I like trying new products.

First up I masked out the wall again and lightly sanded and wiped the wall down and primed the wall and repainted it red again using Ultraspec from Benjamin Moore

Again this kit comes with everything you will need, it is a two-part silicone hybrid  based epoxy

It is a wet on wet recoat and 7-day cure 

Here is what I found, it had very little smell, I applied it a bit lighter this time after my experience with all the others sagging which worked.

I love the wet on wet application, two coats in one shot and it's done.

Once completed and after 7 days we went right at it, writing, I could tell right away it looked and felt different and the marker fell off the wall so easy when writing.

One major difference months later it still easily erases.

Ease of application 10

Erasability 10

Smell not bad at all

We would recommend for a homeowner and any project

It is a bit pricey but certain,ly it delivers

I will say if you apply it as recommended it may sag/run, I know that from my past use of these coatings, go a little lighter

Hands down the winner is Benjamin Moore here, not even close.

Painting A Medical Facility

Painting A Medical Facility.

Painting a medical facility takes a trained and professional staff as you will surely have challenges unlike other commercial painting work  such as:

• Using Products around people who are sick, low to zero voc products
• Wet paint around a very busy facility and many people
• Safety issues and tight workspaces
• Being considerate of your surroundings, being quiet, not disrupting the work of the staff
• Guiding patients to the correct areas and helping when needed
• The work surely will be phased, have you properly estimated it for these delays?

Medical painting and facility painting can be great.

It also can be disastrous if your staff is not trained as a company, are they professional and do they know that some matters will take priority over the painting work and can come at any moment?

It can be frustrating if you're not prepared for these types of delays but with the proper planning and the training of your staff, these types of projects can be very rewarding. Knowing your working in a clean area with special paints that will help keep the walls germ free goes a long way in taking pride in your work, it goes one step further knowing your also helping out a team of doctors, nurses and staff in the hospitals or clinics.

Amato Painting does countless commercial painting projects.

The hospitals, clinics, and rehab centers are one of our specialties and we have worked for some of the areas largest facilities down to small clinics. Some of this work is done at night but keep in mind most of the facilities are still running so it takes a highly trained staff of painters to accomplish these projects. Throwing subcontractors or unskilled "painters" into projects like this is a recipe for disaster.

Some types of things painting can do for your facility 

• Anti-scuff paint for high traffic areas
• Clean rooms and germ-free walls
• Color coordinating hallways
• Protection of surfaces from rust, mildew, and mold
• Patient and employee morale using certain colors
• Protection from water damage for exterior surfaces
• Staying up to date on inspections

If you need a consultation on what a professional company can offer your facility please schedule online at www.ryanamatopainting.com

How to get the best price when painting your home

How to get the best price when painting your home.

When you decide to have your home painted whether it's the interior or exterior you have a few things to do to make sure you get the best price for your project.

Remember you can always get a lower price, that is not the goal here, you want to find the best value for the price, the lowest price may actually be the highest when all is said and done.

How can that be you ask? It's simple, you have three prices to paint your bedroom, let's say $500,$600 and $800

Of course, the $500 is tempting, you only have so much money allocated, they seem fine and anyone can paint, right?

The painting estimate

• But they want you to supply the paint, so you have to take time, run to the store, get the paint. If you don't order enough guess who is running back out for more paint? And hopefully, they don't charge you for the wasted time.
• The will not help with color selections at all, so you have more work to do.
• Maybe they used a lower grade of paint, which means it will not last as long, clean up well and you will be forced to repaint in another year (ADDED COSTS)
• They use subcontractors who are not trained by the same company, you may get a good paint crew and you may not, it's a gamble. 
• They may not be insured and the subcontractor also may not be insured making things very sketchy should an injury happen.
• If something happens who will come back and touch up? Wil they come back at all?
• Is the communication good throughout the process? 
• Is their relationship with the paint manufacturer a good one? Support from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams surely helps any project should an issue arise.

 What painting actually costs

So that $500 estimate could actually cost you double or triple a year or two down the road by having to repaint the work again or worse yet an accident and your insurance will cost with a deductible.

The lowest price is usually that for a reason, not in every case but the majority of the time. Saving money is great however when it will cost you more, in the long run, you have to be very diligent and think about the goals of the project.

Here are some tips to get a great price when painting your home.

• Develop a relationship with your painting contractor, when you have projects pop up you will have a go-to company and with that usually comes perks such as free upgrades of paint, an extra here and there and knowing who is around your home.
• Know exactly what you want to be done and clearly explain that to your estimator
• Make sure what you said you want to be done is clearly listed in the proposal, many companies will do a completely different job than the one you wanted using cheap paints and materials or untrained labor.

With our company, we offer a free color consultation with a decorator, touch ups once per year and a highly skilled staff of employees

Ride along with me on a commercial estimate

Take a trip with me on a commercial estimate

Doing commercial estimates is no easy tasks and doing 9 in one day is even tougher. \

But with proper preparation and planning and the correct systems in place, I did this in 2.5 hours and sent them all while I was onsite.

It's important to know just being the lowest price does not make you successful, you need to service your clients while also being profitable.

Anyone can be the lowest price and this isn't a race to the bottom of the pile of failed companies.

Painting companies are notoriously bad business people, heck I was in the paint store and a few never heard of workers compensation the other day. That's crazy.

So follow along with me and see what goes into a day at Amato Painting with Ryan.