Lehigh Valley Exterior Painting

 

Don't Let Your Lehigh Valley Home Lose Its Luster: The Importance of Exterior Painting with Ryan Amato Painting  

Living in the Lehigh Valley, we all know the importance of a well-maintained home.

Our four distinct seasons bring vibrant beauty, but they can also take a toll on our property's exterior.

Here at Ryan Amato Painting, we understand the unique challenges faced by Lehigh Valley homeowners, and we're dedicated to providing exceptional exterior painting services that will keep your home looking its best, year after year.

More Than Just a Paint Job: Protecting Your Investment

A fresh coat of paint does wonders for curb appeal, but it's about more than just aesthetics.

The exterior of your home is the first line of defense against the elements.

Sun, rain, wind, snow, and even fluctuating temperatures can cause significant damage to your siding over time.

High-quality exterior paint acts as a protective barrier, shielding your home from these damaging effects.

By regularly repainting your exterior with Ryan Amato Painting, you're not just enhancing your home's beauty, you're making a smart investment in its longevity and value.

Long-Lasting Beauty and Increased Efficiency

We use only the highest quality paints and materials, specifically formulated for the Lehigh Valley climate.

These paints not only provide a beautiful, long-lasting finish, but some even offer advanced features like solar reflectance.

By reflecting sunlight during the hot summer months, these specialized paints can help regulate the temperature inside your home, potentially leading to lower energy bills.

Expert Craftsmanship and Unwavering Customer Focus

At Ryan Amato Painting, we're not just about slapping on a coat of paint.

Our team of skilled and experienced painters takes pride in their craft, meticulously preparing surfaces and ensuring a flawless finish that will stand the test of time.

We understand that your home is your biggest investment, and we treat it with the respect it deserves. That's why we offer free, no-obligation consultations and detailed estimates so you can make informed decisions about your project.

Our focus is on clear communication, exceptional customer service, and exceeding your expectations throughout the entire process.

The Ryan Amato Painting Difference

• Local Expertise: We're a locally owned and operated business with a deep understanding of the specific challenges faced by Lehigh Valley homeowners.
• Free Consultations and Estimates: Get expert advice and a clear breakdown of project costs before you commit.
• Meticulous Preparation: We take the time to properly prepare surfaces, ensuring a long-lasting and beautiful finish.
• High-Quality Materials: We use only the best paints and materials designed for the Lehigh Valley climate.
• Skilled and Experienced Painters: Our team takes pride in their craftsmanship and delivers exceptional results.
• Unwavering Customer Focus: Clear communication, transparent pricing, and a commitment to your satisfaction are our top priorities.
• Warranty on Workmanship: We stand behind our work and offer a warranty on all workmanship.

Investing in Your Home's Future

A well-maintained exterior not only enhances your home's curb appeal and value, but it also protects your investment, potentially lowers your energy costs, and gives you peace of mind knowing your home is well-protected. Don't let your Lehigh Valley home lose its luster.

Contact Ryan Amato Painting Today

We're here to help you breathe new life into your home's exterior. Call us today at (484) 821-7112 or visit our website at www.ryanamatopainting.com to schedule your free consultation and estimate. Let Ryan Amato Painting transform your Lehigh Valley home with the quality, expertise, and customer service you deserve.

What it really costs to paint your home

Pricing a painting or epoxy project typically involves several factors, including the size of the project, the materials and labor required, the level of detail and customization requested by the client, and the market rates for similar projects in the area.

The value you receive is also a major consideration

We are so confident in the work we guarantee, we offer free touch ups for life on most interior residential painting projects

For painting projects, the first step is to measure the surface area to be painted, as this will determine the amount of paint and supplies required.

Next, the condition of the surface may need to be assessed to determine if any repairs or prep work are needed before painting can begin. This can also impact the final cost.

Additionally, the type of paint selected can also impact the pricing. For example, if a client requests a premium quality paint, this will increase the overall cost of the project.

Likewise, if the project requires multiple coats of paint, or if there are intricate details or designs involved, this will also increase the final cost.

Similarly, when pricing an epoxy project, the size of the area to be covered and the type of epoxy being used will be factors. Different types of epoxy can vary in price, with some being more expensive due to their higher quality or durability.

Labor costs are another factor in pricing a painting or epoxy project. The amount of labor required will depend on the complexity of the project and the skill level of the workers.

For example, if the project requires a high level of detail or customization, this may require more skilled labor, which will increase the overall cost.

In summary, pricing a painting or epoxy project involves considering several factors, including the size of the project, the materials and labor required, the level of detail and customization, and market rates in the area.

By taking these factors into account, a fair and accurate price can be determined for the project.

Here are some examples of what different projects may cost and our minimums

Epoxy Garage floors: We use only the highest grade epoxy, this is not your epoxy from the big box store or paint store.

Many variables go into epoxy floor installations such as.

• The current condition of the surface, more patching means more money.
• The density of the concrete, the harder it is, the more aggressive grinding and preparation is needed.
• What is the moisture content and pressure of the surface, if over a certain range a special primer will be needed
• How soon do you need the project done?
• Does it need to be done in phases, the more phases equals more cost
• The use of the floor, how will the floor be used? Foot traffic, cars and trucks, chemicals? All of these can change the cost as the correct products must be used

Our projects begin at $4 a sq ft and go well above $10 or more a sq ft depending on the complexity of the project.

Our minimum epoxy floor is $1750, to bring all of our equipment out we are not set up for smaller projects at this time.

For example a typical basement of 1200 sq ft for a basic professional coating would cost around $4800-$6000 or more

A typical two car garage in good condition will be between $2500-$4000 or more depending on the variables mentioned above

Kitchen Cabinet Projects as well depend on many factors, how much preparation, types of paint used, is there oak grain, any damage?

Our minimum project starts at $1750 and typically is between $3500-6000 for a standard kitchen which is much below replacing them.

By using a high quality cabinet coating, and free lifetime touch ups you can be assured of your satisfaction.

Interior Painting: Our minimum project begins at $1250 and usually around the cost for a single small bedroom with the walls, ceiling, trim and doors painted. Full interiors typically range from $5000-$20,000 or more depending on the complexity of the project.

A typical small bedroom of 10x12 will be between $600-$800 for the ceilings, walls and trim painted.

Our exterior projects also begin at $1500 which will get some trim work, a front door, or shutters completed in most cases.

Full exteriors can range from $3500-$25,000 or more depending on many factors

Remember all projects are unique, using sq ft pricing off of the internet will not typically work you are looking what to expect with pricing. 

This is why it is important to be present at your estimate

We look forward to meeting you. 

Amato Painting

Now is the time to schedule your exterior painting

 Why You Should Schedule Exterior Painting for Spring Now

As winter comes to a close, you may be starting to think about sprucing up the exterior of your home or business. One of the best ways to give your property a fresh, updated look is with a new coat of paint. But why is now the time to schedule exterior painting for the spring? Here are a few reasons to consider:

1. Ideal Weather Conditions

One of the main reasons to schedule exterior painting for the spring is the weather. Springtime typically brings milder temperatures and lower humidity levels, which are ideal conditions for painting. When the weather is too hot, cold, or humid, it can affect the quality of the paint and make it difficult to achieve a smooth, even finish. Springtime provides the perfect conditions for paint to dry and cure properly, leading to a beautiful, long-lasting result.

2. Get Ahead of the Rush

Another reason to schedule exterior painting now is to get ahead of the rush. As the weather warms up, many homeowners and business owners start thinking about painting their exteriors, which can lead to a backlog of work for painting contractors. By scheduling your project now, you can ensure that you get on the contractor's calendar early and avoid any potential delays in completing your project.

3. Increase Your Property's Value

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your property's curb appeal and value. If you're planning to sell your home or business in the near future, a new exterior paint job can be a great way to attract potential buyers and increase the value of your property. By scheduling your painting project for the spring, you can have your property looking its best just in time for the busy real estate season.

4. Protect Your Property from the Elements

Finally, scheduling exterior painting for the spring is a great way to protect your property from the elements. Paint serves as a protective barrier against the sun, wind, rain, and other weather conditions that can cause damage to your property's exterior. By painting your property in the spring, you can ensure that it's well-protected before the summer heat and storms set in.

In conclusion, now is the time to schedule your exterior painting project for the spring. By taking advantage of the ideal weather conditions, getting ahead of the rush, increasing your property's value, and protecting your property from the elements, you can ensure that your property looks great and is well-protected for years to come. Contact a professional painting contractor today to schedule your project and get started on the path to a beautiful, updated exterior.

Proper Expectations When Painting The Exterior Of Your Home

 

Its exterior painting season and one of the main things that are important to an ex terior painting job is proper preparation of the surfaces. 

When planning to paint the exterior of your home or business it's very important to check and inspect every surface around the house whether it's siding wood trim aluminum or other materials

Painting on top of damaged wood or metal can significantly lower the long Gemini of the paint job however  Sometimes a budgetary restraints can significantly reduce the preparation of a surface

It's a balance between budget and proper preparation on some projects especially historical homes.

 What is proper preparation of a service proper preparation of a surface for a paint job is clean dull and dry notice I did not say smoothed a surface does not have to be smooth to be properly prepared and paint it especially on older homes were you've have many many layers of painted surface chipped paint paint the has been painted over over the years and multiple layers of other a paints.

When we discuss these types of jobs we like to give clear expectations on what the customer is going to receive what the customer wants and what the customer can pay for again it is a fine balance between budget and a properly painted surface.

When preparing a surface it's very important that the customer clearly explains what they want the surface to look like after the job is done because the number one issue on any paint job is failed and missed expectations.

The few issues we've had on paint jobs have been surfaces where a customer thinks that a home that has been painted countless times over should be completely smooth where in the real world that service needs to be completely stripped and that is a whole different job than a repaint

A properly painted surface for us at a normal job is preservation techniques with preservation techniques we one remove any failed paint that is clearly chipping we want a feather sand that area notice I did not say fill it in or make it smooth we want a prime any bear would typically using an oil based exterior primer and then a top quality exterior paint on top of that 1 coat 2 coats it depends on the job itself.

As long as the customer has clear written expectations that are also put into their contract and proposal and you fully walk them through the job and explain what can and what can't be done 

You should have no issues on your painting project.

Why does a customer feel a surface should be smooth even if it has not been for the last 50 years these are questions that we ask ourselves all the time and I guess that's that's part of the issue now with Google with Yahoo with being able to go on to YouTube and watch other preparations and home shows.

The issues with the shows are their perfect conditions and there are very compressed video where a job may have taken weeks they put it down into less than an hour of show.

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In the real world these types of preparations time frames and applications are impossible, Although maybe I shouldn't say impossible it is certainly possible with the right budget.

In our area Pennsylvania we're lucky if we get a few days a year with ideal conditions to paint from rain to snow to sleet to to Hi of humidity the dew points never correct we have very limited time to actually paint if you went by the specifications from the manufacturers.

The manufactures are very aware that these conditions can never be met so they do give broad ranges and better explanations on the local level with your sales rep.

Knowing that if you have an area that is currently peeling or failing that it is likely it could peel and fail again what we see are issues with moisture expansion and contraction causing pain failures locally correcting these issues and putting the new coat of paint on May not correct the the moisture or expansion and contraction movement issues.

Doing your best diligence to properly prepare these surfaces goes a long way in making a great paint job.

It's Exterior Painting Season

It is that time of the year again, the flowers are coming up, trees blooming, allergies are back but the best time of the year is exterior painting season is upon us.

There are a few things to deal with this time of the year, weather is the biggest concern as temperatures will greatly fluctuate as well as the humidity and rain. Managing all of these things takes patience and experience on your part and your contractors. 
You will need to understand some days it may be impossible to put a paint coating on due to humidity or rain on the way. Your contractor will (should ) have vast knowledge and experience dealing with these issues and have his or her tricks of the trade ready to go when things arise.

Weather

Weather plays a very important part of every exterior project, we do not want it to rain on the paint coating we are putting on for a few reasons. One we "may" have to do it again, rain can cause marking on an uncured paint coating , that is the moisture being mixed into the coating, not the end of the world just added time and expense.
Number two is we certainly do not want our surfaces taking on even more moisture then it needs to. Moisture is a big cause of paint failures, have your contractor do some moisture testing around your home if you have bare wood or decks your about to paint or stain. However be prepared for the bad news you may not be able to have your project done right now.

The Schedule

It never fails, we all wait until the last minute to plan our projects around the home and then expect contractors are standing by to tackle these and have no other work to do or an unlimited amount of painters to do these projects.

You snooze you lose

You snooze you lose is never more true when you need something done, you haven't planned ahead and all the good contractors are booked solid. Repeat A GOOD CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE BOOKED

I would tread lightly when someone is available right away unless they perhaps had a cancellation or surprise opening, it should not be out the question that a qualified contractor is booked out 4,8,12 weeks or more. It is not worth it to me to get someone to do it now who may not be the most qualified of contractors.

Plan Ahead In The Winter

The winter months are the best times to plan and schedule your exterior work, contractors are usually more than happy to get you competitive pricing and know the schedule a bit better at this time before the chaos of the busy Spring and Summer months hit. It is not uncommon to see specials, discounts and deals at this time.

If you need exterior painting please reach out to us at 484-821-7112 or email bidrequests@ryanamatopaintingllc.com

Exterior Painting Expectations

Exterior Painting Expectations

Deciding to paint the exterior of your home is something most everyone has to do at some point.

Even if you have vinyl or aluminum siding, wood or other there will be a time you need to paint that dull or faded siding.

Expectations are the most important thing you need to express to the estimator who comes out to your home. Not every painting company will prepare and paint your home the same way just as each restaurant you go to doesn't prepare your food the same way.

There is a level of service for every different person and budget. To expect that to be the same from the company top company can be ripe for disappointment.

First things first preparation of the surface

Here is an important area for any paint job, with aluminum siding or vinyl siding there isn't too much for confusion, make sure it is cleaned, any damaged pieces should be replaced by a siding contractor and then properly paint it. 

What about wood 

Here is where differences will come into play.

In our area, we have a mix of new and older homes that have been painted countless times already.

Without contracting with your painter to completely strip your surfaces it will not be completely smooth like new if you have many old layers of peeling paint. We believe this is the number one area of confusion with exterior painting

Preservation

We use the preservation method of preparation of the surface. This would include scraping loose paint, not removing old layers that are sound, caulking gaps and voids where needed and typically overlaying the caulk. Spot priming any bare wood and lightly sanding (feather sanding) the surfaces.

You will still see the old layers of paint however you will have a protected sound surface that will last for years. This is acceptable for 9 out of 10 people but if they are expecting a stripped smooth surface you will be disappointed. The issue is, that type of service is expensive and not many people would want to go that costly route but do want those results. It's comparable to having the budget for a used car but expecting a brand new BMW.

Restoration

Restoration is the total restoring of a surface, we do not offer this service personally. It is costly because it takes a long time, very expensive labor and top of the line materials usually matching historical trim pieces. Not many people would go this route but some do expect it.

Be At the Estimate

It sounds simple but to avoid any missed expectations, be at the estimate and have a real conversation with the estimator. You would not believe how many people call for an estimate and either will not be home or not walk around the home with me. Those jobs have a 50/50 shot of going bad in one way or the other. Be at the estimate and take the time to walk around the home, point out areas that are concerning to you, remember it's your home and you know it's in and outs. An estimator is only there for maybe an hour. The more you can tell us, the better so we can prescribe the correct paint job and meet or exceed your expectations.

If you would like a free no-hassle consultation please call us at 484-821-7112 www.ryanamatopainting.com

It may be cold but it's time to think of your exterior painting

It may be cold outside but it's time 

to think about your exterior painting

It may be cold, rainy or snowy outside but we are already in February and it is certainly time to plan your exterior painting.

Most professional painting companies are already scheduling their Spring and Summer work, I know we are and if you wait too long you could end up with a company you didn't intend on using.

On our end, our exterior estimates have never slowed down, we schedule at least one or two every week throughout the winter, it is also the time facility managers are setting their budgets for their Spring and Summer work which means very large jobs can take a chunk of the schedule at any moment.

So we recommend first knowing what you would like to have painted, is it the entire home, the trim only, some doors or a deck? Have that plan ready when we arrive. A customer who knows exactly what they want painted makes it so much easier to establish the correct price.

We like to walk around the home with the customer, carefully listening to their expectations, timeframe and then the discussion about their budget. Having a discussion about the budget at this time, face to face is the best time to review and adjust as needed.

Your going to have to trust the company you choose to do your painting work and discussing your budget is one of those areas you have to be open and honest. A company you can trust will not take advantage of this discussion.

After all of this is out in the open, we can go over the timeframe and schedule. With exterior painting work, you're going to deal with many things, such as weather, unforeseen things like rotted wood and a few other things. 

In the Northeast where we live and work, we deal with humidity, rain, heat, wind, etc. It seems like we experience every type of weather possible. Being experienced enough to know you have to work around this weather, there is rarely a perfect day to paint in our area.

A professional painter knows how to work around this type of issue, some days starting later in the day pr ending earlier in the afternoon to avoid the sun, freezing temperatures or other things. You have to at this point put your trust in the painter you chose to do your project.

A good exterior painting project will deal with delays, unforeseen issues, weather and more and you as the customer may never even know about these things if you have a good painter who has experience dealing with them.

An open dialogue is also very important, communication is the number one area a project may go wrong. Keeping proper expectations and being open to discussing the project each day is important for a successful paint project.

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.

Why You Should Be Home For Your Estimate

Why be home for your estimate:

When getting a painting estimate or an estimate for work around your home
for that matter it is important to be able to let the estimator know what you
expect when the project is done.

You may say why? Each job no matter who I use should be prepared,
painted and done the same but that is further from the truth then you would know.

There is not a specific standard of work from company to company and
most painting projects have very
different levels of service for the same thing, for instance spackling.

Preparation Of Surfaces

You can spackle a wall with many different levels of quality, from low to high
and somewhere in the middle is typical, but if you think they are doing it to perfection and they
are thinking the opposite,
it doesn’t mean they did a bad job, it was a missed expectation not explained
by the painter or asked for by the homeowner.

The same goes for exterior preparation work such as scraping peeling paint, under
most circumstances work is done by preservation techniques,
meaning loose paint is scrapped,
some caulking may be done,
usually bare wood is pot primed but then it is painted. If you're thinking the surface
will be completely smooth you
will be very upset with the final appearance. It will certainly how old levels of paint,
uneven surfaces and more, without stripping the entire surface you
will not get a level surface
under a normal repaint project.

The Estimate

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone out for an estimate and the person
who ultimately would be critiquing the work was not there,
leaving it to another person to try
to explain what they wanted to be done
or no one at all was home. These projects go bad 9 out of ten times.

Comments like bad quality, not enough prep or scrapping are mentioned when
in reality it was a mixed expectation or an expectation
that could never be met with a normal repaint.

So what to do? It’s simple be home, if you cannot be home at the least have
a conversation with the estimator and create a detailed list,
then its possible this can be matched
up with the estimator's
notes and work order. 

We have actually implemented a policy that we will not go out on an estimate
unless the decision make will be onsite, this may cost us
a few estimates opportunities
but in the long run, it is better
to have less work
than clients who are upset with the quality of the work from missed expectations. 

The number one thing that turns a new project bad is missed expectations,
it always comes down to this, when we look back at a bad
project or one that turned bad.