The current economic climate has created a buyer's market for all construction services, including painting and drywall work. That's a good thing if you're trying to spruce up your commercial or residential interior exterior, whether it's for sale, rental, or just settling in for the duration.
Whatever your project, there will be no shortage of contractors willing to bid on it. The problem is that, unless you ask specific questions about what you're getting for your investment, you could be looking at apples and oranges when you compare bids. While you're almost certain to get a competitive price, it's more important than ever to know everything you can about the contractor you're hiring before you sign on the dotted line.
Companies desperate for work may cut corners on surface preparation, safety, insurance, or materials. Just as Consumer Reports prepares charts where you can check out features, benefits, and "watch-outs" of competing products side by side, you should build a bid comparison chart of the bidders and map the pluses and minuses. The lowest price could end up giving you a job that fails, a contractor who doesn't finish, or worse.
DON'T go out for too many bids. Make a short list of three to five contractors. Call however many contractors it takes to get to that list. If they don't get back with you or if the initial conversation doesn't feel right, move on. The best place to start is with the Painting and Decorating Foundation's "Find a Contractor" tool on this website. All of the contractors listed have high standards for training, safety, and business practices. Find a Contractor allows you to select contractors who perform the type of work you need done.
Bid Specifications
That's just construction-ese for the nitty-gritty of your project. If it's a painting job you'll want to know what the contractor intends to do in terms of preparing the surface. Surface prep can mean the difference between a job that lasts and a job that fails. You want to know about the quality of the materials being used. You want a firm time schedule and sequence of work. You want to know how the job is going to be done (in the case of painting you'd want to know if the coating was being applied by brushing, rolling, or spraying). If you have questions about materials or techniques the Painting and Decorating Foundation is available to answer your questions.
Safety and Health
Painting and drywall can be hazardous work, whether it's working on a ladder or dealing with dust, paints, old lead paint, or solvents. It can impact both you and the workers performing the project. The contractor you hire should readily provide information on safety practices.
Surface Preparation
Getting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference in the finished appearance and durability of your drywall or painted surface. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right. A professional contractor will tell you exactly what the issues are with your surface and how they intend to address those issues.
Materials and Application Knowledge
The choices in materials today are more complicated and professional contractors will know what works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job. Professional contractors utilize and partner with professional suppliers.
Cleanup and Disposal
Hiring a professional contractor means you don't have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other construction leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.
Mandatories for a Good Contractor
Always verify the contractor has a business registration and is insured. Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their business registration and current certificates of insurance. They should provide bonding information (if the job is large enough to require such) and documentation of safety training and compliance programs.
Written Contractors are a Must
Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted or drywalled, methods and extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment procedures.
Verify References
Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person, address, and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees treated the reference professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, some of the projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done.
This may seem like a lot of effort, but in a lowball bid market what seems like a good deal at the time can come back to haunt you. The Painting and Decorating Foundation is available to answer your questions regarding hiring contractors for painting and drywall. Call 314.427.1114.
From quick access to a safety consultant and reimbursement for hazardous waste disposal to a chance to golf with your fellow contractors and an open line of communication with the union - PDF exists to serve St. Louis area union painting, wallcovering and drywall taping contractors.