What to Look for in Painting and Decorating Contractors

When you’re looking for professionals for painting, decorating and other elements of interior design, it’s critical to be able to find contractors that you can rely on for good results. In addition to good decorating ideas and adequate painting tools, quality interior decorating relies very much on hiring the right crews to give your interior the look you want. Here are some elements look for in good painting and decorating contractors.

Attention to Safety

One important element of hiring painting and decorating contractors is to be sure that these professionals keep safety as a guiding principle in their work. Knowing how to handle ladders and other tools is part of this approach. Shops that train entry-level staff sufficiently have an important edge in addressing safety issues. Another thing you want to look for in professional painting contractors is knowledge of lead abatement and standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or E.P.A. Older homes tend to have some lead paint in interior or exterior areas: better painting shops can help protect inhabitants with modern lead abatement strategies, recognizing that lead paints can pose a health risk in some situations.

Expertise in Application

There’s also a big difference between shops who know how to handle brushes and rollers, and those whose crews might need a little more experience. Most painting projects depend on skillful, precise application. Without this, drips and blotches may lead to final results that blatantly show a lack of professional application.

Knowledge of Paint Products

A good professional painting contractor will know what types of paint are best to apply to different surfaces, and whether to use latex, oil-based or other paints according to the project. Skilled contractors will also know or be able find out about “low VOC” paints, which are new paint products containing less Volatile Organic Compounds (vocs). Customers request these for less toxic and more environmentally sustainable interiors. Good shops will be able to suggest color and shade choices based on past experience. That doesn’t mean the client can shrug off responsibility for good color choices, only that experienced painters know a little more about the hues that have the best chance of successfully showcasing an interior space.

Good Cost Estimates

Another element of a competent paint and decorating shop is that they will be able to offer accurate estimates for a job. Many shops include prices per square foot (or wall), along with other kinds of estimates for detail work such as stencil-patterns in lieu of or adjacent to molding. Take a look at the estimate before signing to see how the shop breaks down the costs of the project. This can be a clue to how they will pursue implementation.

Finding these Professionals

Some consumer groups assist in finding the right professionals for painting and decorating jobs. Those looking to hire professional shops with the above types of knowledge can look at the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America web site, where informational resources and a consumer portal provide for access to tools where customers can find the right shops for their painting and decorating projects.