After an unusually long and hard winter, it is finally spring here in Indianapolis, Indiana and that means it’s time to get your exterior painting projects started. If you are planning to hire a professional painting company such as Greg Mrakich Painting, here are a few things that you can do to keep costs down – for both interior and exterior painting projects.
For interior painting, the number one money saving tip I can give you is to have the room or rooms ready for your painting contractor. Take pictures off the walls, remove the drapes, move small furniture out of the room. This will save the painting contractor time and the painter’s time is your money. If you were to hire me to paint a few rooms in your home and the rooms are ready to go, I can paint two rooms in the time it would take to paint one room if I have to remove items before starting my real work. It’s not that I mind doing so, I really don’t mind; but if you are cost conscious, it’s not the best use of my time or your money!
Since it is outdoor painting season in Indianapolis and most of the rest of the country, I’m focusing the rest of my tips on exterior painting:
- Like interior painting, clear the way for the painter. Make sure any bushes and tree limbs that could be in the way are trimmed back, and move any outdoor furniture away from the house. If your painter has easy and unencumbered access to your home’s exterior walls, he or she will be able to complete your project faster.
- Mid-tone to light colors will not show signs of fading as quickly as dark colors.
- Paint method – spraying versus brush and roller. Spraying is quicker, cheaper and uses less paint. But an exterior paint job done with brush and roller will far outlast a sprayed on coat of paint. The more expensive roller and brush paint job will save you money in the long run because you will have to paint less often.
- Lastly, and very important for those of you with houses built before 1978, schedule your exterior painting projects before the paint starts to peel. If the paint is peeling, there are new EPA regulations that a painter MUST follow to contain lead paint chips and dust. Any painter caught not following the EPA lead-safe regulations is subject to a $37,000 fine per infraction. Make sure your painter is EPA lead-safe certified to protect your family (particularly your children) and your pets.
Greg Mrakich Painting is an EPA lead-safe certified firm serving the greater Indianapolis market (Marion, Hamilton and Boone counties). Prior to relocating to Indianapolis from Pasadena, California in 2000, Greg Mrakich was licensed in painting and decorating by the State of California Contractors License Board. If you live in the Metropolitan Indianapolis area and would like to contact Greg about your next painting project click here.
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