Tip of the day: How to hire a painter in Dublin

The majority of homeowners work with a contractor to repaint the outside of their house. Follow our advice to help ensure a high-quality job, whether you'll have your house painted this fall or next spring.

State your expectations. The number of coats a painter applies isn't really the only factor in figuring out the quality-- and cost-- of the job. Preparation is also key. If you want a surface that's devoid of disproportion from past paint tasks, inform the contractors-- and be prepared to pay extra. However if you can cope with some imperfections, settle on exactly what level of preparation is appropriate and exactly what isn't really.

Meet the pros. Hire at least 3 various professionals for your task. (Friends and family ready recommendation sources.) And be home for the preliminary conference with them. That way, you'll understand just how much time each specialist required to examine the condition of your house. The longer he takes, the more sensible the price quote you'll get. Even an experienced painter will need more than a quick walk around your house.

Likewise ask each contractor about the size of his crew and the members' experience level.



Get price quotes. Look for a written estimate from each contractor. It must consist of a breakdown of labor, material costs, the number of coats of guide and paint, the brand and design of products, and an in-depth description of the amount of surface area preparation that will be done.

Consider qualifications. Before you work with someone, consider his qualifications. Subscription in a trade or local organisation group, for example, isn't really a guarantee of quality work, but it shows a level of dedication and reliability on his part. Likewise validate whether the pro has the suitable license(s).

Inspect references and past work. Get a list of recommendations from each professional and call them to find about their experience with the pro. A history of positive references is a good indication. Likewise take a look at tasks the painters did a number of years ago to see how their work is holding up. Usage current projects to check the ability of their existing teams.

Acquire a complete contract. The contract needs to include all the specialist's key details: name, address, workplace and cell numbers, and license number, plus whatever information remained in the estimate. Make sure the contract clearly mentions what is and is not consisted of in the job.

Get a copy of the painter's liability and employees' compensation insurance certificates. If he doesn't have protection, you might be on the hook if, for instance, the crew drops a ladder on your next-door neighbor's car or a crew member gets harmed on the job.



Request an assurance. The painter must promise to remedy any cracking, peeling, blistering, flaking, or excessive fading or chalking that happens within two years after the job is done at no or little cost. If he informs you the paint itself has a guarantee, bear in mind that does not include labor, which is a far more pricey proposition than product.



Choose the paint yourself. Your painter may try to talk you into a paint he chooses, but utilize the surface you want. See our most current report on exterior paints and stains and refer to our Ratings (readily available to customers) to discover leading performers.



Look for lead. If your home was constructed before 1978, older coats of paint might include lead. That suggests the painter may need to take extra preventative measures to avoid any dangers. See "Getting the lead out" for more details.



Hold out. Finally, don't make a big down payment and keep the final payment, typically 10 to 15 percent, till you are fully satisfied with the job.