Painting, You or the Professional?

A series on interior and exterior painting by B&K Painting

Part 1

The simple truth about painting is that some jobs, big or small, are better left to a professional.  Some painting jobs may require specialized equipments that is expensive to buy, impossible to rent, or dangerous to an inexperienced operator.  Some chemicals or solvents may be dangerous or cause serious reactions. And finally, it may simply be cheaper to have a professional do the job.  An estimation of the costs and time involved, factored in with what you feel your time is worth, will let you compare your cost to the estimate of a professional.

It’s fairly easy to estimate the monetary costs involved in painting.  First, start with a list of all the equipment you will need for the job.  This may include putty and knives, caulking and caulking guns, sandpaper, masking tape and plastic, drop cloths, brushes, rollers, spray equipment, ladders, scrapers and wire brushes, respirators, and gloves in addition to paint. 

A trip to a local Sherwin Williams store will help you determine prices for the materials you need to buy.  Sherwin Williams paints typically list coverage rates and specifications on the label.  To figure out how much paint to buy, measure the surface area (length x width) you need to paint and multiply it by the number of coats you want. 

Trade Secret

All Masking Tapes Are Not Equal

Have you ever noticed that if you leave regular tan masking tape on something too long, it is almost impossible to remove, tearing and leaving adhesive residue behind?  And besides, it often makes a ragged line with some coatings instead of a crisp clean line.  That’s not your fault.  You are simply choosing the wrong tape.  There are several specialty tapes that work better.

One company, 3M, color-coded their specialty tapes making the differences easier to see.  Their blue ling Mask tape is designed to remain on for a week and still come off clean, with no residue.  For a clean, masked line when painting, use 3M’s bright green Lacquer Tape.

Take Your Pick

Good Brushes vs. Cheap Varieties

There is no reason why you can’t use cheap throwaway or foam brushes for jobs where the quality of the surface does not matter.  Putting on stain that will be wiped off is a good example.  Those foam-on-a-stick brushes are great for putting down the first coat of primer or oil varnish.  For anything that requires a smooth layout with no brush marks and no hairs in the finish, good brushes are an important investment.  You’ll appreciate the difference. Our favorite multipurpose brush is the Sherwin Williams Contractor Series 2 ½ inch angled sash brush. 

Article provided by B&K Painting.  Stay tuned for our next part of the series.  For free estimates and a 10% senior discount, call Chris at 861-7327 or visit our website at www.bnkpainting.com