ATLANTA PAINTERS

Read our reviews on Atlanta painters and painting contractors

Preparing the area to paint

Good preparation is the key to a good paint job.  Paint should only be applied to a clean, well-prepared surface.  Any peeled or cracked paint must be removed through either scraping or sanding.  Simply painting over peeled or cracked paint allows these unsightly problems to quickly reemerge.  All mold and mildew on the surface should also be removed before applying new paint.  Existing glossy paint should be "dulled" or "deglossed" through sanding so that a good bond between the old paint and the new paint is formed.  Holes should be filled or patched.  The area should be cleaned using a strong cleaner such as a trisodium phosphate solution.  Primers are used to cover any bare wood before painting.  Finally, masking tape is commonly used to keep paint off glass, fixtures, door handles, and latches.

Other services

Many painting contractors offer a variety of useful, optional services in addition to painting.  It may be convenient, or even necessary, to engage some of these additional services at the time of painting.

Carpentry and wall repair.  Most reputable painters will remove nails and spackle holes as part of preparing the work areas.  Some painters have carpenters on staff to take care of more extensive repairs such as replacing rotted wood, repairing damaged wood siding or molding, and patching or replacing damaged drywall.

Pressure washing.  Sometimes called chemical rinsing, pressure washing is the process of using high-pressure water to remove mold, mildew, and dirt from home exteriors.  As part of an exterior painting job, most painters will arrange to pressure wash the area to be painted before painting work begins.  Some painters also offer pressure washing services for homes and decks even when painting is not required.  (See the window cleaners, gutter cleaners, and pressure washers section for more information.) 

Painting contractors

Knowledge and experience are key to successful painting.  Reputable painters know which products to use where, drying times, and drying temperatures.  Many painters carry either no insurance or inadequate insurance.  Painters, like any company working at the home, should carry both liability and workers' compensation insurance.  (Click here for more information on insurance.)

Some painters request large up-front payments to cover the paint purchase. Avoid up-front payments whenever possible. Some painters spend the up-front paint money on something other than paint and then delay starting the job because they have no paint. Lending money to a painter who cannot afford to buy paint is a risky proposition. If you must hire such a painter, accompanying the painter to the store to purchase the paint is a good compromise. You should pay the store directly for the paint and should then take the paint back to your house. Of course, an even better solution is to hire a reputable company in the first place. Click here for additional consumer tips. The Home Reports research identified a number of high-quality painting companies.

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