How to Choose the Right Painting Contractor

You will be able to relax while a
team paints your home if you
have done "your homework."

Some pretty basic steps for choosing the right professional contractor to paint your home are of course to first ask around, maybe on a neighborhood website or local social media to save time, in order to get some names to start calling. Then it is pretty standard to narrow them down to three candidates and ask for some on-site estimates. And of course it's important to be very specific about work expectations and details before the job has begun and to finalize things in writing.

But what exactly do you say or look for in the interview and what exactly should be in the contract?

Here are some questions to ask during each interview:

• How long have you been in business?
• Do you have the proper/required licenses? (This varies by state, and some states may not require licensing.)
• Do you have insurance and bonding? (This helps determine whether your contractor and any hired workers are insured for injury and liability.)
• Are you a member of any national or local painting contractors' associations?
• Do you subcontract your work or perform it yourself?
• Can you provide references?
• Do you offer written guarantees of your work?
• What products do you use?

Behavior to notice when meeting each candidate:

• Does the contractor project a sense of professionalism and experience?
• Is the contractor courteous and business-like?
• Is the contractor busy? (Good ones usually are.)
• Does the contractor return phone calls and provide estimates in a timely manner?
• Is the contractor on time for appointments?

What exactly should be in the contract:

• What exactly is being painted (house, trim, walls, molding, etc.)
• Details on preparation and cleanup
• Paint colors for each area to be painted
• How the contractor will protect plants, patios, furniture, or other items
• How much time the project will take, from start to finish
• When and how the contractor will be paid

READ MORE>> benjaminmoore.com: How to Find and Hire the Right Painting Contractor

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Fun Things To Do With Interior and Exterior Painting Projects in 2015

Painting is a low-cost way to do a
majority of your interior design.

Do you want painting ideas and inspiration for design projects around your home?

Learn how to stage your home for selling with neutrals. Get excited with ceiling paint ideas, creating easy but beautiful designs on your ceilings to add height and interest to what many designers call "the fifth wall". Consider vibrant accent walls. Use chalkboard paint, now available in any color, to make playful and artistic spaces in your home, (one fresh idea: a kitchen table-top canvas?!) or large wall calendars!

Outside, consider painting stepping stones or a timeless checkerboard porch floor, which requires minimal preparation and is decorative but understated and classic. Learn about how to use concrete stain to transform your patio with beautiful color blocks. 

If you lean towards being an artist, consider also learning some decorative painting techniques. How about wood-grains, marble and limestone look-alikes, tone-on-tone stenciled damasks, or a pearlescent hued wall encrusted with sea shells? These are some of the basic techniques you could learn how to do in your own home:

• Mottling
• Color Washing
• Strie
• Stenciling
• Layering
• Faux Finishes
• Pearlescent Hues
• Brush, roller, sponge, and cloth techniques

READ MORE HERE>> benjaminmoore.com: Painting Ideas For Your Home

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• Licensed and Insured
• Atlanta Better Business Bureau Member
• Interior and Exterior House Painting Coupons
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Spotlight on Trim: Consider Different Colors

Consider monochromatic
colors on the trim for
 a contemporary look.

Think of trim like the frame of a painting: It outlines and enhances the beauty of what's inside.

At its most elemental, trim adds punctuation to a room's elements. Crown molding signals that the wall is ending and the ceiling is beginning. Baseboard announces the transitions between wall and floor. Casings define the perimeter of doors and windows. Trim also has the aesthetic function of enhancing or changing the perception of a room's size and shape.

By using trim to create strong lines, you can make a room seem larger, or by breaking up soaring walls, you can make it seem cozier. 

• Through the use of trim you can both enhance and complete the design style you envision for the space. For a contemporary room, design experts suggest using techniques that help the trim blend with the room color. This can be achieved by painting the trim the same color as the walls or a tinted version of it. It gives the room a fresh, unified look.
  
• For classic or traditional interiors, using a white or off-white paint can really play up the trim and bring out its historical or intricate qualities. And many design experts consider white the perfect color for any trim, regardless of interior style or wall color. With dark walls, white trim lightens and brightens the room while making the wall color really "pop." And when walls are painted light or muted colors, white trim makes the color appear crisp and clean.
  
• A trend that has grown in popularity of late is selecting dark colors for trim – even black. Dark trim gives a room more depth than white or light trim does, and very effectively frames views when used on window casings. In addition, dark trim contrasts nicely with some of today's trendiest room colors: soft aquas, powder blues, greens – from lime to celadon – and the gamut of grays.

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READ MORE >> www.sherwin-williams.com: "Trim it Up: Tips for Using Trim to Highlight Color"

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Read more about A.L. Painting:

• Licensed and Insured
• Atlanta Better Business Bureau Member
• Interior and Exterior House Painting Coupons
• Drywall Patch Services + Professional House Prep
• 3-Year No Fear! Warranty