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Don't Paint Until It Is Time To Paint - A Contractor's Plea!

By
Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819

Client thinking of paint their home this spring? Better plan on doing any repairs first.

I see it much too often, homeowners wanting some repairs done after the home has been painted. I'm talking about the exterior here but it applies to the interior as well. The painting should be the last thing scheduled to be done. The final project, the final touch, the let's have a party cuz we are done!

I've been called to replace some gutters, patch some stucco, repair some dry rot on trim boards - All after the exterior painting is complete. I hear "the painter noticed some bad boards while he was spraying the house. Or we decided to add a larger window in the kitchen. These are all great ideas to improve and maintain your home, but let's plan ahead.

If you have a client that is considering some improvement or maintenance on their home. Beg them to do the work first. Or not at all. Paint looks best, and costs less, when done all at once.

The exception to this would be repairs necessary as a condition of the sale.

Part of the joy of being a contractor is seeing the final product and being proud the the efforts put into a project. It may not seem like a big deal, but to some of us it is.

Comments (3)

Art Hademan
Century 21 Real Estate Center - Mount Vernon, WA

Hey Tom,

Don't you know it's always best to put the cart before the horse?

Everybody knows that!

Jan 29, 2011 05:54 PM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA - Eureka, CA
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA

Good Morning Tom, excellent input for the home owner.  Thanks for posting it.

Jan 29, 2011 06:57 PM
Jeremy Wrenn
Winslow Homes - Youngsville, NC
VP of Finance, Winslow Homes

I agree!  Repairs first, paint second.  Because everything will need to be caulked and painted AGAIN once we repair it!

Jan 30, 2011 12:56 PM