Choosing the best painters in the Bay Areas may seem expensive at first compared to doing the paint job yourself. However, the time and stress it saves will be very much worth the additional cost. Plus, you’ll be getting quality work that is guaranteed to last for many years to come.
You should find the right painting contractor that not only meets your expectations but exceeds them.
However, it may be easier said than done. There are many painting service companies out there, so it is impossible to pick only one on a whim. The key here is to find every information available about the painting companies in your area, especially those you are interested in hiring.
You can check out their company website, look for testimonials about them, and read customer reviews online. You can also check out the Better Business Bureau’s website or browse newspapers, magazines, and yellow pages. However, consider them as the only secondary. The best and the most reliable way to determine whether a company will be worth hiring is to request them for references. Any reputable company who is proud of their work will be glad to provide the references to you.
Once you have the references, talk to their past clients who recently had work done for at least the past six months to have a good idea of how well their finished work holds up. You will also get to know about their workers’ professional behavior, such as their punctuality, how they communicate with their clients, etc.
As you are talking with these past clients, these are the five most important questions you should ask them, whether you’re looking for a residential or commercial painting service:
1. Did the painters do quality work?
This point is the importance of having references – they allow you to see a finished work that the paint company has recently rendered. Pay special attention to cut-in areas such as corners and spaces around doors, windows, and trim. If there is caulking or sealing involved, check if they are applied cleanly and correctly.
You can tell whether a surface had been cleaned and prepped well through the condition and quality of the paint finish. If the work holds up very well, it means that the surface had been properly cleaned and prepped.
2. Did the painters protect surfaces that were not to be painted?
When doing an interior paint job, they protect furniture, floors, and some fixtures against possible paint splatters by covering them with drop cloths or taping them. When doing an exterior paint job, they protect the driveways or any other concrete surfaces, lawns, and bushes by covering them.
3. Did the painters start and end on time?
Usually, the painting company informs you about their schedule beforehand and will stick to it unless an unexpected event arises. The workers come to your property at a fixed hour in the mornings and leave at a fixed time at the end of every workday. Exterior painting may encounter more challenges, particularly weather conditions; therefore, this is a valid reason for the workers to refrain from painting.
4. Did the painters behave professionally? Were they polite and pleasant while they worked?
It is not just the services that make a good painter; it is also their professional conduct. The painting company you hire must have workers who can communicate well with and whom you will feel safe and comfortable around. When the painters are courteous, it is a good indication of their professionalism and will save you much further stress. If you have doubts, you can ask the company whether they do criminal background checks.
5. Did the company offer a warranty?
A written warranty is considered to be valid. It is useful, especially when a paint job fails due to a faulty product or workmanship so that the painters will come back and repair the damage free of charge or for only a minimal fee. Three-year warranties are typical, and anything added to that will be a big plus.
It is essential to read the warranty carefully and thoroughly. If you find any limitations or exclusions in the warranty policy, you can discuss them with your painting company. The best painters in the Bay Area will clarify these limitations or exclusions more explicitly.