So, you’ve decided to hire a professional painter to paint the interior of your home. Now what? Most importantly, make sure you have clear expectations set before the painters arrive. You’ll want to be clear as to what the painters will be doing vs what you’re expected to do ahead of time.
Good Communication with your Painter
Good communication with your painter throughout the process is critical! A good painter will prefer you to ask any question you may have. This will avoid any miscommunication and produce exactly what you want! There are some important steps in preparing an interior space for your painter. These steps can save you money and headaches.
Choosing the Right Color
The most important task to accomplish after deciding to paint the interior of your home is selecting the color. When preparing an interior space for your painter you will want to make sure you’ve selected the color(s) and have tested those colors in all lighting conditions. You will want to gather paint chips, paint test patches in different rooms or areas, and “live” with those colors for a few days.
Look at the test patches on your walls at different times of the day.
Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do you still like them when the room is dark?
2. What about when the light shines on them?
Look at the color in both natural light and at night with a lamp or ceiling light switched on. Color can drastically change depending on the lighting in the room.
Clear The Area
Once you’ve hired your professional painter and set a date to begin, there are things you can do immediately to prepare an interior space for your painter. The first step is to remove all wall hangings, small shelves, and knick-knacks from the room. Store them in the garage or in a room that will be painted last.
Typically, you are not required to empty a room of furniture when preparing an interior space for your painter. A furniture dolly can be extremely helpful for this. If however, the room has too much furniture, the painters may require some to be removed. If a room is packed with furniture it may hinder a quality job. Make sure to discuss this when the painting estimator is in the space with you.
Most painters can not move your furniture due to liability issues. It truly is in your best interest to move your valuables. Painters are experts in painting, not moving furniture. Moving furniture can accidentally damage floors, damage furniture, or cause injuries to the painter. Moving the furniture to the center of the room will allow the painter to place drop cloths to protect all of your belongings as well as the floor.
Ensuring a Debris-Free Surface
Something often forgotten when preparing an interior space for your painter is cleaning. It is very helpful to remove all throw rugs, dust, and vacuum the room to be painted before the painters arrive. This cleaning will ensure no debris, cobwebs, or dust particles stick to the walls and get painted over. Most painters will dust down the walls during their prep work, but the more you can do ahead of time, the better results you will get.
Window coverings and rods are a grey area. Some painters remove them for you, some require you to do it yourself. However, the more you can do ahead of time in preparing an interior space for your painter, the more money you’ll save. Time and labor equal money to any business. The less time the painter has to spend tackling some of these tasks, the less you will pay in the long run.
Child and Pet Safety
Finally, it’s best to have children and pets away from the home or room during the painting process. Preparing an interior space for your painter includes making sure the work area is as safe as it can be for all involved. Accidents can happen if a child or pet gets into the work area and knocks over a paint can, tips a ladder, or pulls down drop cloths. Good painters want your project to turn out as perfectly as you do, and avoiding accidents helps that vision!
All the preparation done before your painter arrives will benefit you. It will reduce the amount of time it takes to finish the job, protect your valuables, and save you money in the long run! Talk to your professional painter today and make sure you’re all on the same page with expectations of the job – you’ll be happy you did!
