Customer Questions with Professional Answers
~ We Even Discuss Pricing Differences ~
Randy Fornoff
President
Keywords: questions, professional answers, brush and roll, paint sprayer, one coat paint,
Dunn Edwards Spartawall, Sherwin Williams Cashmere
Customer from Scottsdale – Hello Randy. I have a couple of questions for you that I’m not sure if I asked before.
(Randy’s answers follow each question.)
1. I was told that the best way to paint the interior of my home is by roller instead of sprayer. Is this correct, and is this how you would be painting the house?
Answer: From a professional painter’s standpoint, the “best” way to apply the paint depends on the on-site conditions. With your home, I am not aware of any circumstances such as special dust control issues, level five smooth drywall texture, or worries of touch-up-ability. On-site conditions aside, there is no difference between spray and brush & roll. Skill determines the outcome, and our consistent crew member training resolves these application issues. Either way, the paint will be applied to manufacturer’s mil thickness requirement. Plus, there are more labor costs involved with brush & roll in your situation. As a fairly typical home, your additional cost is around $900 to $1,200.
2. It was recommended that I have two coats of paint on the walls, but your bid only calls for one. What do you recommend?
Answer: Spot priming is always included in our processes, meaning we have a partial two-coat system already included. When the existing coatings are adhering well, they will allow good adhesion using a single topcoat. Two coats are usually only needed for radical color changes when applied by airless spray. Brush & roll application cannot be applied as heavy or evenly, so most color changes will require two-coats. The quality of the coating can also affect its hiding or coverage ability. Don’t get me wrong, additional coats of paint are always better for durability and scrub ability. But, thinking like a budget-minded homeowner, I would ask whether it is cost effective. If two coats are contracted, make sure the painting contractor will implement proper drying time between full thickness coats. Believe it or not, I’ve heard that some painters consider rolling up and down a two-coat process! A full two-coat painting system with the brush & roll application method usually will add 75% more cost. A second coat applied by airless spray will only add about 20%.
3. I was told there are specialty paints which are easy to clean and do not smudge or come off easily. Is this what you will be using when you paint my home?
Answer: There are many choices of topcoats to improve durability, though the type of paint depends upon site conditions. Product sheen can make the paint more smudge resistant. But the shinier the paint, the harsher it feels and that will affect the aesthetics greatly. The better the paint characteristics and benefits, the more the cost. MTS’s basic product selection is either Sherwin Williams Cashmere or Dunn Edwards SPARTAWALL. Both are medium to high grade paints with very good durability, and they allow our estimate to be priced very competitively. If you would like to pursue a better, higher quality topcoat, we can suggest a range of products and manufacturers that can best fit your needs. Or, if you prefer, please research Sherwin-Williams or Dunn-Edwards to help with choices, benefits, and characteristics. Other brand options include Behr, PPG Paints, and Benjamin Moore.
The additional price per gallon for upgraded paints can vary from $3 per gallon to $25 per gallon or even higher for what the industry calls luxury paints. These super high-end paints can be $130 per gallon just for wall paint. If the money doesn’t matter, then why not? But my values dictate being a good steward with my budget. Everyone must find the price/quality point that they are comfortable with.
If you have paint questions, please send them to me. And for a free estimate, connect with us here — Request an Estimate.
