We tell you to ditch the DiY. In this series we show you how to and/or things to look for when you’re considering completing Improvement Projects in your home or business.

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How to Work With Your Calgary House Painter to Get the Best Result

How to Work With Your Calgary House Painter to Get the Best Result

Communication between you and your Calgary house painter plays an important role in getting the result that you want. Read on for more tips for best results!

Calgary House Painter

We know you know it already, but let’s say it anyway — Calgary is an awesome place to live.

It provides a great lifestyle for families, with beautiful properties to enjoy and cherish. That said, sometimes our climate can be a little…unforgiving. Our cold, dry climate can mean keeping paintwork in good order takes a little work and planning.

That’s why it’s a great idea to work with a Calgary house painter to keep your home looking beautiful inside and out.

Journey with us to see how you can work with your Calgary house painter to get those finishes you’ve always dreamed of!

Step 1: Know What You Want

Painting is a job that many people decide to tackle themselves. However, there are some jobs best left to the professionals. This includes areas that are tricky to reach, require working at heights or where a lot of preparation is needed to get the finish you want.

Before calling Calgary house painters for quotes, make a list of exactly what you want them to do. Think about areas that need to be painted, paint finishes you like, and the colors you’ll use.

Of course, if you use a Calgary house painting service, they won’t leave you on your own. If you find it difficult to know what would look best, they’ll be able to offer suggestions based on their experience.

Step 2: Understand the House Painter’s Job

There’s a little more to a house painter’s job than simply applying paint to the walls.

They are also experts in the preparation of surfaces and ensuring that paint only goes where it’s supposed to go. If you have wallpaper that needs to be removed, an uneven surface with minor cracks or chips, or woodwork that needs to be sanded back, a Calgary house painter will be able to assist you.

Step 3: Choose Potential Calgary House Painters

Now you know exactly what you want, it’s time to make a few calls. Ask your friends for recommendations. Look online to see which local outfits have the best reviews.

Ask to see references and their portfolio of work. This will give you a good idea of whether they can achieve the finish that you’re looking for.

What About Financing?

Sometimes to get that home improvement project done, we need to call in some extra financing.

Discuss with your Calgary painting team what options they can offer you. Some firms have partnerships with financing companies and can help you to get a quote for a home improvement loan.

What Insurance Do They Have?

It’s crucial that before considering a house painting service, you know they’re thoroughly insured. Ask them about the type and level of coverage they have before you let them loose on your home!

Are There Any Guarantees?

If a workman is proud of the job he’s done, he’ll be happy to guarantee it.

Look for a Calgary house painting service that guarantees their paintwork — and will put it in writing! This will give you peace of mind that your home will continue looking good for the duration of the guarantee.

Some firms are so confident in the job they do that they offer a 60 month — yes five year — guarantee on their paintwork!

Once you have found a service that interests you, call them in for a consultation.

Step 4: Meet the Teams

It’s important to have a face-to-face meeting at your home with the team you’re thinking of using.

Professional outfits employ a painting manager who assesses homes and meets with clients. This visit allows the painting manager to accurately assess the scope of the work. Then a formal quotation can be drawn up.

This also gives you an opportunity to discuss finishes and colors. The painting manager has extensive experience of how both artificial and natural lighting affects the impression certain colors give. They’ll be able to advise you on what would look good.

You can also ask them for samples or look online together to choose the colors that will look the best.

Bear in mind when selecting colors, though, that until you apply the color to the wall, it’s almost impossible to see exactly what they’ll look like. That’s why if you’re unsure, painting a sample patch first can be a great idea.

Once you have your quote in and are happy, you can go ahead and agree on a start date for the work.

Step 4: What Preparation Do You Need to Do?

In a word — none.

The best Calgary house painters pride themselves on leaving only one piece of evidence that they were ever in your home — beautifully painted walls and woodwork.

They’ll ensure that all masking is done, and all surfaces are protected before the first tin is cracked open. For light fittings such as chandeliers, they’ll use specialist protective drop cloths. All furniture that can’t be moved will be fully covered.

If you have some items that you’re especially worried about, by all means, remove them from the room in question before work begins. Other than that, the team will meticulously ensure the safety of all your furnishings and surfaces.

Step 5: Inspect the Finished Job

Before performing the final clean, the team will be happy to invite you in to inspect the job.

This will give you an opportunity to admire the finish they’ve achieved. In the unlikely event that there are any causes for concern, these can also be ironed out at this stage.

Step 6: The Clean-Up

Some teams are out the door before the paint is barely dry — treating the clean-up like it is the owner’s responsibility.

However, choose a reputable firm of Calgary house painters, and leaving an immaculate finish is all part of the service.

Work with Your Calgary House Painter to Get the Result You Want

Working with a Calgary house painter can be a truly rewarding experience. You’ll get a truly professional finish, with none of the preparation, stress or clean-up. Simply return home and admire a job well done!

At Harding Services, we know great painting and great customer service.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

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How to Choose the Best Commercial Painting Company: Your Complete Guide

How to Choose the Best Commercial Painting Company

Are you looking to hire a commercial painting company? If so, check out this guide to learn how to choose the best one.

 

Commercial Painting

In this age of DIYs, a business owner may get tempted to do the painting job on their own to save on costs. However, it’s rare that you get to save huge amounts of money doing this. Sometimes, you spend even more.

That’s because you may spend as much as twice the amount of time it takes for a professional to complete the job. This time is better spent on building your business, which gives you better ROI. Hiring a commercial painting company also saves you from having to fix your mistakes.

The key is to find a good company that can provide what you need at a fair price. How do you find such a company?

 

Read on to find out.

  1. Make a List of Painting Contractors

The first thing to do is to find potential contractors for the job. Google is the best place to look. But you can also ask your friends, family, and neighbors for any recommendations.

This is more preferable than getting names off Google. As long as you trust the judgment of the people you asked, you’ll get introduced to a reliable company.

When you drive home from work, look around for ads and physical stores of painting companies.

List down every company name you come across. You don’t have to choose one from these yet.

  1. Get Estimates for Their Painting Services

Next, ask for their quotations for the painting job you need. This step should be free.

You must already have a set budget in mind. Cross out those that get back to you with an estima

 

te that’s way higher than your budget.

However, you may still consider companies that charge a little higher. This may equal to a higher quality of service, as well. This isn’t always the case, though, so use your discretion as you go through the steps.

  1. Factors When Choosing a Commercial Painting Company

The price isn’t the only thing you should look at when choosing a reputable commercial painting company. You should also look at the following information, which you can get by asking.

Experience

The contractor should at least have a few years under his belt for you to ensure that he knows what he’s doing. Contractors who have been in the industry for a while will already have seen most of the problems. If they encounter a problem, they’ll know how to handle it.

This is more important if your project has high stakes. However, we also don’t mean you shouldn’t give the newcomers a chance. If the risks are low and a new contractor has already collected good reviews, why not hire them for a lower price?

License and Certifications

The contractor also has to have the proper license and certifications to operate. Ask for these thing

 

s first to make sure you’re dealing with a legal business.

The painting company must have general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. These protect their employees should something happen to them while working inside your property.

A reputable company has no problem showing you the documents to prove they have these things.

Guarantee

What type of guarantee do they provide? They should offer some sort of hassle-free guarantee. You can cash this in if you find a problem with their workmanship after the project.

Most will have a warranty, but that doesn’t mean claiming it won’t be a headache. It depends on their professionalism and customer service.

  1. Interview Potential Contractors

If you still have a lot of contractors on your list, this step will take a lot of time, but it’s worth it. During the interview, you have a chance to get to know their procedures and themselves. During your conversations, you can gauge them if they’re trustworthy.

Make sure to ask the following:

  • What type of paint do you use?
  • How many coats do you use?
  • What is your process?
  • Do your employees use proper protective measures?

Of course, you must have a little background knowledge of the answers to these questions, so resear

 

ch well beforehand. If they don’t feel like answering these questions, cross them off the list.

  1. Ask for References and Check with Them

You shouldn’t only listen to what they say but to what their previous customers say about them. Ask for references and contact them to inquire about their experience with said company. Ask about their professionalism, the quality of their workmanship, and such.

Ask them about the company’s aftersales service, too. Do they follow up on a problem right away?

  1. Assess Their Customer Service

You’ll be able to assess this part as you go through this guide. They should be willing to entertain any questions you have because they know you need peace of mind as a property owner. They should also explain the answers in a way the average Joe will understand.

Assess how fast they respond, as well. Do they have a good response time, or do they take their time before getting back to you?

Their customer service says a lot about how they’ll handle your issues if you encounter a problem with their work. It also says something about their workmanship – they should always be willing to please the customer through good customer relations and quality service.

 

  1. Compare the Painting Companies

By this point, you should only have a handful or so painting companies. Rate their offer, reputation, customer service, and quality of work on an individual level. Then, compare the scores to see which one stands out.

Make sure, however, that you’re at peace with the top company. If something at the back of your mind is nagging you to choose a different one, trust that gut feeling.

Choose a Trustworthy Painting Company

If you follow the steps above, you should be able to choose the right commercial painting company for you. Make sure they fit your budget, have quality work, have great customer service, and can give you peace of mind.

You don’t have to look anymore, though, because we have everything you’re looking for. Contact us now to get a free estimate and to discuss your latest project.

 

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5 Tips for Maintaining the Exterior Paint of Your Home

Canadian homeowners spend up to 3 percent of their property’s total value on maintenance and repairs annually. Ignoring the problems a home has will only lead to them getting worse over time. The best way for a homeowner to find out about what their residence needs is by inspecting.

During these inspections, you need to pay close attention to the condition of the exterior paint. There will come a time when you have to get this paint replaced due to age and wear. Once you have new exterior paint applied, investing time and energy in maintaining it is vital.

The last thing you want is for your home to lose curb appeal due to a lack of maintenance. This is why keeping your exterior paint in good shape is vital.

The following are some of the things you need to do to keep your home’s exterior paint in pristine shape.

  1. Exterior Paint Needs to be Washed

Most homeowners fail to realize how much of a pounding their paint takes from Mother Nature. Every time the window blows dirt into the air around your home, it will usually land on the exterior paint. This means that over time, the paint will start to look dirty and dingy.

While you can wash the dirt off by hand, this will take lots of time and energy. The best way to reduce the time it takes to get this job done is by renting a power washer. If you are unsure about how to adjust the settings on the power washer, working with professionals is a must.

If the pressure is set too high, it may lead to the paint getting blown off. This is why hiring professionals to do this job is a good idea. They will be able to scrub the outside of the home with soap and water before power washing it to ensure it gets as clean as possible.

  1. Touching Up Your Paint is a Good Idea

As previously mentioned, inspecting the outside of your home on a regular basis is important. While looking at your exterior paint, make note of any chips or scratches that are present. The longer you allow these problems to linger, the worse they will inevitably get.

Once the professionals are done painting your home, you need to find out what color was used. Getting a gallon of this paint to keep in the garage is a good idea. By doing this, you can easily touch up these imperfections.

With a paintbrush or a small roller cover, you should have no problem getting these spots covered with paint. Most homeowners take great pride in doing their own improvement projects. Not only will this touching up beautify your home, it can also give you a sense of accomplishment.

  1. Keep Your Landscaping in Check

A variety of different elements are included in your exterior home design. One of the first things a person will notice about your home is the condition of the landscaping around the residence. Allowing your shrubs and trees to grow too high can create lots of problems.

Most homeowners fail to realize that out of control landscaping elements near their residence can damage their exterior paint. If the branches of the shrubs and trees are always rubbing against the paint, it will cause scratches to develop. Also, wet branches coming in contact with the side of the home can lead to the development of mold and mildew.

Instead of dealing with these problems, you need to focus on keeping your trees and shrubs trimmed. If you don’t have the energy or time to do this work, hiring landscaping professionals is important. The money paid to these professionals will be worth it considering the results they can produce.

  1. Inspecting Gutters and Downspouts

The outside of your home has a number of different parts. The gutters mounted on your roof help to keep water from puddling on the roof and at the foundation of a home. Over time, these gutters will start to get filled with leaves and other debris.

If the gutters are allowed to overflow, the water can cause damage to your exterior paint. Instead of dealing with this problem, getting your gutters cleaned professionally on a regular basis is vital.

With this professional cleaning, you can keep your roof, your foundation and your exterior paint in good shape. Consulting with gutter professionals is the best way to figure out how often this cleaning should be performed.

  1. Caulking and Sealing

Keeping the doors and windows around your home sealed and functional is important. If the seals around these windows and doors wear out, it can lead to your paint getting damaged. When water gets behind the fascia boards on your home, it can cause them to rot.

Hiring professionals to caulk and seal the outside of your residence is a great way to avoid this type of damage for good. If you are like most homeowners, you don’t have the experience to do this work. Instead of making mistakes that will only lead to more problems, you need to work with experienced professionals.

Professional Painters Can Help You Out

Getting new exterior paint and maintaining it is much easier when hiring a professional. A professional painter will have a team of employees they can use to get this work done in a hurry.

Are you looking for a reputable and experienced painter to hire? If so, contact us to find out more about the services we offer.

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How to Hire a Contractoro

Great event last night with BBB Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay on teaching consumers How to Hire a Contractor. Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen did an awesome job outlining what to look for in a contractor and how to avoid getting caught in a bad situation. Tony Tighe was also on hand to amplify what he’s learned in over 25 years of reporting on Consumer affairs in CALGARY. We also had lots of great Contractors on hand giving feedback for their specific industries.

By; Rob Hilditch

#bbb #startwithtrust #ctv #globaltv #calgary #yyc #contractors #robhilditch

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5 Reasons to hire a Professional Painter

Harding's Professional Painting Services

5 Reasons why you should always hire a Professional Painter

#1 Finished Product

Painting anything requires training in all sorts of disciplines. Many people do not think of what encompasses an entire painting job in their homes.

Free House Painting Estimates

Painting is a skill set that requires chemical handling/storage, ladder safety, skim coating, sanding, caulking, understanding the difference between paints and quality then ultimately having that steady hand. Also, don’t forget the tools you need.

When you hire a professional painter you are guaranteed a quality and professional finish, something you may not be able to achieve on your own. You all know what I am talking about there! The infamous ceiling hit!

#2 Preparation

The above ceiling hit could have easily been avoided by taking the time to properly prep the wall and ceiling. There is a lot to consider when prepping your home for paint, including having to research the paint to use, the tools needed and the time to complete it all. You may think that by buying the most expensive paint and tools it will ensure you a quality DIY job, but it all comes down to the application when using those products as well.

Professionals are not only efficient at the prep portion but will, again, guarantee the end product as well as ensuring the work is completed when its needed. Meaning you get that valuable #freetime you deserve.

#3 Perceived Value

So it is going to cost you less to paint it yourself, right?

That is not always the case. When you have completed DIY painting, it can come back to haunt you when selling your home or when you go to complete other renovations or DIY projects in your home.

Hiring a professional the first time means that its done right from the beginning and you’d be surprised about how reasonable hiring a pro is!

Calgary Professional House Painting

 

#4 #FREETIMECalgary Professional Painting Contractors | House Painting

We have already outlined how much prep and time is required for painting your own home. Do you really have that time?

Hiring a professional lets you get that time back and also gets that honey-do-list off your plate! You have bigger things to worry about, let a pro handle it for you. Plus, a pro will complete the job far more efficiently than the DIY route.

 

 #5 So now what…..

Whats the plan with the left over paint? Did you buy drop cloths for your DIY project, if so, where do they go now? Where do you dispose of the paint? How far is that drive and what does the municipality charge to do it? What other clean up is there to do now?

Is there touch ups to do after? Now you will have to pull all this stuff out again to do those.

A professional painter will take care off all of that so you don’t have to. They warranty and guarantee their work. This means there is no added pressure on you. You can either leave those spots you missed and get ribbed by your friends and family or just let your Professional Painter get it done right the first time.

Calgary Proessional Painters | House Painting

 

 

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How to hire a Painting Contractor, the right way

Consumer Reports News:

Most homeowners hire a contractor to repaint the exterior of their home. Follow our advice to help ensure a high-quality job, whether you’ll have your house painted this fall or next spring.

Meet the pros. Call in at least three different painting contractors for your job. (Friends and family are good reference sources.) And be home for the initial meeting with them. That way, you’ll know how much time each contractor took to assess the condition of your home. The longer he takes, the more realistic the estimate you’ll get. Even an experienced painter will need more than a quick walk around your house.
Also ask each contractor about the size of his crew and the members’ experience level.

State your expectations. The number of coats a painter applies isn’t the only factor in determining the quality—and price—of the project. Preparation is also key. If you want a surface that’s free of unevenness from past paint jobs, tell the contractors—and be prepared to pay extra. But if you can live with some imperfections, agree on what level of prep is acceptable and what isn’t.

Get estimates. Seek a written estimate from each painting contractor. It should include a breakdown of labor, material costs, the number of coats of primer and paint, the brand and model of materials, and a detailed description of the amount of surface preparation that will be done.

Check references and past work. Get a list of references from each contractor and call them to find about their experience with the pro. A history of positive references is a good sign. Also examine jobs the painters did several years ago to see how their work is holding up. Use recent projects to check the skill of their current crews.

Painting Contractor Calgary

Harding’s – Calgary Painting Company

Consider credentials. Before you hire someone, consider his credentials. Membership in a trade or local business group, for example, isn’t a guarantee of quality work, but it shows a level of commitment and reliability on his part. Also verify whether the pro has the appropriate license(s). Also check with the Better Business Bureau,  or a local consumer-affairs agency to learn whether the contractor has a history of unresolved complaints.

Obtain a complete contract. The contract should include all the contractor’s key information: name, address, office and cell numbers, and license number, plus whatever details were in the estimate. Make sure the contract clearly states what is and is not included in the job.
Get a copy of the painter’s liability and workers’ compensation insurance certificates. If he doesn’t have coverage, you could be on the hook if, for example, the crew drops a ladder on your neighbor’s car or a crew member gets hurt on the job.

Ask for a guarantee. The painter should promise to correct any chipping, peeling, blistering, flaking, or excessive fading or chalking that occurs within two years after the job is done at no or little cost. If he tells you the paint itself has a warranty, remember that doesn’t include labor, which is a far more costly proposition than material.

Choose the paint yourself. Your painter might try to talk you into a paint he prefers, but use the finish you want. Just remember that your painter won;t be able to warranty owner supplied paint.

Look for lead. If your home was built before 1978, older coats of paint could contain lead. That means the painter might need to take extra precautions to avoid any hazards. .

Hold out. Finally, don’t make a large down payment and withhold the final payment, typically 10 to 15 percent, until you are fully satisfied with the job.

Check out our own video on Hiring A Painting Contractor.

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