Hiring a Painter: Making Sure You (and Your Stuff) Will Be Safe and Respected

Paul Small • May 1, 2023

We know how vulnerable it can feel to let strangers into your home - not to mention ones who kindly request you move all your furniture so they can dive into corners and crannies you haven’t seen since you moved in. Here are our tips for hiring a painter you’ll love:

How Do I Know A Painter I Hire Is Legitimate?

It’s legally required for painters to list their HIC# (Home Improvement Contractor Registration Number) number on marketing tools like lawn signs, business cards, websites, etc. It’s also a state requirement to have General Liability & Worker's Compensation insurance. At Paul The Painter LLC, we never work without a contract and will never ask for the full amount up front - beware of contractors who do!

Will Painters Ruin My Valuable Items?  

They could!  However, we suggest you remove all items and belongings from rooms that will be painted.  Large furniture, like beds or armoires, can remain in rooms if they are too difficult to remove and will be wrapped in plastic by our team. Your professional painter should never begin to paint anything without covering your floors with drop cloths or water-proof paper and should wrap all furniture in plastic.  At Paul The Painter LLC, we make sure to always protect your home and belongings!

Do I have to be home while painters are here? 

It's up to you!  In most cases, it's not required for a home-owner to be present while painting happens, but we love educating our customers about what we're doing on the job and if we need additional items moved or access to areas of the home, it's always easier when you're there.  Be weary of contractors that ask you to leave your home while they work, unless it’s a safety or space issue. 

Always Ask Questions!

Look up the legal requirements for contractors in your area before you hire them or give them money. At Paul the Painter LLC, we’re proud to say we have many happy customers who return to us for trusted workmanship in their homes again and again!

For A Free Phone Estimate Or More Information Visit Us @ www.paulthepainterct.com Today!

How Do You Paint a Staircase?

By Paul Small • May 25, 2023
If you've never seen it d  one before, you may wonder : How do you paint a staircase? Stairways receive a lot of wear and tear as commonly used passages in your h ouse. This means painters like us get asked to paint them all the time. To ensure an excellent paint job and a safe work zone, we at Paul the Painter have a long list of tools and tricks we use to get the job done. This is a subtitle for your new post

Can I Paint My Cabinets Myself?

May 4, 2023
W hile braving a cabinet job is certainly an option for any DIY enthusiast, as a professional painting company, we’ve seen one too many well-intentioned homeowners end up doing more harm than good. Painting your cabinets yourself can prove to be a pain for even the most competent hobbyist, and is not a project to take on lightly. We’ll answer some of the most common cabinet painting questions that we hear from our customers at Paul the Painter. It might just make you decide to hire this one out!

Unique Paint Trends In 2023

By Paul Small • December 14, 2022
Color Baby. Color.

Fifty Shades Of Greige

By Paul Small • December 7, 2022
Picking A Wall Color

How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Room?

By Paul Small • November 30, 2022
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Room?

Making A Statement: Accent Walls Do's & Don'ts

By Paul Small • November 17, 2022
W e’ve all been there before. Maybe it’s a rainy day and the D.I.Y. urge is calling. “Wouldn’t an accent wall be nice?” you wonder. “That’s nothing I couldn’t tackle. I have leftover paint in the garage!” But wait! There may be more to consider than you think. Before you grab your brush, let us give you a few pro tips. • Do Think Contrast : An accent color that’s simply a shade or two apart won’t pack a punch. In fact, no matter how different the samples appear, on a larger scale, you won’t even notice it’s there. We help clients choose colors that are boldly different, but still complimentary, for optimal results. • Don’t Wallpaper on a Whim : Traditional wallpaper is a nightmare to remove! The hours and dollars wasted towards getting a papered wall back to being paintable is no joke. These days, there’s “renter friendly” peel-and-stick wallpaper that employ a temporary adhesive. If you’re truly set on wallpaper, try (and remove) a sample area first with a temporary product. Be warned –anything adhered to your wall can do damage or leave unwanted residue, no matter how its advertised. • Do Get Inspired : Drawing color inspiration from your furniture or artwork is a great way to find your accent color. Again, contrast is your friend, so pick something small but significant to inspire your palette instead of something huge. Look online for some inspiration you can bring to your consultation with you. Here at Paul the Painter LLC, we love making our customers’ inspirations a reality! Visit us at www.paulthepainterct.com or call today for an estimate for your accent wall or paint project. Let a pro be your guide!

Change Happens From The Inside-Out!

By Paul Small • October 14, 2022
Painting Interior Doors In Your Home Is A Quick Way To Accent Or Add Character Without Painting An Entire Room! HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams The combination of Pewter Green (HGSW6208) and Austere Gray (HGSW6184) puts us in the mood to kick off our shoes and relax. To learn more about these comforting colors, visit: https://bit.ly/3eqyxY L Colors featured: Pewter Green (HGSW6208) & Austere Gray (HGSW6184) from our 2023 Color Collection of the Year, Vintage Homestead available exclusively at Lowe's Home Improvement .​​

Winter is Coming: Time to Paint Those Exterior Doors!

By Paul Small • October 10, 2022
At last, Autumn has come to New England! That means friends, family, and trick-or-treaters – all knocking at your front door. Which, due to more than a few seasons in the elements, is looking a bit shabby. Now is the perfect time to freshen up your front and exterior doors with a new coat of paint! Here’s why now is the perfect time according to the experts at Paul the Painter: 1. Baby, It’s (Getting) Cold Outside: Latex paints cure best in a cool (but not freezing) range of temperatures when humidity is low. Typical Fall conditions provide a brief window for both of these conditions. 2. Open House: To properly paint an exterior door, it’s necessary to remove and lay them flat for both painting and drying. That’s why we always make sure these jobs last only one day. By the time you’re ready for dinner, your door is back on its hinges, securely shut, and looking great! A temporary barrier will seal the door during the day with a special plastic sheet and exterior tape. This barrier is great in the warmer months but not quite as well during the Winter. 3. Spooky Season: Is your front door looking a little too much like a haunted house? We recommend painting your front or exterior doors every few years – maybe even more often depending on the color or its exposure to the elements. If you see tell-tale signs such as fading, cracking, flaking, or bare spots – it’s definitely time to give your door some professional TLC. 4. More than a Fresh Coat: When you hire our professional team, we don't just paint and call it done like an afternoon DIY. By tackling each layer of necessary prep work, we ensure long-lasting, great looking results. Sanding, light repair, hardware removal, coats of primer... - we do it all!  Leave the leg work to us, and you’ll have more time for cider sipping and pumpkin picking!