What’s the best way to set up a consultation or an appointment with a painter during the COVID-19 pandemic?
To stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to use virtual tools for communication. If you’re hiring local interior and exterior painters, contact them to see if they’ll set up a video call to assess your project. During this call, they can get a feel for what needs to be done and may be able to give you a price quote.
Discuss potential plans and strategies for getting the work done safely. And ask whether they accept virtual or digital payments.
How can I find out if a painter is considered an essential COVID-19 service provider?
To figure out whether a painter is considered an essential service provider during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit your local jurisdiction or state’s government website for information.
The CISA website also provides a helpful resource: Identifying Critical Infrastructure During COVID-19. This page is intended for a national audience and includes 16 different categories of critical infrastructure sectors. Some jurisdictions follow CISA’s definitions of critical infrastructure, but not all of them do.
Are there ways to be safe if I hire a painter when social distancing?
If you hire a painter, maintain at least 6 feet of distance at all times, sanitize involved surfaces and spaces, and use digital payment services instead of cash or a check. When contacting and consulting with a painter, make sure you discuss a plan that will keep everyone safe while the painter works on your project.
Can I use digital payments to pay for painting services?
Many painters accept digital payments through Venmo, Square Cash, Google Pay, PayPal, Zelle and others. Due to COVID-19, others may quickly adopt this technology to maintain social distancing practices and follow health recommendations.
Contact professionals beforehand to ensure they’re able to accept digital payments and continue to follow safety guidelines throughout your interactions. Compare local interior and exterior painters’ profiles to see which types of payments they accept.
Does a painter need to enter my home?
If you’re hiring an exterior painter, the painter will likely not need to enter your home. But for interior paint jobs, the painter will need to enter your home.
When talking to potential painters, discuss a strategy to make sure you and the painter(s) stay safe while they’re completing the job in your home. Or, you might want to discuss scheduling the paint job at a later date.
Do painters offer remote or virtual services?
Though painting has always been an in-person job, painters may be willing to offer some virtual help due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If you come across painters’ profiles that state they offer remote services, message the painters to see what those services include.
What should I look for when choosing a painter?
When choosing a painter, pay attention to online reviews and ratings. Reviews with pictures are especially valuable, as these showcase the painter’s work. It’s also important to check whether your state requires licenses for painters — if it’s required, your contractor should be able to present their license.
Finally, compare estimates and quotes from multiple painters near you. Take into consideration what each one guarantees with the job, including factors like higher-quality paint, extensive preparation and a good warranty.
Is it worth it to hire a painter to paint my house's exterior?
It is nearly always worth it to hire a painter to paint your home’s exterior. While you may feel comfortable painting a small, one-story home, anything with multiple stories, dormers or other complexities are best left to a pro.
Additionally, it’s best to let the pros handle older homes. Any time extensive prep work is needed — such as repairing chipping, bubbling, cracking or peeling paint, or fixing caulking and substrate issues — a pro can handle it.
Contact the best painters near you to start getting free estimates and planning your project.
Can I paint my own house exterior?
While you may choose to paint a door, ground-level window trim and other parts of your house’s exterior, it’s really a job best left to the professionals. One of the main reasons is experience. An experienced painter knows how to handle the prep work, spot problems and identify sources of future trouble, all while getting the job done more efficiently. They are also experienced with spending long hours on tall ladders. If you want high-quality work, it’s best to hire a professional painter near you.
Should I pressure wash my house before painting?
Pressure washing your siding before painting is an efficient way to clean your house in preparation for receiving new paint. However, it must be done correctly to avoid causing water damage or damaging the siding itself.
Depending on the PSI rating of your washer, you should stand far away enough from your house to avoid removing paint or etching into the siding itself. Also avoid injecting water behind the siding, which typically occurs when spraying upwards at a low angle.
When in doubt, consider hiring a pressure washer near you before your painter paints your home’s exterior. Or, contact the best painters near you to see if they offer pressure washing services as well.