Let’s be frank here, painting your business or commercial building is a big, expensive undertaking and, as such, it deserves to be done right the first time. Based on our years of experience we’ve put together a very useful checklist of things to think about BEFORE you hire your next painting contractor.
Here’s a list things that EVERY business owner should ask the painting contractor that is bidding on painting their business or commercial building.
1. Licenses: no contractor of any type for a job over $1,000 may operate without a license. The State of California has a lot of additional helpful information regarding Licensed Contractors, check here.
2. Bonding: what is a bond? Why does my contractor need one? California licensed contractors are required to have a contractor’s license bond. It’s important to know what bonds do and do not cover. Some bonds are designed to protect you against substandard work that does not meet with local building codes. Bonds do not assure the financial or professional integrity or competency of a contractor. Institutional lenders such as savings and loans, insurance companies or commercial banks generally require licensed contractors to secure bonds for large jobs. Read more about bonding at the California State site.
3. Insurance: Workman’s Comp is a reality in California AND it protects the property owner from a lawsuit arriving from any injury that happens during the course of a job by a contractor WITHOUT Workman’s Comp coverage. The unfortunate reality is that you could be sued owing to the non-compliance of your painter. Your contractor should be happy to show you his Workman’s Comp insurance coverage, he’s paid a lot of money for it.
4. Quality of Materials: get the name brands (Dunn Edwards, Vista, Benjamin Moore) in writing in your contract, sealed cans from the Mfg. We’ve prepared a page known as our 6 Steps to A Successful Paint Job that you may find useful.
5. Samples of Work/Customer Recommendations: we are happy to provide these links to samples of our painting work and testimonials from our painting customers
6. Painting Post Production: What? Never heard of it? Touch up, clean up, owner inspection/customer satisfaction, we don’t leave until you’re happy. Whoever you hire should promise to do the same.
7. Value and Service: the lowest priced job is not always the best job for your business or building. Here is a great list of things to consider from the State of California.
If you have questions regarding any of these steps or would like to communicate via email, phone or facsimile transmission feel free to use the following:
714-343-6132
