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Written by Colleen Kalil

Three Suggestions to Consider When Hiring a Commercial Painting Company

The way your company presents itself to the public sends a subliminal message to potential clients and patrons. A well-kept business exterior tells the world you have pride and self-respect. It says you care for and take care of your company and its employees and want others to be part of your experience no matter what line of business you are in.

It is important to ensure that the exterior painting company you retain is competent and knowledgeable about all aspects of the exterior painting business. What follows are three suggestions to follow when looking for the right commercial painting company to meet your needs.

  • Review the companies that specialize in commercial exterior painting in your area. Whittle it down to no more than half a dozen that sound the most promising. Then take the time to research their credentials. Look for other organizations that have used each company’s services and find out their level of satisfaction. All things need to be taken into consideration including price, quality and time. Get more than one review and don’t always trust reviews you read on line. Take the time to contact one or two reviewers and get their insight first-hand.
  • A truly seasoned and professional exterior painting company will be able to come in and size up the job you need and find areas where resources can be maximized to save you money in the end. You want a company that will value their own business assets of time, money and resources to the same extent you do. You must beware of companies that will offer a low-ball bid only to come back later and tack on the cost of ‘extras’ that should be part of the job! Or, perhaps you chose a commercial exterior painting company that offered a decent price but in the end will not meet deadlines. Quality and professionalism exists in every business – look for it in your commercial paint company.
  • Ask for a safety plan upfront that is tailored to your particular job site. This helps to ensure that the professional commercial paint company has put in the proper time and thought to research your job in advance of its start date.  You don’t want to find out in the middle of the job that the company is unfamiliar with OSHA standards and that you could be liable for an accident.

University Painters, Inc. are seasoned professionals in the commercial and residential paint market. Contact us for an estimate today.

House Painter Exterior Painting
Written by Colleen Kalil

Sprucing Up Your Home’s Exterior for the Holidays

One of the busiest times of the year for socializing are the final two months of the year. They tend to pass in a whirlwind of dinners and parties, and people coming and going from your home. Now, you may not be able to totally redo your home’s exterior but there are some tips that will make your home shine for those guests who come knocking at your door.

  • Start by doing an entire walk around the house. Consider areas that you want to be highlighted when people drive by or stop in to visit. The entry way is often the introduction to your home and as such it should be a reflection of how you want to greet people. It’s the proverbial ‘first impression’, where you never get a chance to make a second one? Even in those climates most inclined to inclement weather there is usually a window of time where you can add a fresh coat of paint that will dry before the next storm. A freshly painted door is a great way to say Welcome!
  • Be sure to include planters, window boxes and other trims in the quick exterior paint touch ups. They can be contrasting in color, carry a theme across the home or be accented in a way that is decorative, fun and unique. Think about what you want your home to say to others and invite the expertise of a professional exterior home painter in the process. Use greenery such as pine boughs or holly to emphasize the holiday theme in the north and be inventive if you live in a warmer, winter climate.
  • Clear your sidewalks, gutters and shrubbery. Give everything a fresh, clean look and then decide the extent and type of lighting you might use. There are many types of exterior lighting fixtures that require little or no electrical cords or other extensive supports to keep them illuminated.

The intent is to brighten up and show off your home’s exterior. Everyone loves to put their best foot forward at the holidays. Be a part of the festivity – plan ahead and invite the expertise and professionalism of the trusted exterior home painting company, University Painters, Inc. to be a part of the planning and execution!

Written by Colleen Kalil

The Cons of an Amateur Painting Your Business Exterior

Perhaps you have noticed that the outside of your business is looking a little run-down…nothing that a fresh coat of paint slapped on the walls won’t help. Or will it? All too often small business owners look to cut corners and save money by taking on the monumental task of painting their business’s exterior by themselves. This tends to be problematic in the end because painting is a more complex undertaking than most people realize. In this blog the goal will be to give you some valuable reasons NOT to take on painting your commercial property all by yourself but to rely on the professionalism of a commercial painting service instead.

    1. Commercial painting companies are knowledgeable and trained in the health and safety practices required by OSHA to receive and maintain licensure in your state. This covers a variety of important procedures that include (but are not limited to) handling paint in its various forms (aerosol, canned, etc.), utilizing associated painting tools such as compressed air & sand and water blasting appliances, and even such seemingly elementary items as paint mixers and ladders. OSHA certification can be a cost-saver in the end because accidents that occur due to a lack of this knowledge can put the business at risk of liability.
    2. Hiring a commercial paint company will save time in the end. You should be spending your best working hours chasing new business or meeting client expectations instead of taking off time to tediously spruce up the place. It is unlikely you will be able to devote the same high quality time and attention to the task that you give during your peak hours and the thought of single-handedly updating the exterior is a more momentous task than most realize until they are in the middle of it! In the end, ‘many hands make light work’ is the motto that commercial paint companies live by!
    3. Commercial painters are able to assess and identify building issues that may be important to attend to prior to the beginning of any exterior painting. Part of an assessment by the professional painting company would include an itemization of issues such as mold on the building or similar problems.

Everyone likes to think of themselves as DIY’ers. But in many cases, it is better to leave the real work to the professionals. If you are in need of commercial exterior painting, contact the experts at University Painters, Inc.

House Painters Commercial Painting Services
Written by Colleen Kalil

Why You Should Hire a Professional Painting Service

House Painters Commercial Painting ServicesNow that you have looked at the outside of your home with a critical eye, you realize it needs to be refreshed, updated, and repainted. The next question is whether or not you will hire someone to do the work for you or if you will take on the momentous task all by yourself. Here are three good reasons to outsource the job.

  •  Your home is usually your largest investment and maintenance is paramount to protecting it. Unless you have experience in the area of painting a large project like your home, it is advisable to consider the alternative. A professional painting company is adept at addressing little imperfections you may not realize need special attention. These flaws can come back to haunt you and cost more in the end.
  • The purpose of any home improvement project is to maintain or add value to your residence. Residential and commercial painting companies are licensed and insured. This is advantageous in the event of an accident or other unforeseen mishap. Insured businesses offer the guarantee of being able to right any problems.
  • Residential and commercial paint companies often come with years of knowledge in all aspects of the painting process. There are plenty of online resources that the amateur DIY homeowner can refer to in order to approach home projects on their own. But there are certain projects that are better left to the professional. Talk to a professional painting company before you decide to take on the house painting yourself!

The net result is that outsourcing the job to a professional can save you a considerable amount of time and stress. Ultimately it is difficult to put a price on this. It’s one thing to think about taking on the painting of your home or business exterior or interior but the actual undertaking can be highly stressful. First there’s the amount of time that you must set aside, in addition to your daily activities to complete the project. Then there’s the matter of ensuring that you are able to do the job properly. It is more challenging in reality than it seems in theory.

So if you are contemplating refreshing your home or business, we suggest you rely on the expert services of a professional painting company. The painting specialists at University Painters, Inc. are just a phone call away and would welcome the opportunity to work with you!

Exterior Painting, Painters, Painting Job
Written by Colleen Kalil

Professional Paint Companies Offer More than Just Painting

exterior painters, painting jobMore and more people are joining the DIY revolution sweeping the nation. While that is all well and good, in general there are times when it is better to rely on experienced professionals in a field. While trying to decide which painting route is best for you, here are some reasons that it may be better to choose a professional paint company to redo the exterior of your home instead of attempting to tackle the job yourself.

Professional paint companies are not just familiar with painting but know about home structures as well. A professional painter will look over your home and notify you if there are any defects that may need to be repaired prior to painting. Even little things can become big problems over time and slapping paint over them does not make it disappear. Instead it may exacerbate the issue.

Professional painters are more attuned to approaching the job with greater safety. This is what they do for a living. They have a better understanding of ladder placement, balance and movement. They possess the required tools and accessories that would be an additional cost to the homeowner if they were to undertake painting the house themselves. If you choose to work with a painting company, ask for their service records and recommendations. Also find out what type of insurance and certifications they hold.

The most well-intentioned homeowner is usually adding ‘paint the house’ to their list of responsibilities. They probably work a full week and have decided to be a weekend warrior – going after the house painting project with verve. But, most homeowners have never painted an entire house and it usually doesn’t take long to realize it is a major commitment. Professional painters are trained to pace themselves on the job and complete it within a timely manner. No one wants paint tools and paraphernalia laying around the garage and home for weeks.

Professional painters also make it their business to stay abreast of the latest information on colors and/or patterns that are being embraced by designers. This knowledge can be invaluable when making decisions about how you want the exterior of your home to present.

The professionals at University Painters offer the previously mentioned advantages and much more to homeowners in search of a company to make their home exterior dreams come true. We look forward to working with you!

commercial painting services
Written by Colleen Kalil

Painting Services Not Just for the Home

commercial painting servicesWhile there are millions of homes in the United States for quality, professional painting companies to stay busy, there are as many businesses that can also use the services of professional painters. In other words, the large number of new business facades or existing, established businesses can provide an entirely new business stream for professional paint companies.

If you are a business owner in need of an updated look to your store front, the following advice is relevant to securing the services of a commercial paint company to meet your needs.

Research, research, research. The internet is a marvelous tool for finding out what paint companies work in commercial real estate. Take the time to find and read reviews by businesses that have already used their services.

Make tentative decisions about what painting you would like to have done. However, remember you are looking to hire a company that understands your needs from a professional painting perspective. The experience should be collaborative. Do not be averse to hearing their ideas about how to modernize your business’s façade.

Take the time to meet with your top 3 prospects. Have an idea of what you are interested in having done, then allow their input. Take notes and ask for references, even if there are positive reviews on the internet, after all, sometimes online reviews are less than credible.

Consider the businesses around you. Are you looking to blend in or stand out? Is there a retail or office theme? Are there contractual requirements that will limit your paint options? This should be determined prior to undertaking the painting process. It is your responsibility as a business owner to know the limitations of changes to the storefront you are permitted to perform.

And speaking of contracts, be sure you have one in place that outlines the exact parameters of the painting job that you hire out. Check into the company’s insurance and experience, the timeframe for completion, and responsibility for supplying materials.

There is a lot to consider when pursuing the update of a business store front. We have provided you with a skeletal checklist to work from. If you would like a more complete explanation, the professionals at University Painters are here to work with you! We look forward to hearing from you!

house painters, painting services
Written by Colleen Kalil

Tips on Hiring a Professional Painting Company

house painters, painting servicesEveryone wants their home to look beautiful. Landscaping is important but the number one item on a homeowner’s list is the exterior presentation. This begins with an elegant façade. While many homeowners believe that painting is a simple job, there are many things that must be taken into consideration. Painting the outside of a home is also very time consuming. Ultimately, the best option is usually to engage the services of a professional painting company. But once that decision is made, there are a number of questions you should ask a prospective business before hiring them.

Perhaps the most important question to ask your potential painters is whether or not they are insured. Today’s painting companies should hold two types of policies – workmen’s compensation and business liability. Ask to see the policies to ensure they are up to date. The last thing you want is a painter getting hurt on the job at your house!

  • Determine if the job will be subcontracted out once it is offered. Subcontracting can be risky for the homeowner. Contractors choose this option because it costs them less but it can result in shoddy workmanship.
  • Determine the quality of paint that will be used and have this noted in the painting contract
  • Find out if the contractor you speak with will be overseeing the job. Often a company will secure a painting job and then make themselves scarce until the bill is presented. You want to know who will be overseeing this work.
  • Ask the paint company representative about their experience. How many jobs have they done? Do they have references? Are there any homes in the area they have painted that you could drive by and see? If the company is hesitant to provide this information, then they are probably not the right ones for the job.
  • Request a list of organizations the company may be associated with, such as the Better Business Bureau or other trade associations. The more associations, the better as it helps to ensure their reputation.

Your home is likely your most valuable investment. Cutting corners on upkeep often costs you more in the end. The professionals at University Paint will be happy to discuss our services with you. We are confident you will find us second to none!!