Frequently Asked Questions about Painting
How do you determine the amount you will charge for my painting project?
How long will it take to paint my house?
Will you complete my job in a timely manner without interruption?
How will my personal property be protected from paint?
Do I need to move everything from the rooms before you paint?
What kind of paint do you use?
What is the difference between acrylic and latex paint?
How long will it take for the paint to dry?
What are different paint sheens?
What are the advantages of flat and lower sheen paints?
What are the disadvantages of flat and lower sheen paints?
What are the advantages of higher sheen paints?
What are the disadvantages of higher sheen paints?
How do I maintain my interior painting job?
How long will my exterior painting job last?
How to test if paint is oil or latex?
How do you determine the amount you will charge for my painting project?
There are many things to consider, including: type and size of the painted area, type of windows and other trim work, number and intensity of paint colors, amount of protection needed for plants and furniture, quality of paint used, and the extent of needed paint surface preparation. All of these are considered in order to provide you with an accurate cost estimate.
When I get different bids from several companies, they are never the same, some high, some low. Why is there such a price difference?
The cost of a job is usually determined by the level of thoroughness, attention to detail, and quality desired. It costs more to properly prepare a surface for painting than to just pressure clean and scrape the surface. Most of the cost of painting is in the surface preparation and the labor involved in the application of the paint, not the actual cost of the paint. As with most other industries, generally you get what you pay for.
Yes, our references are available upon request.
How long will it take to paint my house?
The process can take as little as 4-5 days from the time we connect with you. However, it can take longer depending on the condition of the work surfaces, the type of work required, and weather conditions, if the project involves exterior work.
During our consultation with you, we will evaluate your situation and can tell you how long we think it will take to complete your painting project.
Will you complete my job in a timely manner without interruption?
Yes. We schedule each job to be completed in consecutive days, including exterior jobs, if weather permits.
How will my personal property be protected from paint?
On interiors, after you have removed your personal items all areas, items remaining will be covered with clean drop cloths or plastic sheeting. On exteriors, shrubs and surrounding areas are protected so that no evidence of paint or paint peelings remain.
Do I need to move everything from the rooms before you paint?
Just move the small items and breakables. ipaint, inc, if necessary, will move and protect all of the furniture and fixtures.
It is generally understood color combinations that appear pleasing are made of colors that are in harmony or in balance with each other. Colors that do not appear to agree with each other or that clash are not in harmony.
Whether it is the interior or exterior painting, we normally start a client out with a chart of stock colors. Stock color paints tend to perform better due to the process of their manufacture.
On the exterior paints chart, there is also a nice variety of harmonious color combinations from which to choose.
Another very good way to get started on exterior color selection is to take a drive around the neighborhood. Find similar houses to yours to see what others have done with colors. This way you get a very good idea of what the final look of your home might be.
We can provide you with cardboard brush outs, or roll out samples directly on the areas to be painted. Many clients find this process helps them to better visualize the final result.
What kind of paint do you use?
We use only professional quality paints from Sherwin Williams, Kelly Moore and Benjamin Moore, unless the customer requests a different brand.
Latex paints are more environmentally friendly than oil based paints. Oil based paints cause paint fumes that can be particularly bothersome during interior painting jobs. There is also a by-product of dirty paint thinner that requires a trip to your local toxic waste site. (We always dispose of this waste as part of our work.)
There are other factors as well: Latex primers and finishes have been improving tremendously over the years and are very durable. For example, a latex finish on an exterior painting job will stay elastic for years; oil-based paint dries to form a hard and more brittle film. Surfaces expand and contract with weather. While the latex paint will move with the surface, the oil-based paint will tend to crack sooner with this movement.
The advantage of using oil paints is that it will give a smoother look; it tends to lay out better on the surface and not show brush marks as much as latex. Also, as was already mentioned, oil dries hard so it tends to be more washable than latex.
What is the difference between acrylic and latex paint?
The basic difference between the two paints is that latex paint is water-based and acrylic paint has a chemical composition that gives it elasticity; but, there are "acrylic latex" paints with varying degrees and properties of both. Exterior house paint manufacturers are moving away from latex to 100 percent acrylic because the latter easily expands and contracts with heat and cold. As a result, it holds better than latex. There is also a difference in price. Latex paint is much less expensive than acrylic. However, if you use latex paint instead of more expensive acrylic, the painted surface will have to be re-painted much sooner.
How long will it take for the paint to dry?
Acrylic (latex) paint dries much faster than Alkyd (oil). Usually a couple of hours are plenty of time for the paint to dry. Oil paint should dry overnight. Flat paint may dry faster than semi gloss.
What are different paint sheens?
Sheen refers to the light reflectivity of the painted or varnished surface. There are varying degrees of sheen, from no sheen to high gloss. Paint manufacturers may refer to their paint sheens by different names. From lowest to highest, sheens correspond to these reflective degrees:
Flat finish
Eggshell finish
Satin finish
Semi gloss finish
High gloss finish
What are the advantages of flat and lower sheen paints?
They provide even light reflection and give the surface a softer, more uniform look.
They don't highlight surface imperfections like higher sheen paints, so they usually don't require as much surface preparation (like patching, texturing or sanding) prior to painting.
They are much less likely to show "lap marks", so they are generally easier to apply and touch up than higher sheen paints. (When one painted section dries before the next section is painted, the two sections won't flow together into a uniform film, resulting in a "lap mark.")
They don't need to be sanded or de-glossed before repainting, unlike higher sheen paints.
What are the disadvantages of flat and lower sheen paints?
Because they are less stain and scuff resistant than higher sheen paints, they should not be used on surfaces that will be handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.
They are less moisture resistant than higher sheen finishes, so they are not the best choice for areas that are exposed to high humidity levels, like bathrooms, or on any surfaces that will be washed frequently.
What are the advantages of higher sheen paints?
They have better stain resistance; they resist dirt pick up and stay cleaner longer.
They have better scuff and wear resistance, so they're good for high traffic areas and on surfaces that are handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.
They have better moisture resistance, which makes them ideal for surfaces and areas that are frequently exposed to high humidity levels.
What are the disadvantages of higher sheen paints?
They tend to highlight any surface imperfections.
They are harder to touch up than lower sheen paints, because the higher sheen tends to highlight the slightly raised surface of the film where the touch up was done.
They usually need to be sanded, de-glossed or primed prior to repainting, to ensure good adhesion of the new paint.
How do I maintain my interior painting job?
Interior paint typically gets dirty in many situations: hand prints around switches and knobs, splashes in kitchens and bathrooms, marks on hallways and corridors, "soot" accumulating above electric lamps and other heat sources. Removing dirt before it accumulates not only improves appearance, it also reduces chances of it getting permanently embedded in the paint film.
Check for dirt periodically and assume it will be present in and near cooking areas (airborne cooking oil) and at all places at hand height. Always initially clean the surface with a mild detergent, using a sponge or a soft cloth. Resort to harsher cleaners only when necessary, recognizing that alkaline cleaners can dull the sheen or gloss of oil based paint. Abrasive cleaners will burnish nearly any paint and will dull the gloss of satin, semi-gloss and gloss products. Washed surfaces should be thoroughly rinsed because residual cleaner can interfere with adhesion of paint applied later.
How long will my exterior painting job last?
Generally an exterior painting job will need to be redone every 5-10 years. Stucco tends to last longer. Wood, on the other hand, expands and contracts more with changing temperatures, which loosens the paint sooner. It is best not to put off your exterior painting until the house is badly peeling. When it gets to that condition, it will end up costing you more in preparation time and possibly dry rot repair work.
If, however, the property is in bad condition when you get to it, do yourself a favor - go the extra length and ensure that thorough surface preparation is done. The idea is to create a sound surface for the new finish or paint coats to adhere. This requires more time but is necessary for the paint job to last.
The term surfactant leaching is used to describe spots or streaks of sticky brown or colorless material that appear on the surface of freshly applied latex paint. Surfactant leaching is a common paint problem that may occur with any brand of latex paint. The spots or streaks caused by surfactant leaching, while unsightly, are not harmful and do not affect the performance of the paint.
Surfactants are ingredients in paint that are critical to the performance properties of the paint such as its color, stability, flow, and leveling. These materials usually evaporate in good drying conditions, or they are locked into the paint film. The staining occurs when drying conditions cause the paint to dry too slowly, allowing the surfactants to rise to the surface of the paint. The spotting and streaking occur when moisture condenses on the fresh paint and draws the surfactants rapidly out of the paint film. Heavy condensation will cause vertical streaking caused by surfactant-rich water.
Surfactant leaching usually occurs during the spring and fall when the daytime temperatures rapidly drop below the dew point, or when temperatures are low and humidity remains high. In coastal areas, such as San Francisco, the marine layer can suddenly increase humidity and cause surfactant leaching any time of the year.
How to test if paint is oil or latex?
First, scrub a small area with a solution of household detergent and warm water. Rinse well and towel dry. Then soak a cotton ball, Q tip or soft rag in alcohol and rub it back and forth over the cleaned area. If paint comes off, it's latex. If not, it's oil based. In either case, proper preparation is key to a great finished product.