Washington Homeowners: DIY Or Leave The Painting To A Pro?

Now is the perfect time to get your Washington state home in tip-top shape. For many homeowners, this means applying a new coat of paint and creating a whole new look for the inside or outside of your house.

Painting is a great way to update and spruce up the interior or exterior of your home. But when do you do it yourself as a weekend project and when is it best to hire the services of a professional painter? Use this guide to help you decide if you should hire a painting contractor.

Interior Painting

Painting the interior of your home is a good do it yourself project even for beginners. Here are the basics of interior painting:

1. Choose the right paint and color

Don’t overlook the importance of choosing the best paint and color for a room. Doing your research and getting it right the first time will help you avoid the time and money spent fixing mistakes.

2. Wall prep

Prepping walls means your painting project is going to be a success. For paint to adhere correctly you’ll need to clean and sand walls. You’ll also need to repair holes and other imperfections.

3. Taping and priming

Use painter’s tape to mask ceilings, doors, moldings, and windows. For a professional look, apply a coat of primer paint to achieve an even and smooth finish.

4. When to hire a pro

When you want to save time, and for larger rooms and more intricate projects, a professional painting contractor has the experience and equipment to give you great results.

Need help with your next painting project? Hire a professional painter in Washington state.

Exterior Painting

Exterior projects can be more complex than painting the interior of your home and are often best left to a professional. Here’s why:

1. Experience and knowledge

A professional painting contractor brings years of experience and knowledge to the job. They’ll know what paint is best for your project so it holds up for years to come.

2. Tools and equipment

Painting the outside of your home is a big project. Painting contractors have the right tools and equipment needed, such as scaffolding and paint sprayers, to efficiently and safely do a professional job.

3. Save frustration and time

Painting your home exterior is more than just a weekend project and doesn’t allow for any cutting of corners to get it done quickly. You’ll need to factor in time to prep the surface, such as cleaning and power washing. Add painting time and you may quickly become frustrated and discouraged with the hours you spend on this home project. Hiring a contractor gets the job done quickly and professionally without mistakes.

Tips to Hire a Painting Contractor

Once you’ve decided to hire a painting contractor, use these tips to find the best professional for the job:

1. Ask for referrals. Check in with family and friends for referrals of painting contractors they’ve used for their own projects.
2. Get more than one estimate. Make sure each estimate includes a price for the entire scope of the job, including prep work, materials, and paint. Beware of lowball estimates from contractors who just want to get hired. Bargain estimates may cost you more in the long run when paint starts to chip and crack.
3. Check references. Ask for names of previous clients who you can contact to get their recommendations.

For a quality paint job and professional results, contact a HomeAdvisor painting contractor in Washington state.

This Patch article is sponsored by HomeAdvisor.