Besides the price, a smart consumer would consider other variables in the hiring of a painting contractor. To avoid costly mistakes, frustrations and delays, use this simple checklist to ask the correct questions of the painting contractors you are considering.

	Lang's Painting, Inc.	Company B	Company C
Is the contractor licensed and insured?	Yes
Does the contractor carry workmen's compensation? (This limits your legal liability)	Yes
Does the contractor perform criminal background checks and drug-testing on employees?	Yes
Is the contractor a member of his trade/s organization/s, for e.g. Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, National Guild of Professional Paperhangers, Homebuilders of Washtenaw County	Yes to all three
Are the painters of the company employees or sub-contractors?	Employees
Was the estimate scheduled and the bid presented in a timely manner, reflecting the company's professionalism, organization and courtesy?	Yes
Does the contractor appear professional, knowledgeable, clean and neat?	Yes
Is the proposal clear with detailed pricing for each area of your home?	Yes
Does the contractor specify the type of paint used?	Yes
Does the contractor give you a written warranty?	Yes
Are references available on request?	Yes
Length of time the company has been in business in Ann Arbor	18 years
How large is the customer list?	Over 300 customers. Most of the customers become repeat cutomers also.
Does the company provide ongoing safety and painting training?	Yes

At Lang’s Painting, we’re proud of our reputation of being one of the finest paint contracting companies in town. Since 1990 we have been learning, practicing and perfecting our trade.

Our goal at Lang’s Painting is to give our customers what they want; not what we think they want. So over the years, we’ve been learning to ask our customers what they want. To that end, Lang’s Painting offers different levels of service-from area touch-ups to complete overhauls. We don’t cut corners, we offer only superior quality materials and we stand behind our work 100 percent. We also have a painter-for-a-day program where we can send a painter to your home for a day and they can handle any touch-up or refreshening of paint work you need to have done.

The painting preparation process is made up of a series of six steps, each one building on the other. Each step produces a different degree of finish.

Level 1: No surface preparation
Open the can and paint, no warranty for adhesion.

Level 2: Basic
Remove surface dust, dirt and obvious loosed paint by hand. No sanding, little concern for appearance. No warranty for adhesion.

Level 3: Standard
Caulk and patch for good adhesion and longevity of the finish. Appearance is of secondary concern. Correction for obvious, existing defects in the painted surface (viewed at a distance of five feet).Warranty

Level 4: Superior
Substrate soundness, adhesion and appearance are generally equal priorities, while retaining character of existing painted surface. Includes filling, patching, taping cracks in drywall and properly dealing with nail pops. Aggressive sanding to minimize existing runs, sags, brush and roller marks, cracks and peeling areas. Sand to feather edge. Warranty.

Level 5: Premium
Final appearance and feel are of first priority without minimizing substrate adhesion. All necessary preperation techniques are employed except complete paint removal. Warranty.

Level 6: Restoration Resurfacing
Complete removal of existing coatings from all surfaces. Use all necessary fillers; focus on look, feel as well longevity. Warranty.


Let us know what you want. Our goal is to serve, make you happy and fulfill all your painting needs. We love painting!

How to hire a professional Painting contractor

Hiring and Contracting with a Professional
Painting and Decorating Contractor

Before you decide to hire the least expensive painter you can find, or "do it yourself", here are important points to consider that suggest the lowest price may not be the best value.

Safety
Painting can be hazardous work, whether it’s working on a ladder or dealing with solvents and dust. Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about these problems.

Health
If your home or business was built before 1978, it may have been painted with lead-based paint, which can cause serious health effects when it is scraped or sanded in preparation for repainting. Professional contractors will take appropriate steps to protect you. Painting contractors are required to furnish EPA-produced pamphlets to their residential customers before they begin a job that involves disturbing lead-based paint in or on a residence. Professional painting contractors will understand and be willing to follow the recommendations on this pamphlet.

Preparation & Painting
Getting the surface properly prepared makes all the difference. Professional contractors know the value of preparation and will do it right.

Knowing Paints and How to Apply Them: The choices today are more complicated than just oil or latex, and professional contractors will know what works, how to use it, and will have the right tools for the job.

Cleanup and Disposal
Hiring a professional contractor means you don’t have to worry about dealing with paint residues and other leftovers. Professionals will know how to handle hazardous wastes that may be part of the job.


How to Choose the Right Contractor For Your Project
Once you have decided to contract with someone to do a particular painting and decorating project, how do you go about selecting the right company? Do you make your selection on price, size of company, years in business, or other criteria?

To locate the names of reputable contractors, there are many sources of information. Some of these sources are PDCA's Find a Pro search engine, friends, relatives, architects and design professionals, and local "quality- oriented" paint supply stores. However, these sources can only give you limited general information. In order to make an educated decision, you need some specific information about any person or firm you are considering hiring.

Always verify the contractor is licensed and insured.
Quality contracting firms will be only too happy to provide you with copies of their certificates of insurance. They should provide bonding information (if the job is large enough to require such) and documentation of safety training and compliance programs. Not all states and municipalities require licensing however business registration with your state and municipality is generally a minimum requirement.

Written Contracts are a Must
Reputable contractors will encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly explain the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as surfaces to be painted, methods and extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment procedures. Knowing the total scope of the work enables you to carefully evaluate the different bids you may receive with the proper information and keep them on a level playing field. The contract serves to protect both you and the contractor.

Invest Time in Verifying References
Obtain a list of references from the prospective contractor. This list should include the contact person, address, and telephone number of the previous client. Follow up on this list with a phone call. Remember, the contractor will not give you a bad reference. Therefore, ask references if they know of any other work this contractor has performed. Be sure to ask whether the contractor and employees treated you professionally and with respect. The references you are interested in should be projects similar in size and scope to yours. Also, some of the projects should be at least a few years old. This will help you gauge the performance of the construction and materials used. If possible, try to see the work that was done.

Discuss any guarantee or warranty programs the contractor may offer. Ask about the manufacturer's warranty on the products to be used on your project. Remember you are looking for long-term durability from the paint job. The use of high quality products is as important as the selection and performance of the contractor. Verifying references will provide a return on your project investment.

Is Your Contractor a PDCA Member?
Determine if your contractor is a member of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. It has been in existence since 1884 and has over 3100 members all over the country and parts of Canada. The focus of the association is the education of its members and the promotion of professionalism within the industry. Look for the PDCA logo on your contractor's business card, bid sheets, or trucks. Trade associations such as the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) offer many programs for the education of painting contractors. This education includes training in the area of safety, business management, technical areas of painting and surface preparation, and more. Quality painting and decorating contractors are well educated on the different aspects of any painting project and that knowledge helps eliminate surprises. Excellence in paint application is as important with your selection of a contractor as are the skills to properly manage their business and your project.

Not all association memberships are alike
National Associations such as PDCA and the Better Business Bureau are Non-Profit Associations who are interested in making the contracting world better, not just selling their products, which many marketing and sales type association type groups are in business for. PDCA is the only national association for painting and decorating contractors and one of the oldest contractor associations in America.

Industry standards are another benefit of trade associations. PDCA produces nationally recognized Painting Industry Standards that cover many different aspects of a painting project. Use of these standards in proposals and contracts helps improve communication between the client and the contractor, assists in ensuring quality, and becomes a basis for evaluating the job’s requirements.

In Closing
Good contractors are very eager for your business. They are also very proud of their craftsmanship. Once you have made your selection, step back and give the professional room to execute the project. You have both done your homework, so give the professional the opportunity to meet and exceed your expectations. Remember, as with anything else in life, you get what you pay for. If you want high quality and reliable service, be willing to pay the price that comes with it.

Here's to your successful painting projects.

The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America is a full-service national trade association representing over 3,100 companies engaged in all sectors of the coatings application industry. PDCA has developed this article to assist you in making an informed decision when you next contemplate a painting or decorating project. To find a PDCA contractor in your area, visit the PDCA Find-a-Pro Search Engine on this web site or call PDCA at 800-332-PDCA.

Color Basics

For this month we've compiled some fun information about using colors-Enjoy!

COLOR WARM UP
Red, orange, and yellow Colors in the red, orange and yellow families are referred to as "warm" colors since they evoke images associated with heat, like fire or sunshine. As a result they make us feel warm in a psychological sense.


Red
This powerful color increases blood pressure and heart rate. It often produces feelings of intimacy, energy, passion and sexuality. It also stimulates the appetite and is often used in restaurants and is an excellent choice for dining rooms in the home.

Orange
Like red, orange warms a room but in a less dramatic and passionate way. The mood and attitude of orange is more friendly than fiery; more welcoming than seductive. Orange works well in living rooms and family rooms and is also a good choice for children's bedrooms.

Yellow
Yellow grabs attention and catches the eye like no other color, hence the use of yellow highlighters in offices. In poorly lit foyers and hallways, yellow shows the way. In their bedrooms, elderly people report that yellow lifts their mood. But bright yellow can be too strong and may actually cause anxiety in infants, young children and the elderly.

COLOR COOL OUT
Blue, green, and violet Blues, greens, violets and their intermediates are considered cool colors because of their references to pastoral landscapes and ocean vistas. When we look at these colors they elicit feelings of peace, tranquility and relaxation.

Blue
Soothing blue is an ideal bedroom color choice for adults and children. But that same blue that lulls us to sleep also suppresses our appetites, possibly because there are very few naturally blue foods. Put blue to bed, but try and keep it out of the dining room.

Green
As the dominant color in nature, we are at home with green anywhere in the house. Light greens work well in baths and living rooms; mid-range greens are a great accent for kitchens and dining rooms. The calming effect of green makes it popular in hospitals, schools and work environments.

Violet
Despite the favorable response violet elicits in children, many adults dislike purples, with rosier shades of violet being somewhat more appealing. Children's bedrooms and play areas may be good places to experiment with this color family.
Labels: Paint colors by Doug Lang 12/24/06 Delete

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How long is an exterior paint job supposed to last?

Q: The exterior of my home was painted about 7 years ago. How long is an exterior paint job supposed to last?

A: The length of time an exterior paint job will last depends on many factors. But here are some guidelines. If the substrate is in good condition and has received high quality surface preparation and painting work as part of all previous paint jobs, you can expect a paint job to last between 5-8 years. The paint job can last longer. However, the paint starts to delaminate and separate from the substrate after this time period. On homes that have had one or more suspect paint jobs, one or more problems will develop in the top coat of paint after a year or two of the last paint job. The tension and stress of the top coat of paint will often pull off the previous coating in areas that not properly adhered.

If your home or business had received a poor paint job, Give us a call about maintenance painting. We can send one of our painters to do some repair and touch up work in different areas.

Taking care of your hardwood floors

We highly recommend the use of Bona's Hardwood Floor Cleaner. As an acceptable alternative, use this solution ¼ cup white vinegar to a gallon of water
When using any solution to clean floors, mist it onto the floor and then wiped up with a damp cloth. NEVER leave puddles of water or any cleaning solution on hardwood floors.
Never use no-wax floor products on your hardwood floors! These and self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and dull quickly.
Never use wax on a polyurethane finish.
Felt pads are recommended under all furniture to prevent scratches. The pads can be found at Lowes, ACE or Home Depot.
Area rugs are recommended in high-traffic areas and by entrance doors. Caution: some floor discoloring will take place in areas with direct sunlight. Therefore, area rugs should be moved occasionally, and windows facing the sun should have drapes/blinds.
Dog owners will need to keep their pets' nails clipped to minimize scratches. Unfortunately, there is not a polyurethane finish on the market today that will withstand pet scratches.
Moisture barrier pads or trivets/stands should be used under potted plants, even if they are in sealed or leak-proof containers. Condensation can build up underneath these containers, causing damage to the floor.
Avoid walking on your wood floors with cleats, sports shoes and high
heels; A woman walking in high heels can exert an impact of 2,000 pounds per square inch. This kind of impact can badly damage the floor surface