When you hire a professional painter, there are a few standard things to expect. Here's a list of some of the basics:
Timely
A professional should arrive on time, not take extended lunch breaks, and close up shop before it gets too late at night. This lets them complete the job quickly and reduce inconvenience to you, their client.
Walk-through
Do you think a professional would just “take a guess” at how much your project will cost, how much paint is required, and how long it will take? No way. Instead, they’ll do a complete walk-through to see what is being painted. They’ll take measurements, ask a lot of questions, and will likely take pictures or notes and this is exactly what we do at Vanhousing Painters LLC.
Colors, Finishes, and End Goal
A professional house painter wants to make sure that you’re happy. They’ll ask about what colors you’d like, any specific finishes, etc. If you haven’t selected a specific brand yet, they can also give a good recommendation regarding their favorite paint brands. This is nice because most consumers have no idea what’s considered a quality paint. Even if you see ads on the TV or hear them on the radio, that doesn’t mean it’s a quality brand! We at Vanhousing Painters usually use high quality paints from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore.
Insurance & Licenses
A professional painter should have insurance and proper licenses. This will help you feel secure about hiring this company, as it adds a layer of protection for both yourself and them in case of an accident. The painter should provide this information to you for your records. Feel free to ask our estimator for proof of license and insurance.
Thorough Estimates
If you see a number just scribbled onto a napkin- run! If the proposal is poorly written, lacks clarity and throws a red flag for lack of professional, also run! A professional painter will have a complete breakdown of their costs and schedule. It gives you a peace of mind because it lets you know that they didn’t just make everything up. Vanhosuing Painters uses a standardized spreadsheet that takes in consideration every square inch and detail of the surface that needs to be painted. This way we know exactly how many gallons of paint will be used and how many hours will take to deliver a high quality job.
Questions?
Painters know that their service is not a cheap investment. They realize that some people have a lot of questions or hesitations about hiring a painter. Finally, they realize that they’d be working on your largest asset- your home- and that you’d be worried about damage or something going wrong. That’s why they should be more than happy to answer any questions you have. From insurance to expertise or paint color, they should be more than willing to help you out.
Cleaning
Let’s face it- painting is messy. But a professional knows how to keep the home as clean as possible during this time. And in case they do make a mess, they should quickly clean it up at their own time and expense. This goes for cleaning up at the end of the day as well. Unless you specifically gave them permission to leave a mess, they should do everything they can to get stuff out of your way in case they didn’t finish the job that day.
HOURS
Mon-Sat: 8AM - 7PM
Sun: Closed
Sun: Closed
VanHousing Painters LLC FAQs
You have questions, we have answers
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What should I look for when hiring a painting contractor?
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Are you licensed and insured?
Absolutely! Our license is always up to date. You can verify our license at the L&I's website. We protect our customers by carrying the appropriate coverage for general liability and workers compensation insurance. Note: We recommend using a company that is licensed and insured, even if it isn't us.
We maintain full general liability insurance on all people working on your home. With safety in mind, we will do everything we can to avoid any injuries on the jobsite. However, accidents can happen. We have the proper coverage so that you don't need to worry about a thing!
We maintain full general liability insurance on all people working on your home. With safety in mind, we will do everything we can to avoid any injuries on the jobsite. However, accidents can happen. We have the proper coverage so that you don't need to worry about a thing!
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Can I leave my home while your painting crew works?
Whether you stay or leave is entirely up to you. We ask that you meet the job site supervisor and the painters on the first day of your project for what we call the initial walkthrough. This will allow you and the crew to review the scope of work and your color selections for the areas we are painting, along with your preferences for where to begin your project. Once this review is complete feel free to leave or stay during the painting process. Should you choose to leave please let the job site supervisor know the best way to reach you if he or she has questions regarding your project. Please instruct the job site supervisor on how to leave your home if you have not returned before they finish their work for that day. Your job site supervisor should contact you with a daily update and let you know what they have completed and when to expect them the next day.
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Do you have references or examples of work you’ve completed?
Sure thing! The best references you will find are on our Yelp and Google profiles review section. Also we leave a project portfolio for you to view while we complete your project proposal on-site the day of the estimate.
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What type of paint do you recommend?
If you don’t have a preference, we recommend Sherwin Williams products because they do more product testing than any other paint company and they stand behind their products. This means if there is ever a manufacturing defect, you can trust that Sherwin Williams will take care of you and your project. However, we can use any type of paint you prefer…this is your house, after all!
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What type of guarantee do you offer?
We offer a two year guarantee on all projects. If you use a high-end paint or double coat your home, we add three years to that warranty (for a total of five years). So, if you notice an issue – small or large – please call our office. We strive to create “customers for life,” so the fact is, you can call us any time after your project has been completed!
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What is the best season to paint?
When it comes to things where aesthetics are concerned, there cannot be a perfect time. But there is always a good time and a bad time. To paint your house, you should take care that the weather is favorable.
Warm Weather:
Late Spring-Summers-Early Fall is the best time for painting your house. The weather is warm, the sky is clear and the winds are dry. This weather helps the paint on your house, both the exterior and the interior, dry well and settles well. Experienced painters say that painting during the late Spring-Summer-Early Fall is the best as the paint dries quickly and efficiently, thus giving your house a lasting paint job.
Avoid Rainfall:
The greatest danger to good paintwork is rainfall before its drying. This can simply ruin your dream of painting your house many times. So, it is important to choose a time frame where there is the least possibility of rain. Rain may wash the paint if it is not oil-based, and you may have ugly patches on the outside of your house. Also, it reduces the temperature and increases moisture in the air, which means that the paint will dry slowly. This mostly relates to exterior painting. Interior painting can be done all year around.
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What can I do to make the project go more smoothly?
Move Furniture
Your painters will probably cover up the furniture with plastic sheets, but you still need to make sure it’s not in their way. They don’t want to be stumbling around on your furniture- especially if they have a full paint bucket in their hand! If you can, move the furniture out of the room being painted. If you don’t have the available space, move it all to the center of the room. Oh yeah, and “Move Furniture” also includes wall hangings! Paintings, pictures, quotes, clocks, mirrors, and anything else that you have hanging on the wall. It isn’t exactly easy to paint a wall that’s covered in pictures and clocks, is it?
Allocate at Least One Space as a “Staging Area”
Professional painters don’t just carry their gallon bucket with them everywhere. They set up shop in one or 2 areas that allows them plenty of space to store their ladders, plastic sheets, paint, etc. Even though painters will bring in all of their own stuff, you may want to make room for them to keep all of this stuff. This is especially important if you have a lot of belongings in your home, as this can lead to a lot of clutter (no offense, but you know who you are!)
Shore Up Those Pets
Every professional painter has had this happen at least once… probably dozens of times. The family doesn’t want to board up Fi-Fi, so the dog or cat can come or go as they please. The problem with this- especially when painting doors or the corners of walls- is that sometimes the animal rubs up against the fresh coat of paint. We understand that your pet doesn’t like being in the crate or laundry room- but they should be okay for a few hours. If you really don’t want to do that, either board them up, have a loved one take them for a few days, or take the risk of having a painted animal to clean!
For exteriors
Please trim back all bushes, trees and grass/weeds that are within a foot of the home/areas being painted. Also remove animal feces before our crew begins prep work, this helps us ensure a clean job site!
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Who will be there to answer my questions or to address any concerns I may have throughout the project?
Once you sign up with us you will get a phone call from our production manager Vlad to start talking about the colors and a potential start date. On this call we will also address any other concerns or details that need to be managed prior to starting work on your home.
The production manager will take care of your project from start to finish.
The week leading up to the job you can expect phone calls to keep you updated on the estimated start date and any changes due to weather or unforeseen delays in our work schedule. Please keep in mind that we can see all four seasons in one day in Seattle, so we request that you understand your start date may change slightly.
During the job, we will let you know what time you can expect us to start work each day. We will talk with you daily about the progress of the job and any concerns so we can address those right away.
At the end of the job, we’ll take a final walkthrough to do any last touch ups before we ask for the final payment.
The production manager will take care of your project from start to finish.
The week leading up to the job you can expect phone calls to keep you updated on the estimated start date and any changes due to weather or unforeseen delays in our work schedule. Please keep in mind that we can see all four seasons in one day in Seattle, so we request that you understand your start date may change slightly.
During the job, we will let you know what time you can expect us to start work each day. We will talk with you daily about the progress of the job and any concerns so we can address those right away.
At the end of the job, we’ll take a final walkthrough to do any last touch ups before we ask for the final payment.
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Do you charge for estimates?
No. Our estimates are completely free.
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How do you determine the amount you will charge for my painting project?
The price depends on the amount of materials and labor. Vanhosuing Painters LLC uses a standardized spreadsheet that takes in consideration every square inch and detail of the surface that is going to be painted. At the time of the estimate we take notes and measurements that we introduce to our estimating spreadsheet. This way we know exactly how many gallons of paint will be used and how many hours will take to deliver a high quality job. Our prices are normally fixed and there are no hidden fees. The price can change only if there is an addition to the scope of work and this is agreed and signed by with both parties.
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What do we do if you find dry rot?
There are a few different ways to go about this. One is to replace the damaged board entirely and the other one is to repair the damaged area if this is not a structural hazard.
The dry rot repair process has six steps: Remove Dry Rot, Spray Fungicide, Apply Wood Hardener, Replace Damaged Wood with Epoxy, Sand Surface Smooth, Protect with Exterior Acrylic Primer and Paint.
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How long will it take to paint my house?
An average-size house will take an average of three to four days to paint with a team of two to three people. In this case, average means a home with one to two stories and four or fewer bedrooms. A large house, such as a three-story or five-plus-bedroom home, will take five to six days.
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How will my personal property be protected from paint?
Once we arrive on-site for an interior project, we will do everything to protect all your personal property. We cover furniture, floors, electronics, and more.
We do ask that you remove anything that is not replaceable and take everything off the walls. Accidents can still happen, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
We will cover all the floors with paper and drop cloths, and then we secure those down with tape. Painting can be a little messy, and following procedures will prevent paint from getting on the carpet or the floors. In addition, we cover anywhere the crews walk to prevent any paint on shoes from being spread in the house.
Along with covering the floors, we will also cover floor moldings, trim, and other areas with painter’s tape to prevent excess paint from spilling onto the wrong spot. It saves us time doing this and it ensures you get the clean look you desire.
Vanhousing Painters will cover all furniture, appliances, or other items left in the room with plastic. This is especially important for kitchen cabinet jobs since we cannot move a lot of things out of the way.
Covering your house like this may seem messy and chaotic, but taking these steps actually prevents messes. Your house may be covered in plastic for a few days, but going the extra mile like this streamlines the cleanup process.
We will uncover everything and clean up thoroughly when the project is completed. Afterward, you won’t even be able to tell the paper or plastic was there at all.
In short, we take every precaution possible to make sure none of your personal items are damaged in the painting process. Doing so helps us do better work and gives you peace of mind.
We do ask that you remove anything that is not replaceable and take everything off the walls. Accidents can still happen, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
We will cover all the floors with paper and drop cloths, and then we secure those down with tape. Painting can be a little messy, and following procedures will prevent paint from getting on the carpet or the floors. In addition, we cover anywhere the crews walk to prevent any paint on shoes from being spread in the house.
Along with covering the floors, we will also cover floor moldings, trim, and other areas with painter’s tape to prevent excess paint from spilling onto the wrong spot. It saves us time doing this and it ensures you get the clean look you desire.
Vanhousing Painters will cover all furniture, appliances, or other items left in the room with plastic. This is especially important for kitchen cabinet jobs since we cannot move a lot of things out of the way.
Covering your house like this may seem messy and chaotic, but taking these steps actually prevents messes. Your house may be covered in plastic for a few days, but going the extra mile like this streamlines the cleanup process.
We will uncover everything and clean up thoroughly when the project is completed. Afterward, you won’t even be able to tell the paper or plastic was there at all.
In short, we take every precaution possible to make sure none of your personal items are damaged in the painting process. Doing so helps us do better work and gives you peace of mind.
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What color should I choose?
While we don’t have an in house color consultant we always recommend using the Sherwin Williams free color consultant by following this LINK. We can then help you with applying the samples on the walls before buying the paint or we can do a color match if necessary if you decide to go with the same color.
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When do I pay you?
We ask for a 20% down payment to solidify your spot in our schedule. The remaining 80% is not due until after the job is completed and you are completely satisfied!
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What type of payments do you accept?
We accept checks, Zelle, all major credit cards and PayPal.
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What process do you use to prepare surfaces to make sure the paint “sticks?”
We remove all loose and flaking paint from all surfaces before applying a fresh coat. This is done by pressure washing your home, then scraping and priming peeling surfaces as well as caulking all cracks and nail holes that need it. Sometimes, surfaces have to be scuffed up, abraded or profiled. That’s why we take our time where it counts – in the preparation.
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Am I supposed to tip the painters?
Our painters never expect tips. However, if you love the work that they did on your home, you are more than welcome to tip your painters. The industry standard is 2-4% of the job size.
860+
Projects Completed
7+
Years in business
5 
Star Rating
Phone: 
Email: 
