The conversation below is a small part of what our Facebook painters are talking about while they help each other learn and grow professionally. Join the conversation on Facebook

What things could the government do to get out of your hair and make it easier for you to run your painting business?

Paintbox Painters
Hire my company to paint their offices.

Harvey Follis
Instead of having Working at Heights, Fall Arrest, WHMIS, etc… a new general safety certification should be created. And let people choose other certifications that apply to them. It can cost a lot to certify each of your guys and do checks on valid certificates for new employees.

Steven Haas
Get rid of the IRS.

Kevin Gunn
Lessen all of the tax burdens on a small business.

Jeff Lockwood
Hey. Found out last night at our local homebuilders meeting that the government will pay for Working At Heights training through a government program. Nice.

Marcelo Cruz
Lower rates for WSIB

The post What things could the government do … first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

Nikki Fish Todd Driehorst
I have a lady that wants her vinyl siding painted, told her it wasn’t happening. A good friend who has been a contractor for 30+ years told me he painted vinyl siding 10 years ago and it still looks like new, but he can’t remember what he used. Can anybody lead me in the right direction?

Randall Gibson
There’s all kinds of products that work these days specially formulated just for that. I’ve been using Sun-Proof from PPG with good success for the last 4 years. (That’s what my employer purchased but it works.) Ben Moore makes a good one too.

Nicholas Perry
I’ve done it probably 15 times. My own house also. Any exterior acrylic latex. Light colors only.

Jenny Burroughs
Gripper is a great primer, but primers aren’t necessary when painting vinyl. Go direct with 100% acrylic. My favorite is PPG Sun-Proof. A new formula was just launched too!!

Sean Shaffer
I wouldn’t recommend a big color change because they make siding different thickness for different colors so doing a major color change could cause warping in the sun. That being said Sherwin-Williams Multi-Surface Acrylic is a fantastic product. Also, definitely spray it. Anyone who thinks brushing and rolling would look better isn’t a professional in my book. Ever see anyone brush and roll a car? Spray finish is the best when you know how to do it . . .

Geoff Smith
In 1994 I painted a house with avocado siding using 25 year Sears WeatherBeater latex after a TSP wash. Painted white over green with 2 coats and today it still looks like new. If you think latex won’t adhere to aging siding, try to scrape or clean off the last person’s paint from 10 years ago who was sloppy with their application technique around windows etc. It tends to stay where it was put down . . . . !

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Pro Painter magazine’s Facebook group page has attracted a loyal following in the last two years.
The conversation below is a small part of what our Facebook painters are talking about while they help each other learn and grow professionally. Join the conversation on Facebook

Daniel Petrulak
I believe this to be true. I knew of just one painter growing up, and he subbed almost strictly for an interior design company in the city of Pittsburgh. Seems to me that painting company’s popped up through the mid 90s.

Tim Laur
In the 70’s it was a different economy. Now there are more two income households and who has time to paint with both spouses working? Houses are bigger,  bedrooms are larger. Labor is more expensive so many people place too much value on their time.

Olive Leighton
Wallpaper was big in our area during the earlier times. In fact, 30 years ago, a retired paperhanger was selling some leftover paper at his yard sale. I bought some, hung it and then put an ad in the paper for paperhanger.

Craig Estey
Tim is right. I have many clients who can paint and do a professional job. It takes them more time, and that’s where I come in. They get a job to their standards (or higher) and it free’s up the time they need for other things. Also, many of my clients used to paint for themselves, but are getting older and just couldn’t be bothered with it anymore. 60% of my residential work is with clients who are 60+.

The post Is there more professional painting in the world, or less? first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

Pro Painter magazine’s Facebook group page has attracted a loyal following in the last two years.
The conversation below is a small part of what our Facebook painters are talking about while they help each other learn and grow professionally. Join the conversation on Facebook

Rick Fowler
Most difficult jobs are ones I wasn’t completely prepared for . . . tools, material, whatever. The Irish have a saying: “There’s no bad weather . . . only bad clothing.” Most proud of?
Any job where the customer says “Wow, how the hell did you do that?”

Craig Estey
MOST DIFFICULT: Painting the cold storage facility at a dairy. Temperature was -15ºC and had to use industrial epoxy mixed with a catalyst. Any paint left by 4 o’clock was a solid disc of rubber. Work took twice as long because winter clothes hindered movements. I’m proud of all my jobs, but still find areas where I could’ve done better right after each one.

Gene Latray
MOST DIFFICULT: A log home exterior renewal along with metal roof prep and epoxy.
Never again! Most proud of? Too many to list. I love the look on a happy client’s face when they see their project better than they expected.

Tim Kyte
Customer picked orange paint, but after three coats it still looked horrible. Checked with
supplier and was assured the paint was good. Fourth coat still looked terrible, so went to paint manufacturer. “Oh, you need to use a special primer. Didn’t the supplier tell you?” Lost money and a day on the job, but homeowner was happy in the end.

Tanya Edison
I train volunteers to paint affordable housing, and I can have up to ten non-painters painting a new house at any given time. Any seasoned painter could just imagine my day.

The post What’s been the most difficult painting job of your career? first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

Pro Painter magazine’s Facebook group page has attracted a loyal following in the last two years.
The conversation below is a small part of what our Facebook painters are talking about while they help each other learn and grow professionally. Join the conversation on Facebook

Aaron Rothenberg
I would tell them to go to college. If they really want to become a painter, I would let them as long as they went with a good company that offered a benefit
and annuity plan.

Erik Schlake
I would tell them to learn the trade early, but take the opportunity to go to college and try new things. There is nothing wrong with being a painter. Knowing a craft means you have the ability to always put cash in your pocket. Take advantage of that while you are young, but try as many other things as you can, too.

Craig Estey
That would depend on where he wants to live. We have a dying demographic here in Nova Scotia. 70% of the population is over age 63 and we’re losing population to the tune of 12,000 per year. There just wouldn’t be enough business. Now that my wife has lost her full time benefits we may be leaving as well. Last year our hydro, gasoline and mortgage would take all of my gross from last year.

Justin’s Ccpf
If you are a real professional painter, not a hack with a paint brush, then I’m sure you wouldn’t want your kids to have to do this. Believe me, they’ll know how to paint
if they have to. I’m looking for my kids to take care of me after I’m all broken and wore out from painting my whole life. lol.

Jared Martin
No! Take over my company. That’s it.

Jason Bergen
I want mine to learn that it’s good to know how to paint well. But I hope they get an education through school and travel, then choose their own path. It’s better if you
don’t have to paint full time.

Bubba Mason
Here in Alabama its tough, so no to following in my footsteps. Both my daughters are pre-med and my sons play baseball so no painting for them.

Daniel Frost
It’s pretty much what you make it. Like any craft and profession there are pros and cons. For my new kids, a girl and boy, we have taught them to find their passion and go for it. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart. If it’s painting, so be it!

The post What would you say to a kid of yours who wanted to become a professional painter? first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.