Residential Painting Tips

5 tips and 15 questions you NEED to ask before you hire a qualified contractor

2009-12-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

Tip 1: The State of Oregon CCB recommends getting your contractual agreement in writing. Always get a copy of the contractor's CCB card that they should carry with them at all times. Make two copies of the contract, make sure all of the required CCB notices are included, dated and signed on both copies of the contract.

Ask The Painting Contractor some of the following questions:

• What professional recommendations can you make for my project?

• What do you recommend needs to be done for my project?

• What areas need the most attention and what do you see as the most challenging aspect of this project?

• How long will the job take from start to finish?

• How will adverse weather conditions affect the project quality?

• What materials do you recommend? Paint, Caulking, Primer, Scraping & Sanding?

• What about doors? How will you prep and paint them? What type of paint & primers will you use?

Tip 2: You should always ask open ended questions. You'll find out what the contractor really knows when you require him/her to explain things to you.

• Do you ever mix water into the paint or do you use products such as Penetrol or paint thinners in order to thin-out your paint during the painting process?

• What are the steps you take during the clean up process on the job each day to ensure my property and home stay clean and organized during the painting project?

• Do you work on more than one job at a time or multiple jobs and how will that affect our project?

• Do you have 5 – 7 references? Can you show me some houses I can drive by and take a look at or do you have some addresses that you could give me that I could check out on my own?

Tip 3: Check every reference... it may surprise you how many references may not be happy with the contractor you are checking on. (This list of customers should all be ecstatic over the work... remember this contractor isn't giving you his upset customers to call.)

• How many homes did you paint last year?

• Can you show me some homes you've painted 3-5 years ago?

Tip 4: Work with a Repaint Specialist. Contractors that have worked in new construction for several years don't have the same knowledge and experience in prep, application, and the finished product like a qualified journeymen or master journeymen contractor may have. So make sure you're getting competitive quotes from other qualified contractors that have good references for repaint work.

• Are you licensed in the City & State where I live? (Be sure to get their license number and check with the State Contractor's Board to ensure they are a licensed contractor) Click on the link below to check the status of your contractor’s

License Status

Bond

Liability Insurance

Business License Number

Any pending Final Orders Discharged in Bankruptcy

Unpaid DRS Final Orders

Orders Or Arbitration Awards on Appeal

Delinquent Disciplinary Final Orders

CCB Disciplinary Actions

CCB Dispute Resolution Services (DRS) Summary

Summary of Unpaid CCB Orders

CCB Business Detail Record

CCB Administrative License Actions

Oregon CCB Link: https://ccbed.ccb.state.or.us/ccb_frames/consumer_info/ccb_index.htm

Tip 5: Always use a licensed specialty contractor or residential general contractor. Warning: if you choose to use an unlicensed contractor and even though you may have a contractual agreement with the individual you may have no recourse if the individual does harm to you, damages your property, or scams you by getting money upfront for the job and takes off with your hard earned cash. With a licensed contractor your recourse is two fold: 1) you have the right to go after their bond (which varies from 10,000-20,000 dollars or more in the state of Oregon). 2) If the contractor damages your property, your recourse could be to have the contractor’s liability insurance cover any damages sustained to the homeowner or business from the contractor’s negligent behavior on the job. (Typically in the state of Oregon, depending on whether or not the contractor is a specialty contractor, residential general contractor, or a commercial contractor their liability insurance should range between 100,000-2,000,000 aggregate).

The following information can be found on my website www.andruszkopainting.com http://www.andruszkopainting.com/

@ http://www.andruszkopainting.com/?func=contracttips

What are the 8 standards of accreditation that the Better Business Bureau uses to give businesses their BBB logo/accreditation?

2009-12-22T01:03:00.000-08:00

The BBB Code of Business Practices represents sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business. The Code is built on the BBB Standards for Trust, eight principles that summarize important elements of creating and maintaining trust in business.

This Code also represents standards for business accreditation by BBB. Businesses based in the United States and Canada that meet these standards and complete application procedures will be accredited by BBB.

To be accredited by BBB a business or organization affirms that it meets and will abide by the following standards:
1. Build Trust
Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

A. Have been operational (actively selling products or services) in any BBB service area for at least the most recent 12 months, unless the principal(s) previously operated a similar business with an eligible record (one that qualifies for BBB accreditation).

B. Fulfill all licensing and bonding requirements of applicable jurisdictions; provide all license and bonding information upon application for BBB accreditation; and provide periodic updates upon request of BBB.

C. Be free from government action that demonstrates a significant failure to support BBB ethical principles in marketplace transactions (this requires a determination by BBB as to the nature of any
violation, whether it was caused or condoned by management, and actions taken to resolve underlying issues that led to the government action).

D. Be free of an unsatisfactory rating and maintain at least a B rating at the accrediting BBB and the BBB where it is headquartered, if different.

E. In its relationship with BBB:
meet all applicable standards within this Code of Business Practices
cooperate with BBB’s activities and efforts to promote voluntary self-regulation within the business’ industry
honor any settlements, agreements or decisions reached as an outcome of a BBB dispute resolution process
complete the required application and pay all monetary obligations to BBB in a timely manner

2. Advertise Honestly
Adhere to established standards of advertising and selling.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:
A. Follow federal, state/provincial and local advertising laws.

B. Abide by the BBB Code of Advertising. Supply, upon request, substantiation for advertising and selling claims. Correct advertising and selling practices, when recommended by BBB.

C. Adhere to applicable BBB industry codes of advertising.

D. Cooperate with BBB self-regulatory programs for the resolution of advertising disputes.

E. Use the BBB name and logos in accordance with BBB policy.

F. Avoid misleading customers by creating the false impression of sponsorship, endorsement, popularity, trustworthiness, product quality or business size through the misuse of logos, trustmarks, pictures, testimonials, or other means.

3. Tell the Truth
Honestly represent products and services, including clear and adequate disclosures of all material terms.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

A. Make known all material facts in both written and verbal representations, remembering that misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements but by omitting or obscuring relevant facts.

B. Ensure that any written materials are readily available, clear, accurate and complete.

4. Be Transparent
Openly identify the nature, location, and ownership of the business, and clearly disclose all policies, guarantees and procedures that bear on a customer’s decision to buy.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

A. Upon request, provide BBB with all information required to evaluate compliance with BBB standards. This may include, but is not limited to business name, address and contact information; names and background of principals; business and banking references; licensing and/or professional accreditation; and a complete description of the nature of the business.

B. Clearly disclose to customers:
direct and effective means to contact the business
terms of any written contract
any guarantees or warranties accompanying a product
any restrictions or limitations imposed (e.g. limited supply,maximum number available per customer)
the business’ return/refund policy
any recurring commitment into which the customer may be entering, including information on how future billing will occur
total cost of the transaction, including tax, shipping and handling, and other related charges

C. If selling products or providing services on Web sites or via other electronic means:
provide any required product labeling information
disclose the nature and terms of shipping, including any known delays or shortages of stock
provide an opportunity to review and confirm the transaction before the sale is completed
provide a receipt summarizing the transaction after the purchase

5. Honor Promises
Abide by all written agreements and verbal representations.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

A. Fulfill contracts signed and agreements reached.

B. Honor representations by correcting mistakes as quickly as possible.

6. Be Responsive
Address marketplace disputes quickly, professionally, and in
good faith.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

A. Promptly respond to all complaints forwarded by BBB by:
1. Resolving the complaint directly with the complainant and
notifying BBB, or
2. Providing BBB with a response that BBB determines:
is professional,
addresses all of the issues raised by the complainant,
includes appropriate evidence and documents supporting the business’ position, and
explains why any relief sought by the complainant cannot or should not be granted.

B. Make a good faith effort to resolve disputes, which includes mediation if requested by BBB. Other dispute resolution options, including arbitration, may be recommended by BBB when other efforts to resolve a dispute have failed. BBB may consider a business’ willingness to participate in recommended dispute resolution options in determining compliance with these standards.

C. Comply with any settlements, agreements or decisions reached as an outcome of a BBB dispute resolution process.

D. Cooperate with BBB in efforts to eliminate the underlying cause of patterns of customer complaints that are identified by BBB.

7. Safeguard Privacy

Protect any data collected against mishandling and fraud, collect personal information only as needed, and respect the preferences of customers regarding the use of their
information.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

A. Respect Privacy
Businesses conducting e-commerce agree to disclose on their Web site the following:
what information they collect,
with whom it is shared,
how it can be corrected,
how it is secured,
how policy changes will be communicated, and;
how to address concerns over misuse of personal data.

B. Secure Sensitive Data
Businesses that collect sensitive data online (credit card, bank account numbers, Social Security number, salary or other personal financial information, medical history or records, etc.) will ensure that it is transmitted via secure means.Businesses will make best efforts to comply with industry standards for the protection and proper disposal of all sensitive data, both online and offline.

C. Honor Customer Preferences
Businesses agree to respect customer preferences regarding contact by telephone, fax and e-mail, and agree to remedy the underlying cause of any failure to do so.

8. Embody Integrity
Approach all business dealings, marketplace transactions and
commitments with integrity.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

Avoid involvement, by the business or its principals, in activities that reflect unfavorably on, or otherwise adversely affect the public image of BBB or its accredited businesses.

Effective 01/01/2009

http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards/

The link above is where I found the information.

The above eight principles are prime examples of character that a majority of business follow. However there are those less unscrupulous business that abide by their own set of rules, cutting corners where they can in the name of a buck or just the lack of integrity. Andruszko Painting LLC abides by a strict moral code we follow the rules and we do business the right way... with character, integrity, and a strong sense of values not only for our customers but for ourselves as well.

Before you hire a contractor in Oregon or in any other state visit our website and check out the 5 tips and 15 questions you need to know before you hire a contractor.

http://www.andruszkopainting.com/?func=contracttips

How to complete an apartment repaint/turnover in 8 easy steps

2009-12-19T01:59:00.000-08:00

Step 1 Preparations

You get your prep out of the way... caulking, (tape and mud damaged sheet rock, priming and texturing follow then topcoat)

step 2 Masking:

Depending on the variables i.e. carpet, appliances, cupboards, doorhandles, hinges, et cetera you will need to mask off what ever does not need to be painted.

step 3 Spraying

Spray out your ceilings, trim and doors

step 4 Rolling out

Prime your walls first either by spot priming or full coverage priming of all paint-able surfaces that call for it. oil based works best for smoked in units, water based primer for non-smoking units.

Roll out all of the walls with an 18 Inch roller with a 1/2'' in nap or 3/4'' nap (depending on the thickness of texture on the sheet rock) or use a 9 Inch roller frame

step 5 Cutting in

Cut in all of your trim, corners, baseboards, walls and ceilings with a nich 2 1/2 in or 3 in sash brush

Note: steps 4 and 5 are interchangeable and can be reversed if need be and a majority of the time if you are going over a darker color with a lighter color you will have to cut in twice.

step 6 Walking the job

Walk the job for imperfections, holidays, drips, runs and touch up what your eye sees as problem areas.

step 7 Walk the job again

Walk the job again, you may notice something you did not notice before but by this time you ought to be so familiar with every nook and cranny on the job that the slightest imperfection will irk you.

step 8 Clean up

Clean up all of your masking, materials, tools, messes, and garbage. Leave the property the way you found it.