On my last job I hired a new painting sub (the last botched the job completely). I noticed two things:
1) He used primer (on pre-primed trim) for the first coat, with only one coat of SW ProMar 400 SG for the finish coat.
2. Even though we had caulked all joints, he painted the walls, recaulked the trim, and then cut in over the caulk.
Now when it’s me I caulk first, paint the walls, cut in and paint the trim, and then go back and “fine-line” everything so that the painting looks perfect.
His job looked like B grade painting, with the caulk forming a ragged line over the orange peel and the wall paint still showing through the trim paint on door casings and the top of the base.
Is it just me, or is he skimping here?
P.S. In any case we cut in and painted the trim with a second coat of the SW. The gloss and eveness (sp?) of finish really shined through after this. Even the customer (my dad!) said it looked even better; he was happy with the original job though.
Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
Replies
sand
prime
sand
tack or vac
caulk
paint
sand
tack
paint
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I see you're cutting corners again.On your step #4 I vac then tack.Slacker.<g>
I forgot to spackle the nail holes too
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Marketing Tip #103:Don't fill the nail holes. Call them "worm holes" and charge extra for the distressed finish.<g>
In addition to the other stuff mentioned, 400 is not what you ought to be putting on trim. That's just a notch above their apartment/rental stuff. You could prep perfectly and that's not going to hold up anywhere it gets touched. Unfortunately, lots of trim, (base, doors . . .) gets touched. If it isn't too late, consider sanding it again and shooting it with ProClassic. That will stand.
"A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you." -Bert Taylor
I know about ProClassic--it's what I've used throughout my house...in fact I touched up some base with it today.
I know the 400 is builder-grade stuff, but it did finish really well--the brush marks leveled out and the second coat gave the trim a nice sheen without being too glossy.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
Did he give you any reason for re priming or caulking over your caulk? Sounds like he's new at this or he doesn't pay any attention.
http://www.hay98.com/
I've seen the re-caulk before with others as well--I think they do it so they don't have to cut in as fine.
I've only met one painter in my area that I'd let do my house, but he's too busy doing work for big builders!
Oh, one more note about using the 400--this house is my parent's weekend retreat, so it won't get everyday, constant traffic. And on the plus side, we used Behr eggshell on the walls--that stuff really has a high build and is super tuff against normal traffic. Hard as heck to brush out though--used nearly a gallon of Floetrol to 5 of the paint.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
They get in too big of a hurry. I guess I can understand why. I don't agree with it. If your painting house after house then you just want to paint the house and leave. Of course if it's your house then you want them to go through the pain staking process of doing it right. As much as I hate to paint I know that I'm the only one I could trust to do it the way I want it done.
http://www.hay98.com/
I hear ya man!
I've used this particular guy a lot, but mostly for outside work...I guess he just got in a hurry. I'll have to tell him to price his work higher next time.
OTOH, my guys did all the caulking and filling and light sanding; heck, we even spot primed the cut ends of the stool/apron and any areas where the primed surface was marked or marred. How much better does it get?Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
I use two different painters, one guy (with a crew of about 6) does interior and exterior, the other guy (works alone) does interiors only. They probably have 40-50 yrs experience between them and neither assumes that pre-primed trim is sufficient for topcoating, they both re-prime everything (except cedar siding), always. The only explanation I've ever gotten from them is they simply don't "trust" the factory applied primer.
They also swear that the Purdy brushes that are sold at HD are different (i.e. lower quality) than the Purdy brushes sold at the local paint store.
I personally think they discovered respirators way to late in life but their paint jobs are excellent and they always show up.
your painters use respirators?!
Actually yeah, well the guy with the crew wears a resp. whenever he's spraying or using anything solvent based inside. The guy who works alone doesn't, plus he smokes ~2 packs a day and wonders why he can't shake his nagging cough.
and wonders why he can't shake his nagging cough
I know that guy!
Behr paint sucks. At first, you think, hey great, nice and thick, but then you realize that it needs almost 3 coats, and when painting trim, it'll get tacky and F**ked up before you've reached the other end of the casing.Not sure why folks go to Sherwin Williams either, crazy high prices for ok paint. I've waited longer at SW than most visits to HD.I've had the absolute best luck with Valspar paints, either from Ace Hardware (Valspar premium) or from Lowes (American Tradition). Very thin, but closet thing to one coat I've ever seen, easy to brush, dries fast, easy to clean from rollers and brushes - good stuff!Funny thing is, I remember a Consumer Reports article that listed Valspar as the highest rated and I had never heard of them at the time - then I noticed that Ace and Lowes have it and tried it and now use it regularly.Check it out - I won't use anything else.JT
I am surely no expert, but I have decided I like:
SW "Duratation" exterior semigloss paint for trim. It's Ok to ise in pretty cold temps, so thats a major plus. And MY SW stroe is fast and hungry, nearly matching HDs hours.
For interior trim, it seems that BM Auqaglow in Super white (02) gets the nod, witha few drops of flotrol.
When ever I can, I try to get the trim primed, and in certain cases like beadboard, top coated one coat before it goes up. Then its a quicker fill and final paint. I then paint walls, then Phenoseal the joints, then a final white coat on the trim. I find the cutting in is easiest this way, and you have to look VERY closely ....even my client who could find the chip in the Hope diamond...is happy with the clean straight line that results.
But...i am NOT a painter by profession, so, YMMV!Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
I've gotten great results with one coat of Behr on the walls--usually just a light second coat is needed.
I've also had excellent results on trim with Ace and Valspar paints.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
I'll second the Behr. I did my place with it, my painter cryed and moaned until he saw it. He's a tried and true BM guy ans do am I, except when trying to save a couple of bucks.
The trim paint is tacky though. Maybe Flotrol would have helped.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Consumer Reports September 2005 Ratings:Flat Paint:
1) Behr, Depot (Best Buy)
2) Kilz, Casual Colors, Walmart (Best Buy)
3) Benj Moore
4) Valspar, American Traditions, Lowes (Best Buy)Low-Luster:
1) Behr
2) Valspar (American Tradition Satin)
3) Kilz
4) Valspar (American Tradition Signature Colors)Semi-Gloss:
1) Behr
2) Dunn-Edwards ????
3) Kilz
4) ValsparI'm painting my house now with Valspar......View Image
Edited 1/9/2006 7:46 pm ET by jocobe
Edited 1/9/2006 7:47 pm ET by jocobe
> Semi-Gloss:> 1) Behr> 2) Dunn-Edwards ????
Dunn-Edwards is a local maker here in the Los Angeles area. Excellent paint, the studio uses it.
Consumer reports doesn't try to tell you which is the best quality. Their thing is to choose a best price/performance point, but their criteria are loaded way too heavy on price for my taste.
-- J.S.
I've had good luck with Behr exterior stains, and clear coats.
The biggest problem with Behr is you have venture into the Home Depot to get it.--------------------------
It's only satisfying if you eat it.
It helps if you worked at HD and know all the paint/hardware/lumber/Pro people LOLJason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
I've been using American tradition for about a year now. havent used anything else since I found it. You're right really good coverage.
Every time I've bought it - I buy too much, cause I hardly have to use very much of it.JT
Color stays with the customer. It never hurts to have extra ceiling paint.