The Online Resource for the Painting Industry
Just one of those guys who grew up around the paint business. Am a second generation painter and took over my father’s business in 2005. Lucky to have a mentor with 50 plus years experience and a support system to boot. Like many contractors we have downsized. Currently one full timer and one part timer and a few guys to […]
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 24 CFR 35 Subparts B thru R, is better known as the Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR). If you have chosen to be a Lead Safe Certified Firm and use a Certified Renovator, not only can you work on RRP projects, but also many HUD projects that […]
Taking care of my investment in hand tools is often something I admit I overlook. It has been easy for me to say it isn’t worth the time it takes to properly clean a brush. Not to mention how hard it can be with certain coatings to even get them clean. Usually when I finish […]
I love George’s posts! His business model with Ecopainting has always impressed me, as he has generously shared his ideas and expertise on various topics online. One of my favorites is his take on customer testimonials. It is a testament to his staff and the environment he creates when you read them. He has been doing organically what all […]
Have you heard the news? Google+1 has rolled out to limited users. So what does this mean? Well, if you set up a GMail account like I suggested here, you have already noticed a difference in your search results. For instance, if I search for “Orlando pool services” from my computer in Utah, the search results […]
In contracting, there are several business models, from the sole proprietor who likes to do all the work himself, to the owner who has project managers, office staff and crews and never touches a brush. That is the beauty of being an entrepreneur, you can tailor the business model to fit your style. No matter what size and […]
In 25 years as a contractor, I have yet to meet a contractor or a painter who didn’t claim to do quality work. But what does quality mean? Is, to paraphrase an old adage, one painter’s quality another painter’s junk? One definition of quality is: a distinguishing attribute. It could be argued that […]
Some states have taken over the RRP and you will need to handle everything through them. As the years go by, more and more states will probably take over RRP. Please check with your state first. Brief Overview As you are probably aware, on April 22, 2010 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 40 CFR […]
How many times have you had a customer tell you how much they loved the transformation of their home after you were done? Did you just smile, pat yourself on the back and move on? Do you have a system for collecting customer satisfaction surveys? Do you have a well thought out survey asking specific […]
This is a very important question, especially if you live in the hot arid areas. The first step is to understand how the chalking occurs so you can avoid it or prolong it as much as possible. Chalking is created when the binding agent in paint begins to deteriorate. In Venice Florida, the general causes […]
A little over a year ago, I came across a product called the Erecta Rack. My company does a lot of new construction homes and we are always looking for ways increase productivity and protect finished doors and trim from damage during the construction process. We tried one of the racks and I wrote about […]
Whenever my kids do something that inevitably leaves them in tears or me with a mess to clean up, I ask them a simple question, “Was that a good idea or a bad idea?”. The answer is generally “bad idea” and that little message hopefully gets stored in their memory bank for the next time. […]
Drying Rack Systems When a paint contractor is working on a finishing project in the shop, whether trim pieces, windows, cabinet doors, shelves, or anything else, a big part of getting the job done efficiently is the racking system you use for all the parts. Like most contractors, shop space is at a premium and […]
Editors note: Johnson Home Construction was the winner of the Product Review Class in the recent www.topcoatreview.com Contractor Blog Shootout. Tommy is a talented writer, active blogger and social media participant. Hi, I’m Tommy Johnson, owner of Johnson Home Construction, a seven year old company based in Wallace, NC. JHC has one full time employee, […]
Like all construction workers, painters can be a hard nose tough group of people. In fact, many times we wear the description as a badge of honor. Sometimes, there is nothing worse than talking with a “suit” (white collar worker) and listening to him explain how he wants the painting to be done. Painters are […]
