The Online Resource for the Painting Industry
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A little play on words, but it got your attention. Like many things in life, size matters. However, when it comes to lead based paint (LBP) hazards … a smaller size is more impressive and more damaging. To illustrate this point, take a 1/16 ounce small lead fishing weight. Pop it in your mouth and […]
For thousands of years, lead has been known not to be people friendly. Even as far back as the Roman Empire, they knew that lead could cause health problems, cognitive problems and even death. Yet, lead had so many advantages that they down played the disadvantages. Lead leached from their plates, goblets and containers into […]
Many people wrongly assume that if a home was painted with lead based paint (LBP), it can be found throughout the house. Surprisingly, this is a wrong assumption. LBP was considered a premium paint that came with a higher cost. It was used on surfaces that needed the durability that can be found by […]
As a painter for over thirty years, I have used just about every type of brush and roller out there. I have always felt an experienced painter can do a job well with just about any tool. The difference is how much easier, enjoyable and productive a particular tool can make a given task. So […]
“Nothing gets done, ‘till something gets sold” –Zig Ziglar Nothing is more accurate for your painting business (or any business) then the above quote. Problem is that many people have a problem with being or becoming a “salesperson”. They cringe and conjure up a mental image of a slimy used cars salesman. They figure that […]
Life inevitably throws you a curveball. If you are in the painting industry and have not made a mistake, trust me, you will. Spilled paint, broken items or even applying the wrong color, it happens to everyone. Being on the front line means no matter who makes the mistake, you will be perceived as responsible. […]
