How to organize and store paint
Why it’s so important to label and record your paint colors and finishes at the time you paint
Have you ever painted your house or apartment or even the office and then had paint left over? Of course you have. What did you do with that paint? Most likely you either stored it in the back of some faraway closet, basement or garage or threw it away. Then, years later or maybe even months (if you have kids the latter is likely) and some spots needed a touch up - what do you do? You dug up the old paint and tried to remember which color/finish was used in which room on which surface? Was it flat, eggshell, gloss??? So many options! Don’t worry - we’ve all been there!
That’s why it’s so important to label and record your paint colors and finishes at the time you paint. We always provide our clients with a labeled diagram that shows the painters exactly the color and finish that needs to go on each surface (yes complete with arrows). After the job is finished we can always refer to the diagram to make sure that it was done correctly. That eliminates a lot of uncomfortable conversations with contractors and finger pointing. Then, we recommend to our clients to label each remaining can of paint with the room and surface it was used on (ex. Bathroom baseboard, kitchen ceiling, dining room window trim, etc) Also we recommend that they keep the diagram we prepared in a safe place as well as having the store where they purchased the paint keep the information on file as well for backup. Always store paint in a cool, dry location away from sunlight and where the temperature stays above freezing. Before storing, wipe away any excess paint on the outside of the can. Happy painting!
How to select a
General Contractor
Choosing the right general contractor can make all the difference
When taking on a home renovation project, choosing the right general contractor will make all the difference. This person and you will develop a very close relationship and you have to be able to trust them. The good news is that there are a lot of options out there, the bad news is that hardly anyone would hire their contractor for a second job. It’s a very tough job to find a good one and you have to interview quite a few to hopefully find that diamond in the rough. We recommend interviewing 4-6 before choosing the one. You can start by asking friends for references, local community groups and the last resort would be searching for one yourself online. Below is a list of questions to ask -
How longs have you been in business?
Are you licensed?
Do you have a certificate of insurance?
Will you obtain permits and schedule inspections required for this job?
What is our timeline for completion?
What is the payment schedule?
Will I have a dedicated team working on my job?
Do the workers work directly for you or do you sub-contract?
How can I get in touch with you on a daily basis?
What is the typical job day like?
How does the crew manage cleanup?
How and where will the tools be stored if a task requires several days of work?
What steps will you take to protect my property?
How will additional charges be dealt with?
Is there a warranty for services/materials you will be using?
How do you typically resolve disagreements with your clients?
What happens if the job can’t be completed on time?
Can you provide me with a few references?
The most important thing is to choose the person that you feel most comfortable with and makes you feel like you can trust them. Don’t always go by the lowest estimate. The second most important thing is to graciously break up with all the ones that you don’t end up choosing. Don’t just not return their calls. Always call and say thank you for providing the estimate, it was very nice to meet you but unfortunately we ended up choosing someone else because of the budget, better personality fit, etc. You always want to be considerate because it’s the decent thing to do, you never know if you may end up using them in the future or whom they know. Always be kind!