What should I look for in a good painting company?

A reputable company will have no problem answering these questions:

Do you have a state contactors license?
Do you have any complaints filed against you?
Do you carry both Worker's Compensation and Business Liability Insurance?
** (This is in case of damage to your property or your neighbors)
How long have you been in business?
Do you have any references I can contact?
Do you use Journeymen painters with years of experience?
Do you sub-contract work or pay employees by the hour? (Sub-contracted work can lead to rushed jobs and cut corners)
Do you warranty both materials and labor?
Are you a member of any professional association?
Also find out if they arrive on time - is the quote delivered in a timely manner? Finally, can you trust them with your most valuable asset - your home?

What is involved in exterior surface preparations?

We always pressure wash to clean the house. This ensures good adhesion and removes loose dirt and peeling paint. We can also use a special tool that feathers in edges where paint was peeling and apply a prime coat to any raw wood. This works great for older homes that have not been maintained well.

We also use a special elastometric patch for cracks in stucco to prevent them from reappearing. We completely cover all windows and any surfaces that are not to be painted. Finally, we cover the perimeter of the home with drop cloths. The house is now ready to paint.

What kinds of paint should I use?

We use 3 main suppliers. They provide us with top quality materials and excellent service. We do, however, have accounts with most of the paint manufacturers in our area. Most, if not all, paint manufacturers have several different grades of paints available. Be sure to use their premium quality lines of paints.

We only use top quality paints. We offer warranties of 1 to 7 years depending on the brand of paint we use.

Some of our clients prefer lo-sheen or semi-gloss enamels because they are easier to keep clean. Just remember enamel should not hold up any longer than flat paints. In fact, we have had more warranty related problems with enamels than we have with flat. I only recommend using enamels on doors and wood windows. Remember, the higher the gloss the more you will notice imperfections in the surface.

How do I choose attractive paint colors?

On interior paint jobs, people want more bold colors than we ever used in the past. It can be challenging coming up with just the right color. Michael James has a keen sense of color and can help you pick the right color to go with the other decor in your home. Flooring, tile, furniture, and art work all need to tie in with your paint color selections. It is very easy to pick the wrong ones. It makes no sense leaving your color selections to the amateurs. If you use Michael James Painting, we will help you make the right selections.

We take pride in helping you select colors that will make your home look distinctively attractive while fitting in with your surrounding neighborhood. Many people don't realize that colors often reflect styles. That's why Terra Cotta, which looks great on a Spanish style home, can look unattractive on a contemporary house. Having painted hundreds and hundreds of homes, we know colors and combinations that you won't find anywhere else in your neighborhood. Friends and even passersby will stop and compliment your home!

How many gallons will it take to paint my house?

Paint will cover 200-350 square feet per gallon, depending on how rough the surface is. An average 1,700 square foot single story house will take 25-30 gallons for the body and 3 to 4 gallons for trim.

Again, this is not a good area to skimp to save money. The amount of paint used will directly affect how long it will last. We always put 2 coats on all surfaces and never thin the paint with water. We also back roll rough surfaces like stucco or rough sawn wood, as this forces paint into the cracks and crevices.