Can I do
this myself?
Of course you can! Most decorative painters started out by painting their
own home. Here are a few reasons why NOT to DIY:
Cost - It ALWAYS costs more than you think it will.
Patience - It will always take longer than you think it will. At least 50%
of any project involves preparation, which is pretty tedious. Because preparation
is so boring corners are frequently cut and the results can be disastrous.
Experience - Consider it takes a tradesperson around 4 years to perfect their
skills and learn the tricks of the trade. It’s relatively easy to learn
how to do something the right way, it’s experience that teaches us to
know when something has gone wrong and how to fix it.
Insurance - A painting company is required to carry liability insurance to
cover any damage. Your homeowner policy may not cover the chandelier you just
smashed with your ladder.
Injury - A study in Australia detected a link between the increased popularity
in television lifestyle programs and accidents around the home. For instance
hospital admissions for ladder falls increased 12% and injuries from power
tools increased 16%… both of which are potentially life threatening.
Want to try anyway? For those inclined it can be a very rewarding experience.
Be sure to start with a small project (powder room) before committing to the
whole house. Don’t cut on costs by buying cheap materials (it will cost
you one way or another) and be patient.
If you want to learn here are some great resources in the Colorado region:
The
School of Applied Arts
• They teach the Principles of Applied Arts, a curriculum which was
built by successful decorative painters with the intention of educating people
in the practice of classical decorative painting
The
Faux Design Center
• They do free demonstrations on weekends in the Denver Area. They are
also going to be selling instructional DVDs and on-line education starting
in the Spring of 2007.
The
Kelly S. King Academy of Faux Painting & Decorative Finishing
• One of the most prestigious faux painting schools in the nation. Located
in Nebraska but worth the drive.
What should I expect when
meeting with a decorative painter?
With you as a client, the goal, from the first meeting with you to the time
the job is completed, is to be in constant communication with you. All costs
are discussed up front and everything is in writing. Sample boards are provided
for you or your client to approve.
During the design phase there are usually three meetings. The first meeting
is for us to get to know each other, and to get a sense of the scope of work.
You will get to see a portfolio of work so you can see some finishes close
up. We’ll talk about your tastes, color preferences, look at pictures
and discuss the possibilities. Measurements of the spaces to be painted are
taken to get an idea of price range.
From there, some colors schemes, finishes and general concepts are put together
and presented at the second meeting. We’ll try to narrow down costs
and you will be given a written estimate. This way we know we’re on
the right track before your sample boards are done.
Finally, sample boards are created of your chosen finishes and colors. At
the third meeting boards are approved, a contract is written and the job is
scheduled.
As a homeowner, how do I
decide what I want?
Some clients come to a decorative painter or designer knowing exactly what
they want, and others don’t even know where to start. Most people fall
somewhere in between.
Before the first meeting you should dig around. You can look at other websites,
but this is a great excuse to go to the bookstore. There are tons of magazines
and books on home decoration. You should look at books about faux finishing,
but take a look at some of the more inspirational books and magazines. A coffee-table
book on Tuscany is much more likely to have the “room of your dreams”
than a how-to book. Instead of trying to find the perfect finish look for
things that “feel” right. Take note of colors you like. Look at
different styles of homes from different countries… you may discover
you really like a contemporary Japanese look.
The decorative painter’s part in the decision making process is to interpret
the look and feel you want and you’ll be provided with a small selection
of sample boards to choose from.
How much does it cost?
There is a $500 minimum on all jobs.
Bids are typically done by the square foot with finishes starting around $2.50
per square foot for a simple glaze or color wash. Textures and plasters typically
fall between $5 and $13 per square foot. Gilding and murals start at $15 and
on up. In some cases square foot measurements aren’t applicable in which
case the bids are based on time (typically $500/day) plus the cost of materials.
Sometimes there is an added cost for ceilings and very high walls.
Time to do sample boards is billed at $35 per board and color consultations
are $65 per hour. The cost of selected and approved boards, and up to two
hours color consultation will always be applied towards the price of any work
done. Jobs involving custom murals, stencils or ornamentation will incur a
$75 per hour design fee. A 25% deposit is required before scheduling a job
and on larger jobs a $500 retainer is requested before doing sample boards.
Straight interior house painting, skim coating (smoothing out texture) and
minor wall repair are also provided to our clients. These services are all
competitively priced.
Though there is an attempt to keep everything formulated, no job is the same.
We’re very generous with our time and the best effort will be made to
work within your, or your client’s budget.
How long does it take?
One thing experience teaches us is not only how to do what we do, but how
to do it quickly and efficiently. When working with us you can count on punctuality
and constant communications in regards to progress.
Naturally, it depends on the size of the job and the type of finish being
done but you will be given the best estimate possible. Keep in mind many finishes
require more than one coat and typically each layer has to dry overnight.
Two days is usually the minimum, but we have done a few one-day jobs.
Can you work over my existing
paint or texture?
It depends. The quality of the basecoat can directly affect the finish applied
over it and we can’t guarantee the work of another painter. The price
given for a job always includes the base coat. If your walls are in good condition
you can save on the cost by picking a finish that works with your existing
color.
As far as texture, many finishes require a smooth surface and unfortunately,
almost every newer home West of the Mississippi comes with textured walls.
The most common is the knockdown texture but you’ll also see orange
peel textures and in custom homes you’ll sometimes see a skip trowel
texture. There’s nothing wrong with texture, but it can limit your options.
If you like the texture you have there are ways of accentuating it. If you
don’t care for it, there are ways of hiding it. If a totally smooth
surface is required the walls can be skim coated for a nice smooth finish.
(We can provide this service or you can hire it out.)
What kind of preparation
needs to be done before the start of a job?
The only things MW WALL DESIGNS don't provide is wallpaper removal, repair
of major wall damage, removal of personal items and the moving of very large,
heavy furniture. We can do all prep including repair of minor wall damage,
skim coating or texturing, priming and base coating. Priming and base coating
are always included in the bid. We can also provide any straight interior
house painting you might need. On the other hand, if you have a drywall or
paint contractor you like to work with we’re more than happy to work
with them. We will handle all protecting and masking of floors trim etc. and
will mask and protect anything that cannot be removed from the room.
What if you get paint on
my new $10,000 Turkish rug?
We won’t.
Accidents do happen though and MW Wall Designs carries a general liability
insurance policy that covers up to one million dollars of damage. In 8 years
there hasn’t been a single claim.
