Who is the Best Painter in Colorado Springs?

Who is the best painter in Colorado Springs?

 

Search engines pull up dozens of results for painters in Colorado Springs. Every year new painters come to Colorado Springs but very few stay more than a couple of years. You’re trusting a company to not only deliver a quality paint job, but also be trustworthy with your home and belongings.

Even during the bidding process we find homeowners feel unsure they’re comparing apples to apples. Some painters are good, some are good to avoid. So how do you choose?

Homeowners hiring a contractor of any type needs to understand there are three primary job factors to choose from: price, timeline, and quality. You have the ability to choose up to two, the contractor is then able to have flexibility with the remaining option(s). The most important thing you can do is know which two job factors matter most to you. This will help you know which of the following painting company types to go with.

Fly By Night/Temporary Painters
As in any industry, fly by night and temporary businesses pop up seasonally. This is especially true during the exterior painting season (May-October) in Colorado Springs. These people are looking to make a quick buck and see a landscape full of houses when they arrive. They can set up a Web site in no time and appear legitimate. They will often be the lowest price bidder. They may ask for more than 30% up front. (Up to 30% upfront is a reasonable request to cover materials.)

Stay away from this type of painter. Always.

While they can appear legitimate there are a few ways to investigate: How did you find out about them? Are they accredited with the BBB? How are they dressed when they do your estimate? Where will they buy their paint—Home Depot/Lowes or a professional paint store like Sherwin Williams, The Paint Gallery, or Kwal?

If you feel uncomfortable around this person, listen to your intuition! Stay away from this type of painter!

Handyman
Handyman painters usually promote that they can do everything for you from building to painting. Yes, anyone can slap some paint on a wall but unless they are a painting specialist they won’t know the best product/brand for each project and the finishes may not be the quality a small business/specialty painter can deliver. The types of projects that are great for handyman painters are small single projects like closets, small bathrooms, a single small bedroom, touch up, or a shed you’ve added to the property.

Franchise/High Volume Painters
There are painting franchises available and several large companies independently owned in Colorado who do a high volume of work. Both are known for fast work and a cattle chute approach to getting jobs done. They will price themselves competitively and can be the lowest bidder. The person who bids your home may not be the owner or someone closely involved in quality control.

Apartment buildings, track home construction, and others use these types of painters because the work gets done quickly and meets minimum standards of quality. Quick and dirty paint jobs are the best for these types of painters. Price will be the ultimate deciding factor. Timeline is dependent on their ability to crank through every job and how full they can fill their pipeline.

Small Business/Specialty Painters
Highly referred painters that fall in this category are usually great to work with. You will find a company that cares about quality and doesn’t put you through a cattle chute to get your project finished. They are rarely the lowest bidder, but are competitive. They are highly communicative and reachable. They enjoy educating homeowners on projects and processes for each project. They will do homeowner repaints, custom homes, and small commercial projects.

Small business painters are your all-around best painters in Colorado Springs. Interior projects are especially good for this type of painter because the level of quality needed is higher. Exterior projects are also great for this category because they bring attention to detail to the exterior of your home, doing the job right the first time while delivering a fair price.

Specialty painters are those who do jobs that require lead certification or artistic faux finishes and murals. We have several specialty subcontractors we’ve vetted and work with regularly to meet the needs of our clients.

Who is the best Colorado Springs Painter for you?

The answer truly depends on what is most important to you. Think through your current paint project. What do you value most? Timeline, cost, or quality?

Do your research. Check with the local Better Business Bureau. Ask pointed questions. When you know what you’re looking for you can find a painter suited to your needs and make a decision quickly.

Exterior Paint Maintenance Every Homeowner Should Know

 Exterior Paint Maintenance You Must Know

 

If you’ve had your home painted two years ago or longer it’s time to check for damage and do simple but important maintenance to keep your paint job doing its job longer.

There are 3 types of damage easy to detect and fix but left untreated may cost you hundreds.

• Cracking or missing caulk around windows, doors, trim or between side boards. Caulk eventually uses elasticity when exposed to the elements or cracks when a home settles. This unavoidable damage WILL allow moisture to destroy your paint job.
• Dirt or other substances on your paint job. These are abrasive and corrosive and can compromise your paint job and usually appear on the bottom 10’ of the paint job.
• Loose or damaged siding boards or trim. Paint is a coating that prevents moisture and pests from destroying building materials. When a board is loose or obviously damaged the coating has been compromised.

We now offer annual maintenance services to extend the life of your paint job.

The cost of maintenance that extends the life of your paint job is significantly less than repainting your entire home. The more time your paint job does its job, the more money you can keep in your pocket. Each year at the end of Spring we offer a limited number of maintenance appointments.

Based on the damage we find during an inspection we can:

• Re-caulk all windows and doors.
• Re-caulk and touch-up paint gaps between side boards and trim.*
• Power wash up to 10’ high.
• Replace loose or damaged boards, touch-up paint, and caulk.*

Contact us to book your inspection NOW. Appointments for maintenance work are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis during a 1-2 week period at the end of Spring and is determined by forecasted weather.

*Note: Touch up paint may not be an exact match and “flashing” may occur due to the effects of the elements on your existing paint job. The match will be as close as possible and the cost is less than repainting the entire home.

A Quality Paint Job Earns Angie’s List Super Service Award

A Quality Paint Job Earns Super Service Award

 

We are so thrilled to be honored with the Angie’s List Super Service Award for 2013! Awards are amazing, but we want to give credit where it is due. So our biggest THANK YOU is for our clients for providing great reviews on Angie’s List! Your willingness to share your experience and praise with a review site has allowed us to be seen and honored. We have love being invited into your home and business to provide valuable paint services. We have the best clients in Colorado!

What follows is the press release from Angie’s List. You can learn more about what we’ve been recognized for.

A Quality Paint Job Earns Esteemed 2013 Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service

A Quality Paint Job has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013.

“It is an honor to receive this award from Angie’s List, an organization that cares about what customers want. We are encouraged that the work we do and service we provide is appreciated in Colorado.”

“Only about 5 percent of the companies A Quality Paint Job competes with in Colorado Springs and Monument are able to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “It’s a mark of consistently great customer service.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2013 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2013 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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 Angie’s List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to healthcare. More than 2 million paid households use Angie’s List to gain access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List Magazine and the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.

3 Tips for a Great Outdoor Living Space

3 Tips for a Great Outdoor Living Space

 

In Colorado our outdoor living season is short. Unless we install a fire pit (and there are no fire restrictions), and are willing to bundle up.

I absolutely love summer and early fall in Colorado. The evenings are cool and there are very few bugs with which to contend. Our rental property is small which meant when we lived there we were also in need of extra living space. We put an outdoor tent over our patio, bought cushioned chairs and created an oasis which acted as a second living room day and night for several months.

Here are a few tips for making a great outdoor living space.

Tip #1 Treat it like an indoor living space.

I found I was more inclined to go outside and stay outside when I was comfortable. Two things that made the list were shade, and lots of it, and cushioned furniture. The hard plastic chairs may be inexpensive, but they are uncomfortable. We weren’t willing to pay full price for furniture, either so we hit Craigslist and found a used patio set with cushioned chairs, a loveseat, and footrests. Jackpot!

Items you may want for your outdoor living space:

• Furniture with cushions
• Side tables or coffee tables (to eat and set drinks on)
• Covering like an awning, tent, or umbrella. Bonus to having a tent, you can put up curtains to block intense sun.
• Rugs made for the outdoors. We used this on a concrete patio to save our crawling baby’s knees.
• Lighting for evening. White Christmas lights do the job well.

Tip #2 Play with color.

Because the sun is so intense here in Colorado, it’s a good idea to add a punch of color to your outdoor space to give it some presence and pop! I like to experiment with color outside—so bold bright yellows, pinks, and greens become center stage for me. If you’ve always wanted to try bold color inside, but were afraid to, use the outdoor space as a testing place for your interior décor ideas.

Tip #3 Bring in plants.

Unless your living space is surrounded by lush gardens, you may want to consider large pots of plants to bring a sense of coziness and privacy to your living space. Plants liven up an interior and will do the same for your outdoor space. Flowering plants may be nice, but be ready for bees to do their job. You may want to do an all green planter with a tree you can bring inside during the winter months. Or use ornamental grasses and succulents to create a modern feel.

One of my favorite things about all outdoor living spaces is that when you spend time making it comfortable for you it will be very comfortable for others. You are able to go from yourselves to a party quickly! Now’s a great time to start.

More inspiration is available on our Pinterest board: Outdoor Living Space.

What do you like most about your #outdoorlivingspace ? What do you wish you had?

4th of July Kid Crafts

4^th of July Kid Crafts

 

Independence Day is Thursday.

I love July 4^th! Nice warm weather, celebrating with friends and family, and a day off. I try not to think about the fact that summer, my favorite season, is half over. Since there are likely to be no fireworks because of the massive fire danger this year we will be making merry with friends and probably a movie or two.

We want to celebrate this important day with our young children and hands-on projects usually fit the bill. I, Lisa, may have combed Pinterest a time or two for great kid crafts. Here are a few that I thought would be fun. Will I be doing all of them? Um, no. But maybe you can find one you’ll enjoy. Click on the image to visit our Patriotic Pinterest board and get to the original sources for these projects.

Confetti Poppers

Nothing says holiday like a big mess. So here is a way to let your young ones spray as much confetti everywhere as possible. But the kids I know would LOVE this. Especially if they are allowed to aim it at each other.

 

Popsicle Stick Flags

These are quick and easy to glue together. I’ve found colored craft sticks like this a our local craft store. Otherwise some quick acrylic paint would do the trick.

 

Patriotic Pinwheels

These pinwheels seem easy enough. Looks as though they used scrapbook paper and some wooden dowels. Check the craft stores for sales on all 4^th of July related paper and goods.

 

Pipe Cleaner Fireworks

Now we’re close to my speed. I have pipe cleaners and thread. Maybe even a couple beads. These would be fun to hang from our dining room chandelier.

 

Pipe Cleaner Sparklers

Now, this the craft most likely to be done at my house. I have all the pipe cleaners I’d need for this. It may not look like much, but my little ones would LOVE this. Hopefully they won’t poke each other with the finished product. No guarantees.

Do you have any favorite ways you help kids understand the importance of Independence Day?