Written by Joanne  The first training session covered the following main ideas. Below lists some important things that were discussed about each: Introduction to Job Budgets: -          The price of  a painting job is comprised of 3 components: job costs, overhead costs, and profit. -          The estimator gives a certain number of hours the job must be completed. Shop Set-Up and its daily upkeep: -          Having the shop organized, out of the way, and close to the work area helps with efficiency

It is always amazing to see how the accepted rules of the marketplace don’t apply to Painting Contracting or the contracting industry in general. We are all willing to accept that a BMW will cost more than a low end KIA, or dining at a high end restaurant would be a bit more expensive than eating at a McDonald’s. When you take this simple logic and apply it to the Painting marketplace, common sense does not apply. The following are

The founders of the blog. As strong proponents of green painting it is in our interest to search and find sites, blogs and other resourses that can help us make a difference in our daily life. Green is Sexy is one of these blogs. There are daily tips that are simple enough to follow but can make a difference. There are also monthly suggestions of books to read, films to watch, products and recipes to try, places to visit and

Carbon Free and quiet Not too far from the house we were painting, in a North Toronto neighbourhood, somewhere in the Avenue Road and Wilson area, I came across Carbon Free Cutters. Usually every morning, after the homeowners leave for work, the “busy bee” lawn service types take over the streets. And take over they do! The sound of lawn mowers, leaf blowers and equipment is deafening. Large trucks, equipment and trailers transform the quiet streets into occupied military zone. The smell of gasoline cannot

There are many reasons for painting the company offices. Some times the walls look tired and boring. That office gray-beige look, however functional and safe, it is not very inspiring. Another reason for painting the office space is the condition of the walls. They simply need to be maintained and kept-up clean and bright. So it is time to bring in the painters. Depending on the size of the facility or the condition of the surfaces, re-painting can take 2-3

Tips: Use only proper face paints.

Some painting companies prefer to use independent subcontractors, instead of hiring employees. This can be a very successful and legitimate way to run a contracting business. The reality though seems to be quite different.  The majority of small painting contractors use and treat painters as employees and pay them as subs. The reasons are many and the motives questionable: To avoid paying payroll taxes There is no need for employee benefits No paid vacation or vacation time Statutory Holiday pay, are you kidding me? An independent subcontractor does

Caulking windows before painting This is the first exterior house being painted by Ecopainting in 2009. The customer called last year, only to find out that we were booked for the year.  This time she called early enough and as a result priority was given to this beautiful North York house. The caulking needed attention around all windows and frames. The old alkyd paint was dull, chalky and very much faded. Paint was peeling off the window ledges. After all the necessary prep and

So adorable when she greeted the painters in the morning. “Hi” she would say, “bye” when they left…she never missed a beat. The painters were painting her room. There was painting going on in other areas of the house, but not as far as this little girl was concerned, they were painting her room. As the door opens one morning, we thought that she was enjoying this so much, as the pants she was wearing, so small and so white,

OMG, will Jennifer ever be happy to see that someone actually put the first coat on this. She only has to do it again twice! Imagine three times around!! This was absolutely tedious, to say the least. My hands were a mess! This was different. I have painted many cabinet units before, but never one with a built-in dish rack. What you see here is an application of a super adherent primer to be followed with two coats of Benjamin