Written by Joanne
A well organized shop area
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 and a safe and clean job site.
- There is a checklist spreadsheet that will be online for the job managers or painters at the jobsite to do a daily inventory on materials at the site. Using this will definitely help make sure we all have what we need in a timely fashion.
Painters Tools and their Maintenance:
- Make sure all tools on the list are clean and are brought to the jobsite everyday.
Efficient Washing of Paint Rollers and Brushes
- During this part of the training we got to talk a bit about the environment and how finding ways of cleaning rollers and brushes as well as disposing of painting waste is important. As George said: We are “Ecopainting” so we have a responsibility to our friends in the ecosystem!
- A three bucket washing system was suggested for washing paintbrushes to minimize the use of water.
- If you are painting a colour similar to the colour previously used on your brush/roller, they do not need to be 100% free of paint, the colours will blend enough and by the second coat it won’t matter. Basically, get your brushes/rollers as clean as they need to be without using too much water.
Task Sequencing:
- MES (Most Efficient Sequence)
- Something that may be new for some: painting doors, frames, and any other vertical trim after the ceilings and before the walls.
Masking and Dust Protection for Interior Furnished Areas:
- Protect all property!
- Block off rooms not being painted by closing doors or using plastic to close off the room. This will keep the dust out and cut down on clean up time and unhappy customers who don’t like dust!
- Take pictures of the layout of the room to make it easier to return everything to its right place.
- Take note of, or take pictures of, previous damage/paint on hardware etc.
Important Notes:
- George is looking for volunteers to be the Environmental watchdog! I believe we will all have the honour of this position at some point.
- Next session will be held in the new office, suite 207. I think we are all looking forward to taking out some anger on those walls!
- More hands-on learning and activities to follow in the next 6 weeks.
Starting after training: Bonus system for all jobs!! That means more money for the painters, if jobs are completed under budget: more money = happy painters J. This is why things such as task sequencing and efficiency are so important!
Responsible washing of paint brushes
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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 real headlines by “painters” from Craigslist and Kijiji free classifieds:
…We do quality work; we guarantee the lowest price
…We do not charge extra for filling nail & screw holes
…We guarantee to beat any written estimate by at least 10% and we guarantee the quality of work
…Painting and decorating services of unbeatable quality and price.
…QUALITY WORKMANSHIP PROFESSIONAL QUALITY WITH REASONABLE PRICES!!!!!!
…We offer quality work for a great price.
…Professional painting and drywall service with Lowest Price Guaranted.
Are consumers really that gullible?
How does that make sense?
Or is it the “anyone can paint” thinking the big box stores are promoting?
There is no substitute for a professionally painted home
- Good quality paint tools and materials are more expensive
- Professional Painters need to be payed well or give them a loaf of bread and don’t let them get close to a paint brush
- Insurance, WSIB safety training etc. cost money
- A reputable painting company that will be there after the paint dries, has fixed expenses, like any other business
- Service, quality work, protecting customer valuables, they all take time. Any legitimate business needs to charge for that time.
This YouTube video is perfectly making the point. It is a must watch!
And yet, despite the countless warnings consumer get, even after the proliferation of shows like Holmes on Homes and others, we are still faced with the $100 per room painters, student type painting companies and “man with a brush” types portraying themselves as professional painters.
Painting services are available by the contributors to this blog. Fill the online form for a consultation.
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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 people in the spotlight.
Why sexy? From their about us page:
“Because being informed is sexy. Being responsible is sexy. Being eco-friendly is sexy. Making a difference is sexy. Green is sexy.”
Visit green is sexy and visit often.
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- 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 be escaped.
When I came across Carbon Free Cutters, I stopped, talked to the young business owner and took some pictures. He is apparently staying very busy, as homeowners like his eco-frendly approach. He is using a mountain bike trailer to transport the manual lawn mower.
Call this company
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Colour used wisely in office space.
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 days or sometimes weeks. There are two approaches to doing the work. Your office painting contractor can do most of the work during after hours or during the weekend. The downside of this is that the whole process can take longer. Also scheduling time with most reputable painters can be difficult, as most people don’t like to work weekends and that includes their painters.
Another alternative is to have most of the work done during the day. However difficult that may seem initially, a good painting contractor can work alongside your staff without much interruption of the company’s work-flow. One benefit is, that work can be completed in a shorter period of time. The other is the staff morale and excitement generated by the whole process. Sharing the space temporarily with painters and watching the work progress is a great water cooler topic. The pink and purple comments overheard endlessly, the novelty of desks and filing cabinets being moved around or the new people in the cafeteria adds to the whole experience.
The new generation low pollution paints available reduces the risk of paint fumes in the workplace.
There are also eco friendly painters specializing in Office Painting and use less toxic paints to make the experience as bearable as possible.
To explore all the benefit possible from painting your office space, you can request a Painting estimate on line or call Ecopainting Inc. at 416 733-7767
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You see it at events everywhere. Face painting is one of the most popular children’s activities at public events and private celebrations. It’s usually a long wait in line to get a design painted on your child’s face or arm (or any other part of the body that can be shown off at family friendly events). But, it’s free to participants and worth every dollar that companies and hosts pay to have quality artistic face painting at their event. The best at their craft are talented artists with years of customer service experience who use the safest materials possible.
Cheap ’face paints’ contain acrylic and other harmful materials and are often used by the novice. To DIY, use only proper face paints, such as Kryolan or Snazaroo. Within these brands, water based are the best choices because they stay on the skin for hours and clean up is a breeze using soap and water. The hard part is getting the child’s consent to wash off a great design.
Once you have face paints in hand, a few good brushes and some sponges, check out some online facepainting tips or use a book. It’s a skill that will bring many smiles while keeping skin healthy.
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An employee is the most valuable asset of a Painting Company
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 not have to pay for WSIB
- No safety training or any type of training is necessary
- There is work today, none tomorrow, so who cares, there is no obligation, right?
There are many more reasons but in reality, these painters are really employees, paid hourly wages. The problem is that they are seriously short changed. After missing many days with no work, getting no vacation pay, getting no statutory holiday pay, paying taxes and insurance (hopefully), working for the local donut shop may make more financial sense.
With the “disposable painter” syndrome, comes the lack of job security and unsafe working conditions. The low morale created and downgrading of this great profession lends credence to the stereotypes we painters face daily.
Consumers here need to be more aware of who they are hiring. This seemingly great painting company they found in Google, is likely using underground economy type of tactics.
Ecopainting Inc. is one of the very few Toronto Painting Contractors that only uses it’s own employees. All employees are on payroll, get trade and safety training and have WSIB coverage.
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- 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 priming, Benjamin Moore’s Exterior Aura semigloss was used. The painters were happy with how easy and rich the paint felt during the application. It’s superior and innovative formulation should provide good protection of the substrates from the Canadian weather elements.
After a late and cold spring, the weather seems to be finally playing along and this should be a great summer for our Toronto house painters.
Get a painting estimate for this summer to spruce up and maintain the exterior of your home.
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Painting a child's room in Aurora
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, with side pockets, looked like she was ready to help paint her room. They looked like painters pants, only very tiny ones.
Gentle Blush was her colour. Perfect, for the lovely little girl from Aurora.
Written by Karon, a highly recommended painter of Ecopainting Inc.
and one of the company’s best painters in the GTA
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Downtown Toronto, Painting built-in furniture
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 Moore’s Aura Satin finish.
It will look stunning when complete and I am happy to say that my contribution
is over.
It’s a good thing she has such small hands.
Written by Karon, a Toronto Painter working for Ecopainting Inc.
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