What makes a professional painter

Bigger pieces of furniture can sometimes be left covered in the center of larger rooms, but if you are repairing drywall, says Chris Span, of Span's Quality Painting in Mobile, Alabama, "Take everything out. Drywall dust goes everywhere. Remove doors, light fixtures and hardware, and label everything with masking tape. Also, invest in drop cloths. Buy high-quality drop cloths, such as canvas or paper-backed plastic. A note that, paint soaks right through lightweight fabrics and bedsheets.

Plastic sheeting works, but it's very slippery and doesn't absorb drips. Even an old lamp with a bare bulb held close to a wall will make minor cracks, bumps or nail pops jump out. Carmen Toto, owner of C. Instead of the standard tape-and-spackle method for bridging over recurring stress cracks, Maceyunas uses a rubberized spray-on primer called Good-Bye Crack.

Damaged wood requires a slightly different approach. For damaged trim, he uses painter's putty or a two-part wood filler, such as Minwax's High Performance Filler. Smooth any repairs, bumps, and nibs with a drywall pole sander. For smoother walls and better adhesion, some of our pros sand all previously painted walls regardless of the shape they're in.

Sanding not only feathers out chipped paint but also provides "tooth" for the next coat of paint. For glossy trim, use a sanding sponge rather than sandpaper. Sponges mold to the shape of the trim and last longer than paper. When applying latex over alkyd paint or when he is not sure of the original finish, Brian Doherty, a painter in Richmond, Virginia, follows the hand-sanding with liquid sandpaper to make sure the surface is completely deglossed to prevent incompatibility problems.

Unless you like textured walls, don't paint over dust. To clean a wall, use two buckets. Load up your rag or sponge from your cleaning-solution bucket, and scrub. Before redipping, rinse the sponge in a second bucket filled with clean water. Filling gaps with a paintable acrylic-latex caulk cuts down on drafts and makes your trim look better than new. The secret to using caulk is to cut the tip smaller than you think it should be; too much caulk makes a mess.

Also, instead of using a nail to break the inner seal, use a small wire so you don't stretch out the nozzle. Also consider buying a dripless caulk gun, which will automatically back off the pressure after each pull on the trigger to prevent unwanted oozing.

Pro2Pro Tip: Cutting in is painting just the surface you want, not the surface adjacent to it — for example, where a wall meets the ceiling. The pros were split on this tip. On the other hand, "If you can't cut in, you can't beat tape," says Span. The pros we spoke with all recommend painter's blue tape because it's easier to remove than masking tape. To prevent bleeding, Span uses a putty knife to bed the tape.

After letting the paint dry, he scores the edge of the tape line with a utility knife to avoid tearing the paint. Primers aren't just diluted paint. They're formulated to establish a solid, even base, seal stains and ensure that the topcoats of paint go on smoothly and bond securely to the surface. Primer can affect the appearance of the topcoat. In general, glossier paints are more stain-resistant and scrubbable. But a higher sheen also highlights any imperfections in the wall or in the paint job.

It's good for hallways, kids' rooms, even kitchens and baths," says Toto. It seems that latex paints have won over even the most finicky painters. All of our pros have their personal favorites, but they agree that good paint does not come cheap. The pros also agreed that using two coats of paint will result in the best-looking job.

Don't skimp on the coverage; if you're covering more than square feet per gallon, you're spreading it too thin. Another problem is bridging. Although there are mildewcide additives, our pros prefer using bathroom and kitchen paints that have built-in mildew fighters. They can also dedicate full days to the work at hand which would make work quicker than you could have managed.

Painting contractors can efficiently handle your painting job while saving you the time and effort. Hiring professionals means that they are licensed to do your job. This can save you a lot of trouble because it means that you will be insured. This means that if a problem arises midway through the painting job, the painters will be able to correct it. Any damage is covered by the contractors themselves and you will be able to relax without having to worrying about the expenses that would go into repair.

However, there are conditions that apply so make sure you discuss this with your painting contractor. Painting requires a lot more than just paintbrushes. To be able to paint a house, you need to be equipped with safety gear, caulk and patching tools. Sometimes, for specific tasks you may even require painting applicators and spraying tools. Professional contractors will take care of your painting job and give you a great finishing touch, making your home look rich and classy for years to come.

You will either find out that the painters are more than qualified or you will determine that you need to seek a better option. Before hiring any type of professional, it is important to make sure that they are properly licensed and certified. They need to be able to show you their paperwork that states that they are allowed to be doing the work professionally.

This will allow you to potentially drive to a home that they have painted to check out the quality of their work. One of your neighbors may have a paint job on their home that you admire, so deciding to look into their painter is a good idea. Most of your neighbors should be more than happy to share this information, so this could be a good lead in finding a professional to hire.

A crucial quality to look out for in a professional painter is their professionalism, especially when it comes to their pricing structure.

They should have a consistent way that they provide estimates for painting jobs. Some painting businesses will charge a flat fee for the entire job, while others may charge you an hourly rate.

A real painting business will have a plethora of different options for equipment, including paint sprayers, ladders, large paint rollers, and much more. You can often judge the professionalism of a business based on their equipment.

When it comes to professional, no-hassle painting services in the greater Chicago area, Marc Poulos Painting is the contractor of choice. With long standing service working for the Ritz Carlton, not to mention years of experience, Marc and company know all about quality, customer service and the finest craftsmanship.