The biggest problem for consumers in the painting industry is the nature of painting itself: that is, the evaluation of a paint job is blind. Paint does many things, but it invariably covers things up, and blocks out the surfaces underneath. Once applied, there is no way to see for sure what is going on underneath; no way to inspect with certainty how thorough the preparation was executed. To really know how good your paint job was, you need a time machine to fast forward several years to see if it lasts. At least, hopefully, you would get several years…
Scraping for Exterior Painting
In the painting business, you simply need to rely on trust; trust that your Toronto painting contractor fulfilled all the details in the contract, and according to the proper methods of house painting. Before hiring, every contractor will speak at length how they always do perfect work and never miss a thing; but history tells another story. We all know that there are plenty of houses in every neighborhood with some failing paint; and painting companies are as busy today as they have ever been. If all these painters only deliver long-lasting work, why don’t they eventually go out of business?!
The unfortunate truth is that all too often past coatings have been applied over poorly prepared surfaces, masking inferior quality work with a fresh coat of paint. We all know the ease with which you can take a brush or a roller and almost magically cover old ugly trim and walls making them seem new. But the ability for that paint job to deliver lasting protection, which is, after all, the main point of painting, is highly dependent on the thoroughness of preparation of the substrate. Paint today is quite robust, and can perform for a year or two even if preparation is substandard, but gradually, and with certainty, that paint will flake, peel, delaminate, bubble or simply wear away.
The solution, then, is to hire professionals that have been proven to deliver quality painting. This is why references are so important in contracting, because the “cover-up” principle always applies. Actually finding the right painters is another topic altogether. After you have narrowed one down, you must be certain that the work that is to be delivered will meet your needs, and allow for a long lasting solution.
How Do You Get The Best Paint Job?
Sometimes, the only way to fix a failing surface is to strip all the old, problematic paint away, right down to bare surfaces. This is a simple yet powerful idea, and one you should always consider before settling on the details of a project. This is especially relevant on exterior projects, where weather factors can amplify the damage caused by weaknesses in the coating system, and reducing the life of the paint job. Many painters will perform the standard “scrape and paint”, which is essentially removing paint until it stops coming off easily. This is not really solving the problem. Any old paint left behind has the potential to peel later, and you might be left thinking you should have stopped the problem in its tracks by a full restoration.
The best Toronto painters will strip down to the ideal surface; they will advise if any surfaces need replacement, they will replace caulking, plaster and fillers as required; in short they will make sure you house is taken care of in every detail. The change in perspective is subtle, yet profound: One painter is protecting himself with paint, the other is painting to protect your home.
A knowledgeable painting company will advise you on options, and recommend a complete strip when it makes sense to do so. It will likely cost more than your ordinary paint job to do this, but it amounts to less money spent in the long run. With advancements in the paint industry and better preparation and application techniques, there is absolutely no reason for a paint job to last only 3 to 5 years. If you have your surfaces restored, rather than covered-up as part of your next painting project, you can expect many more years of protection and beauty.
Contact ARC Painting today for a consultation.