Painting your home can be a big undertaking. When hiring a painting contractor for a residential project, it is important to make sure the company is committed to dealing with you fairly and doing quality work on your home. Here are six important questions to ask when hiring a painting professional.

-Are they properly insured and licensed?

Check to see if a contractor is certified  with a state contractor’s license, and is properly insured with general liability and worker’s compensation policies. A contractor without coverage could leave you liable if your home is damaged or a crewmember is injured on the job.

-Will they submit a free written estimate?

A contractor should always be willing to do a walk-through at your home and submit a written estimate specifying labor, material costs and a detailed description of all surface preparation.

-Will they submit a written contract?

Once agreeing to a job, a painter should also submit a written contract including a timetable for the labor, what is and what is not included in the job, as well as the total price and all other information from the estimate. There shouldn’t be any confusion once work begins, and the contractor needs to agree to be held accountable to finish the project at an agreed-upon price.

-Does the contractor use subcontractors or day laborers?

Subcontractors/day laborers are workers hired on a per deal basis. When hiring subcontractors, companies often employ unskilled workers who are ill equipped to do the job. A company that does not ensure the skill-set of its workforce is not committed to providing the highest quality service for your home. In addition, day laborers are not properly insured or licensed, leaving you at risk if they are injured on your property.

-Is the work guaranteed?

Painting professionals should submit a comprehensive 2-year guarantee in writing for their service. Many contractors will only offer the paint manufacturer’s guarantee, which ensures paint life but not the quality of the labor. A quality painter should agree to correct any chipping, peeling, blistering, flaking, or excessive fading or chalking within 2 years for little to no cost.

-Are employees EPA lead-safe certified?

According to the EPA, homes painted before 1978 may contain lead and should be treated as such. Ensuring workers are lead-safe certified means that employees have been trained to properly prepare and clean areas that may have been exposed. This includes paint removal as well as cleaning workspaces to make sure all work done on your home is completed in a lead-safe way.

At McCarthy Painting, we take care to meet all requirements of a professional, responsible painting contractor. We hold a California State Contractor’s License (#268819) and are bonded in accordance with California state contractor requirements. Additionally, we maintain general business insurance policies including general liability and worker’s compensation and are EPA Lead-Safe certified. Contact us to request an estimate and learn more about our licenses, insurance and contract policies.