Straight answers, before you ever call

Never. Estimates for your painting project are always free, and they come as a written scope — not a number scribbled on a card.

By what the work actually involves: the type and size of the areas being painted, the amount of trim work, the colors chosen, how much of your property needs protection, the quality of paint specified, and — above all — the extent of surface preparation required.

Because each price reflects a different level of thoroughness. Surface preparation done properly costs more than a quick wash; careful, labor-intensive application costs more than production spraying. When a bid is dramatically lower, ask what was left out — it's usually the preparation you'll never see once the finish coat dries.

Yes — references are available on request, and you can read verified customer surveys on our Diamond Certified report, independently gathered by phone since 2005.

Some projects take as little as four to five days. The real drivers are the condition of the surfaces, the type of work involved, and — for exteriors — the weather.

Yes. Every job is scheduled to run in consecutive days until completion — on exterior jobs, weather permitting.

No. Move the small and breakable items, and the crew will move and protect furniture and fixtures with drop cloths and plastic sheeting.

Inside, furnishings and floors are covered with drop cloths and plastic sheeting. Outside, shrubs, decks, roofing, and surrounding areas are masked and draped against paint and peeling debris.

Professional-quality paints from Dunn-Edwards, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin-Williams — unless you request a different product.

Latex is more environmentally friendly and stays elastic on exteriors, where oil-based paint eventually cracks as the surface moves. Oil still earns its place where an ultra-smooth finish with minimal brush marking matters. We specify by surface, not by habit.

Sheen is the light reflectivity of the finished surface. From least to most reflective: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss.

They give a uniform appearance, don't highlight surface imperfections, show fewer lap marks, and need less sanding and preparation when it's time to repaint.

Lower sheens are harder to scrub, can be tricky to touch up invisibly, and higher-sheen surfaces being repainted usually need sanding or priming first for adhesion.

Acrylic (latex) paint dries much faster than alkyd (oil) — typically a couple of hours. Oil-based coatings should dry overnight.

An elastomeric waterproofing system is a thick, flexible coating normally used on exterior stucco with hairline cracks. It stretches with the surface, keeping cracks sealed and water out.

Pleasing combinations are made of colors in harmony with each other — and with your roof, stone, and neighborhood. We help with stock color charts, a survey of what works on similar homes nearby, and brush-out samples on your own walls before you commit.

If your house was built before 1978, chances are it carries lead paint somewhere. A lab test or an inexpensive tester from the hardware store will confirm it.

Under Lead Paint Ordinance standards: containment barriers around the work, paint chips removed daily rather than left on the ground, and all materials properly disposed of.

Spots or streaks of sticky brown or colorless material that can appear on fresh latex paint when it cures in poor drying conditions. It's unsightly but harmless — and it washes off.

Wash a small area with detergent, dry it, then rub it with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. If paint comes off, it's latex. If not, it's oil-based.

Generally, an exterior needs repainting every five to ten years. Wood expands and contracts more than stucco, so paint loosens on it sooner — and thorough preparation is what prevents the costly damage in between.

Keep water out of the wood. Maintain caulked joints and sound paint, keep gutters clear, and reseal window and door perimeters before they fail — deterrent is always the best policy.

Interior paint collects handprints, splashes, and scuffs. Check periodically and clean with mild detergent and a soft cloth — harsh alkaline or abrasive cleaners can permanently dull the finish.