Frequently Asked Questions:
General Questions/Answers
Exterior Questions/Answers
Interior Questions/Answers
General Questions/Answers
What do I do if I want to use Vision Painting as my painter?
First, decide which part if not all of the estimate you wish to do and then call your estimator or the office to let us know you want to be placed on the schedule. When you call, you will be provided an approximate start and completion date (it may vary slightly due to unforeseen weather delays or additional coats needed on jobs just prior to yours). Two copies of the contract and warranty form will be sent to you, you may keep one for your records and one must be sent back to us signed. We can only hold your position for seven days without a signed contract.
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How do I pick colors?
If you are going to stay with the same color you have now we would want either a left over can from your garage/basement or the formula of the specific color. This is ideal, for we can get you back to the original color you had (keep in mind that if you do have the original color, it will look different on your house after it is painted because the original color is not faded like the color that has weathered for several years). If you do not have the original colors, we will do our best to match the least faded area of the house, often from behind a bush or under a porch.
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Where do I go to pick colors and what paint do you use?
We can match most colors from any manufacturer to the brand specified on the contract. The exceptions are generally dark accent colors, reds, blues, etc. If you are interested in picking a new color you may go to any paint store you like. Find a color you like and then provide us with the Brand, name, color number and swatch. Keep in mind that if you do not provide the actual paint swatch, the color we match may be slightly different due to swatch color variations. We will match the new color to the brand we have specified on the proposal unless we feel it cannot be matched close enough. In the event we cannot match it, we will order the paint from the manufacturer you picked the color from.
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How will I know if I will need one or two coats of paint?
At the time of the estimate, if you discussed a possible color change with the estimator, you will most likely see a second coat listed as an optional item. Unless specifically requested, we generally do not apply two coats when a color change does not require it. If you decide to change the color it is possible that the estimator may be able to tell you prior to starting if two coats are needed or not. This will usually be done through a test patch on your home. We provide up to two test patches at no charge. Additional test patches may be done on a time and material basis.
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I picked a darker color than I currently have, why do I need two coats?
The biggest misconception in painting is that if you pick a dark color, it will automatically cover
a lighter color. This is absolutely not true. There are many dark colors that, due to the type of base needed to mix the paint in, may require as many as 3-6 coats to cover. This is unusual, especially for exterior colors (except for shutters and doors), but it can happen. If you do pick a color for doors/shutters that has to be made in a neutral or accent base it may require several coats to cover, even if it is going over a similar color.
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My trim is white and I want to switch it to an off white, why two coats?
Another misconception about paint colors is that a very slight change in color will not require a two-coat application. This again depends on the base used to mix the paint. Most whites today are not true whites; they have a little black in it to help with the coverage. When you have white trim, and you choose to go with a soft white like Shell White there is a good chance that it may not cover in one coat. When you make a color like Shell White, it usually will use a white base or pastel base. These bases have very little colorant in them and therefor do not cover very well. To make Shell White, you may only add a couple of drops of yellow into a tint base. To solve this, the best bet is to come as close as possible to the Shell White color using a White that already has some black in it for coverage.
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When do I provide you with my colors?
Ideally we would like them at the time of signing the contract but this cannot always be achieved. To minimize downtime at least two weeks prior to painting would be sufficient. This should allow us enough time to get the colors matched up and do any test patches if needed for approval.
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Who do I talk to or call if I have any questions during the painting process?
If it is related to the actual painting of your home you may first speak with the foreman on the job. If you need additional information you may call your estimator or the office.
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What do I do if I want to add more work to the contract after the job has already started?
Call your estimator!!! Do not ask the job foreman or call the office. The estimator will need to evaluate the work, provide a price, and have a written change order signed by you.
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Who will check the job to see if it is complete?
The onsite foreman will often notify you when he will be done and if you are home at that time, you may be asked to walk the job and check for any deficiencies. Your estimator will also personally walk the entire job.
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How and who do I pay when the work is complete?
When the job is complete, you may either pay the job foreman, the estimator, mail a check into the office, or call the office with your credit card number (We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. We can run Amex through our suppliers). We will then mail you a credit card receipt. All work must be paid upon completion.
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Why is your warranty only for 2 years?
Our warranty covers items that we are in control of. If paint is going to peel due to a paint manufacturer problem or painter error (poor prep, etc.) it will peel within the first two years or less. After that, most problems are a result of moisture. Moisture can penetrate through the smallest of cracks and over time will cause paint to peel, even if it was primed. Cracked caulking due to normal expansion and contraction of your home is the #1 reason for moisture penetration and paint failure. Other failure can result due to poor prep/priming from the original paint job, expansion and contraction of wood causing paint to crack and peel, lack of primer on original coating, etc.
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How can I extend the warranty?
In 2004 we began offering a 5 year extended warranty. We can do this because each year we will go back to your home and power wash, check caulking, check wood for rot and any paint that might be peeling. Newly found wood rot can be repaired but at additional cost. The warranty costs 20 % per year of the base price of the exterior of the home. To keep the warranty in force, you must pay the annual amount each year prior to our coming out.
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Exterior Question/Answer
Do I need to be home during the power washing of the exterior of my home?
No, but you will need to make sure that all screens are unlatched and that all windows and doors are shut and locked tight. If you have ever had water penetration from power washing or heavy rains in the past, please let the estimator know and place towels down to catch the water. We will do our best to work around problem areas. Due to things beyond our control, we cannot be liable for water penetration and/or damage resulting from such. Please remove any breakable or fragile items from the exterior of your home during the washing/painting process.
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What do I need to do to prepare for painting and do I need to be home while my home is being painted?
No, but you will need to unlock your doors and windows so that we may paint them. As noted above, your screens need to be unlatched prior to washing. Please make sure that all removable window grids are inserted into the windows firmly with no loose ends. We need to raise and lower the windows for painting and these grids will break if one end is protruding out. This is a common problem. You may want to remove any loose grids from the windows. Depending on the time of year and type of paint, the doors and windows will need to be left open between 1 and 4 hours.
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I have pets, what do I do with them?
While we are painting the exterior of your home it would be appreciated if all pets were kept inside or if outside, away from where the workers will need to be. If the animal is placed inside the home please put him/her in an area where they do not have access to doors or windows. It is unnerving to be 30’ up on a ladder painting a window with a large dog charging or barking at you. It is not only dangerous for the painters, but your animals as well.
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Are you going to clean my windows after the painting is complete?
We always make sure that paint overspray is removed but we do not wash the windows as part of the base contract. We will however, provide you a quote to wash the windows and often times we include it as an optional item.
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Do you do wood repair?
YES. We can perform most types of wood repair that would be needed on your home. Normally we do this on a time and material basis ($24 per man per hour and materials at cost plus 20%) to keep your costs down, but when needed, we can also provide a fixed price. Keep in mind that whether we are performing the repairs on a time and materials basis or on a fixed price, the cost to pick-up the materials and find the right pieces of wood to be replaced is part of the price. On a fixed price, it is included, on a time and material basis, the time to buy the wood is part of the # of man hours.
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I have a stucco house with cracks in it, what should be done?
There are two main types of stucco, dryvit and hardcoat. Dryvit has a foam backing to it and when you knock on it, it sounds hollow. Hardcoat is a thick layer of stucco usually placed over plywood and metal lathe. Hardcoat usually has the most cracks in it. Cracks can be repaired using several different techniques. The easiest and least expensive is to caulk the cracks with an elastomeric caulking. The problem with this route is that the caulking will tend to flash and you will see lines on the side of your home. Another option is to use stucco patch or knife grade elastomeric patch. This can look better as a finished product when compared to caulking but it does not have the ability to expand and contract and the crack will reappear quicker. The best option, but also the most expensive, is to apply an elastomeric coating on the stucco instead of paint. Elastomeric coatings are 8-10 times the thickness of paint and much more elastic. It will also fill in small hairline cracks with out patching and on larger cracks, after you patch, it will bridge the gap and help prevent the crack from reappearing.
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What about Decks?
If you have a deck that is being stained or painted, please do not let you pets out on the deck after it is completed for at least 2 days. Different stains/paints take different amounts of time to dry based on humidity and temperature. Also, the claws from pets will damage the film and cause the paint/stain to fail quicker. We are not responsible for damage to painted/stained surfaces due to pets.
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Can you paint my gutters?
There are four main types of gutters; Copper, Galvanized, Wood and Aluminum. Wooden gutters can be painted, but due to moisture penetration, often peel. Wooden gutters need to have tar periodically applied to the inside to help prevent moisture seeping through the other side. Copper gutters cannot and should not be painted. Galvanized can be painted. Most galvanized gutters are painted when new and they were never primed. This causes them to peel and this is why we do not warranty them. When we paint them, we will scrape and then prime with a galvanized primer and then top coat with a latex finish coat. It may still peel in other areas. Aluminum gutters usually have a baked enamel finish that can readily be painted over. Most of our homes have aluminum gutters and most are painted with the trim paint.
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Why do my gutters have black streaks on them?
The black streaks on the gutters are stains from roof run-off. It is very difficult to clean off 100%, even with power washing. This is why we paint them most of the time. They can be cleaned rather than painted but it is costly to clean them and then it is more expensive to NOT paint them.
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Interior Question/Answer
Do I need to be home while the interior of my home is being painted?
No. Most people are not able to be home during the painting process. That is why it is important to hire a reputable Company that is fully insured and can stand behind its workmanship. Remember, we do not collect any money until the job is complete.
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What do I need to do to prepare for interior painting?
Since you probably have done some interior painting in the past, you know how much time and effort is spent just preparing the areas to be painted (I do not mean surface prep, I am talking about moving furniture, etc.). It is always requested that all fragile, irreplaceable items, antiques, etc be moved out of the painting area prior to painting. Although we will move furniture, we cannot be responsible for emptying out China Cabinets, Entertainment Centers, etc. This must be done prior to our arrival.
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Why are you quoting so many coats of paint for my dark color in the dining room?
Many of the dark accent colors used today are made from a neutral or accent bases and have very poor hiding (covering) power. There are many reds, blues, greens, yellows and burgundy’s that require 3-6 coats in order to make them cover.
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Will there be a lot of paint fumes?
Any time you paint inside the home you risk having paint fumes. Latex paints tend to smell less than oil-based paints but they still smell. There are low VOC paints but the problem is that the tint used to add the color is not odorless. If you have severe paint allergies or are olfactory sensitive, please let your estimator know so that he/she may spec an alternative product.
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Why does the interior of my home cost so much compared to the exterior?
Most interior jobs are 4-6 times the cost of the exterior and sometimes higher. Interior work requires a lot of setting up, moving things, working around things, covering and protecting things and most importantly, attention to detail. We take pride in trying to leave your home cleaner than when we arrived and still do a thorough job.
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I have pets, what do I do with them?
While the interior of your home is being painted, pets should be kept outside or inside a locked room away from the areas being painted. This needs to occur not only while we are there, but also while the paint is drying so the animal does not damage freshly painted areas and/or get paint on its fur/hair.
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Will there be dust?
Any time work is performed in a home things get stirred up a bit and can create air born particles. When painting the interior of a home, we do extensive drywall repairs to the walls and ceilings to correct imperfections such as nail pops, holes, nicks, and dings. In doing this, sanding is required to provide a smooth surface, which will create dust. Although we do cleanup, it is impossible to guarantee that no dust will settle on other areas of the home.
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Why won’t you guarantee interior touch-ups to match?
Often times homeowner’s want us to just touch-up the interior walls and/or trim. Even if you have the original paint we cannot guarantee that the paint will match. Everything from light exposure, dirt, traffic wear, how old the paint, original application type, sheen level, etc, effects whether or not paint will match. If we have to get new paint there is even a greater chance the paint will not touch-up.
I have Paint on my trim and I am changing my wall color. What about the old color still on my trim?
I have wall paint on my trim and I am changing my wall color. What about the old color still on my trim?
It is very common to have either wall paint on the trim or trim paint on the walls from previous coatings. If you hire us to paint your walls and not your trim the following needs to be considered: First, if there is old wall paint on the trim you will see it when we are done. Second, we tend to caulk cracks between the walls and trim, which means you, will see caulking on the trim when we are done. The solution is to paint the walls and trim in these cases. The same applies to painting just the trim. Most of this applies to times when you are changing the colors although the caulking issue will come up every time.
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