Hire a Contractor or Do it Yourself?

 The immediate response is, “It’s cheaper to do it myself. I’ll go buy the materials and get
started this Saturday.” 

And possibly, as even I have done in the past, “I’ll pocket the insurance money and come out ahead.”
This is a valid dilemma that many people face. It pays to take the time to do a more lengthy analysis of the situation.I will take a model from ethics and apply it to the situation. Be patient with the process and the cream will rise to the top!

1.       Review the facts: There is a home improvement to be made that requires, labor, expertise, accurate materials, adequate tools, miscellaneous sundries and possibly a timeline for completion.

2.       Estimate the Problem: Setting aside that a contractor will have more in depth knowledge of the best materials to purchase for the situation, and already own the tools; the main conflict is paying for the contractor’s labor versus spending one’s own time.

3.       Solutions that could be possible: Do it myself, hire a contractor, or pay the unemployed neighbor/brother-in-law/uncle – cash.

4.       Outcomes of each solution above:

a.       Do it myself: The job gets done using my time in the denomination of labor. Any unexpected findings or mistakes took more time and money. My level of expertise shows in the outcome. Best case scenario: money was saved by my time and I am happy with the outcome.

b.      Pay the unemployed neighbor/brother-in-law/uncle – cash: The job may or may not have the desired outcome. Either guilt or pleasure with the job outcome could have implications for the future of said relationship: awkward or friendly. Money may have been saved – with the reality pending on the quality of the job outcome. Risk of job outcome and risk with relationship were taken.

c.       Hire a contractor: Two outcomes emerge depending on the quality of the contractor – which is why referrals are important. First and best outcome is that expectations were met and exceeded. There may be a realization during the job process that more detail and skill was required than originally thought. Your home was disrupted for less time. You spent your time doing profitable things (both for the soul and the wallet). Risk was very low because contractor carried insurances to guard you against any injuries occurring on your property, any job related mistakes with costly repairs and many other things that fall under liability and worker’s compensation insurance.

The second outcome is that you are disappointed with a shoddy job or the poor ethics of the contractor choice you made.

5.       Likely impact of each outcome listed above:

a.       Do it myself: If the job goes well, the impact is one of pride and though time was spent and unexpected issues arose, you felt you came out ahead by spending your extra time rather than cash, to do the job yourself.

b.      Pay the unemployed neighbor/brother-in-law/uncle – cash: The cash helps said person through a tough time. You are happy or not so happy with the results. The relationship in the future with this person hinges on the job outcome. Want to take that risk?

c.       Contractor: If you did your homework and hired a qualified contractor, you are happy with the outcome and no longer feel any sting of spending the money on hired labor because you realize the job has a professional appearance, the unexpected findings were remedied with more skill and ease than you would have been able to deal with, and the timeline allowed you to enjoy your home sooner than if you had tackled the project yourself. Invisible risk benefits like injury or damage liability were realized.

6.       Value of each outcome: Without belaboring any point already mentioned, if one simply looks at the value that the money path followed, it speaks for itself.
In the do-it-yourself scenario, even if the lowest amount of money spent is the outcome, there is a risk that the quality of the job may not last as long as having it professionally done, which means the lower amount spent was not a good investment in the long run.
Cash payment to a friend in need will bring them a short term benefit but the relationship is at risk pending the outcome.

Payment to a contractor helps Main Street keep tradespeople employed and able to maintain health benefits. An employer stays in business and the employees spend their earnings on taxes and on consuming goods that create a strong economy. Notice how the money path in this scenario included insurance, safeguarding you against risk and putting money into that sector as well. The money also flowed to the manufacturer who had the best material solution for your project. For each additional maintenance free year you gain from the money paid to a contractor, the return on investment increases.

7.       The next steps are to evaluate all of the above, make a decision and then defend your decision against its main weaknesses. This is called the RESOLVEDD (yes, two D’s) method (Pfeiffer & Forsberg, 2005).

I hope you enjoyed this lesson in Dilemma Solving 101 – and happy home improvements to you!

References:

1.      Pfeiffer, Raymond F. and Forsberg, Ralph P. Ethics On The Job, 3^rd ed. ( Wadsworth, 2005).

Sometimes it Pays to be The Painter's Wife

Merry Christmas! We'll be back after the holidays.

The front entry gets a fresh coat in time for the holidays!

Homeowners Have Changed

The PW Asks: How have homeowners changed over the last 30 years?

The Painter: The internet has made them dangerous. They have usually read just enough to ask a question that they think they know more about than you know. They “quiz” you. They research something that they’ve never had any experience working with and they will say, “It says to do it this way.” That doesn’t mean it’s the best way, because there’s a learning curve with every coatings product.

There are different driers in each coatings product and the chemical make-ups are different from one product to the next. Each paint or finishing product goes down differently. Thirty years ago, people trusted you because you were a professional.

PW: I think every profession has experienced this to some degree, from doctors and lawyers to painters! Long live the internet. I prefer it to those tan and brown encyclopedias we had when I was a kid.

Painting Changes Over 30 Years in Business

The PW Asks: How have application procedures changed over the last 30 years?

The Painter Says: Thirty years ago there were no small sprayers with variable pressure. The airless sprayer came into being and brought all different sizes, pressure capabilities, and could handle everything from heavy bodied materials to lightweight materials. Reversible tips made it easy to clean tips.

PW: Have you changed how you paint a wall?

Painter: Roller skin technology has changed from polyester to lamb’s wool to a blend of the two to carry paint. The paints require the wall to be painted differently based on “open” time of the paint. Some you have to cut the room in and let that dry before rolling the wall. Other paints require a wet edge. Depending on the sheen of the paint, it will require different applications to get a uniform looking wall. For example, flat paint is not as critical to keep a wet edge as eggshell or semi-gloss sheens. Imperfections in the sheen will be seen when the paint dries down if a wet edge was not maintained.

PW: So painting is not a fool proof process?     

Painter: You've got to know what you’re doing to get it to look right.

New Trim - Old Windows?

The Painter Says: Getting new window trim to blend with old windows is a challenge that most people are not qualified to tackle.

We recently encountered windows that were stained too dark, like a mahogany and the maple trim around them was done with a lighter stain. We were able to prime and enamel the old part of the window to match the natural color of the maple. Then we took a gel stain and created a natural grain look to match the maple. You would have thought it was all maple.

PW: So what you are saying is that you "painted" the window itself and then cleverly created a "wood" look that matched the new window trim. 

Painter: One of our areas of expertise is make existing windows match new wood trim. For example, pine is used in many windows. We can take new cherry wood trim that surrounds the window and blend the pine windows into the cherry trim. From a five foot distance you wouldn’t know it’s not all new finishing.

PW: I'm impressed, but then again, - you had me at hello. (Oh, that was cheesy! My kids are going to groan!)

Now show me the money!

Holiday Season Kitchen

The PW Asks: How can people prepare for the holidays?

The Painter Says: Holiday season is freshen-up time. Now is the time to paint the kitchen because everyone likes to stand around and enjoy that room as well as the dining room.

Lead Based Paint Concerns

The PW Asks: What have you learned about precautions and issues surrounding the contamination from lead-based paint?

The Painter Says: The easiest way to deal with it is to encapsulate it. There are special encapsulation primers that have a thick mil to go over the top of oil based paint which is what lead-based paint was made of. The primer will seal it right in.

PW: FYI to our readers - Signet Painting is a Lead-Safe EPA Certified Firm.

Thanksgiving Thoughts from the Painter

The Painter Says:

I’m thankful for family and work. If you've got work, you've got work. It isn’t always about how much you get it’s about who you spend it with. 

Go Vikings!

Home Interior Design Changes Over 30 Years

The PW Asks: What have you seen change the most since you began in the painting business?

The Painter Says: Styles have come full circle in the past 30 years from dark woodwork which used to be mainly oak, to the current design statement of accenting rooms with different wood species and different finishes. Rooms are individually accented with wood trim and cabinetry in different shades the way pieces of clothing are accessorized. We see a variety of woods being used in homes such as Cherry, Alder, Maple and Walnut. We also see a paintable grade of wood trim used such as Poplar, Maple, Birch or pre-primed substrates. And wood tones are mixed, for example, a light crown piece around a darker cabinet.

Married 28 Years Ago Today

Happy Anniversary to Us!


1983 - 2011

Got "Ugly" Window Sills? Stained from Moisture?

The PW Asks: What can you do when the wood under your window gets gray or blackish?

The Painter Says:

Condensation occurs in the winter from the glass sweating and then freezing on the window sash and jamb. It then breaks down and lifts the finish, causing wood to mold and deteriorate.

Remedy: We remove the old deteriorated finish from the window and the sash and where the moisture has begun to lift the finish. We apply wood bleach if it has turned black from mold or mildew. Then we apply a light stain to blend with the existing finish and a couple of coats of an oil polyurethane brushed up a little onto the glass to bond with the glass so that moisture can’t penetrate from the back side of the window sash again, and rot the bottom of the window.

This is not a do-it-yourself task, it requires a skilled craftsman.

PW: Have you had “Ugly” Window Success?

Painter: Very good! Very good success. We help people catch the window sash rotting situation before they go bad and the finish is peeling and the wood is graying. Maintaining the bottoms of windows gives people more longevity out of the windows rather than replacing them.

PW: Do a lot of people replace their windows from not catching the situation in time?

Painter:  Replacing happens a lot so it is worth having them protected.


PW: Besides the condensation on the glass, are there other issues involved with decaying window sash?


Painter: Yes. The windows were probably sprayed with a cellulose lacquer. Think of a sponge. That is the chemical make-up of a cellulose lacquer which is very common on the market to be used in new construction because it is cheap. We always use a vinyl undercoat and a post-catalyzed lacquer. It costs more and makes all the difference. The new construction homes finished by Signet Painting over the past twenty years do not have this "ugly" stained window sash problem.

Smelly Paint and Paint History

The PW Asks: What changes have you seen in paint since you began in the business?

The Painter Says: Paint has improved a lot in the last ten years. It has improved in ability to give coverage and to be a low VOC (volatile organic compound, non-smelly) product. Acrylic based products have really improved, whether it be wood finishes or wall.

PW: Why do people like non-smelly paint?

Painter: A lot of people are sensitive to odor. It bothers them and they get stuffed up or sick. Most of those sensitive to paint already have issues so it bothers them (and they’re just wimps) – kidding! It’s been a plus now that the low VOC products have become comparable to the more standard paints. You have to realize that chemicals are what make paint products work so well, and when the manufacturers started stripping those chemicals out, they didn’t work so well. But now I believe we'll see new VOC-free paints and finishes that will be able to outperform some of the old, more chemical laden products.


PW: For the "chemistry" wonks - here's an interesting study: link to regulations and VOC study

The Painter's Favorite Kitchen

The PW Asks: What does your favorite kitchen look like?


The Painter Says: One of my favorite combinations for new kitchens is alder wood cabinetry stained a golden earthy brown. This wood species tends to hold brown tones very well. And then I like a painted enamel trim coming up against it. For example, a center island in alder with a painted base trim going around it.


PW: Unfortunately, the Painter's fave kitchen is so cutting edge that I can't find a photo to accurately represent it. But here's a shot of an alder kitchen with a painted center island:

Kitchen Design Idea - Tin Ceiling

The PW Asks: Have you done anything interesting in a kitchen lately?

The Painter Says: Yes, we painted a newly installed tin ceiling with a light enamel color. The cabinets were a natural cherry wood.  

Opining on the Vikings

The Painter Says: Its a pathetic season.

It's a good year to rebuild. Get those rookies out there. Let them learn something.

And P.S. - They should be thankful they have a dome!

Kids Jungle Bedroom Idea

Kid Room Idea: Age 3 – 7 Jungle Theme:

Wallpaper Border: At chair rail height, border paper with jungle animals

Below Border: Sand colored paint

Above Border: Pale blue to represent sky

Décor: Artificial tree plant with stuffed monkey hanging from limb or other stuffed exotic birds, snakes, etc. Large black framed prints of animals on walls.

Bed Covering: Black comforter with leopard and tiger print throw pillows

Halloween Story Deficit Disorder

The PW Asks: Have you ever painted a haunted house?

The Painter Says: No.

PW: Not even a creepy room or an animal jumped out or something moved that should not have done so?

Painter: No.

PW: Any pumpkins or ghosts or anything I can put in the blog for a good Halloween scare?

Painter: No.

PW: Boring.

NOT the Painter, but a close relative!

Bedroom Idea: Girl Age 14-18

Kid Room Idea: Girl Age 14 – 18

Walls and Ceiling: Paint walls and ceiling black. Then hand paint white shapes and patterns randomly placed; similar to paisley shapes. The white shapes bend from walls up onto ceiling. (Note: ceiling must be smooth or paintable. No popcorn texture.)

Wood Trim: White or Natural Wood Tone.

Bedding: Black and white.

Lighting: Chandelier with crystal droplets.

This idea came from a black and white patterned napkin and turned out exquisite. Dare to paint the ceiling black to get the right effect!

Advice on Exterior Home Painting in Freezing Temperatures

The PW Asks: How do you prepare for a day of exterior home painting in freezing temps?

The Painter Says: In freezing temps you can only use a semi-transparent product or an oil product and you must add isopropanol to the product which is gas line anti-freeze. There is water based colorant, even in oil based paint. This tiny amount of water helps suspend the colorant. In freezing temperatures, this moisture will crystallize unless the isopropanol is added. Next, the paint pump must stay indoors so the product does not freeze while the hose is snaked out the window.

PW: Why would anyone paint a house at below freezing temps?

Painter: Because the builder of the home may not want the bank to hold money in escrow. If the exterior is not painted by the time of closing, money will be held back.

PW: What do you wear to prepare for this kind of arctic feat?

Painter: A union suit, insulated gloves and good boots.

PW: Brrrrrr

Girl's Room Idea: 10-12yrs

Kid Room Idea: Girl 10-12yrs

Walls: Teal Blue

Ceiling: White

Wood trim: White (This is all window trim, base trim, jambs and doors)

Furniture: Light/Medium stain color

Floor: Hardwood floors with large throw rug in light color with gold diamond geometric pattern

Scary Cold Weather Painting Tale

The PW Asks: Do you have any scary cold weather painting stories?

The Painter Says: One time we were painting a cedar sided house exterior and it started to snow. Our biggest fear was that the snow was sticking to the stain and we worried about how it was going to look. It was only 10 degrees. Everything turned out and we never had a problem.

PW: Does painting home exteriors in cold temperatures have benefits?

Painter: Yes, because surfaces are dried out and as tight as they will ever be. Every inch of that surface is getting coated. When temperatures rise again and the surface expands you will see no lap lines. That’s Minnesota climate!

How Cold Is Too Cold to Paint?

The PW Asks: Can you paint outside in cold temps?

The Painter Says: Some acrylic exterior home products will allow you to paint as low as 35 degrees; but that must be the surface temperature – not the air temperature. In other words, the surface could be colder than the outside temp and that is a recipe for disaster.

PW: I don't think our insurance company would appreciate a recipe for disaster. But they might like your recipe for apple crisp. We need to post that one of these days.

Painters Picking Apples

The Painter’s Favorite Dessert: Apple Crisp

The PW Asks: Do you have any stories about cows, corn, pumpkins, ghosts, spooks or scary people?

The Painter Says: No.

PW: How about apples?

Painter: One time we painted a house in the country and we stopped along the roadside and picked apples off trees. They were good, we ate them and I think we made an apple pie.

PW: Was I married to you then? Because I don't remember no apple pie!

Bedroom Design for Kids with Allergies

PW: The Painter talks about painting in homes with kids with severe allergies.

The Painter: We have painted several homes where kids rooms are being refurbished by pulling all the carpet out and installing hardwood floors to create a more dust and mildew free environment. We then paint the walls and woodwork with volatile organic compounds (VOC) free acrylic products so no allergens are sent out into the air. No hot chemicals can be used. This has worked out well.

Party Season Prep

The PW Asks: What are some key things to do in the fall to prepare for the holidays and guests?

The Painter Says: Three things come to mind.

1. Freshen up the paint on the walls.
2.  Refinish wood table tops.
3. Paint the front door, before it gets too cold. If it’s wood, it may need to be stripped and refinished. If not, some clean-up and touch –up or a fresh coat on the whole surface.

Girls Bedroom Idea Age 13-18

Kid Room Idea: Girl 13 – 18yrs

Walls: Eggplant Purple

Ceiling: Eggplant purple (NOTE: ceiling should be smooth or paintable surface – not popcorn texture)

Wood Trim: White (This is all window trim, base trim, jambs and doors)

Window Covering: White shutters

Furniture: White

Bed Covering: Patterned spread with eggplant, white and green.

Floor: Light toned carpet

How to Stop Bees: Do Not Try This at Home

The Painter has another story about bees:

There was a garage with a soffit made up of the stringers coming across. There were five or so wasp nests. We didn’t have any spray and we needed to paint where they were. So we sucked them into a shop-vac directly out of the nests or even in the air as they flew around. We had 100 to 150 bees so we also sucked up some powdered sheet rock compound so it caked them up so they couldn’t fly.

PW: Nice touch with the sheet rock compound. Makes their limp chalked up bodies easier to dispose of. I think we could launch a new ad campaign for Shop-Vac. Show a painter waving a vacuum wand wildly in the air sucking down wasps. Sooo not OSHA approved.

This is not from the Painter's story but wow - somebody had some bees in a shop vac.

The Problem with Paint and Air Conditioning

The PW Asks: As people switch in the fall from running air conditioners to throwing open the windows, are there any effects on painting surfaces?

The Painter Says: There is no problem with throwing the windows open, rather, the problem is with air conditioned homes that are cooled to 65 degrees. A home can take an extra day or more to paint because the air conditioner must pull the moisture out of the air for the paint to dry. In the winter, paint dries well because the furnace blows dry heat into the home. 

Kids Bedroom Weekly Kick Off

Each week this fall, the Painter will share one kids bedroom painting and decorating idea.

The PW Asks: Give us some ideas for kids rooms. What are you seeing out there?

The Painter Says: We see a lot of accent walls using a solid purple, blue or green. The headboard wall is a popular place to do an accent color. We still see border paper used related to interests such as sports.

"Fall" Into Some Garage Floor Logic

The PW Asks: Tell us about garage floor coatings.

The Painter Says: In order to coat a garage floor there needs to be an air temperature of at least 55 degrees. There are a variety of ways to handle a garage floor, from simple to complex.

1.       A simple clear coat on a garage floor creates a dust barrier and the concrete is not “dry” looking.

2.       A 2-part epoxy is another option which can add color. Next, taking it a step further is a 2-part epoxy plus clear urethane layers with colored chips added. The surface can be smooth with chips suspended in the urethane for a sleek look. Or the chips can actually protrude from the urethane for a skid proof surface. An epoxy garage floor can serve many different purposes and will last the longest if the floor is professionally prepared and coated.

Early fall is an ideal time to coat a garage floor.

Fall Changes Everything

Once Labor Day weekend rolls around we start thinking about getting the kids back in school and assessing the fallout of a wonderful summer season. Smudged walls and dirty carpet can be tidied up just in time for throwing the windows open and taking in the fresh, crisp air. This fall, kids will be our focus and the Painter will be giving us ideas for kids bedrooms and even for kids with allergies. Be watching for our weekly "Kids Room" painting and decorating ideas.

The PW Asks: What changes in the painting world in the fall?

The Painter Says: We leave humidity behind and temps become cooler. This means we may switch products, especially in wood finishing that are compatible with the colder weather. Sometimes we add additives so products dry correctly and do not flash.

Painting and Storms Don't Mix - Part 2

The Painter: (Regarding the farmhouse that was primed 3 hours before an unexpected storm): When we came back the next day, we found that on the south side of the house, water got behind the paint and formed softball sized pockets that were still full of water.

PW Comments: Take me out to the ballpark, take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,,,, (yum, I love Cracker Jack - remember when you used to get a real toy - a real ring!) Hmmm hummm hmmm hmmm hummmmm..........

Painting and Storms Don't Mix - A Great Story

The PW Asks: Any interesting windy day or inclement weather stories? 

The Painter Says: Priming a farm house with oil primer and a storm came out of nowhere. It was sunny then blue, thunder & lightning. The primer had been on the house 3 hours and then a down pour.The next day on the west side of the house there was a line of paint on the ground. It took the oil primer right off the wall. Now that’s tough – taking oil off the wall.

PW Comments: stay tuned for Part 2 - it gets even better (slash worse) when they inspect the south side of this farm house.

Negotiating With Spiders

The PW Asks: Have you ever painted over a critter? 

The Painter Says: Oh yeah. I told them to go and they wouldn’t so I rolled them into the wall.

(The Painter pauses to ponder) Basically those Daddy Long Legs. They become part of the wall.

Big Bad Spiders - Badder Than A Junkyard Dog

The Painter Says: If you paint a house on a lake you better prepare yourself for the biggest baddest spiders you’ve ever seen. You can power wash them off one day and they’ll be back the next.

PW: Have you ever been bit by a spider?

The Painter: Not that I know of.

Biggest Baddest Minnesota "Lake" Spider

Interesting Critter Sightings While Painting

The PW Asks: What is the most interesting critter you’ve run into painting outside? 

The Painter Says: Not like they were in the way but I’ve seen deer, turkey, badgers and the BIG “lake” spiders.

Never seen on a jobsite - honest.

What The Painter Refuses To Paint

The PW Asks: Is there any job you would refuse? 

The Painter Says: Intricate screened porches. By the time you protect and paint around the screen it’s more cost effective to remove it and replace with new screen.

Bonus Information: If you try to wipe a drip of paint, off a screen, it’s gonna smear.

Can You Paint a Concrete Stairway?

The PW Asks: Can you paint an ugly concrete stairway?

The Painter Says: Yep, you have to clean and prep them right and then use an epoxy - or an exterior urethane but it won’t hold up forever – it’ll look good for a while.

Bonus Information from The Painter: You can use concrete stains for a patio. It wears off eventually but you can re-stain it.

The Painter can also "paint" a concrete staircase - cuz he's an artist too.

Can You Paint a Sidewalk?

The PW Asks: Can you paint a sidewalk?

The Painter Says: Yep

PW: Stay tuned for Friday, when The Painter answers the question you've been sitting on the edge of your seat to know: Can you paint a concrete stairway?

The Trouble with Bees: Part 3

The Painter can tell you stories - about bees:

 "I've been bit a few times. Just put my hand in the wrong place at the wrong time – grabbing the edge of a roof and the first bee that came down the pipeline bit me. They are in and out. They are busy!"

The PW Asks: Do you have a remedy for bee stings? 

The Painter Says: I don’t do anything. I just make sure the stinger is out if they left one.

PW: So - no need for an ambulance, then.

The Trouble with Bees: Part 2

The Painter Tells a Story: There was a house in St. Peter, MN that had a high peak with a big wasps nest. The circumference was 2 ft. At the crack of dawn we shot it with wasp spray – soaked it.

Then we knocked down the wasp nest and it hit the porch roof below and split open. 1000’s of wasps were laying and crawling on the roof.

We were standing on the porch roof and we started stomping the bees. We took ‘em out. Didn’t have any problems – we got ‘em.

The Trouble with Bees

The PW Asks: What can you do if you have bee’s nests in your eaves? 

The Painter Says: Get up early in the morning, like the crack of dawn – 5am – and spray them before they wake up. Of course, it depends on your fear of bees. I’m not afraid of them so they leave me alone. For some reason, they go after people who are afraid... because they swing at them.

Wow - This is a Florida beehive - Get Professional help with this one!

How to re-use cabinetry. See this kitchen makeover!

"I was extremely pleased with Signet Painting, Larry and the entire staff. The process was easy and the results fantastic! We did a full kitchen remodel - new floors, granite, appliances and of course, the cabinet refinish.  By far I think the cabinet refinish was the most dramatic change and provided the greatest bang for our buck!"

Cathy B. - Woodbury MN

From the PW: This customer did some really neat things with their kitchen. First you will notice they removed the center island and re-used it to create a dining peninsula. We love the "reuse/recycle" concept - but they took it a step further by refinishing their kitchen cabinets rather than throwing them out for the landfill and (buying IKEA); (nothing against IKEA - it's just that people see the low number on the IKEA kitchens but don't take into account all the hidden costs). 

Next - they turned their "desk" into a wine bar with just a little carpentry. This kitchen is adorable. Thanks for letting me share it with the world Cathy.

Before

Before

After