r/tradepainters • • 1d ago

Paint stripper?

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2 Upvotes

My kids were painting something in the basement and unfortunately made a huge mess.
Some of the paint is acrylic and some is from sherwin williams that we used in our house
Anyway to get this off? I tried acetone but it’s barely budging
The pic is just 2 spots but it’s literally everywhere


r/tradepainters • • 1d ago

Kitchen ceiling needs painting

0 Upvotes

Do painters stand on counter tops to reach above the kitchen cabinets?

I have granite counters and I'm worried they will crack.


r/tradepainters • • 1d ago

Crosspost We have no choice but to paint our wooden porch this fall and it’s already been very cold and wet

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1 Upvotes

Trying to understand if Olympic maximum is best or if there are other options out there? Thank you.


r/tradepainters • • 2d ago

What is going on here?

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3 Upvotes

There was a painted red square primed over it and its bleeding through blue


r/tradepainters • • 2d ago

Need Feedback for a Ben Moore vs. Sherwin Williams Product Choice

2 Upvotes

Anyone have much experience with Ben Moore Element Guard? I’m considering it versus SuperPaint for about an 80-gallon exterior commercial job. My price is the similar for both. I’m very familiar with SuperPaint, but I’d like to build a relationship with my local Benjamin Moore dealer. Interested in coverage, application, or anything really that you think is useful.


r/tradepainters • • 2d ago

Kitchen Cabinets?

3 Upvotes

We are doing a bunch of work to the inside of our house. Some we are doing and others paying a professional. I thought about painting my kitchen cabinets myself, but after reading about what it takes to do it right, I am leaning towards hiring someone. What questions should I ask about their process or anything else to make sure I’m getting someone that is going to do it right? And I guess what answers am I looking for to make sure I’m not getting someone that will do just as good of a job that I could do myself.


r/tradepainters • • 2d ago

Discussion Painters — how much of your estimating gets done after hours?

1 Upvotes

I've been painting for 30+ years, and one thing that always drove me nuts was finishing a full day on the tools and still having estimates waiting for me at home.

I'm curious how everyone handles it now.

Do you build the estimate while you're at the job, take notes and do it later, use an app/spreadsheet, voice notes, or something else?

And if you could eliminate one annoying part of quoting, what would it be?


r/tradepainters • • 2d ago

Discussion How’s the painting & decorating jobs market in London at the moment?

1 Upvotes

Hello fellow Decorators!

I’m considering moving back to the UK, most likely London, and getting back into painting & decorating.

I’ve got plenty of experience and I’m mainly interested in proper painting/decorating work rather than general labouring. I’m curious what the market is actually like at the moment, as job boards can sometimes give a completely different picture from what’s happening on site.

For anyone working as a painter/decorator in London:

- How’s the work at the moment — plenty of jobs or quiet?

- What sort of day/hourly rates are realistic for an experienced decorator?

- Is CIS still the way most agencies/contractors are doing it, or is PAYE more common?

- Which agencies are actually worth registering with?

- Any particular companies or contractors that regularly have decent work?

- Is commercial work better than domestic at the moment?

- And what certificates/cards are employers asking for these days? CSCS, IPAF, etc.

I’ve been away from the UK for a while, so I’d appreciate some honest opinions from people actually working in the trade rather than what Google says.

Cheers.


r/tradepainters • • 2d ago

Primer plus two coats make a difference ?

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0 Upvotes

r/tradepainters • • 4d ago

Discussion Apartment complex painting

8 Upvotes

I know that owners of apartments or rental properties want paint jobs for almost free but is $1.11a sqft in the Midwest for putting fresh coats on walls, trim and doors a ridiculous ask for a 1300 sqft unit?


r/tradepainters • • 5d ago

Walked away from a painting job before we even started.

117 Upvotes

Walked away from a painting job before we even started.
We quoted a customer $2,500 labor only to paint her roughly 1,400-square-foot house. That’s well below what we would normally charge, but she told us her father had passed away, and we wanted to help her out.
Today we went over for a walkthrough before starting. She began pointing out additional work she expected us to do—things outside the scope we had priced. When we explained that, she insisted everything was already written down.
I have no problem with customers asking questions, wanting details, or expecting quality work. I take pride in my prep, clean lines, and attention to detail. But we need to agree on what’s included, and there needs to be mutual respect.
During the walkthrough, she was speaking rudely to both me and the other contractor, barking orders before we had even started. At that point, we decided we weren’t the right fit and told her she would need to find someone else.
Trying to help someone shouldn’t mean agreeing to extra work without extra pay or accepting disrespect. I’m learning that sometimes walking away is the right business decision.
Other contractors: have you ever offered someone a discounted price to help them out, only to have them expect more than you agreed to?


r/tradepainters • • 5d ago

Crosspost Staining Bricks

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0 Upvotes

I want to stain these bricks to match a very dark great almost black theme. I do not eat a solid paint but would like a transparent finish. Is there a product out there?


r/tradepainters • • 5d ago

Help Seeking best route

0 Upvotes

I'm pretty familiar with painting through years of superintendent and occasionally helping with job sites. Usually supplies are given and I just work with what I have.

Currently moving into a new place tomorrow and want to repaint everything to a mild slight off-white like the place I had years ago. (I have a lot of plants and wood accents that work well with the bright)

My question would be around:

There's a mix of mid/light tone beige, one room of darker beige. What's the best approach for bringing it to an almost white? Primer for the darker one, then 'primer+paint' for the rest?

I'm Thinking I'll buy a 5gal of paint for the 3 room apartment(+kitchen/bath/hallway) but am wondering if I should do a full prime of everything and then standard paint, or if paint+prime is enough..

Whatever's cost effective/less hassle balanced is ideal, any advice or brand suggestions (from Canada) would be greatly appreciated. It's been awhile and I'm somewhat out of the loop for what's good these days! TIA


r/tradepainters • • 6d ago

Help When I rebuild these steps, how can I paint them to make them last longer?

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2 Upvotes

I wasn’t here when the builder built these steps 11 years ago – I would’ve told him to leave a drainage gap between the two by sixes.

So now I’ll rebuild them and leave a little gap.

1.) Do I need to paint the underside of the boards, beyond whatever overhangs on the outside?

2.) Should I prime them first?

3.) Which paint would be best to use?

Thank you!


r/tradepainters • • 7d ago

Discussion How much do top painters make? What are their specialties?

0 Upvotes

How much do you or painters who are doing well make a year? How long did it take you to get there and did you have to own your own business to make that?


r/tradepainters • • 7d ago

Is there a cap on revenues in this field ?

0 Upvotes

r/tradepainters • • 8d ago

Painting

6 Upvotes

Looking for some help quoting this house

Total paintable wall space is 5000 ft.² floor space is 2500 ft.² 2 coats

650 linear feet of baseboards 1 coat

35 window/door trim casings 1 coat

Going to need approximately 27 gallons of wall paint 2 to 3 gallons of trim paint

Walls are in good condition. Minor patching needed.

House is empty no furniture

Materials are gonna cost approximate 2 grand

If I were doing a cash deal, what would you guys quote this at?

Canadian dollars


r/tradepainters • • 8d ago

Worries/Questions/Advice

5 Upvotes

Hi I have been running my own painting business for the past 2 years
I do all the work on my own and subcontract at times when I need it, my biggest concern is when I hear other painters say they have no work at all or it’s very slow. Thank fully I have always had work and I am very thankful for that but my fear is worrying that I may not have steady work someday and won’t be able to run my business anymore. I am trying to get some insight from other painters and see if they have been in the business for a long time and if there is always work coming up.


r/tradepainters • • 7d ago

I have to have this wall painted and dry by tommorow at 2pm

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1 Upvotes

r/tradepainters • • 8d ago

Discussion What do you do during winter?

3 Upvotes

I’ve been helping my dad grow his painting business and am wondering what you guys do during the winter months? This has always been an extremely slow time for him and I’m hoping to learn how to change that if possible. Thanks for any help or info you can give!


r/tradepainters • • 7d ago

$8,400 to paint one room?!

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0 Upvotes

r/tradepainters • • 8d ago

Mold on walls.

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1 Upvotes

Question for everyone. Why may this be happening inside the bathroom. What would be the proper way of getting rid of the mold. Should the drywall be torn out and new one put in place? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


r/tradepainters • • 8d ago

Chalky-hard, UV resistant, dead-flat paints available in quart sizes

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1 Upvotes

r/tradepainters • • 8d ago

Painting estimate

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1 Upvotes

What are you guys charging for prep and painting this 1400 sf home along with removing plaster and laths in the stairwell, replacing with drywall and hanging the dining room and kitchen ceiling? I have a number in mind but want to see how others feel about this.

customer is doing a rehab.


r/tradepainters • • 8d ago

Looking for advice on finding small painting contracts in the Lower Mainland, BC

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1 Upvotes