Q: Are you licensed and insured?

A: Custom Painting, Inc. is a licensed contractor with the state of California license number 512717. Our insurance includes general liability and worker’s compensation. We are also bonded.

Q: Do you use subcontractors?

A: We employ our workers who work full-time doing both interior and exterior painting. We never use subcontracted labor.

Q: Can you add texture to my walls and paint them?

A: Yes, we can texture certain types of surfaces. If the walls are textured, we can repaint them.

Q: Do you use low-VOC or zero-VOC paints?

A: Yes. All paints we use are low-VOC or low-odor paints. It is safe to be in the painted room immediately after applying paint to the walls.

Q: Are two coats of paint necessary?

A: Yes. Custom Painting, Inc. has always recommended applying two coats of paint unless specified. Two coats of paint are enough to provide the maximum coverage, color depth, and durability.

Q: Is it time to get my house painted?

A: Industry standards recommend that homes be painted every 5-10 years or 4-7 years if stained.

However, it depends on how well the current paint job holds up. Some factors could shorten that recommendation. For example, if your house is directly exposed to the sun, the quicker the paint will fade compared to a place protected by shade. In addition, fading paint allows other contaminants, like rust or rot, to settle or spread, depending on the surface material.

If the walls have chipped, cracked, or peeled paint, it no longer protects the substrate. In this case, wood rot or rust is inevitable, depending on the substrate. Besides making your house less appealing, the substrate will deteriorate rapidly.

Q: Should I supply my own paint?

A: If you hire a professional residential painter, having the pros supply your paint will make more sense. Even if paint stores offer a 20%-50% discount on their products, you’ll still have to pay more than the pros will pay with their contractor pricing.

Although the paint store may tell you that you’ll get contractor pricing, keep in mind that the pricing levels may differ depending on the contractors. It’s unlikely that you’ll get the same pricing that your paint contractor would pay. So, even if you purchased your paints and then hired professional painters, you probably spent more than your contractor would have. Besides, if you’re unfamiliar with which types of paint you will need for your project, you may get the wrong product.

Q: I’m planning to sell my home soon. What exterior paint color should I use to make my home saleable?

A: When painting your home’s exterior to sell, it’s best to choose a neutral color, such as off-white, beige, light gray, taupe, or greige (a combination of gray and beige). Neutrals allow potential buyers to visualize their belongings (and their preferred colors) in their homes. A lighter shade of blue or green is also a good option for exteriors.

But if you want to make a statement and choose a bolder color, the best options are red, blue, and yellow.

Q: Do you always prime before painting?

A: We don’t always prime before painting. However, priming is necessary for the following situations:

• Painting new and previously uncoated drywall – Most new and bare surfaces have pores or imperfections that will absorb the new topcoat, resulting in poor adhesion and uneven coverage. A primer acts as a binder to make the surface smoother and more receptive to fresh paint.
• After removal of peeling old paint – Painting directly over peeling old paint will create adhesion problems. The new paint won’t stick well and will fall away soon. That’s why it’s vital that you remove any loose paint before painting. But even before you paint, keep in mind that by getting rid of the old peeling paint, you’ll end up with a bare (or nearly bare) surface once more. Thus, you’ll have to apply a coat of primer before painting.
• Drastic color change – Are you tired of the current dark paint in your room and want to paint over it with lighter-colored paint? A primer can help you cover up the previous dark tone more easily and highlight the new, lighter one. It acts as a barrier that prevents the old darker paint from bleeding through the fresh light-colored paint. At the same time, the primer blocks the new lighter paint from soaking into the old darker paint.

Q: What type of paint brand do you use?

A: We purchase the paint we use on every project from the Kelly-Moore Paint Company. However, we can also use other paint brands depending on customer preference, the nature of the project, and other specifications.