Meister Painters
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Frequently Asked Questions...

1) Do you give free estimates?

            Yes. We provide you with a free, itemized, written or emailed
    quote - a firm, all-inclusive price upfront, so there are no
    
surprises. 
         We also include a comprehensive list of approximately 400
    local references of satisfied customers, grouped conveniently by
    town or city - chances are, you'll recognize someone you know!


2) Do you advise on colour selection?
           We can provide general colour advice at your quote 
    appointment, and come fully equipped with a colour deck for your
    perusal, a digital colour scanner (in case you wish to match an
    existing colour in your home), along with a test kit to determine
    whether you have oil or latex on your trim (which determines
    whether or not it needs to be primed).

         For more specific colour consulting needs, we can you refer 
    you to an 
excellent local professional decorator that we work
    with;
 we highly recommend this if you're at all unsure about
    colours before investing in a paint job.  

3) What kinds of paint do you use?

          Our main supplier is Dulux, but if you have a favourite
    premium brand as well, such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-
    Williams, and others, we're more than happy to use it!


4) Do you supply the paint, or can we?
         We usually supply it, but you may supply any premium brand
    yourself if you prefer, in which case, we'll be more than happy to
    advise you in terms of type and quantity as well. If you wish to
    supply, please make sure you're available while we're on site to
    get more paint as needed, and always double-check with us
    before purchasing in regards to type and quantity. 
         

5) How much paint will be needed, and in what sheens?
         We can tell you you how much paint will be needed, and in
    which sheen etc. Generally speaking, you can figure on one gallon
    of wall matt per average-sized room (or two small bathrooms, or
    two gallons for a high foyer, for example), one gallon of ceiling
    flat per two average-sized ceilings, and one gallon of trim semi-
    gloss will do three to five rooms of trim, depending on how many
    doors there are, and the size and type of trim you have.


6) Is the paint included in the price?
​         Generally yes, unless otherwise indicated. The leftover paint
    is yours to keep, of course, for future touch-ups.


7) Your prices include a standard two coats - what if a third
     coat is required?

         A third coat (occasionally even a fourth) may be required if
    you're covering a dark colour with a light colour. This may already
    be discussed and
 accounted for in your original quote, but in the
    event that we're
 unsure until we start painting, or you've selected
    a
 light colour after you've been quoted for the standard two
    coats, the price would be adjusted accordingly.

         To keep things simple, we have a standard flat-rate surcharge
    of $60 per additional coat per average-sized room. In some cases,
    we may quote you a separate price beforehand for potential third
    or even fourth coat scenarios. 
         Bear in mind, that generally speaking, choosing lighter colours
    to cover darker wall colours, or un-tinted white to cover off-white
    trim will usually entail extra coats and add to the cost of your
    project. White is of course the worst-covering "colour" (as it has
    no tint at all) - any time you try to cover a dark wall or unpainted
    wood trim, it's virtually guaranteed that four coats will be required
    to ensure proper saturation and coverage, regardless of whether
    the first coat (or two) are primer or not.          


8) Do you require a deposit?
         Generally, no. If we're supplying the paint, we may ask that
    you give our lead painter a cash deposit upon the commencement
   of work so that they may purchase the paint; however, the main
   balance would be paid to the owner upon completion.


9) What if I am interested in having some additional work done while your crew is here?
        If you'd like to have some additional work quoted while our
    crew is there, please contact the owner/estimator directly for a
    quote in person or over the phone. Our painting staff are not
    involved with any aspect of pricing.


10) Who do I pay when the job is finished?
        Payment is generally due upon completion, and when you've
    verbally signed off with our painting staff that you're happy with
    the job. Although you may pay our staff directly for paint
    purchases at the outset of or during the job, the final payment for
    the main balance due is to be made only to the owner, who will
    stop by at a mutually agreed upon time to settle up.

​
11) How soon can you start the job upon approval?
        We can usually start anywhere from within a few days to a few
    weeks or even months, depending on our schedule and the job
    size. Small jobs are generally easier to squeeze in on short notice
    than larger projects, which normally require more lead time.
        Frequently, we try to fit in interior work on rain days during
    larger exterior projects, where that is practical (ie smaller jobs, or
    larger basement or renovation projects, where it's empty and
​    non-disruptive for the client to have us come and go).


12) What kind of hours do you work? Do you work week-
       ends?

         We generally work normal, 9-5 business hours, although we
    may occasionally work a bit later into the evening, with your
    permission of course, in order to finish a job, or a part of a job.

         Many customers also find it convenient to provide us with a
    key so that we may come and go without being dependent on
    you being there, if, for example, you leave early for work, or plan
    to be away on vacation while the work is done. The more
    flexibility we have in this regard, the more productive we can be
    and the more efficiently we can usually complete the job.


13) What do we need to do to get ready for you?
         Please remove all small items, pictures and curtains etc in  
    areas where we're going to start (other rooms can be dealt with
    as we progress). Furniture moving can be mutually decided.
         It's a good idea to run the vacuum edging tool along the
    baseboards and tops of door and window frames, and even a
    quick wipe with a damp rag (no cleaning chemicals, even vinegar,
    as they will interfere with paint adhesion)
. It's also an opportune
    time to reassess and decide whether it's time to
 update and
    replace switch-plates, light fixtures, curtain rods, etc,
 and remove
    them accordingly, or let us know to remove them.

         For exterior projects, remove any items that might obstruct
    ladder set-up or our access to work areas, prune plants or  
    shrubs which are too close to the house, and park your vehicles
    well away from the house. 


14) What kinds of sheens and finishes do you recommend?
        We generally use flat for ceilings, a scrubbable/washable, low-
    sheen matt for most walls, and semi-gloss for trim, doors, and
    kitchen cabinets. An eggshell finish is also sometimes used for
    bathrooms, laundry rooms, children's rooms, and kitchen
    cabinets. Bear in mind that the higher the sheen, the more it will
    show flaws and imperfections on the walls, so if you have an
    older home, or a sub-par drywall job that would really require a 
    dry-waller to properly address, an eggshell finish would not be the
    best choice.  The flatter the sheen, the better it is at hiding flaws,
    so a matt finish would be a better choice in this instance.


15) We have an older home, with outdated-looking
       panelling, bathroom tile, varnished wood, kitchen
       cupboards etc - can these surfaces be painted?

         Yes; many unusual surfaces such as these typically found in
    older homes, can definitely be painted, provided they are first
    coated with a super-adhesion primer, which can then be top-
    coated with latex. Not only is painting these areas considerably
    more economical than renovating or replacement - it's also
    usually easier and more convenient.


16) Can aluminum and/or vinyl siding be painted?
         It certainly can; in fact, it holds paint much better than wood,
    and can be expected to last for fifteen to twenty years, as there
    are no issues with cracking, rotting, water penetration etc, and 
    as such is arguably one of the most cost-effective exterior
    painting investments you can make over the long term. It needs
    to be washed down first, then double-coated with an acrylic
    latex. 


17) Do you remove wallpaper?
         Yes. However, unlike our painting quotes, which are firm, the
    paper removal portion of the price is not guaranteed, as
    unfortunately there is no way of knowing how the paper will come
    off until we actually begin to remove it! in addition to removal
    time, there may also hidden wall damage that would require
    further repair as we. For that reason, we will
indicate the labour
    allotment for that portion of the project on
 your quote, and if it
    turns out that it will take
significantly longer (this is usually  
    apparent within the first 20 minutes), we'll let you know
    immediately and can give you an
adjusted estimate, if you wish.
         In our experience, we find that the paper comes off within the
    expected time allotment most of the time; unfortunately, it.     
    occasionally comes off slowly in little bits and pieces, regardless
    of method, and it can take twice as long.

         If you wish to avoid the risk of paying extra for this service,
    then we recommend you remove the paper yourself before we
    get there, as it's understandably impractical for us to stop working
    once the job is in progress.

         If you do decide to remove the paper yourself, please take
    care to minimize wall damage, as that will increase the prep time
    later to fix the holes and dents etc, which may entail a price
    adjustment if the paper was removed after the job was quoted. 

    

18) Do you have any tips for looking after our new paint
       job?
         
Yes - go easy on it for the first month or so! Many people don't 
    realize that fresh paint takes about one month under ideal 
    conditions to properly harden and cure. During that time, it's  
    more susceptible to chipping and abrasion, so don't scratch it,  
    wash it, or hang any borders for at least four weeks, just to be
    on the safe side.
         Over the long term, washing painted surfaces is a simple and
    cost-effective way to keep them looking fresh. Avoid using
    abrasive cleaners; usually water alone works just fine without
    damaging the finish. Use a sponge or rag on your interior walls
    and trim, and a soft car brush and an extension pole for exterior 
    trim, doors, and siding. 



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