Painting FAQs

The answer is simple: We're able to stay on top on every job thanks to our painting process. Over the years we implemented a unique, very effective work process that we always follow on every job. Our team of painters receives constant training and always focuses on quality and professionalism. Our work process helps us ensure a better experience and quality results, anywhere, everywhere.

Yes. (Please see our warranty policy.)

We take into consideration the size of the area, its conditions, if repair is needed, the number of coats, and the distance of the property.

To paint the entire interior or exterior of a home, usually takes about a week or longer, depending on the details of the project. To paint a room or two it can take one to two days.

Yes. We work with an anticipated plan which we share with our customers before the work begins.

Our business hours are M-F, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM and Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. We can do work at other hours if needed, for a fee, but these are our standard working hours.

There are multiple ways to figure out if a painting company is capable to handle your project the right way. Here are a few things you can do before signing a contract:

# 1: Do some online research - Explore the company website and social media profiles. It will give you a better idea of who they are. Looking at photos and reading reviews can help you be more familiar with their work and past customer experiences.

# 2: Ask the following questions - What the process will be like? An experienced painter or estimator should be able to give you an idea of what the process will be like, for example: How long it will take to complete the project. How many coats of paint it will take and how many gallons of paint will be needed.

# 3: If you are looking to paint your entire house - You can hire the prospect to paint a small room first, like a bathroom. If they do a great job painting the bathroom they will likely do the same painting the entire house. For the exterior, try hiring them to paint a door first.

# 4: References - Asking for references is a classic method to know a little more about past customers' experiences.

We use new plastic covers to protect furniture and canvas drop cloths to protect the floors. We take safety very seriously.

We take care of moving the furniture to the center of the room. We ask you to move small items as needed.

Sheen refers to the light reflectivity of the painted or varnished surface. There are varying degrees of sheen, from no sheen to high gloss. Though some paint manufacturers may refer to their paint sheens by different names, generally, from lowest to highest, paint sheens correspond to these reflective degrees:

• Flat finish

• Eggshell finish

• Satin finish

• Semi-gloss finish

• High gloss finish

They provide even light reflection and give the surface a softer, more uniform look.

They don’t highlight surface imperfections like higher sheen paints, so they usually don’t require as much surface preparation (like patching, texturing or sanding) prior to painting.

They are much less likely to show “lap marks”, so they are generally easier to apply and touch up than higher sheen paints. (When one painted section dries before the next section is painted, the two sections won’t flow together into a uniform film, resulting in a “lap mark.”)

They are less stain and scuff resistant than higher sheen paints, so they should not be used on surfaces that will be handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.

They are less moisture resistant than higher sheen finishes, so they are not the best choice for areas that are exposed to high humidity levels, like in bathrooms, or on any surfaces that will be washed frequently.

They have better stain resistance, so they resist dirt pick up and stay cleaner longer.

They have better scuff and wear resistance, so they’re good for high traffic areas and on surfaces that are handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.

They have better moisture resistance, which makes them ideal for surfaces and areas that are frequently exposed to high humidity levels.

They tend to highlight any surface imperfections.

They are harder to touch up than lower sheen paints, because the higher sheen tends to highlight the slightly raised surface of the film where the touch-up was done.

They usually need to be sanded, de-glossed or primed prior to repainting, to ensure good adhesion of the new paint.

Latex paints are more environmentally friendly than oil-based paints. With oil-based paints there are paint fumes to contend with that can be particularly bothersome on interior painting jobs. There is also a by-product of dirty paint thinner that requires a trip to your local toxic waste site. (We always get rid of this waste as part of our work.)

There are other factors as well: Latex primers and finishes have been improving tremendously over the years and are very durable. For instance, a latex finish on an exterior painting job will stay elastic for years, whereas oil-based paint dries to form a hard and more brittle film. Surfaces expand and contract with the weather. While the latex paint will move with the surface, the oil will tend to crack sooner with this movement.

The advantage of using oil paints is that it will give a smoother look as it tends to layout better on the surface and does not show brush marks as much as latex. Also, as was already mentioned, oil dries hard so it tends to be more washable than latex.

Elastomeric Waterproofing System is normally used on exterior stucco and often when the surface has a lot of hairline cracks. Elastomerics are formulated to be applied in very thick coats. When applied correctly, due to their high elasticity, they have a special capacity to span hairline cracks permanently. Instead of these cracks reopening on your stucco, the Elastomeric would stretch and keep them sealed up. This then keeps water out and protects your home from damage. Elastomeric looks much like any other paint and it can be tinted to most colors.

All paints, varnishes, and solvents contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Exposure to VOCs can trigger asthma attacks, respiratory problems, eye irritation, nausea, or dizziness. Because of these health concerns, a number of paint manufacturers have introduced Low or No VOC paint alternatives.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that to qualify as Low VOC, latex paint must contain no more than 250 g/L and 380 g/L for oil paint.

The term No VOC or Zero VOC for the paint is actually a misnomer. The No VOC labeled paint will actually contain some (less than 5 g/L) VOCs. Adding pigment to the paint will likely add another 2-5 g/L to the total.

Yes, we are EPA Lead Certified Company.

If your house was built prior to 1978, chances are it has lead paint on it. For a fee of $100, Buffalo NY Painters can perform a lab test to make sure.

There are procedures set by the Lead Paint Ordinance on how any work involving lead paint is to be done. These procedures are worked into our approach to the painting work and our painters are trained on all the necessary steps to take. We start with having a containment barrier to ensure that the paint chips do not go where they’re not supposed to, that being onto your or your neighbor’s property or the inside of your home.

We clean up daily and bag the paint chips for proper disposal.

For more information on lead paint call 1-800-424-LEAD

The cost of a job is usually determined by the level of thoroughness, attention to detail, and quality desired. It costs more to properly prepare a surface for painting than to just pressure clean and scrape the surface. The majority of the cost of painting is in the surface preparation and the labor involved in the application of the paint and not the actual cost of the paint itself. As with most other industries, generally, you get what you pay for.

We keep a close eye on the weather forecasts. If it starts raining while we are in the middle of a painting job, we simply stop and return after it drys up. We also look at the forecast days before we start painting.

Acrylic (latex) paint dries much faster than Alkyd (oil). Usually, a couple of hours is plenty of time. Oil paint though should dry overnight. Flat paint may dry faster than semi-gloss. Stain and gell-based paint can take several days to dry.

A payment schedule is outlined in our contract. We will invoice you accordingly and will expect to be paid at that time.

Generally, an exterior painting job will need to be redone every 5-10 years. Stucco tends to last longer, wood on the other hand expands and contracts more with changing temperatures which loosen the paint sooner. (The way the surfaces are prepared for paint will play a major role in the paint duration).

It is best not to put off your exterior painting until the house is badly peeling. When it gets to that condition, it will end up costing you more in preparation time and possibly dry rot repair work.

If however, the property is in a bad condition when you get to it, do yourself a favor – go the extra length and ensure that thorough surface preparation is done. The idea is to create a sound surface for the new coats to adhere to. This requires more time but is necessary for the paint job to last.

On a regular basis, you should walk around the exterior of your home looking for dry rot, water penetration, cracks, and chalking. About once a year it is a good idea to pressure wash your home to remove the accumulation of surface dirt.

Interior paint typically gets dirty in many situations: hand prints around switches and knobs; splashes in kitchens and bathrooms; marks on hallways and corridors; “soot” accumulating above electric lamps and other heat sources. Removing dirt before it accumulates not only improves appearance, it reduces the chances of it getting permanently embedded in the paint film.

Check for dirt periodically and assume it will be present in and near cooking areas (airborne cooking oil) and at all places at hand height. Always initially clean the surface with a mild detergent using a sponge or a soft cloth. Resort to harsher cleaners only when necessary, recognizing that alkaline cleaners can dull the sheen or gloss of oil-based paint. Abrasive cleaner will burnish nearly any paint and will dull the gloss of satin, semigloss, and gloss products. Washed surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly because residual cleaner can interfere with the adhesion of paint applied later.

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Before you purchase the paint, contact us so we can get you our contractor discount from Sherwin-Williams.

Don't want to bother going to the store? We can also purchase the paint for you!