Painting With a Flair
Painting With a Flair
Painting With a Flair
Painting With a Flair

DIYers vs. the Home Improvement Professional

Many do-it-yourselfers watch the made-for reality shows that leave out an awful lot of important information. One of the biggest things that they leave out is; that manufacturers of products have dry times and cure times. Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in you voiding the warranty on these products. The manufacturers have spent quite a bit of time and money perfecting their products, so if a sales representative is ever involved, they can tell immediately if shortcuts were taken.

Just because you see them doing total renovations on television in 3 days, they fail to mention or show a lot of the important steps that are left out that have to take place for a quality project. These home improvement shows are not realistic or to be trusted when doing home improvement projects.  Most of the television realty shows, however, do have professional tradesmen, either doing the work or supervising the work.

The first thing any savvy do-it-yourselfer should take into account when considering a new project is that it will probably take twice as much time and three times as much money as you thought…Or maybe it's three times as long and twice as much money.

Either way, there's a good reason why it's true: DIYers make mistakes, We, at Painting With a Flair of Covington, as a home improvement expert with 40+ years of experience and knowledge, have witnessed and listed below the most common mistakes a home handyman might make -- and how to avoid them.

1)  Starting a job without the necessary tools and supplies.

2)  Inadequate preparation of the job site.

3)  Skimping on materials.

4)  Using the wrong paint or materials.

5)  Improper preparation of any home improvement project.

6)  Unsafe job conditions.

7)  Inaccuracy on amount of time needed.

8)  Working beyond your limits and having a professional come in after the fact, will cost you a lot more.

But you can learn a lot from these mistakes.

Nothing slows down a job more than not having all the materials you need. The reason the pros, like Painting With a Flair of Covington, can do what we do is that we buy quality tools and materials. There's always a bargain bin, but it's not a wise investment. You lose time and money. So make sure to research the tools and materials you'll need in advance of the home improvement project.

Quality materials, professional tools and superior craftsmanship add up to a quality home improvement project that will last for years.

A good, quality paint job is 90 percent preparation.

Clean the walls, sand them and patch any holes before you paint. Todays’ low or no VOC paints require more surface prep time and longer dry and cure times. The old formulas of paint that had greater adhesion compounds in them required less prep time. Because of these changes, it is now advised to use sandpaper, liquid sandpaper or a pure primer when applying gloss finishes over existing gloss finishes like you would find on woodwork and trim.

A coat of primer or stain blocker is advisable if you are trying to cover over oil-based paint, stains or peeling paint, or if you're painting a lighter color over a darker color on walls.

Safety Tips

Nothing diminishes your return on investment like a trip to the emergency room. Wear safety goggles when using power tools or working with drywall or wood; wear hard hats when you're working under other people on scaffolding; and open some windows when you're painting or staining, or stripping old finishes off of floors or walls.  And don't wear loose-hanging clothing, especially when using power tools. Wear gloves when carrying wood, metal and rock, or when hammering, and wear a nail or tool pouch to prevent damage to your floors and more importantly, the feet of people and pets.

Don't stand on the top steps of ladders.

Don't try to work beyond your reach.

Ladder accidents send more than 240,000 people to the emergency room every year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

When taking on electrical projects, remember it is always best to hire a professional in this trade. Not understanding electricity could result in the loss of your home due to fire or even death.

Plumbing projects; taking a toilet up or opening a p-trap in sinks, opens your home up to methane gas. If it comes in contact with a flame of any sort, could result in an explosive fire.

Don’t be discouraged, there are many aspects of home improvement projects that need a lot of knowledge and skills, and that only comes with years of on-the-job training.

Before you do take on a handyman project and find yourself in over your head, it would have been better to bring in a home improvement professional, remember that anything you have done, he may have to undo or correct, which means you have wasted your time and money. In most cases, it would be more time effective and cost efficient for you to have hired the professional in the beginning.

 

No Phone Quotes!

 

First estimate is free, within 35 miles, each additional estimate will have a clerical fee of $35 for each.

 

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Dewey Rabion in Covington, LA on Houzz

Do you need a professional residential painter or home improvement contractor for a project you have in mind? Also, ask me about my light commercial services.

Located in Covington, LA, but service the North Shore, LA areas.  Please contact me at:

 

Office (985) 218-9100

Dewey (504) 444-8517

Contact form 

 

By properly inspecting your painting or improvement project onsite, I can more accurately assess the cost and what needs to be done.

 When I take on new projects, I view it as an opportunity to develop

long-term relationships. 

   

Choosing the right painter or improvement contractor

can make all the difference

 

For DIYers,

Most Common Mistakes!

I am not just a professional residential painter, I am also a home improvement contractor! 

I also handle light commercial services.

Remodeling and Home Design
Remodeling and Home Design
Dewey Rabion in Covington, LA on Houzz
Dewey Rabion in Covington, LA on Houzz
Dewey Rabion in Covington, LA on Houzz
Dewey Rabion in Covington, LA on Houzz
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