How to work with your Painter or Decorator
Professional painters and decorators are essential to a project
What to consider when working with a Painter and Decorator
Trusting a painter or decorator with your space is not easy and requires in-depth research on your part. You will need to find a reliable decorator to undertake your restoration, renovation or home improvement project. Try to place your best interests first and find a painter who can deliver what you require. You also need to establish a healthy relationship between you and your painter. Below is a guide as to how to work with your painter or decorator successfully.
Request quotes
Get different quotes from various decorators and compare their prices, a quote may include the type of materials they use, and the period they intend to take on and deliver your project. Ensure that you focus on the factors that are of utmost importance to you, which you required from the job or project delivered by the painter and decoratos. You want to work with your painter or decorator to ensure that your quote covers the whole project or job, as well as consider changes that may result as you move through the project or job, and the scope or the requirements change.
Ensure quotes include costs and requirments for potential changes clauses to the work
This change could be cosmetic, corrective or functional, such as stain proofing, or texturing paints. And may not be apparent at the start of the project, but at the stage when you agree the budget, include these indecision as change request quotes, and and ensure that you have these identified these and they are in the quote, as to the increase or additional time and materials, required to deliver. But this is improtant to also ensure that there is a decision point, in the schedule at which the chnages need to be commited to in order for the project to proceed as per the pre identified chanage. This will also ensure that if your project does change, your budget can support the change, but also the painter and decorator can secure materials and resources, equipment etc.; to deliver the changes, as per the schedule and contract.
For instance, a change clause, might mean you need a shorter project completion time. In this case, you should communicate with your painter so that they can probably re-adjust to fit your schedule. or purchase and use materials that are in-line with your budget. If the cost is too high, you can negotiate with your decorator and agree on a price that fits your budget. but also ensure there is clarity before commiting.
Request complete details of the quote to have a better understanding of the quality of materials being used
When looking at costs for a painter and decoratos, consider the following factors:
• How does your painter prefer to be paid?
• Do they require a deposit first, and if so, what percentage of it should you pay upfront?
• What mode of payment does your decorator use?
• Will you be refunded in case the project fails, or will the painter or decorator correct the issue, at their cost or via insurance or liability?
Check your painter's/decorator's insurance.
Before hiring a painter, check whether they are insured. If they are, check whether their insurance is from a legal insurance company and whether it is current. Ensure that their insurance will be valid for the entire project period.
Check the risks your decorator’s insurance covers. It is best to check liability carefully before beginning any work with your painter or decorator. The following are some types of insurance that the painter should have.
General liability
This type of insurance compensates you for damages done by the decorator. For instance, when a painter spills paint on your vehicle, the insurance covers the cost of repairs.
Public liability
This insurance cover protects the public in case they get hurt on your property whilst the painter is doing the work. For example, if someone slips on wet paint, protective equipment on the floor, or in some other way that liablility can be demonstrated conclusively, as the fault of the workman. If they injure themselves, then; the painter’s insurance will cover their medical costs as a start point.
Check your home insurance
Does your insurance cover legal costs related to disputes with traders, such as decorators? You can go through it carefully to check what is covered and what is excluded, as well as call the policy provider to explain the situation and get information on what is included, not included or needs to be considered, in order to enable you to decide what you need to do before proceeding with the project.
For instance:
Personal liability cover
This insurance protects you in the event that the reverse occurs, e.g. you and your family are held liable or responsible for bodily, property or injury damage to a third party, in this instance the painter and decorator, Personal liability covers the legal costs or damages that you are required to pay in compensation as a result to the painter and decorator.
Many factors are considered when getting a policy so be prepared for a lot of due diligence by the insurance providor, before they decide one way or another on policy provision.
Ensure timely delivery of materials
You supply materials and or equipment and resources
If you are responsible for sourcing the materials, resources and equipment, for the project, make sure this is agreed with the painter and decorator, and is part of the contract as to what and when. It maybe you wnat to save money or use a specific product. Either way this needs to be clear on the contract.
Ensure the agreed terms, material quantity, dleivery location, time etc are adhered to, this is to enusure the painter and or decorator can work on the project without delay, quality issue or having to incurr costs, as well as trust in you. Ensure you are delivering on your commitments, in scope for responsibility, in order that you also don't end up paying twice, as painter has to resolvie, on time to avoid any delays which the painter may need to charge as it impacts his overall scheudule to other contracts. Delays could extend your project completion time, which can further cause inconveniences and negatively affect the relationship.
Establish regular communication with your painter
