WP's Work - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

WisePainter · 02-08-2009, 02:07 PM

I am going to start posting some pics. of the remodel I have been working on for the past few months. It was my first time working under a GC, and to be honest it isn't my favorite thing.

Part 1:

The trigger was pulled October 6th 2008.
I received my final payment February 3, 2009.

Let's begin with the Foyer:

Ugly wallpaper, curved wall w/stairs, and a popcorn ceiling.

Wallpaper removed easily enough (thank goodness!!), and the ceiling was scraped and skimmed using a 2 stage scaffold.

Now for the FUN part!!!

After a bunch of hassle with the interior designer the lights arrived 4 weeks later...

Sorry about the dust, you all know how large interior remodels are.

Stay tuned, it ain't anywhere NEAR over...

Wolfgang · 02-08-2009, 02:15 PM

Looks good! Man, I hate doing those types of entry ways...I just turn em over to my guys! Now if they would just change out the railings and woodwork it would look great.

WisePainter · 02-08-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

Looks good! Man, I hate doing those types of entry ways...I just turn em over to my guys! Now if they would just change out the railings and woodwork it would look great.

I have found that KC is FULL of them! I can make $400.00 for 2/3's of a day's work on those because the homeowner can't get to it.
I also find myself changing bulbs and sweeping cobwebs while I am up there as a freebie.

I have a plan that I proposed to change the color of the trim in the near future. The color is going to match the lower cabinets in the new kitchen.
Those pictures will be up soon too.

rbsremodeling · 02-08-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

I have found that KC is FULL of them! I can make $400.00 for 2/3's of a day's work on those because the homeowner can't get to it.
I also find myself changing bulbs and sweeping cobwebs while I am up there as a freebie.

I have a plan that I proposed to change the color of the trim in the near future. The color is going to match the lower cabinets in the new kitchen.
Those pictures will be up soon too.

Wise if you did that kind of work where I live you'd be rich. I pay guys 3-4 times that for work that is acceptable, but not top notch.

Painting has always been the hardest sub for me to acquire. Seems like they don't stay in business long

Workaholic · 02-08-2009, 04:06 PM

I have that same foyer/staiway job comming up.
Looks good, serious improvement.

Wolfgang · 02-08-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Wise if you did that kind of work where I live you'd be rich. I pay guys 3-4 times that for work that is acceptable, but not top notch.

Painting has always been the hardest sub for me to acquire. Seems like they don't stay in business long

Could be a couple of reasons. True, there are alot of painters who shouldnt own their own business. And then there are the GC's who want the lowest price possible, which, in turn, is the fodder for those painters who shouldnt be in business. Top notch, quality, professional work does not equal the lowest bidder.

It's the one thing I've never understood about some GC's; they put all the time and money into building their project, but when it comes to having it finished to make everything "shine", they want the lowest price and the cheapest materials. As I've said, I only work with 2 - 3 GC's.

Wise, if you end up doing the trim and railings, post more pics. From reading your posts it's obvious you care about what you do.

**ProWallGuy** · 02-08-2009, 06:16 PM

So, is this your job working under a GC for the past several months, or is it the job you sold working for someone else with the 400 lb. lady you just posted about?

RCPainting · 02-08-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

Could be a couple of reasons. True, there are alot of painters who shouldnt own their own business. And then there are the GC's who want the lowest price possible, which, in turn, is the fodder for those painters who shouldnt be in business. Top notch, quality, professional work does not equal the lowest bidder.

It's the one thing I've never understood about some GC's; they put all the time and money into building their project, but when it comes to having it finished to make everything "shine", they want the lowest price and the cheapest materials. As I've said, I only work with 2 - 3 GC's.

Wise, if you end up doing the trim and railings, post more pics. From reading your posts it's obvious you care about what you do.

That is the truth! I have 2 great GC's that I work for, they have told me some of the other lowball prices they have been quoted, but stick with me because they know what kind of work we do and are willing to pay.
I just turned down a GC that wanted a 4500 square foot custom home painted for 4200! He will find someone to do it, I pity the HOs.

Sorry for the hijack wise, great job! Post em at PT! Show Bill we don't always paint paper!

Celtic · 02-08-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

Now for the FUN part!!!

Wise....what is that black thing?
I know it's not a milk crate and I hope it's not the thing the janitor uses to wring out his mop....so what is it?

WisePainter · 02-08-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProWallGuy

So, is this your job working under a GC for the past several months, or is it the job you sold working for someone else with the 400 lb. lady you just posted about?

Ah, I am using the ladder on the stairs in the hack thread to illustrate what the 300 lb. painter was lacking, or I should say his Mother was lacking...

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCPainting

Sorry for the hijack wise, great job! Post em at PT! Show Bill we don't always paint paper!

Hijack away, the professionals and regulars here will keep up.
Bill won't believe what we have to deal with here in the midwest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

Wise....what is that black thing?
I know it's not a milk crate and I hope it's not the thing the janitor uses to wring out his mop....so what is it?

WHAT?!? That is only one of the most awesome tools for every trade.

The PiViT Ladder Tool is the best $90.00 you will ever spend!

**ProWallGuy** · 02-08-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

Ah, I am using the ladder on the stairs in the hack thread to illustrate what the 300 lb. painter was lacking, or I should say his Mother was lacking...

Gotcha.

I couldn't tell if it was the same job, or just a picture reference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

Bill won't believe what we have to deal with here in the midwest.

I live in the Midwest, and can count on one hand how many times I had to paint over paper in 20 or so years.

Being a hanger does give me an advantage over others when removing the stuff though.

Celtic · 02-08-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

WHAT?!? That is only one of the most awesome tools for every trade.

The PiViT Ladder Tool is the best $90.00 you will ever spend!

Thanks

WisePainter · 02-08-2009, 07:31 PM

Thank you for all of your support so far, there is still time to change that...

Part 2:

The foyer is now complete, now I will move on to the formal dining room, and connecting hallway. Again it was wallpaper and popcorn ceiling removal.

I am using this picture to orientate the viewer to the layout, Ignore the colors beyond the foyer.

Here is how I found the connecting hallway:

Then...

After that...

Finally...

And the formal dining room

The drywall guy hung 1" thick strips of drywall to create the bands around the ceiling, it is pretty cool.

After I finished the second coat of ColorAccents red.

The interior decorator and I decided to change the ceiling color making it 1 # lower/darker on the strip...
CHANGE ORDER!!
$$$

Finished

I am saving my awesome kitchen for last...

Wolfgang · 02-08-2009, 08:56 PM

Would you paint my house too? Seriously, your pics do your posts justice!

WisePainter · 02-09-2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks man, I have been holding off posting pics until I knew it was safe around here.

Here are some stragglers:

You can see that the seamstress has also installed the curtains to the left.

Wolfgang · 02-09-2009, 06:58 PM

Yep, they definitely need to something with the woodwork. I usually carry some painted trim scraps of different shades of whites, tans, etc., with me and "conveniently" leave them on the jobsite. Curiousity will always get the better of the HO and they will end up asking. what they're for. I just tell them I like their wall colors so much I wanted to know how it would look with painted woodwork. Believe it or not it works about 75% of the time. Just finished an insurance resto today, wall & ceiling colors all Cashmere flat, woodwork all SW Incredi Coat semi-gloss. Starting to like the Incredi Coat. Added a little XIM Extender and it sprayed and brushed like ProClassic.

nEighter · 02-09-2009, 07:55 PM

Looks great man. I live here in KC also, know what you mean about those entry ways. I painted one 2 yrs ago that was almost identical, but boxed not rounded. That PIVIT tool is the Shtuff! I bought one a couple years ago.. priceless. BTW ICI is cheaper than SW on that

WisePainter · 02-09-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

Just finished an insurance resto today, wall & ceiling colors all Cashmere flat, woodwork all SW Incredi Coat semi-gloss. Starting to like the Incredi Coat. Added a little XIM Extender and it sprayed and brushed like ProClassic.

I will have to check that stuff out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nEighter

Looks great man. I live here in KC also, know what you mean about those entry ways. I painted one 2 yrs ago that was almost identical, but boxed not rounded. That PIVIT tool is the Shtuff! I bought one a couple years ago.. priceless. BTW ICI is cheaper than SW on that

I could make an easy living on those entry ways!

I will be posting more pictures soon, after today I will be slammed until Sunday.

chris n · 02-10-2009, 05:58 AM

rbsremodeling, says

Wise if you did that kind of work where I live you'd be rich. I pay guys 3-4 times that for work that is acceptable, but not top notch.

Painting has always been the hardest sub for me to acquire. Seems like they don't stay in business long

Hey,I only live about an hour away if you ever need some help,I am still in business,although it is mighty slow here in the Hagerstown area.( cheaper than $1,600 a day too

)

WisePainter · 02-20-2009, 09:31 PM

PART ?

This before shot is a picture of the great room was taken while standing in the hallway, my back is to the formal dining room:

This is looking back at the formal dining room:

As you can see the job is still in the demo phase.
There really wasn't much work to do here, but the work that was required was technical.
Check out the rough cut cedar monster in the first picture...it had to go.
Here is the newly built mantel:

Everyone laughed at me as I made the claim that I could match 4 different pieces of wood to 30 year old stain that had a patina.
Laugh indeed...

To be honest, it was a real nail biter for awhile there.

I also had to scrape and paint the acoustic ceiling in this room:

Here is the great room throughout the move in process, including the new drapes @ $500.00 a piece!
That includes installation: