Want To Get Started With Painting

ModernStyle

How long did it take you to paint your kids room ?? Now take the ammount of hours and mutiply it by $40 per hour. Does it look good enough to charge that much for?
We all start at the bottom, sweeping , sanding, cleaning equipment, then one day they let us paint a closet. Anybody can slap paint on a wall, but what we do is alot more then that. Painting is 90% preperation and 10% application. You will spend many hours learning to prep before you ever get to paint, and if you dont then whoever you are working for is a hack.
You wanna be a painter then more power to you, go for it, but trust me the first few years really suck if you go about it the right way.

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http://InDemandPainting.com http://www.SupermanOfPainting.com http://www.AplusPaintingServices.com

WisePainter

Truly wise words.

$2 says he drowns himself with his own puddle of tears on the first day.

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

Wolfgang

Geez Wise, kinda rough there arent you? Usually if I joke around with someone its a sign of respect. Those I dont respect I have nothing to do with. He asked a legitimate question and acknowledged that he was gonna get slammed...he did. What's it hurt to give him some advice or share some of your noob experiences? Now tell the nice guy you're sorry...

josey wales

Bobby being able to paint (skill part) is only one aspect of the job. A painter must be able to break a job down properly, manage his daily tasks in a way where he is not standing around waiting for paint to dry or getting to far a head or in the way of other tades. Also he must be able to produce. Your skills at home may look impressive, but can you keep up that quality and bang out production? There are tons of little things that an experienced painter takes for granted, that a novice would be unaware of. Not trying to discourage you just pointing out there are a lot of things going on. If a boss hires you as a painter he will expect you to produce.


Good luck

Frankawitz

Bobby, go paint apartments, learn how to pump out the work, get your speed and doing this type of painting will teach that part, as for getting hired on, tell them to give you a shot, do the perp. Some guys will be able to tell if you can cut it or not, but you'll never know if you don't get out there and try it. hit the Yellow pages in your area and call, you said you worked for your parents doing painting and what have ya, that counts for something, couple years experience, but depending on your age check out the Job Corp. you can pick the trade you want and they will teach you everything you will need to know. Theres a guy over on another site who is involved with them, drop me a line, if you want I'll put you in touch with him. They have a real good program.


www.frankawitz.net

JumboJack

You're just a mean,mean man....

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

slickshift

Some companies would prefer to higher a n00b, as they often have not yet acquired what they consider bad habits, or have a my way is better type attitude
They can then train you in The Company Way
This can differ greatly upon the company

For example, I've worked with people from Insurance Resto Companies where it's all T&M and Dogging It is in the employee operating manual
That just doesn't cut it in the competitively bid res-re-paint world
By the same token a high-end ultra picky res-repaint guy might not hack it in the Property Manger's Special apt. re-paint biz

But you will have to start at the bottom and prove yourself by actions and attitude

You may find the first (or first few) companies are not a good fit
Or, you may fit right in

With the proper actions and attitude, you should be able to prove yourself rather quickly

You may need, or want, to stick it out for a few years at a place that's not really your ideal, just to get the Years Exp. under your belt

So the best advise I could give you is be honest and apply, apply, apply

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Signature Quote

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

bwalley

If you are going to whine about a little ball busting on the internet, how are you going to be able to handle it on a jobsite?

Contracting isn't for whiners.

vandyandsons

excuse WisePainter, he has been a bit grouch since this recession started.

You are going to have to start from the ground-up.

If you are near a big city, do check with a Painters Union. Sorry fellas, unions do offer the best and most proper training. Plus you can't beat the benes and usually top out at Journeymans wage after 3 years. The drawback is Unions are hard to get in to.

Start calling local guys who have been in business for a while. Tell them that you want to be an apprentice/helper and are willing to learn. Be humble.
Once you feel competent with the first thing he teaches, go on to the next thing then master that, etc...
Maybe you can even work for several guys. The more guys you are hooked up with, the more hours and experience you;ll get.
The more you learn,the more you can demand financially later.

Don't be intimidated, this business isn't rocket science. But then again, there are a lot of half-tards out there too.

happy painting and congrats on the baby.

WisePainter

meh, if he thinks this is bad (anonymous people on the internet) he won't last long on a real crew.
Besides, did you holler at Modern? He was charging $1,000 for lap rides...

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

WisePainter

Any painter I ever learned anything worthwhile from was a complete and raging a$$hole.
Oh I hated the life out of them, but their voices in my head are the ones I hear the clearest when I need guidance running my daily business.
Bastards.

The one voice that is heard above all else is my first Boss that laid this on me when I cried about the other painters teasing me (because I went to the truck to get the "paint stretcher"):

"Buck up butter cup, you're swimming with sharks now..."

My skin thickened up quite a bit that day, 10 years later it's alligator skin.

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

WisePainter

I wasn't hugged enough as a child...

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

bobbyacro

There has been good info on here since I last checked the thread and I feel I can better sell myself to a potential employer. I dont mind starting at the bottom, eventhough I have some skill. Learning it right is more important to me than speeding through things, not one problem with starting as a grunt. I have no problem with Wisepainter, I understand that getting your balls busted is all part of it, but you are neither teaching me anything or signing my paychecks, my patience for people who do nothing for me is zero. Right now youre like the guy on the crew, 2 houses down, that keeps using my chop saw and telling me how he would do the job.

Regarding the comment about how painting is 90% prep, I get that and learned the hard way years ago. I should have pics up tomorrow evening but I will run down the job for you guys.

Job is my daughters nursery
Room is 10x12 with 9 foot ceilings.
Paint used
Walls - Sherwin Williams Duration Home latex/matte (2 shades of pink)
Trim and doors - Pro classic/oil/semi gloss
Ceiling - Pro classic 99
Primer - Gripper ( was given to me for free and I sampled a spot with it, worked out alright.)

Prep Work
-Patched all nail holes and cracked drywall seems - Filled all nail holes/splits/cracks in windows and doors - quick sand and wash on walls (flat latex) - Installed 40LF of chair rail (filled nail holes and caulked) - Caulked all doors/door ways/windows/base moulding - Primed walls/trim/doors/ceiling

Painting
Cut and rolled ceiling - cut and rolled the two tone pink on the walls - 2 coats on ceiling and walls - painted chair rail - had doors on horses in the LR and would bounce over between coats to hit them.

Tools
White Dove, 1/2in roller covers - 3in extra firm Purdy for cutting

Time
I have been doing it part time because of my other job but all together I think it will be 2 solid days of prep and painting (1 guy). I am also running electric to the ceiling for a light, replacing outlets, dimmer switch, and flooring (depending on the condition of existing HW under the carpet I might just sand and refinish it)

I will have pics up tomorrow evening

Workaholic

Tell the fool to get his own tools.

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Sean

Workaholic

No snitching.

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Sean

WisePainter

My best advice to you: When you think you have the perfect wise a$$ response towards your future Boss or other painters with more experience...keep it to yourself.

i.e. mouth shut, eyes and ears open.

__________________
My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

WisePainter

swimmin' with shaaaarks...

__________________
My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

JumboJack

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

ModernStyle

The "lap ride" was part of the learning experience, it helps me teach him how to manuver the van with out knocking over all of the 5's I have stacked in the back. It has nothing to do with the tube of Vaseline on the dash, that is for around my eyes when I spray ....... I swear. The wig is left over from halloween, totaly innocent, been meaning to take it home.
And lets say I asked the guy to try on some stockings, that would just be so they would be stretched out and easier to strain paint with later. It's all in the manual..........

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bobbyacro

I think I have been respectful to the pros on here helping me get started in the trade. You, on the other hand, were of no help and are neither my boss or lead of a crew im working for. If you were my boss or showing me how to do something I would never act ungrateful in any way. Seems you have very selective hearing/memory. I could have just been one of those idiots that puts an add in the paper and undercuts you guys out of jobs, ruin the trade and fill HOs heads with 100 more misconceptions, making it more difficult for you to sell the value of your experience.