10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Painter
Hiring a painter, for your home's interior, your exterior, or a commercial property, is a significant decision. The right contractor transforms your space. The wrong one costs you time, money, and considerable stress. The single most effective way to tell the difference before a brush ever touches your walls is to ask good questions and pay attention to the answers.
Here are the 10 questions we recommend every Lehigh Valley homeowner ask before hiring any painting contractor, including us.
1. Are You Licensed and Insured in Pennsylvania?
This is always the first question. Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors to register with the state Attorney General's office. A certificate of general liability insurance should be provided without hesitation. Confirm that the policy is current, not expired, and that the coverage is adequate for the scope of work.
2. Can You Provide Local References from Similar Projects?
Online reviews are helpful but limited. Ask specifically for references from projects similar in scope and type to yours, a comparable-sized exterior project, or a full interior refresh. And then actually call those references. A few conversations with past clients will tell you more than any sales pitch.
3. Who Will Actually Do the Work?
Many painting companies win contracts through sales staff and then staff projects with subcontractors or day labor. Know whether the crew doing the work are employees of the company, and if subcontractors are used, confirm they're also insured. At Anthony's Painting, we use our own trained crew on every project.
4. What Does Your Surface Preparation Process Include?
Preparation is where quality painting projects are won or lost. Ask specifically: Will you wash the surfaces? Caulk gaps? Sand? Prime? Repair damaged areas? Get the answers in writing in your estimate. A contractor who breezes over prep or can't explain it in detail is a contractor who likely doesn't prioritize it.
5. What Products Will You Use?
The specific paint brand, product line, and formulation should be in writing. "We use quality materials" is not sufficient. Ask for the product name and research it independently. The difference between a budget-tier and a premium paint product in terms of durability and performance is significant, and you should know which one you're getting.
6. How Many Coats Are Included?
One coat of finish is almost never adequate. Two coats of topcoat over a properly primed surface is the industry standard for quality results. Some situations, dramatic color changes, bare or heavily patched surfaces, new drywall, require primer plus two topcoats. Get the number of coats specified in writing.
7. What Is Your Timeline?
When can the project start? How many days will it take? Will the crew be on-site every day, or do they split time between multiple jobs? Understand what "the project will take about a week" actually means in terms of how many crew-hours per day they're committing, and ask what happens if the timeline extends.
8. What Are Your Payment Terms?
Be cautious of any contractor requesting more than 25, 30% upfront before work begins. Standard practice is a deposit to reserve the schedule, with progress payments as work milestones are completed, and a final payment upon completion and your satisfaction. Full payment before completion gives you no recourse if issues arise.
9. How Do You Handle Issues or Corrections?
No project is entirely without minor hiccups. Ask how the contractor handles situations where something needs to be corrected, touch-ups, areas that were missed, client concerns about the finish. The answer tells you a lot about their professionalism and their accountability after the check is cashed.
10. Do You Provide a Written Warranty?
A confident contractor stands behind their work. Ask what the warranty covers (typically workmanship for a specified period), what it excludes (often material failures, moisture problems), and how warranty claims are handled. At Anthony's Painting, we stand behind our workmanship, if something isn't right, we come back and address it.
Ask us any of these questions, we're ready with honest answers. Contact Anthony's Painting for a free estimate. We serve homeowners throughout Nazareth, Easton, Allentown, Bethlehem, and the Lehigh Valley with transparent, professional service.