Expert Interview Questions
1. How long have you been painting homes in Calgary and surrounding communities like Airdrie, Cochrane, and Okotoks?
Pristine Painting & Decorating has been in the painting business in Calgary for the past 24 years.
2. Do you carry full liability insurance and WCB coverage in case someone gets injured on my property?
Yes, WCB coverage and liability insurance coverage for $5,000,000
3. What is included in the painting estimates? Does it cover the paint, materials, and potential repairs?
The estimate provides a description of the job process:● Clean where required● Cover and protect all unpainted surfaces● Tape all trim● Pole sand all surfaces being painted● Fill all minor cracks and holes● Apply caulking where necessary● Sand and prime all filled areas● Apply paint● Clean up done daily● Reinstall cover plates, hardware● Customer inspection and sign offA description of all materials and areas being painted is included in the estimate.
4. Do you require a deposit upfront, and what is the payment schedule for the rest of the job?
A deposit is not required and most homeowners are unaware that a contractor cannot legally ask for a deposit unless they are bonded. A payment in full is expected upon completion of the work once the customer has inspected and are completely satisfied with the work. Payment can be made by cheque, cash or e-transfer.
What do you do to keep dust to a minimum, especially if there is sanding involved?
All surfaces are covered to minimize dust exposure and most of the sanding is done with a powered sander connected to a shop vacuum reducing the majority of the dust.
5. I see you offer kitchen cabinet painting—how do you ensure the finish is durable enough to handle daily wear and tear?
A lot of research has been done with various systems to achieve the best outcome. A bonding primer is applied to the surface. This product has the ability to bond to glass, granite and most non porous surfaces. This allows for minimal sanding and ends saving in labour in rigorous sanding. Solvent-based lacquer has been the best product for years for durability. In recent years it has been proven to be extremely toxic and is banned in most provinces. We used a modified water-based lacquer that is just as tough as solvent-based, lacquer without the toxins. This product is more flexible than solvent-based lacquer. This benefit is great on cabinet door edges. Solvent-based lacquer does not have any flex, and when bumped on the edges over time, it tends to crack and eventually the paint tends to fail in these areas. The water-based lacquer has a bit more give when bumped resitting cracking. No product is bulletproof.
6. Is epoxy floor coating actually slippery in the winter when wet cars park in the garage?
Some epoxy systems can become slippery when wet. Poly beads can be added upon request to add traction in wet conditions.
7. Can you paint vinyl siding, and does it require special paint to prevent warping in the sun?
Vinyl siding can be painted with great success. Premium acrylic paint bonds exceptionally well to the vinyl siding. There is a recommended color limit that the manufacturer recommends to not exceed to prevent warping. Dark colours are more prone to warping than mid to lighter toned colours. They can specify the exact colours that have a proven track record that work best.
8. We run a business during the day—are you able to work evenings or weekends to avoid disrupting our operations?
Yes, we have painted many commercial kitchens, bakeries and retail stores after hours and weekends.
9. How quickly can your team turn around a large commercial office space?
This all depends on how much sq.ft., condition of areas being painted and obstacles i,e. Furniture. There is no specific answer. When the project is reviewed it can be determined at that time.
10. For deck staining, how long will the finish typically last against our snow and UV exposure before it needs to be redone?
There is no specific answer to that question. This is all based on how the user treats and maintains the surface. How much foot or heavy traffic the area will receive. A semi-transparent stain on walked on surfaces can expect to last 2-3 years, where as a solid colour stain can expect to last 3 to 5 years. Both will hold up much better on railings and vertical surfaces.
11. How cold can it get before you have to stop painting outside to ensure the paint actually cures properly?
You need at least 2 weeks of temperatures above 2 c. Most premium exterior paint will cure at that temperature. Pushing these low temps can extend the curing time to 30 days.