Abbott Painting FAQ

Absolutely. Some painting contractors may advertise that they are fully insured, even when they are not.

Why should your contractor be insured? Because it protects you. Liability insurance covers damage to your property. Workman’s compensation covers any worker injury sustained at your home or business. Do you know that when you hire a contractor who is not insured, you are 100% responsible?

Make sure you always get copies of insurance certificates from ALL contractors you hire to work in your home or business.

Chances are you won’t have a problem because before we’re done, we ask you to prepare a “punch list” of all the things that require additional attention or completion. Before ending the job, we attend to all these items to your reasonable satisfaction.

Yes. We are proud of our reputation and protect it by hiring professional painters who are experienced and reliable. We trust them, and so can you.

Yes. Each crew has a lead painter. And you will ALWAYS be no more than a phone contact away from Rob Drell, owner and president of Abbott Painting. He’ll make sure you have his personal cell phone number.

It depends on the scope of work, but usually we can start within a week or two. If you need to schedule the job sooner, we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

Yes. We will schedule an appointment at our earliest mutual convenience, which is usually within 24-48 hours. And generate a written quote, which specifies scope of work, materials and terms of payment.

Paint colors a surface by forming a thin opaque film on a substrate. Stain colors a surface by penetrating into the substrate.

The basic difference is composition. Most of the liquid portion of latex paints is water, while the liquid in oil-based paints consists of petroleum distillates or organic based oils from linseed, soya bean or other vegetables. About 75% of all paint sold today is latex, which are popular with both do-it-yourselfers and professional painters because they cleanup easy with plain soap and water. But today’s quality latex paints offer significant performance advantages as well. Quality latex paints that have 100% acrylic binders are especially durable and highly flexible. They adhere extremely well to a variety of exterior surfaces and have greater resistance to cracking, blistering, flaking and peeling than oil-based and other latex paints. They also have better color retention. And dry more quickly.

Interior and exterior paints are formulated differently to meet different challenges. Interior paints are made with additives that make them less prone to scuffing and staining and easier to wash. They also have good hiding ability and are easier to touch up. Exterior paints are more flexible and durable to withstand changes of weather and moisture. They resist bleeding, fading, mildew, peeling and chipping.

As mentioned above, 100% acrylic topcoats are durable and fade resistant. However, oil-based paints are recommended in certain situations:

• When repainting exterior surfaces with heavy “chalking.” (Chalk is the powdery substance that comes off on your hand when you run it across the surface.)
• When repainting any exterior or interior surface that have four or more layers of old oil-based paint. (You can determine the number of layers by removing and examining paint chips.)
• When painting over bleeding woods like redwood or cedar, an oil-based primer protects an acrylic topcoat from staining.

Selecting the ideal sheen or gloss level an interior or exterior paint job involves both aesthetic and practical considerations. While aesthetic preferences tend to be personal, from a practical point of view, the right sheen can help extend the life of the paint job.

•  The flatter the paint, the better it will hide surface imperfections.
• Flatter paint makes touch-ups easier and more seamless.
• The glossier the finish, the greater the durability.
• Generally, the higher the gloss, the more washable and scrubbable the surface.
• Gloss surfaces offer more mildew resistance because they are less porous.

Primers and sealers perform similar functions. They are both used as undercoats with the goal of making the finished or topcoat look better and last longer. They are applied directly to bare substrate, such as a newly installed drywall, to protect, seal and prevent stains from bleeding through the topcoat of paint. Painters use sealers and primers to seal porous surfaces and provide good topcoat adhesion. You can think of a sealer as a specialized primer that is more water resistant.

Because you are paying mostly for labor, you should get the best application. Two factors to consider:

• High quality paint generally covers better than less expensive paints.
• High quality paint lasts longer, in some cases two to three times longer.

The simple answer is yes, but, as with all painting projects, the surface must be properly prepared. Any loose paper must be re-attached or removed. The surface must be smoothed with spackle or wallboard compound so that seams and patches do not show. Finally, if you’re planning to use latex paint, the wallpaper must be sealed with an oil-based sealer. Even after proper preparation, texture and/or seams may remain visible. So though you can paint over paper, we generally recommend against it.

If a “standard” paint or paper job isn’t what you’re after, Abbott Painting offers specialized effects including faux finishes, marbling and murals. Our professionally trained painters apply glazes, stains, imprints, plaster and textured materials by hand — using a range of techniques — to produce beautiful patinas on walls, doors and moldings.