Prime Time For House Painting

Cool And Dry Fall Weather Make It The Best Time For Exterior Painting

You might think that summer is the best time to paint your home’s exterior; after all, it’s warm and sunny, allowing the paint to dry quickly, right? The truth of the matter is that painting contractors suggest waiting until early fall to put that fresh coat of paint up. The cooler and dryer weather allows for exterior paint to dry properly (thanks to the decreased humidity), leaving your home with a better, lasting paint job. Considering fall’s almost upon us, consider contacting your local painting experts for your exterior house painting needs. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your exterior painting:

Ideal Weather

The best time to paint the exterior of your house is when the weather has been dry for at least two days and the temperature is between 10C and 25C. If the temperature is too hot, the paint is at risk of bubbling, not sticking to the surface, and drying too fast, leaving noticeable brush stroke marks. The paint will also not dry properly if the weather is too humid, wet, or windy. To ensure that the paint dries properly before the temperature drops at night, try to finish painting by mid-afternoon. Any moisture in the air—especially at night—will cause condensation, which will prevent efficient drying.

Time to Paint

When you’ve got ideal weather, it’s time to paint! When preparing surfaces for a fresh coat of paint, you (or your painting contractors) will need to wipe the exterior surfaces prior to painting. This will ensure that the surfaces are clean and dry, allowing the paint to adhere to the surface.

For exterior house painting colours, consider the following suggestions, or consult with your painting contractors for their expert opinions:

• Use contrasting colours on exterior walls and trim to accentuate your home’s features—window frames, shutters, door frames, etc.
• Use colours that will complement your garden, landscape, and your neighbourhood—i.e. a décor that complements your neighbours’ homes.
• Pastels and lighter colours work well in bright sunny areas, attract less heat, and accentuate gardens and landscapes.
• Darker colours work well in shaded areas with an abundance of greenery and trees.
• A bright front door that accents the rest of your exterior will make your home stand out and boost curb appeal.

Whether you decide to paint your home this year or next, consider waiting until the early fall to make sure you get an ideal exterior paint job. Exterior house painting contractors can help you decide on paint colours, and give your home a professional paint job—even if you can’t wait until fall.

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Professional Decorating For Industry

Professional Painting and Decorating For Industrial Applications The décor of industrial spaces is often dictated by a large degree by the intended purpose of the space. Hygiene coatings for food preparation areas, acoustic claddings for factory floors and warehouse line markings to name but a few specifics. Decorating the workplace both inside and out in …

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Tips For Spray Painting Your House

How To Use Aerosol Cans For House Painting

Spray painting your house, both inside and out, is a quick and efficient method of painting. Spray painting will leave walls smooth and more evenly painted than paint rollers and brushes. However, there are tips and gear you need to safely spray paint your home. If you have any questions about house painting, contact local painting contractors for more information. The following tips will be useful when deciding whether or not to spray paint your home:

Clear the Room

If you are painting inside, make sure to clear the room to avoid getting paint on anything. If you have furniture that is too heavy to move, cover it and the floors in canvas drop cloths or plastic sheeting.

Patch up Holes

Patch all cracks and holes using drywall joint compound. Sand the patches afterwards until they are very smooth—you don’t want to notice them after you’ve finished painting.

Clean the Walls

Use a solution of water and trisodium phosphate (TSP) or powdered laundry detergent to wash the walls.

Remove Outlet Cover Plates

After removing all electrical outlet cover plates, cover the exposed wires and holes with plastic and masking tape.

Find Flaws

Shine a work light on the walls at different angles to find any dirt or imperfections that need to be patched and sanded down.

Use a Mask

Since aerosol paint fumes are harmful to breathe in, use a painting mask or respirator to protect yourself and to avoid getting dizzy.

Ventilate the Room.

Make sure all fans are on and windows and doors are open to properly ventilate the room and get rid of the toxic fumes.

Shake the Spray Cans

Aerosol paint cans need to be shaken until the marble inside is loose and rattling around. The more you shake it, the better the spray will be. If it gets clogged, shake it, turn it upside down, and press the spray button. The pressure should eventually unclog the nozzle.

Apply the Primer

Using a primer paint will result in a durable and smoother finish. Read the instructions on the can for spraying distance and drying time.

Apply the Colour

Once the primer has dried, you can start spraying the coloured paint. Spray the paint using wide sweeps across, from one side to another. Cover the entire wall with one coat for an even finish. Apply multiple thin coats of paint to get the job done. Let the paint job dry, and ventilate your home until the fumes are gone.

Dispose of the Cans Properly

Clean the nozzles of the paint cans. If the aerosol cans are empty, they can be recycled with regular cans. If they are not empty, they are considered hazardous waste and must be taken to a Hazardous Waste Depot.

If this DIY painting seems overwhelming, consult with painting contractors to get your house painting done with ease.

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Titan RX-80 Airless Spray Gun

Titan Introduces RX-80 Airless Spray Gun

New Gun Offers Improved Durability and Performance

MINNEAPOLIS — August 17, 2016 — Titan continues to redefine airless spraying with the introduction of the RX-80airless spray gun. The new RX-80 is a professional airless spray gun rated for 3,600 PSI, providing paint contractors with more durability and performance.

For better ergonomics and handling, the RX-80 features Titan’s exclusive Comfort Grip™. It features a new and improved swivel, two- and four-finger triggers, and a lighter trigger pull. With better optimized fluid passage, the RX-80 provides paint contractors with improved performance and longer gun life. For easier cleaning, the wrench is built into the trigger guard. The RX-80 has an updated, rugged design and replaces the Titan LX-80 and G-10XL spray guns.

The RX-80 joins the RX-PRO to complete the Titan Red Series line of spray guns. The RX-PRO is a premium airless spray gun with advanced ergonomic features that enable paint contractors to spray longer with more comfort than ever. It features an ultra-light trigger pull that decreases operator fatigue, requiring 30 percent less force than the closest competitive gun. Additionally, it has three interchangeable grip sizes to fit any paint contractor’s hand size. The RX-PRO is outfitted with Infinity® Packing, making rebuilding is as easy as reversing the seat and changing the ball, doubling the life of the gun.

The new Titan RX-80 works with any brand of paint sprayer with maximum pressure ratings of 3,600 PSI. It comes standard with the industry’s best performing Titan TR¹ tip.

“The new RX-80 airless gun is an important addition to the Titan Red Series,” said Chris Noto, director of products for Titan. “With a lighter trigger pull, more comfort features, and a better optimized fluid passage, this upgraded gun will quickly become standard equipment for thousands of paint contactors.”

The Titan RX-80 is available in the U.S. and Canada at professional equipment and industrial supply retailers. MSRP is $162. More information about Titan and the RX-80 is at http://www.titantool.com.

About Titan

As a leader in spraying technology, Titan manufacturers and markets a full line of professional-grade sprayers for applying a variety of coatings. Titan products include airless and air powered paint sprayers, fine finishing sprayers, sprayers for applying texture, roofing and corrosion control and protective coatings, and line stripers for sports fields and asphalt. For nearly half a century, contractors and maintenance professionals have relied on Titan products for world-class, end-to-end solutions that are dependable and easy to use. Visit titantool.com.

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The Blogging Painter is always out on the web looking for the best information to share with readers.

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House Painting: Preparing Damaged Walls

How to Get the Most from Your Interior Painting Project

It was supposed to be a simple interior painting project, but after removing all of the pictures from your walls, you can’t help but notice all of the holes left behind. Don’t panic. Instead, grab some spackle and a putty brush and follow these simple steps to prepare a damaged wall for painting.

Step 1

Clear away any loose debris around the hole. Mix up the spackle until it’s smooth and apply it to the hole with the putty knife. Don’t be surprised if excess spackle gets on the wall. You can easily remove it with a damp towel.

Step 2

After filling the hole, give the spackle time to dry. Drying time will depend on the brand of spackle, but generally, it takes 24 hours for the hole to dry completely.

Step 3

Use a sanding block or sandpaper to smooth the spot. Ideally, you want the spackled area to blend into the rest of the wall as closely as possible.

Step 4

Once the spot is dry, paint it to match the rest of the wall. If you don’t have any of the original paint color left, have a sample container made at the store. You can always use it for interior painting touchups.

For larger holes, you may need to purchase a patch kit from the hardware store. Most patch kits include a self-adhesive mesh patch to cover the hole and a compound to apply over the top. You will also need to sand it smooth.

Popped Nail Heads

Over time it’s common for popped nail heads to appear on the surface of the wall. Nail pops occur when the nails are no longer holding the stud in place. Here are the steps for repairing popped nail heads before beginning your interior painting project.

Step 1

Using a screwdriver, reattach the drywall to the stud by driving a drywall nail just above the popped nail. Make sure to drive the screw in far enough below the surface of the drywall that you can cover it with spackle.

Step 2

Cover both the screw head and the popped nail with spackle. Allow 24 hours for it to dry.

Step 3

Sand the area until smooth and touch up the area with paint.

While it may be tempting to paint over damage such as holes and nail pops when house painting, it isn’t worth it in the long run. Follow these tips and your interior painting will look flawless.

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Exterior Painting Tips for Doors

Boost Curb Appeal And Match Décor With A Painted Door

Painting your front door is a bold and eye-catching way to boost your home’s curb appeal and make it more appealing to prospective buyers. Front doors should be welcoming and complement the rest of your home’s exterior décor. Consider these house painting tips for your door to make the most of your exterior painting job.

Blues

Blue doors are not common, but they can certainly boost curb appeal. Blues need neutral or natural colours to complement them. A bright blue door will pop with red brick siding and black trim. Lighter blues complement neutral and wood sidings. Dark (almost black) blues neutralize busier exterior décors, such as multi-shaded stones, while pale (or pastel) blues work with cooler exteriors and pale stones. For a white exterior, try a dark teal or a navy blue paint for your door.

Greens

Greens are pleasant and refreshing on the exterior of a house. A green door can complement your landscape and garden. Bright greens pair well with neutral tones, such as greys, stone colours, and wood. A bright green door will really pop with white trim. Dark greens complement warm colours, such as red brick. Pale green doors work well with cool and dark exterior paints and décor, such as stone, black, and dark greys.

Oranges

Oranges are bold, warm, and energizing, but they are not always the best match for the exterior’s décor. Bright oranges need neutral colours to cool them down, such as whites, greys, taupe, and wood. Lighter, more subtle oranges work well with whites, blacks, and browns.

Purples

Purples, like oranges, can work well or not so well with the exterior décor of a house. Neutral exteriors are the safest for purple doors. A dark purple-blue door complements light greys and whites. Brighter purples (with a bit of red) work well with medium greys and wood exteriors. Lighter purples (with hints of light blue) pair with light taupe and olive greens. Lavender complements metal exteriors and yellow accents.

Reds

Red doors, especially bright reds, are warm, welcoming, and eye-catching. Reds complement both light and dark exterior paint colours and décors, including greys, browns, whites, metals, and wood.

Yellows

A yellow door can add warmth and brightness to an otherwise plain looking home. Since yellows are bright, they are best paired with neutral colours—such as whites, greys, tans, and pale blues.

Before painting your door, you can test colours to see how well they match the rest of your home’s exterior. If you’re unsure, ask a house painting expert, or go for a black door. Black doors complement most exteriors, especially with black or white trim. House painting, including exterior painting, improves the overall atmosphere and curb appeal of a home. Even if you just paint the door, your home will look great.

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Field Pulse Software

For a limited time, FieldPulse is offering 50% off for 6 months to bloggingpainters.com readers that schedule a free product demo and mention bloggingpainters.com!

FieldPulse is an all-in-one business management application for your painting company – operating on iPhone, Android, and Computer WebApp. Schedule jobs for your team members, manage customer relationships, create estimates and invoices, and more!

With FieldPulse, you can easily schedule jobs and assign team members, automatically notifying them of their newly assigned work. Team members can easily find their assigned work with all relevant information to get the job done right. At the job site, team members can provide status updates back to management with just a single click or provide detailed comments and attach photos. Each status change will geotag your team member’s location, letting you know that they got to the job site on time! Want to further divide the painting job into prep, prime, and paint to more accurately assign work and track status? FieldPulse’s subtasks allow you to assign and track individual tasks within a job for more detailed project management.

FieldPulse also allows you to create estimates and invoices in the office or at the job site. Need to create an estimate for a customer at their home? Quickly create detailed estimates on your phone, collect customer signature approval, and then send them a PDF. No more handwritten estimates, and no more waiting to return to the computer. Once the estimate is approved by the customer, you can easily convert the estimate to an invoice with the click of a button. When ready to collect payment, FieldPulse’s Square Mobile Payments integration allows you to open Square payments with a single click, automatically attaching a payment ID to the invoice and marking it paid. With FieldPulse, you always have full traceability into your estimates, invoices, and payment history.

From scheduling to invoicing, all of your customer history is kept in FieldPulse’s integrated CRM. Never lose track of customer information, payment history, or jobs again! In addition to detailed customer profiles, you can easily add customer notes, comments, files, and photos to make sure you stay on top of your customers.

FieldPulse’s flexible month to month pricing aligns with your business size, making it suitable for small companies that operate as a single team to larger companies that operate in multiple teams. With different roles for different team members, you can limit your team members’ exposure to customer, invoicing, and job information to make sure they don’t have access to sensitive information, remain focused on their tasks, and are equipped with the right tools to get the job done right.

Try FieldPulse today with a 14 day free trial and get 50% off for 6 months with a free 1-on-1 demo!

https://www.fieldpulse.com

Video: https://vimeo.com/157496258

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The Blogging Painter is always out on the web looking for the best information to share with readers.

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Tax Loophole – Save Big on Wages Paid To Employees

Have you hired an employee who belongs to one of the following groups between January 1, 2015, and August 31, 2016?

1. Unemployed Veterans (including disabled veterans)
2. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Recipients
3. Food Stamp (SNAP) Recipients
4. Designated Community Residents (living in Empowerment Zones or Rural Renewal Counties)
5. Vocational Rehabilitation Referred Individuals
6. Ex-Felons
7. Supplemental Security Income Recipients
8. Summer Youth Employees (living in Empowerment Zones)

If you have hired any person who falls into the above category, you can save thousands of dollars on taxes. To do this, take advantage of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) by filing with your state workforce agency before September 28, 2016!

The IRS recently provided an extension to businesses allowing them to submit Form 8850 on employees who belong to targeted groups. As a result, businesses can claim the WOTC on their taxes for qualifying employees hired in the past 18 months.

 

Here’s what you need to know about the tax credit

1. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) rewards businesses for hiring certain “targeted groups” (listed above) that have a high unemployment rate or special employment needs.
2. The WOTC will reimburse employers as a tax credit for 20-40% of wages paid to qualified employees. As a result, your painting business could save thousands of dollars.
3. If you hired employees between January 1, 2015, and August 31, 2016, that belong to a targeted group, you can still qualify for the credit. To do so, you must submit Form 8850 on each qualifying employee to your state workforce agency before September 31, 2016.

 

Here’s what you need to do to claim the tax credit

1. Screen all employees hired between January 1, 2015, and August 31, 2016, and determine if they belong to a targeted group. Use Form 8850 to screen employees.
2. Send potential qualifying employees’ Form 8850s to your state workforce agency. In addition, determine your state workforce agency and any additional state requirements by referencing this PDF.
3. Wait for a final determination from your state workforce agency.
4. Once you receive approval, you can claim the WOTC on your tax return and save big.

Once you have done this, ensure you implement a system to screen new hires for the WOTC. For more information on the WOTC and other tax tips, check out this free report for painting contractors.

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Daniel Honan

Accountant at Online Bookkeep LLC

I am a former painting business owner and military officer, and current bookkeeper and tax accountant. With my painting and accounting experience, I'm uniquely positioned to help painting contractors save time, money, and resources. For years I worked in the residential and commercial painting industry. I did everything from prep work and painting to managing crews and completing estimates with clients. After my stint in the painting industry, I pursued an education in business and accounting and served as a military officer in the intelligence field. I have a Bachelors in Accounting and an MBA. During my time in the intelligence field, I learned the value of being proactive and staying ahead of the enemy. I apply this mentality to my accounting practice through forward-looking advice to my clients. I don't just report; I analyze and forecast. This provides immense value to the clients I serve and builds trust. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge of taxes and business to help painting contractors grow their company. I only work with a select few painting contractors and provide professional, prompt service to ensure their success.

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Interior Painting Trends for 2016

This Year’s Interior Design And House Painting Trends

Each year, interior designers discuss trends for home décor, which include colours for house painting. If you are planning to spruce up your home, here are some of the latest décor trends for interior painting:

Blues

Blues make rooms feel calm and relaxing. Whether you want the feel of a beach house or a garden home, blues will give you that serene atmosphere. Blue Heron calls to mind beaches and oceans, so it is perfect for that beach house feel. It complements orange and canary yellow accents by cooling down their brightness. You can include those warm summer colours without being overwhelmed by their intensity. Parma Gray is a lighter shade of blue with lavender, which has a very calming effect. It is versatile, and works well with black or white accents in the room. If you’re going for that garden home look, consider white furniture and bouquets. If you want a more sophisticated look, go for black accents.

Greens

Intense green walls with neutral-coloured furnishings (like wood) are in style. This décor is reminiscent of nature and relaxation. Deep Green freshens up a room and works well with many accents. Relentless Olive truly complements wood furnishings for that relaxing cottage feel.

Pinks

Pinks can liven up a room, or calm down more intense accents, depending on the shade. Salmon Peach is like a pink sunset. When accented with black furniture, it’s reminiscent of the Art Deco period, which provides a cosmopolitan décor. Cameo Pink is light, with coral and beige. It works well with vibrant patterns by calming them down.

Purples

Purples are also calming colours, and are very versatile. Spring Lilac is soothing, and works well with espresso, brown patterns, and animal prints. Brinjal is a deep eggplant purple, recommended for an office, library, or entryway. This rich, luxurious colour pairs well with yellow accents.

Teals

Teals are versatile paint colours. Pacific Ocean Blue goes well with white accents and wood furniture. Rainstorm is a deep blue that complements brass, gold, and animal prints—if you’re going for that luxurious and glamourous look. It is recommended for an entryway, office, library, or powder room.

Whites

Whites might sound boring, but they are the most versatile, room-brightening paint colours. If you’re ever unsure of a colour, any interior painting expert will advise you to go with white. Both 2016 Colors of the Year for Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paints are whites—Simply White and Alabaster White, respectively.

Yellows

Yellows are warm and work well with many accents. Corn Silk is a soft, pale yellow, and is perfect for bedrooms because it’s reminiscent of waking up to the warm sun. Funky Yellow is bright, warm, and very versatile. It is recommended for garden rooms and breakfast nooks, and works well with grey, taupe, plum, mauve, and burgundy accents.

To find these interior painting trends and more, check out this website.

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Josh Abramson: Key Takeaways Learned Over 29 Years

Most people don’t know that Josh Abramson was a high school dropout, or that he grew up in a single parent home with a mother who struggled to provide basic necessities. The family relied on government assistance to put food on the table and frequently moved, forcing Josh and his younger sister to attend multiple schools.

Despite these challenges, Josh used his family’s struggles as motivation to build a better life for himself and future family. When he was 21 years old, he started A.Allbright Wallpaper Hanging & Painting in 1987 while living in a small apartment with his mother and sister in Granada Hills, California.

Over the past 29 years, Josh has grown to become an industry leader through his nationwide speaking engagements, humanitarian efforts, and the innovative products he has developed for the painting industry as a whole.

In this interview, Josh talks about the importance of company culture, failures, where he’d like to see his company in 10 years, and a few other pieces of advice he feels other business owners could find beneficial.

The Importance of Company Culture

Josh, let’s start with your team – the people that work with you on a daily basis and help transform your vision for the company into a reality. Any tips you’d be willing to share on how to create an environment that keeps employees happy and motivated?

I guess if I had to point to one thing, I’d say it’s the “Painting Happiness” culture we’ve created at ALLBRiGHT 1-800-PAINTING. It’s something I’ve been working on since starting the company (without knowing it), and, especially over the past 5 years, have realized how important it is for us.

A big part of our culture is investing in employees which is something I’ve always been interested in. I put together a business plan that summarized what I wanted ALLBRiGHT to be known for. The first is that the company would be nationally known for its professionalism, our contributions to the trade, and our local community efforts. The second was to treat our employees like we would treat our best customers.

We invest in our employees through leadership and trade training, employee events, contests, and retreats. We’re always excited to recognize the personal and company achievements of our team.

I’d also think it’s worth mentioning our internal communication tool, Yammer, which has become so much more than just a communication platform for us. It’s now an area to encourage other team members about the projects they’re working on, including sales, safety practices, and also personally through sharing pictures of dogs, kids, etc. I encourage our employees to post on Yammer to build relationships with other employees.

Attracting the Right People

It sounds like you’ve really put a lot of time and planning into creating an awesome environment for your team. How do you find and hire people that are a good fit culturally?

We have been using our core values and culture to attract some of the very best employees. Our goal is to make ALLBRiGHT 1-800-PAINTING the “best” place anyone has ever worked. We strive for this every day and we work hard at making that happen.

Just yesterday when my Office Manager and Sr. Admin Assistant were asked what they like about working here by a person they were interviewing, they both had the same answer. They said they love working here because they get to be themselves, everyone is happy to be here, and there isn’t any added stress from co-worker conflicts because we all work toward the same goals.

[The below video was created by ALLBRiGHT 1-800-PAINTING and discusses the company’s “Painting Happiness” culture]

It Needs to Be a Good Fit Both Ways

One part of our hiring process is a group interview. It’s a time for us to share our culture and our values and what we’re doing for our trade. It’s also a time for the applicants to get to know the company to see if it’s a good fit for them.

We also offer our Paint-It-Smart internship program as a way to bring on new team members who may not be experts in the trade, but are a great fit culturally.

Hindsight Is Always 20/20

Josh, what would you say is one of your biggest failures as a business owner – what happened and what did you learn?

One of my biggest failures was not identifying our core company values and culture sooner, and allowing others within the team (especially out in the field painting) to develop their own values that were in direct conflict with ours. Once I identified these top core values and became passionate about them, it was a game changer. As an example, we no longer held on to a fast, money-making, productive painter/employee who didn’t share in our vision. We invited them to go be successful somewhere else, and we developed our “culture” that encouraged our employees to be happier, faster, smarter, more trustworthy team players.

Improving Upon Systems That Aren’t Working

Talk to us about areas where you’ve innovated in the industry – what was your inspiration?

My goal is to always make life better and improve on a system that isn’t working. Many years ago, I saw that our current estimating process wasn’t something we could grow our company with. Our trade association was coming out with one that was very complicated and I wanted something that was very simple and faster than what was currently available. I came up with a way to integrate a system with Word and Excel to develop a scope of work on the spot. If a customer was interested in moving forward they could sign before we ever left the driveway.

The One Step Estimating App was also based on allowing us to help someone who didn’t have years of estimating experience to come up with a consistent, fair price that was repeatable. I set out to fix a problem in my company and, after I showed it to a couple of people, they said, “When can I write a check?” Back then, before a lot of contractors had fax machines or even emails, it was way ahead of its time.

Giving Back

What are the company or personal awards you’ve received that you’re most proud of?

I’d have to say the PDCA’s Humanitarian of the Year Award that we won twice for giving back to the trade and our local community. It’s an award they only give out when someone has done something exemplary. We received the awards for helping our painting trade by developing the One Step Estimating App and for teaching other painting contractors how to start and grown their own Paint-It-Forward programs. It was a shock both times; I didn’t even know I was in the running! I was also honored to win the Leadership Award from Summit Services at their Grand Summit. It was a surprise, as I felt there were much better leaders out there.

Moving Forward

Where would you like to see ALLBRiGHT 1-800-PAINTING in 10 years?

We are growing in size and in a lot of different ways that others want to be a part of. I’m constantly being asked by other very smart individuals if they can be a part of this “Painting Happiness’ culture in other areas that we don’t service.

I see ALLBRiGHT growing in different areas of California and perhaps around the country soon. In fact, I’m currently developing some new technology that I’m hoping will help with this vision and our industry. I’m excited to share this soon.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d like to leave us with?

It’s okay to strive for building a business that develops leaders that are better than you are. Oftentimes we have a lot of pride and don’t want to inspire people to be better than we are. I like to look for ways to bring people to my level and above. If I can make someone wildly more successfully than I am, then I’ve succeeded. There’s enough business out there for all of us.

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Brian Jensen

Brian Jensen is the CEO of Congruent Digital, a full-service online marketing agency that provides clients with a data-driven approach to search engine optimization, social media, content marketing and pay-per-click advertising. Contact Brian for a free consultation on how to improve your company's online presence.

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Stanley Smart Measure – Pro or Not So?

“When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it.”
— Lord Kelvin

Even though that quote wasn’t made about painting, I assume (considering he developed the Kelvin scale that’s not a huge leap on my part), it still speaks volumes about how important numbers actually are- And the only way you can get real numbers for a paint job is to take measurements (of any sort).

I am a big proponent of measuring the scope of a project for a 3 main reasons:

1. Guessing is never consistent.

2. It is easily teachable if you are in a position to scale.

3. It helps you stay firm on pricing when someone asks for a discount because the measurements confirm, to you, that your price lines up with their specific needs- Even when they think their needs should cost less.

There are other reasons to measure a project, but that’s a topic for another day….

Because of my personal feelings on the importance of it, I’m always excited when I see a new tool or method to measure something. After doing some research, if the theory behind it seems promising I’m typically willing to invest in the product or software if I think it will allow me to do what I’m currently doing in a way that is either:

More efficient or more impressive to a potential client.

Finding a tool that does both is like hitting the jackpot on penny slots- It’s not really worth that much but it sure feels good.

It’s usually pretty easy to tell if something is more impressive than the current options. But, even if it is more impressive it still needs to do what it’s supposed to do.

And do it in a way that makes life easier, or has in impact in Awesome that makes up for making life just a little bit harder.

The Product

Let me introduce you to the Stanley Smart Measure Pro. It attaches to the back of your phone with padded arms and connects over Bluetooth.  After you calibrate the eye of the laser, which takes about ten minutes, you have access to 2 primary measuring options.

1. A laser that measures a straight line… like any other digital tape measure.

2. A software that uses a picture to measure the total square feet of the surface area in the picture.

The Process Part 1 – Laser Measurements

The process of using a digital tape measure is pretty straight forward- you put the butt of the tool up against the wall, you push the button, and the screen displays the distance.

Stanley’s digital tape option works similarly, but with a few differences. The main difference is the laser is always measuring. Because of that, as you move your phone around, the distance changes. For all intents and purposes, it doesn’t affect much.

The other differences vs a standard digital measuring tape are:

1. You can’t freeze the measurement on the screen.

2. Since you have to look at the screen to read the measurement you have to lean against the wall, hold the phone in front of your face, and then add about a foot to get the correct distance.

Thankfully, for most interior painting, being within a few inches is more than adequate so I don’t consider either of those challenges a deal breaker.

Chatting with a client while taking measurements makes it a little easier to forget the number you just looked at (because it’s not frozen on the screen), but I do that occasionally anyways with my go-to digital measuring tool.

The Process Part 2 – Picture Based Measurements

The laser measuring part of the tool was adequate, but didn’t really add any Awesome beyond a normal digital tape measure so the second feature was the one I was really looking forward to. I was dreaming of being able to get home from a consultation and email the measurement photos to potential clients as my first follow-up.

So I set about trying to see if my dreams would become reality.

Step 2

As mentioned earlier, you have to calibrate the camera before you can take accurate measurements. Once that’s done you have to complete a few steps before you get your measurement.

1. Take a picture of the first wall you want to measure.

2. Drag an outline around the largest rectangle on the wall as a guide.

Step 3

3. Drag an outline around the perimeter of the wall to measure the distance.

4. Repeat the process for every other wall you need to measure.

Now that may not sound too difficult, and it’s not necessarily a hard task, but trying to line up precise points while using only your finger on a (smaller than) 5 inch screen isn’t a quick process.

The Results

Interior

It takes roughly two minutes to measure one wall after you snap the picture. So measuring a single room takes around 10 minutes- without writing the numbers down anywhere.

I’m sure the process would take even longer if there was a tablet in my hands and I was trying to carry on a conversation with one or more homeowners.

The major problem with using this to measure interiors is that in an averaged size room you can’t get far enough away from the wall to measure the entire wall.

Exterior

I was a little discouraged after measuring out an interior and learning of the space limitation of the Smart Measure Pro; but exterior measuring is where I was really hoping to increase the Awesome anyways.

Measuring exteriors is more or less the same process as outlined above and it’s subject to the same shortcomings as outlined above. There’s not much I can add here, but I do like the fact that you can measure gable ends.

Like the inside measurements you have to get pretty far away to measure the whole surface. You can tell from these 2 pictures that your distance from the wall needs to be almost twice the width of the wall you want to measure. For some homes that won’t be a problem, but I think you could forget about using it in a tightly packed subdivision.

 

So, what is it good for then?

After testing out the Stanley Smart Measure Pro I see 2 main roles it can fill in my measuring arsenal.

1. A backup digital tape for interior measurements. The process of standing up against the wall to take the measurement makes me feel a little goofy. Because of that I wouldn’t want to use it as my main measuring tool. However, the rechargeable battery means I never have to worry about my main digital tape leaving me stranded mid-estimate just because I don’t keep spare AA batteries in my truck. I keep a normal tape measure as a backup now, but it can be clunky working around furniture with it.

2. A go to for measuring gable ends or the square footage of surfaces that are on the second story and need to be measured for repair or replacement. The exterior measurement I took of the front of that garage was within a foot of the actual width of the building. Considering I was over 80 feet away I think that’s pretty accurate. Gable ends that are on the second story or higher are typically difficult to measure from the ground and I would love to start putting a square footage price to them. Right now if a homeowner want’s them accented I just add an amount of money that seems good to me. Since I haven’t had a way to measure them, I haven’t bothered to track production rates when we paint them.

What could be improved?

Most of the shortcomings seem like they could have been discovered, and remedied, by more field testing. However I’m not an engineer, so I don’t  know if either of these changes were doable in the space they were working with and I’m not an accountant so I don’t know if the changes would have stretched their target price point just a little too far.

It would have been nice if they added a secondary laser to the top of the unit or made the laser head swivel somehow. Either of those options would have made the process less goofy feeling and it definitely would have been an increase in sizzle over a regular digital tape.

A way to freeze that measurement on screen would have been great as well, but that is a limitation that would have been easier to overlook.

An “Awesome” option would have been a button that captured a low quality screenshot with the measurement and saved it to a folder so you could easily consult the pictures later.
On the picture measuring side of things- the app doesn’t use the whole field of view from the phones camera.  This could have been a problem with the camera in my specific phone, but it still seems like an oversight. It could have been compensated for by including a wide angle adapter that would attach to the phones camera or giving the tool its own wide angle lens. The second option would have even eliminated the need to calibrate the device also, which would be a benefit for tech-challenged people (probably not their target market, but I’m just thinking in text right now).

So, is it more efficient or more impressive to a potential client?

I really wanted to like this tool, and while writing out this review I have been trying to convince myself that I must have missed something. Unfortunately this is just a situation where the usefulness of the tool fell short of my dreams.

Looking at the criteria I laid out earlier in this review, besides measuring gable ends, this tool didn’t do anything that can’t be done quicker with other products.

I’m not sure if it would be more impressive to a client since I didn’t test it out in a “pressure” situation.

Maybe I’m old-school, but backing really far away from someone’s house, snapping a picture, fumbling around on my phone for a few minutes and then repeating the process at least 3 more times didn’t seem like the best way to win over a potential client.

Have you tried the Stanley Smart Measure Pro or did I miss an awesome feature? Let me know your thoughts on it in the comments below. And don’t worry, I’m going to keep dreaming

Author information

Michael Hines

I started my company with a belief that I could represent a shift in how people perceive a paint job and a painting company. See, painting is not just a service that you buy from the lowest bidder. A painting company is an asset to be trusted with your largest investment.

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Sell Your Home For More With Fresh Paint

Colourful Ways To Add Value To Your Home When It’s Time To Sell

No matter how beautifully a home is staged, it’s always going to look just a little bit dull if all the walls are shades of beige and off-white. According to a number of house painters, what you need to do to garner that extra interest from potential buyers is make your home pop with some fresh colors. Not only that, but studies have shown that you can actually ask and get more for your home when you’ve done something a little different with the paint. Here are some tips from Ottawa painting companies.

The Exterior

So you’re not going to paint the outside of your house bright purple – there is such a thing as the wrong kind of attention. However, house painters know that buyers are attracted to subtle flair, which is why a bright white exterior with colored trim is an excellent way to make the right first impression. Try olive green, maroon, or baby blue trim to really stand out.

The Interior – Bigger Spaces

Rooms like the kitchen and living room are going to be some of the biggest deciding factors when it comes to a buyer’s interest, and using the right colors can make them feel comfortable and “at home” which, according to painting companies in Ottawa, increases the likelihood of them paying a higher price. Lately, bright colors like yellow, orange, and red have proven to be the best colors for kitchens, while more muted but still colorful pastels are best for the living room.

The Interior – Smaller Spaces

Bedrooms, offices, and other small rooms gain more interest when they feel cozy, house painters say. You can achieve this feeling with deep colors like navy blue, espresso, and pine green. These colors might seem heavy for a small space, but when paired with cream or white accents (curtains, pillows, comforters, etc.) they make for a potent combination.

Colors To Avoid

Gray has been trendy this year, but don’t go overboard or too dark with it. Gray has actually been shown to drive off potential buyers, but if you’re set on using it, it works best as an accent color – such as a couch. Also, too much white, off-white, or tan can make the house feel bland, incentivizing a buyer to pay a lower price.

If you’re getting ready to sell your house, arm yourself with these tips and sell for more. And don’t worry about your realtor’s advice to stay neutral – house painters see how many neutral houses get painted over quickly.

The post Sell Your Home For More With Fresh Paint appeared first on AXCELL PAINTING.