"Interesting" Post - Paint Talk

Wolfgang · 02-14-2009, 06:29 AM

Interesting post on the Contractor Talk site. It's in the Business section titled "Specializing ". Oh when will it ever end?

MAK-Deco · 02-14-2009, 09:36 AM

now you got me fired up on Saturday morning!

Wolfgang · 02-14-2009, 10:43 AM

Man, you need to read the responses to his post so far.

MAK-Deco · 02-14-2009, 10:57 AM

I'm all fired up now!

one of the reasons I don't goto CT anymore.. nothing but a bunch of azzes over there thinking painting is worthless...

**daArch** · 02-14-2009, 11:22 AM

Don't give them no heed. After I read painters and rockers were a dime a dozen, I bailed and came back here.

One thing I've learned the hard way (and am still learning), you can not change people's warped philosophies on internet forums. Tis better to allow them to congregate and feed off each other than jump in the middle and have them feed off you.

Bender · 02-14-2009, 11:41 AM

I was going to chime in as well but decided F' um

"Hey jackazz quit hiring them and help raise the bar"

Jay123 · 02-14-2009, 12:00 PM

Not to hijack the thread about those azzholes, but you might find a thread I started over there somewhat informative...regarding an "interesting" prospect...it's a long one, so if you lose focus easily, you may want to skip it ...

I posted in a few of the forums I frequent, so take your pick...

http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/on...-so-far-53285/

http://forums.jlconline.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=46515

http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forum...pl?read=600606

Jay123 · 02-14-2009, 12:01 PM

...you guys have given me some food for thought....maybe if I beat my painter up on his prices it'll work in my favor...hmmmmm

Jay123 · 02-14-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAK-Deco

I'm all fired up now!

one of the reasons I don't goto CT anymore.. nothing but a bunch of azzes over there thinking painting is worthless...

MAK, from what I just read on that thread, it sounded like most were in agreement that it's hard to find a good painting pro...and that the "pros" are worth their price.

Just like in any field, usually there are a lot of "lesser caliber" people in the "business"...the good ones are few and far between, and should charge accordingly...now, that being said, yeah, it can be like pulling teeth to get h/o's, gc's ect. see the value...until after they get screwed by the hacks...and sometimes not even then...

MAK-Deco · 02-14-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay123

MAK, from what I just read on that thread, it sounded like most were in agreement that it's hard to find a good painting pro...and that the "pros" are worth their price.

Just like in any field, usually there are a lot of "lesser caliber" people in the "business"...the good ones are few and far between, and should charge accordingly...now, that being said, yeah, it can be like pulling teeth to get h/o's, gc's ect. see the value...until after they get screwed by the hacks...and sometimes not even then...

It may have sounded like agreement.. nut most of those guys over there don't respect painters in general... Most non painting contractors over there are always "you charge what to paint that" most guys feel that painting should be the least important part of the job... hell we make there carpentry and drywall etc.. look good...

Jay123 · 02-14-2009, 12:28 PM

I gotcha, and I've seen plenty of that myself over the years. We LOVE our painters...been working with them for a # of years...owner with 3 or 4 guys...always do a great job, don't have to worry.

If something isn't right, it's made right...no if's and's or but's...very good for my blood pressure. Just wish I had more work for them...

The one time I used another outfit (small job, my guy was backed up for about 3 weeks....yeah it only cost me about half of what I would of paid normally...until I had my guy come back out to REPAINT the whole shiite job...

). Never again....

J

high fibre · 02-14-2009, 07:35 PM

gazillions of hack gc's out there. i enjoy using/abusing and disgarding gc's.

3rd parties just get in the way.

high fibre · 02-14-2009, 08:11 PM

i liked benders approach,,,,,talk booze.

NEPS.US · 02-14-2009, 08:58 PM

You cant disregard what they are saying. It is true. This can be the hardest trade to be successful in because of the lack of licencing and governing. I hate 75% of the a-holes I see with paint on their clothes.

Edit out is the hardest .....

vermontpainter · 02-14-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEPS.US

You cant disregard what they are saying. It is true. This is the hardest trade to be successful in.

Then how do you explain having so many successful contractors all assembled on this forum, many of whom make it look so easy?

NEPS.US · 02-14-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermontpainter

Then how do you explain having so many successful contractors all assembled on this forum, many of whom make it look so easy?

JAYJAY · 02-14-2009, 09:16 PM

Hard to be successful in? Perhaps, but I have seen and talked to and done books for many "carpenters" that struggle just like the rest of us making similiar wages to painters. It is, in my opinion "who you know (75% of the time), not what you know." Just because you have a generals license, certificates, mcdonalds birthday plaques, guarentees you nothing. If you can't sell you will fail.

I had a conversation similiar to the topic brought up on contractors talk (which was painful to read, due to pompus a@#holes comments) and we started to think about all the people we know in the trades (which is about 95% of the people we know) and we knew people in every line of work (finish carpenters, framers, painters, hangers, generals, plumbers) that have done extremely well, some that do better then average, and some that just can not make a go of it. The wealthiest guy we agreed was a painter followed by a hardwood flooring installer.

**daArch** · 02-15-2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermontpainter

Then how do you explain having so many successful contractors all assembled on this forum, many of whom make it look so easy?

Ah, because it really isn't rocket surgery ?

nEighter · 02-15-2009, 02:25 AM

It has been my experience that it is a rarity for H/O's or business owners to understand what a quality job is. I BATTLED with papa johns on price just as much as any other person needing a paint job.. when we did the water clairifier tanks the city only alloted a certain amount for the coating of the scrapper arms.. when I bid on a project for a local Sysco food warehouse the gc only aloted a certain amount for the interior to be painted and a even admitted to me they didn't think the paint would cost as much as it should.. they wanted me to paint the concrete of one part of the warehouse without prepping the surface first..

.. I think our trade is largely looked over because sally HO can go out to lowes/Depot and get a gallon and change the color of a wall, or cabinet. How many doors have you seen that were hideous when knocking on them due to the HO painting the door, and not waiting for the first coat to dry.. drug another layer over the semidried layer underneith? yeah..

Feel like Rodney Dangerfield.. no respect I tell ya.. no respect..

michfan · 02-15-2009, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nEighter

It has been my experience that it is a rarity for H/O's or business owners to understand what a quality job is. I BATTLED with papa johns on price just as much as any other person needing a paint job.. when we did the water clairifier tanks the city only alloted a certain amount for the coating of the scrapper arms.. when I bid on a project for a local Sysco food warehouse the gc only aloted a certain amount for the interior to be painted and a even admitted to me they didn't think the paint would cost as much as it should.. they wanted me to paint the concrete of one part of the warehouse without prepping the surface first..

.. I think our trade is largely looked over because sally HO can go out to lowes/Depot and get a gallon and change the color of a wall, or cabinet. How many doors have you seen that were hideous when knocking on them due to the HO painting the door, and not waiting for the first coat to dry.. drug another layer over the semidried layer underneith? yeah..

Feel like Rodney Dangerfield.. no respect I tell ya.. no respect..

It doesn't help either with all these TV shows showing ppl flipping their houses and "painting" them to make them look oh so beautiful! Educating customers is a huge part of running a successful painting business. Anyone can "paint", but not anyone can run a full fledged successful paint contracting business...I was even at the doctor the other day and he asked me if I drink. I said once in a great while. He laughed and said there was no way I was painting contractor. First he said I didn't drink enough, second I didn't look like a typical painter! He laughed and thought it was hilarious. Truth is, that is what a lot people think about our trade!