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Custom Color Matches

8K views 50 replies 19 participants last post by  Gough 
#1 ·
I'm curious how everyone deals with custom color matches or matching other mfg's colors? Custom color matches can be time consuming and sometimes require an additional trip to the store if they can't match it right away. This eats up a lot of time and if its not accounted for in your estimate you're losing money while you're waiting at the paint store (this isn't intended to be a knock on paint stores either).

How does everyone deal with this? I'm thinking about specifying in my estimates that clients must choose colors from the fan deck of the paint mfg that is spec'd for the project or additional costs will apply to help cut down on this issue.
 
#2 ·
If the customer doesn't have or know the colors used we give them an hour free to help match the colors. If we can we will pop off a small piece of baseboard to match trim, some times removing an outlet cover you can get a big enough piece to match.

We have our store where we go and drop off the stuff to match and the guy can match it perfect any colors except Pantone's. We make sure he has a day or half a day to mess with the color. We don't wait around. If we know ahead of time we will do this a week before we start.
 
#3 ·
try to give the paint store as much time as possible. Call in color matches if they are off a fan deck, they should be able to get the sample chips for you if they don't already have them.(I'm a one man store and I manage to do this with no problem).
The one problem we run into is the mindset that was started several years ago by the box stores that they could do an instant color match. In reality this is not always possible. They are just able to say take it or leave it if the match isn't good. Because you and your paint store actually have a mutual customer that usually doesn't approve the color match, it is important to realize that the store needs a little time to do them.

If you are matching a sample from a job site, like a piece of trim or a wall, plan on trying to drop them off either in the morning for an afternoon or next morning pick-up. A good color matcher should get you a perfect match almost every time with that much lead time. Some larger stores that may have several good color matching people can do while you wait matches occasionally, but in reality how often do you not have a little lead time? I always try to accommodate my customers any way I can, and a good paint store should be doing this. But the lead time sure helps make sure of a good match.
 
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#5 ·
I carry a Sherwin Williams color matcher ....

There is also an app you can get on your phone.

I was told the color matcher does not perform well with lighter colors. Trying to match whites is the hardest for me.

The app is so dependent on your lighting. I've tried it on a SW larger 8x10 sample chip, knowing the exact color. The app is telling me it is 5-8 other colors-and not identifying the correct one.


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#6 ·
I guess I'm really curious how everyone deals with color samples or custom matches in their contracts. It's rare, but some clients are indecisive or they want to see a ton of samples before they make a choice. At roughly $10/color tester this adds up if it wasn't accounted for it in my estimate.

Here's what I'm thinking about doing. Including 2 color samples for each known color in their estimate and then specifying that additional color sample will cost an additional $20.00/color.

Whenever possible I drop off samples and give the store a couple days to work on the match, but there are some circumstances where the client has delayed choosing colors and I really can't wait a couple days so I push to get it done on the spot.


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#8 ·
I guess it depends on what you feel comfortable with and what your market will tolerate. $20.00 would be appropriate in my area but there are some areas of the country were I wouldn't hesitate to charge much more per sample. Remember that you are a professional painter not a decorator, and those decorators make big bank to do the same thing. You are giving people a much cheaper alternative so it is just sound business to charge a little and cover your expenses at a minimum.
 
#7 ·
We include anywhere from 3-5 samples in every contract. If you want more we charge $50/per sample. We've done more free samples but only on very large projects.

I find that clients have a harder time with more than five samples to look at. Furthermore, you can usually tell someone that doesn't have a clue what they are doing when the comparative samples are widely different colors.
 
#10 ·
Some times I get a sample or two but most of the time I leave it to them to get samples and apply them. I got tired of the run around and found that if the owner does the leg work the selection process can go faster, sometimes.
When I need a match from another paint company I always get a color chip of that color to make sure it is correct. I don't trust the on file colors in the store computer to be correct all the time.
 
#11 ·
Those stored color formulas are just meant to be a starting formula and are not usually a good match. They are done by interns at the company that makes the software and not actually done by anyone with any color matching background. They just put the chip in, do the computer match, and store the formula to the data base. If you can imagine a group of twenty-thirty college interns doing thousands of these, you get the picture.

Of course the computer formulas at Home depot and Lowe's (and SW) are marketed as being perfect matches, even though they use the same data base as i do.......That's were the take it or leave it comes in. And that doesn't fly for most painters that are getting that color matched for a third party (their customer). That's why it is important for a good paint store to do perfect color matches and why it is important to give them some time when possible. Communication between the store, the painter, and the painter's client is the first key.
 
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#12 ·
Anyone ever heard that supposedly F&B puts something on their colour chips so that the spectrometer can't read them properly? I haven't used the stuff in over a decade, but at the time I remember someone telling me this. Just makes the folks at the paint stores who are trying to match work harder at the end of the day. It'll still get done.
 
#13 ·
There is nothing that I know of if you have strong enough and pure enough colorants. SW would have problems with some of their colors and I'm pretty sure HD and Lowe's would.
It also has to do with the "whiteness" of the bases.
I wouldn't think a BM dealer using Gennex or a Cali dealer using Trillion colorants would have a problem. Both colorant systems are much stronger and brighter then other paint companies. Their tint bases are a much brighter white as well.
They claim they use a special colorants made from unicorn pee or something, but i doubt it. But if the four companies that sell 90% of the paint can't do it then it is a safe bet.
 
#14 ·
Roamer and Stelzer, thanks for the input.

Whenever possible I'll put color samples on white foam core for clients. Once a client has narrowed their choice to 2 colors I'll put a sample on their wall for them.

Also, I don't encourage clients to paint samples on walls since they'll often get paint on the trim or leave horrible brush marks on their wall that can't be removed if the wall has an orange peel texture. I had a client do this last month and now I have to come back to touch up some of the trim they got paint on, but I'll also have to get a custom color match first[emoji35] Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about the brush marks they left on the wall.


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#15 ·
I have had the same experience with the home owner leaving big brush marks on the wall and I had to sand them out. I leave them a color chart if their not for sure of the color they want and tell them to get a poster board and paint the sample color on it so they can move it around the room. I've only had one home owner wanting me to come back two or three times with different color samples to paint in different spots in the room. The samples were added to the material cost.
 
#19 ·
Customer wants a match to something I'll have either of my main suppliers do it - they are both excellent at it.

Customer wants a sample on the wall? They can go get it themselves and do it (unless by arrangement I can get it while going to my supplier anyway). I've found it can be a real rabbit hole trying to help them find their perfect color. I know, I know, I'm not providing a full service to my customers. Hey, if you want to do it, have at it. I've just never found not doing it to be an issue - especially when they realize those "free" samples are not really free.
 
#20 ·
Address colors and manufacturers at the time of initial walk through and tack the time on to the estimate.
Or, if you don't already have them, stock multiple fan decks from different manufacturers on your truck. I've got a plethora so if for some reason the paint store doesn't already have a chip, I can bring it in at some point.
Or, drop the swatch off and have your paint delivered to the job (I love this option...$ave$ me load$ of trip$ to the $tore).

Just a few different ways to work with it. It's part of the job, and I work all that into the bid so there's no surprises and plenty of time to organize.
 
#24 ·
app based "color matching" software doesn't actually "match" the paint. It just pulls the closest match from an existing database. A regular spectrometer costs several thousand dollars. Mine was $8,999. One that was is small enough to carry to a jobsite would be over $20,000. All they do is compare the color that is read to a database and give that formula. The ones that "store" the color until it is linked to a color computer just download that formula to the computer. They can work well for most color "matches", it just depends on how many formulas are stored on the database.
 
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#25 ·
In my experience, matches to actual paint, on the wall, in a fan deck, or in a can, are relatively straightforward. I'd estimate that around half of our clients go that route. Most of the rest have some sample: a piece of upholstery fabric, a favorite piece of art, a rock (!), etc. We have yet to encounter the fabled piece of thread from "Mr. Blanding builds his dream house", but we'be been close. It's those unusual matches that keep the price up.

I'm also a firm believer in larger samples, we typically get a least a quart and cover a substantial area: floor to ceiling for a wall color, for instance. We've just experienced too many clients unable to visualize the impact of color en masse.
 
#29 ·
Speaking of samples. We looked at a home today that had around 30 samples, colors all over the place.

Tinted ceilings, accent walls and blood splatter from a dog that got cut.

We offered 4 free samples. Any more it would be $45 each. I already see this turning into more samples. 1 large open room 4 colors, 2 bedrooms 3 colors. Plus priming blood splatter.

Blood splatter we will use BIN, oil based stain blocker (not sure what one yet) more BIn and more oil primer. My experience (Not much) with covering this much blood splatter it's going to take a couple rounds of primer. The dog is just fine, after it gut cut the HO said it wanted to play so it ran around splashing blood on all the lower walls.
 
#30 ·
try cleaning the blood spatters with a pretty diluted muriatic acid and water mix before you prime them. Don't ask how i know this. They're everywhere.
 
#31 ·
The Benjamin Moore I go to usually has all the other paint manufacturers colours on file so that's not a problem at all.

If they want a colour match to the same colour currently on the walls or trim I usually pop a baseboard off inside a closet or I will take my knife and cut the drywall Paper in a 4"x4" square inside the closet above the door frame where the header is, then peel the drywall paper off with the colour intact. I will then bring that to the ben Moore and have it exactly matched prior to the job starting. Having it matched prior to the job starting is key! If you don't do that and your standing around in the store, well you have poor time management.

Once I have the colour and back on the job on the start date I will prime the drywall where I cut the paper off and patch + paint. Works like a charm:)


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#41 ·
The guys that I started out with when I first started painting mixed most their paints right on the job site. They carried their colors in what reminded me of the old time katchup and mustard squeeze bottles , in a wire carrying cage.Talk about old school. 2 of them have now past away and the one that is still with us turned 94 last year. I always liked watching them mix it. They didn't measure anything and just did it by eye. To me it was amazing to watch and how fast they can get the color they were matching.
 
#43 ·
The guy I worked with back in the 70's used to tint every room a different color, even if the client wanted them the same color. Say they wanted everything SW antique white. He would buy pastel base and tint up a batch of SW antique white himself. Then as he went to paint each individual room he would very slightly off shade whatever paint he used in that room. His reason? Because when they tried to touch up using the paint they got tinted at the store, it wouldn't be close! Or if they hired someone and they tried the store tinted ant. white it would be the same thing. Then they would have to call him back to do the touch-up or the repaint. I don't really know if this worked for him or not.

And I can still order those tinting kits if anyone wants to try and learn a new skill.
 
#45 ·
I would love to learn it. I tried more than once and ended up with wasted paint I had to kitty litter and color on ever thing I touch. It would have been a great funny video clip. If I did new houses all the time I would get serious about learning it.Its just to easy picking up the 2 or 3 gallons I need from the paint store.
 
#44 ·
I was very lucky to be taught how to tint by eye from a very talented ex boss many years ago. But honestly you also have to have the knack within yousellf to be able to do this. I tried teaching guys over the years with no avail. It's a special talent one must have for seeing color which I consider myself blessed to have, because it's saved me so much time and headache over all these years when the color was off and I could adjust it myself right there on the job. I am still able to get Cal Tint universal colorant very easily
and I am working on my stockpile of Gennex colorants. btw. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
 
#46 ·
I knew a guy that used to carry a basket of tint to field tint paint or make small adjustments. I want nothing to do with it. To much dinking around to make it right every time. Computer dispensed tints are so much more accurate. I don't even like carousel dispensed tints anymore, too much room for error.
 
#47 ·
The manual tint dispensers are a nightmare when used with the new 0-voc colorants. They need to be cleaned before almost every use and the colorant dries very hard in the orifice. I have found that using a welding tip cleaner works pretty well but you have to be very careful not to damage the dispenser.
The 0-voc colorants also have a tendency to thicken quite a bit in the canister and become very hard to dispense.
 
#50 ·
I'm curious how everyone deals with custom color matches or matching other mfg's colors? Custom color matches can be time consuming and sometimes require an additional trip to the store if they can't match it right away. This eats up a lot of time and if its not accounted for in your estimate you're losing money while you're waiting at the paint store (this isn't intended to be a knock on paint stores either).

How does everyone deal with this? I'm thinking about specifying in my estimates that clients must choose colors from the fan deck of the paint mfg that is spec'd for the project or additional costs will apply to help cut down on this issue.

These are legitimate questions and worth all our efforts to help get them answered. :thumbsup: There are A lot of great responses!

So what your really asking is how to deal with the time and energy spent accomplishing the matching issues?

Lets take this in another direction.

From my experience it comes down to this question: How much do I want this client or that client to rave about my services?

Is a few hours of color matching really worth the chance of that client giving good reviews or highly recommending your business to their neighbors, family or friends? It typically takes around one hour in most cases. I just havnt had to many tough matches and most of them are just matching other mfg colors... heck, our local Rodda will go out and get the other mfg color swatch and match it for us if they don't allready have it matched in their system. It tends to be just a simple call that took less than 15 min.

I personally do think it is worth the minimal risk. A service company always gives out because the return is always greater than the giving. When people see kindness, it stick out like a sore thumb and they LOVE it! Generosity is a wonderful tool if used with wisdom. :yes: Anyways, it's not so much about how we can make more money off of a client (albeit we like to do this if it's absolutely necessary in this case and there is wording in contracts that help in this area as mentioned by another poster) or what we can do to feel less used by the customer, but it's more about sustaining business through acts of generosity which can be the integrity of our ship (business), that which keeps us afloat. If we are always nickle and dimming the customer then their experience with us won't lead them to rave about our services. WE NEED THE RAVING REVIEWS! That's the end goal and we can sacrifice a little to be successful.

By all means do what is necessary to stay afloat, and if that means subjecting clients to only fandeck colors or charging more for unexpected surprises, then do that. But keep in mind how they will see your services in the end. Some clients don't care, while others do, but we can't judge how either one will see it in the end. It's best to just stay on the good side of our services and be generous.
 
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