[Painter-Aaron]

Sounds like you worked for my last contractor.
I told him the job would be between 8-12 hrs
It was done in 11 and he said I screwed him and my guy was slow. And decided to hold an hr pay.

 

[jeffnc]

I honestly don't have the strength I used to have to roll a room super quickly.

You should be using an extension pole, even for 8' ceilings. This reduces the distance you have to raise your arms, thus saving your muscles a little.
http://previews.123rf.com/images/sc...-Woman-in-overalls-using-roller-on-extension-pole-painting-wall-Stock-Photo.jpg

Obviously that's a very staged photo and you won't actually be painting W's, but you get the idea

 

[driftweed]

Go purchase an 18" roller frame, sleeve and bucket. That alone will cut your time massively.

 

[straight_lines]

$15 an hour and they got screwed? Were you working for the apartment complex? Tell them that's what painters work for when employed by a business.

Sounds like you were working as an employee. They should be paying payroll, UE and SS taxes as well as insuring you.

 

[chrisn]

I think we have to keep in mind that the OP said this was the largest project they've ever worked on, and haven't painted anything more than a single room in years.

They probably don't have the tools or familiarity with what they did have that we all do. All of this is going to slow a job like this down to a crawl.

apparently not even a step ladder

 

[slinger58]

apparently not even a step ladder

Well now it's possible it was one of those professional folding aluminum work platforms.

But yeah, gathering from the rest of the post it was probably a salvaged ottoman or something.

 

[Bethany]

Unfortunately, the person who hired me is my landlord and boss (I help her manage her B&Bs) and her husband. As if this whole thing wasn't enough of a mess, I'm concerned that all of this could screw up my living situation, and my other part-time job (vacancy rates in Portland are ridiculously low so finding another place is a months long endeavor). They knew that I hadn't done any professional painting in a really long time before I started the project. And when I did, I had help from several other people and didn't handle negotiating cost or deadlines, or putting in a bid for a job. No, there was no written contract, although I sure wish there had been. I came to this website because I knew that if I had posted in the DIY Painting forum, no one would have any idea about painting on a deadline and being hired as a painter. And even though I don't have a lot of experience, what I was doing was painting professionally.
I do feel like I've been taken advantage of, but I wasn't sure if my feelings were reasonable. Even though it took me longer than if they had hired a painting contractor, I didn't think they would expect me to paint as quickly as someone who'd had a lot of recent experience. If they needed it done by a specific time, they should have been clear about that, and shouldn't have decided against allowing me to bring another person into the project, or be upset when doing the project alone took me longer. And ultimately, if they wanted it done super fast, they should have contacted a painting company who could bring in a crew of painters.

 

[Bethany]

And yes, slinger58, you're right. I was using one of those professional folding aluminum work platforms as a stool. There was a ladder I could've used, but without wheels it would've just made things more difficult.

 

[slinger58]

And yes, slinger58, you're right. I was using one of those professional folding aluminum work platforms as a stool. There was a ladder I could've used, but without wheels it would've just made things more difficult.

A ladder without wheels? I don't have a ladder with wheels.

Explain please.

 

[Bethany]

It's true, most ladders don't have wheels. The ones that do are mostly just used inside a library. Because I was masking around the edge of all the ceilings, I had to move the stool around the room with me so I could reach the ceiling. I had to hold onto the masker with one hand and move the stool a few feet with the other. Moving the ladder would've been impossible with one hand and wouldn't have been much more helpful...unless it had wheels that would've allowed me to move myself along the wall without having to climb off of it.

 

[Bethany]

...Even though it wouldn't be very safe (like if something was in the way).

 

[jeffnc]

I'm sure she means dragging a ladder around is harder than a stepstool. And yes they make many types of ladders or ladder type things with wheels for easier moving. A work platform is much more handy.

 

[Bethany]

That's exactly what I mean jeffnc.

 

[slinger58]

It's true, most ladders don't have wheels. The ones that do are mostly just used inside a library. Because I was masking around the edge of all the ceilings, I had to move the stool around the room with me so I could reach the ceiling. I had to hold onto the masker with one hand and move the stool a few feet with the other. Moving the ladder would've been impossible with one hand and wouldn't have been much more helpful...unless it had wheels that would've allowed me to move myself along the wall without having to climb off of it.

Got it. Using a sprayer was probably the wrong way to go here. Brushing and rolling would eliminate the need for masking and would have been the more efficient way to go here.

But at the end of the day, they owe you $1470.00. That was the deal you agreed to and they agreed to. You did your part, now they should pay you.

As others have suggested here, you need more time working with an experienced painter/contractor before taking on jobs on your own. No disrespect intended.

Hope it works out in the end. :thumbsup:

 

[jeffnc]

Go purchase an 18" roller frame, sleeve and bucket. That alone will cut your time massively.

Yeah that's a great suggestion, and if a loaded 18" is too hard on your arms, a 14" is a good compromise (easier to find online than locally).

 

[SemiproJohn]

I certainly hope that your living situation doesn't get compromised because your landlord/boss feels you didn't get the job done fast enough. They owe you for your work, period.

If you do continue taking on painting jobs, just realize that the pros don't agree on one best way to paint an apartment, room, etc. I have asked for advice on spraying sequence for ceilings, walls, trim, and doors, and got enough different answers that, ultimately, it is trial and error until what works best for me is established. I am always trying to reduce the amount of time I spend on anything. This is a great place to go for suggestions, but you have to just experiment.

For example, in your situation, I might have sprayed the ceilings, not worrying if I got a little overspray on the tops of the walls. Ceiling paint is usually flat, walls usually go a different color and sheen. It is easy enough to cut in and roll over the overspray. I would not have masked the ceilings. That is difficult and hard on the body. I would then have cut in the walls and trim with a brush and rolled the walls. No masking needed, except for windows when spraying ceilings (and covering the floors).

There are probably many here who would not use the method I suggested. At any rate, good luck.

 

[driftweed]

Bethany:

from here on out, learn from this. As long as you do that, you will be fine.

If you are wanting to make painting a full time job look around the business forum. It can be a lucrative trade, if you do things right.

We all have bad jobs/customers it happens. Go after your payment, just be polite about it. Hell, worse case scenario have them take it out of your rent.

 

[RH]

Unfortunately, if you continue to have payment issues, your options will be limited. You really can't contemplate legal action since in Oregon (just assuming you are in that Portland) you need to be licenced, insured, and bonded in order to do painting for money. Yes, they should be happy to pay you what you earned since they appear to have gotten a great deal. But they seem to hold all the cards should they continue to be jerks.

 

[The 3rd Coat]

If working on my own, I prep and repaint a 3 bedroom apartment in 15 days as a guide, if including all woodwork. If they want it faster, they can hire someone else.

But I would never do hourly rates, don't need to work for clock watchers. One thing I'm willing to do is do longer days and/or weekends to finish quicker. But will never try to speed up the actual pace of the work. A job takes as long as it takes to do it with a happy heart.


But back to your case, you were desperate for work, and there are low-lifes out there who will take advantage of that. Next time don't do hourly rates, but give a fixed price with a written quote.

 

[jeffnc]

15 days? Wow, don't know how you get away with that - I don't know anyone who would understand more than about 5. Most people think in terms of their calendar schedule, regardless of the crew size. But even alone, I'm not sure how I could make a profit if that project took me 15 days.