Professional Painters are Lazy

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

The people that lived in our place before us were mentally reeruned, which lead them to painting the back deck. This year it finally got bad enough that I decided to do some work on it. We power washed it, scrapped it and laid down a coat of primer. After all of this we decided that this was too much fun for the wife and I and decided to pay someone else to finish the project.

I've called 5 painting companies and here's the results.
First 2 do not answer or return calls.
Candidate #3 made an appointment to come out and give me an estimate. He never showed up.
Candidate #4 is either related to candidate #3 or the previous owners of my house.
Candidate #5 came out and told me that he'll "probably" be able to do it but he won't be able to get to it until October and I will have to buy a sprayer for him.

So if you know of any painters please kick them square in the nuts for me.

I have lost hope in the people of this country. I also run my own business and I run into similar problems in the professional world. There are times when I need a service or product from an outside vendor so I shop around and then place a call that goes something like this "Hello ABC company mine name is Jiveturkey and I would like to give you money in exchange for the service or product that you specialize in". Later that week no one calls back, there's no follow up and they never actually put any effort into taking money from me.

When someone calls me and requests that I take their money I haul ass over to their place and help them write the check.

The lazyness has reached epic proportions and it's pissing me off.

The problem is there is no level of government interaction and/or regulation. If these people had to take a test, and show proficient skills before being able to paint, this wouldn't be a problem. The same goes for carpentry and roofing.

And how much I hate to say it, half of all painters, roofers and carpenters I know have served time of over a few weeks in their life. And most do it cause they either can't pass a drug test or because they want to be able to drink while they work.

Moooo

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Moooo

The problem is there is no level of government interaction and/or regulation. If these people had to take a test, and show proficient skills before being able to paint, this wouldn't be a problem. The same goes for carpentry and roofing.

And how much I hate to say it, half of all painters, roofers and carpenters I know have served time of over a few weeks in their life. And most do it cause they either can't pass a drug test or because they want to be able to drink while they work.

Moooo

How would more government regulation help? That would just decrease the number of qualified contractors while increasing the cost of the work they do.

The problem isn't that the government hasn't stuck their nose far enough into it. The problem is that we live in a Walmart society where everyone wants it for the best price, without considering that they sacrifice quality. Then they wonder why the product or service lets them down.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by jspchief

How would more government regulation help? That would just decrease the number of qualified contractors while increasing the cost of the work they do.

The problem isn't that the government hasn't stuck their nose far enough into it. The problem is that we live in a Walmart society where everyone wants it for the best price, without considering that they sacrifice quality. Then they wonder why the product or service lets them down.

Although I totally understand your opinion, I disagree. When family members have tried to get a good carpenter (which is the same as far as finding good help), it was like a craps shoot. In a city as big as KC, without knowing someone personally or through someone else, you have about a 10% chance of finding someone worth a damn. The first guy they hired only finished the job half way and stopped coming and returning their calls. The second and third guy never showed up, and finally, after 9 months the 4th guy finished it for him, even though he said he didn't do halfway jobs.

If they had to have some sort of licensing and certification not only would it make them show proficient knowledge of their trade, but it would also make sure to do a good job cause their ability to work on that trade would be on the line.

Moooo

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Moooo

Although I totally understand your opinion, I disagree. When family members have tried to get a good carpenter (which is the same as far as finding good help), it was like a craps shoot. In a city as big as KC, without knowing someone personally or through someone else, you have about a 10% chance of finding someone worth a damn. The first guy they hired only finished the job half way and stopped coming and returning their calls. The second and third guy never showed up, and finally, after 9 months the 4th guy finished it for him, even though he said he didn't do halfway jobs.

If they had to have some sort of licensing and certification not only would it make them show proficient knowledge of their trade, but it would also make sure to do a good job cause their ability to work on that trade would be on the line.

Moooo

A license doesn't tell you the difference between a bad plumber/electrician and a good one. It also doesn't tell you which guys will finish the job quickly, and which will disappear halfway through.

First off, the government shouldn't be in the business of making it easier for you to shop for contractors. Second, even if they were involved, chances are whatever system they put in place would be grossly inadequate/ineffective.

The reason it's a crap shoot to find a good construction worker is because the pay dictates that the industry is populated with a bunch of losers.

And next time you need a contractor, call your local homebuilders association.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by jspchief

The reason it's a crap shoot to find a good construction worker is because the pay dictates that the industry is populated with a bunch of losers.

Why do you think that is? Its my opinion that its because there is little to no regulation of the product. If what you say is true, then maybe you suggest big business come in and uniform the industry, cause as it is, its pathetic.

Moooo

[Simplex3]

Originally Posted by Moooo

If they had to have some sort of licensing and certification not only would it make them show proficient knowledge of their trade, but it would also make sure to do a good job cause their ability to work on that trade would be on the line.

Moooo

Oh, wait, you actually believe that?

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Moooo

The problem is there is no level of government interaction and/or regulation. If these people had to take a test, and show proficient skills before being able to paint, this wouldn't be a problem. The same goes for carpentry and roofing.

And how much I hate to say it, half of all painters, roofers and carpenters I know have served time of over a few weeks in their life. And most do it cause they either can't pass a drug test or because they want to be able to drink while they work.

Moooo

Here's the way it works...
You can choose 2 out of three, cheap, good, and fast.

You can get it done good and fast, but it isn't going to be cheap.
You can get it done good and cheap, but it isn't going to be fast.
You can get it done cheap and fast, but it isn't going to be good.

You can't have all three.


The painters that aren't that good are like the carpenters that arent' that good. Their quality of work will keep them at the lower level jobs or they will end up going out of business altogether.

'Course I'd never actually pay someone to paint myself. It isn't that hard to do and make it look good.



Seriously though on your deck, get yourself a wagner power sprayer and do it yourself. The hard work is behind you. We had a 10'x20' deck at our last place and I shot the whole thing in less than an hour per coat (I did 2 coats) and had it done in one day.

[Iowanian]

Rent a good sprayer and a boom and do it yourself.

I've got a good friend who started working for a painter while he went to college...after a year or so, he went on his own.

He's a raging workaholic and pulls in alot of loot....and has a waiting list of work.

[007]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

The people that lived in our place before us were mentally reeruned, which lead them to painting the back deck. This year it finally got bad enough that I decided to do some work on it. We power washed it, scrapped it and laid down a coat of primer. After all of this we decided that this was too much fun for the wife and I and decided to pay someone else to finish the project.

I've called 5 painting companies and here's the results.
First 2 do not answer or return calls.
Candidate #3 made an appointment to come out and give me an estimate. He never showed up.
Candidate #4 is either related to candidate #3 or the previous owners of my house.
Candidate #5 came out and told me that he'll "probably" be able to do it but he won't be able to get to it until October and I will have to buy a sprayer for him.

So if you know of any painters please kick them square in the nuts for me.

I have lost hope in the people of this country. I also run my own business and I run into similar problems in the professional world. There are times when I need a service or product from an outside vendor so I shop around and then place a call that goes something like this "Hello ABC company mine name is Jiveturkey and I would like to give you money in exchange for the service or product that you specialize in". Later that week no one calls back, there's no follow up and they never actually put any effort into taking money from me.

When someone calls me and requests that I take their money I haul ass over to their place and help them write the check.

The lazyness has reached epic proportions and it's pissing me off.

Sounds like my experience when I was debating on vinyl siding or paint. It paritially helped me come to the decision to vinyl side. I was leaning that way anyway.

[greg63]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsguru

Sounds like my experience when I was debating on vinyl siding or paint. It paritially helped me come to the decision to vinyl side. I was leaning that way anyway.

How's it goin?

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

.

The lazyness has reached epic proportions and it's pissing me off.

He says as he doesn't finish his own deck project that he started.

[jiveturkey]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

He says as he doesn't finish his own deck project that he started.

It does seem strange now that you bring it up. I just want it to look good and if that means paying someone to reprep it I'll even do that.

Everyone will be happy to know that candidates #6 and #7 have returned calls and will be coming out next week (hopefully).

[MahiMike]

You're just jealous u don't have a job that has more demand than supply. Having just finished painting my own house, I have greater respect for this profession. It's demanding work. I call it "Yoga on a ladder".