Professional Painters are Lazy

[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.

[Earthling]

Getting to, and doing, the prep/priming is 80% of the job...which will only be as good as the prep work. Why not finish the job yourself..or are you too lazy??
I will generally decline jobs where they do the prep work. My name would be on it ultimately and I doubt that they would do as good as job on the prep as I would.

[stevieray]

mmmm....paint.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Brock

Told you.

Ha!

[Big Dick Jones]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Don't take anybody seriously unless they have a Graco. FWIW, I have a Graco. I will spray your deck but it's going to cost you and I offer no guarantees beyond what the manufacturer of the paint guarantees.

Drop me a PM if you're interested.

Should I throw away my Binks #7?

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Over-Head

Greco Ultra 390

390 sucks. My 395st will blow it away.

[Rain Man]

I bet the first two don't speak English.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Moooo

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

Why? IMO it's because sometime in the last 50 years labor became a dirty word. There was a time when when being a tradesman was a respected job. Now it's what your parents tell you you'll end up as if you don't study harder in college.

On top of that, like I already mentioned, it's because price is the only selling point for so many people now. Ten years ago, if I got a call to bid a job, I set up an appointment to meet the customer and "sell" myself and my services. It was an opportunity to tell them why they should hire me instead of the other guy. Now, they just want an estimate dropped in the mailbox. That tells me from the start that it's only about price. And when you need to cut costs to lower prices, employees are the only option in this business. Instead of paying a premium for the top guys, you have to find guys that fit within the budget.

As for suggesting "big business", I have no idea where you get the idea that's what I'm saying. In fact, it's just the opposite.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Moooo

Its my opinion that its because there is little to no regulation of the product.
Moooo

To this point...

You say it's because the product isn't regulated. But read your own anecdote. The problem wasn't that they got a framer that did a lousy job. It was that they got a guy that bailed on the job halfway through. A license isn't going to keep that from happening.