Many times, painting contractors are asked to suggest interior colors for both residential and commercial clients. Here’s some simple advice: to maximize the impact of architectural elements, consider contrasting paint colors. Jane Earl, a color consultant in Madison, WI, and an accredited member of the International Association of Color Consultants/Designers–North America (IACC-NA),…

Earlier this year, John Linebaugh recognized it was time to refresh the exterior paint of his 20-year-old home, located in Federal Way, a small suburb just outside Seattle, WA. At the time, Linebaugh also needed a home generator, and contacted Lowe’s for a quote. Following the appointment, he asked about a referral…

There’s an old saying among locksmiths that, “Locks keep honest people from stealing.” In the trades—carrying thousands of dollars worth of gear in the back of your truck—you want to do everything in your power to not just keep honest people honest, but to deter savvier thieves from targeting you. The following…

Yay—the economy is improving and the projected job outlook for painters is too. From 2012 to 2022, the field is expected to see job growth of 20%, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Boo—the economy is growing. “Labor is a challenge,” says Aaron…

Jeremy Rhett, owner of CertaPro Painters of Atlanta, GA, doesn’t like to be patronizing to his staff, but he knows as more jobs shift indoors this fall, some of his crews—particularly those who haven’t done an interior job in months—will need a few basic reminders about interior prep dos and don’ts. “Some…