Southern Utah Home Builders Association is working hard to promote Green Building Practices in Southern Utah. They have created the Southwest green Building Council and are trying raise money and awareness. Won't you please take a minute and vote!
Thanks!
Meet John Howell! John started painting by his father's side as soon as he was able to hold a brush! John says,
"When I was a kid I painted with him and grew to love painting. My dad was a guy that loved to see a job done right - the first time, every time."
John has carried on the family tradition and has run a successful painting business in the Portland and Vancouver areas since 1993. Contact him at John Howell Construction. John has mastered many aspects of the trades and can help any homeowner protect and beautify their home.
In his free time, John likes to network and offer advice to other painters at a poplar online forum, Painttalk. There John is known for his quick wit and cryptic responses! He is always willing to share his knowledge of paint products and procedures. He is always interested in seeing what others are up to and is a valued online friend! Great to "know" you John!
Some people spend more time doing research to choose television than they do to choose a contractor!
In the small town of Cedar City, like many Southern Utah towns, most of our work comes from referrals. Our satisfied customers are always happy to give out our name out to friends and family, and we appreciate that!
Southern Utah is also a desirable place to retire or build a second home, so we often get calls from people who have no local connections and found us by Googling "Utah Painters". Many of the people we meet are from the "big city" and have often been let down by unscrupulous contractors in the past. They are often surprised by the small town honesty and friendliness they encounter in our area. But I still encourage all homeowners to follow some basic steps when hiring a contractor.
1. Ask for referrals from family friends and neighbors. More than likely, you've been a guest at a home that's been recently painted by a professional contractor. If your first reaction to that paint job was favorable, be sure to ask the homeowner which contractor they used.
If you don't have a referral from someone you know, there are plenty of contractors that regularly advertise in your local newspaper, flyers, or online at sites such as Facebook. Check your local paint store like Sherwin Williams and ask the manager for the name of a good painter.It's generally a good idea to get an estimate for your project from 2-3 different contractors. You can set multiple appointments with prospective contractors for a particular day, or spread them out over the course of a few days in the same week. Generally, initial estimates are free.2. Before you meet with a contractor, write down the details of the project you have in mind as well as a projected budget. Some things you can check before they come.Are they licensed with the State? Click here to the State Licensing Board to look up any contractor.
Are they insured? They will have to show you a copy of their Liability Insurance.
Are the employees covered under Workers Compensation? Click here to verify. If a worker is hurt on your property, you could be liable for medical bills!
What type of experience do they and/or their employees have? They should be able to show you samples of their work.
While price is always a factor, having skilled workers and a reputable company that has been in business for a minimum of 2-3 years should be high ranking factors as well in your final selection.3. Was your home built before 1978? If so, your contractor must be EPA Certified. Click here for more info on Lead Paint.
4. When you meet, both decision makers should be available. As you and the contractor are take a look at your painting project, ask what type of preparation work they do. Painting is 90% preparation and 10% painting!
Ask for recommendations from the contractor for types of materials you can consider for your project. If you are wanting to do a more eco-friendly painting project, be sure to ask if the materials the contractor uses are low-VOC or zero-VOC paints, primers, etc.
A well-versed and experienced professional contractor will know the latest trends in color, materials and techniques and can make suggestions that will best fit your particular project.The Painting Contractor should provide you with a detailed, written scope of work outlining all the work proposed, a price and proof of qualifications. Some may also provide references from other customers, if not, don't be afraid to ask! On larger projects, some contractors may prefer to complete the proposal at their home or office and present it to you later, in person, or by fax/email. Some projects are simple enough that a contractor can complete the proposal on the spot and may have a contract ready as well.5. Gather your notes as well as the contractors' estimates and compare experience, price, etc. It's important to compare "apples to apples", some contractors may use a cheaper paint or skip important prep.If you feel you're ready to make a final selection from the contractors you've interviewed, great! You're ready to contact them to begin the project. If you're still unsure, or don't feel like you've found what you are looking for, you may want to consider calling another contractor for an additional estimate.
This homeowner wanted a fresher, brighter interior before the long cold Utah winter sets in! We finished the mudroom and gave the interior a bright coat of paint!
See what a difference a professional painter can make to your home!
Call Rob at RC Painting to see what a difference we can make!
Many of the homes in the Southern Utah area are stucco with rock trim. This is a great option for our desert climate. There is very little wood trim to maintain on most houses. The stucco still requires some care though, we will talk about how to keep your home looking clean and fresh next week, so check back!
Stucco homes still need to be inspected every year, look for small cracks, efflorescence and flaking paint. These should be addressed and repaired by a professional painter. Often, a yearly check can prevent later problems. If your home is already showing signs of failure, it may be time to call in a professional for a proper prep and repaint.
If your stucco is failing, fading, or you are ready to update the look of your home, call RC Painting today to solve all your Stucco problems!
Look what a simple color change did for this home!
Living and working in a small rural area often presents many challenges for small businesses. Many small business owners find it difficult to keep a full crew busy all year long, especially in these economic times. The construction industry has been especially hard hit in Southern Utah.
There are many contractors who have downsized their staff and then find themselves without an experienced crew to complete larger jobs in a timely manner. Many of these contractors will hire day labor from an employment agency like SOS Staffing, and hope that the employee has some safety training or experience.
Some may hire a friend, an inexperienced person, or worse, an illegal immigrant. They will often pay cash under the table, as setting up someone on payroll and Workers Compensation can be costly and time consuming.
RC Painting of Cedar City and Piazza Painting of St. George have had these same issues, we wanted to keep our experienced, insured and trained employees working all year round. In order to accomplish this, we work together often on larger projects, such as the Genpak addition in Cedar City. By combining our resources, we are able to complete jobs like these with experienced staff and the right equipment!
The weather in Southern Utah is starting to cool off........
Summer is coming to an end, the kids are back in school and the leaves will be turning soon! Did you get all your home improvement chores done? Are you ready to spend a few months indoors? How do your walls look?
If you are ready to add some warmth and personality to your home, call RC Painting at 435-691-1246 to schedule an appointment to freshen up your living space!
What has happened to the way we speak and present ourselves lately online? I participate on a number of online forums and social media sites. I have noticed an increase in the use and the common acceptance of profanity and vulgarity on many sites.
As a moderator on two construction related forums, I hear (see) a lot of good natured conversations with an occasional profane word thrown in for emphasis and it really does not bother me. In both forums, there are private (members only) and public sections. For the most part, the members in the public sections show restraint, and in the private areas, not so much! But that is ok, because in the private areas, you know what to expect, as contractors can be an "expressive" group!
What about the public areas? Should they be censored? Should anyone be allowed to use language that others may find objectionable? Many members have their business name visible, does it matter to them that a potential customer might find their post? Do people really worry anymore on how they appear? Does it make it a difference if it is "in context" or "gratuitous"? I don't know?
This morning, I asked a member of a forum to remove the words bitch and jackass from a signature line (this appears in every post they make, sometimes a personal statement or opinion, most often a link to their own site). I was astounded by the response I received. I was accused of violating his Right to Free Speech! I had not asked him to edit his political opinion, only remove the two words. Was I being a prude? Is that oppression?
I did some googling and found some interesting articles like these:
Why do Educated People use bad words?
What's up with all the profanity? It seems there is a lot of controversy on this subject! Maybe I am just an old lady who still believes in good manners? What do you think?South Carolina Considers Law That Would Criminalize Profanity In Public Forums
Youtube patron outraged over profanity filter
We are on the home stretch of painting 5 homes in 5 weeks in the Nichols Landing area of Enoch, Utah for SMJ Homes of Cedar City, Utah. This was a tight schedule, but having a General Contractor like Shem Mackert with an experienced staff and a group of subcontractors who are experienced in working together made it a very smooth build. Justin Bowler of SMJ Homes is the project supervisor and he made sure that all the trades were scheduled in a way that allowed everyone the access to do what they needed to do. This allowed for a quality home to be built in an efficient and budget friendly manner without sacrificing quality. Call SMJ Homes now to see what they can do for you!
