You’ve decided that it’s time to paint the outside of your home. Either the paint has failed (meaning the color has faded or is starting to chalk), there are cracks along the stucco, or you just want a completely different color. Regardless of why you want your home painted, you must now choose a painter that understands the harmful effects of the sun on Florida homes. Not just any painter can paint the outside of your home and make sure it turns out the way you want for more than 7 years. For this reason, you need to spend some time researching the painters in your area.

Every painter is a little different. Some will charge by the hour, some will charge by the job. Some painters will use a paint sprayer, others will use a roller and brush. There are the right ways and wrong ways to paint a home in Florida. Since you want great results, there are some questions to ask every painter you are considering.

Start with a list of five or six painters in the area. This will give you a good number to find out about. By the time you are done researching each of them, you will have a clear answer of who you want to hire for the job. You don’t want to make a mistake when you hire a painter, so it’s best to dedicate some time to do your homework.

The top question to ask a painter is whether or not they are licensed and insured. If you find out that they aren’t licensed or insured, cross them off your list. Professional painters will be licensed. This isn’t an issue you want to compromise on. Further, an insurance policy will protect you financially. Otherwise a painter could damage something on your property and you will be the one paying for it.

Next, ask about experience. Every Venice painter that you consider hiring should have the experience in painting stucco. This will ensure they know how to properly handle caulking cracks, cleaning the stucco, and overall prepping the stucco. Without this knowledge and experience, you could end up with problems down the road with bubbling, peeling and an otherwise unappealing appearance. Testimonials are the best way to find out what kind of work this painter has done and will do for you.

Painters will use a wide array of techniques during the painting of your home. Ask about these techniques to find out what you can expect. Those who use a paint brush and roller understand that stucco can be difficult to cover and a brush and roller will cover wonderfully. There are certainly times when a sprayer works best. Quiz your prospective painting companies and see why they use what they do.

Pricing, too, is important. A Venice painter should price by the job, not by the hour. A painter should come out to your home to provide a quote. If they don’t, then it means they can’t be bothered trying to win your business. Consider how long the warranty is for when considering price. A painter at half the cost is great, but you’ll need to repaint every 3 years which ends up costing more than twice as much as those with a 9 year warranty over a 30 year span.

Good, professional painters are out there – you just need to spend some time looking for the right one. Interview them, ask about their techniques, and go with the professional with a warranty. You’ll be so glad you did!