Painter's Handbook
A Terrific How-To Guide to get Professional Results on Any Painting Job

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Loaded with "how-to" information you'll use every day to get professional results on any job: the best way to prepare a surface for painting or repainting; selecting and using the right materials and tools (including airless spray); tips for repainting kitchens, bathrooms, cabinets, eaves and porches; how to match and blend colors; why coatings fail and what to do about it. Lists 30 profitable specialties in the painting business.

320 Pages, 8-1/2 x 11

ISBN: 0-934041-28-8

Chapter One
An Introduction to Painting, 5
     History of Paint, 5
     Where Do You Fit in the Picture, 6

Chapter Two
Creating a Profitable Paint Contracting Company, 8
     Types of Business Structures, 9
     Does Your Area Need Another Paint Contractor, 10
     Establishing Your Business, 13
     The Contractor's License, 15
     Buying an Existing Business, 17
     Start-Up Expenses, 18
     Insurance, 19
     Cost of Doing Business, 20
     Hiring Employees, 22

Chapter Three
An Accounting System for Your Business, 24
     Accounting to the IRS, 26
     Business Expenses, 29
     Cost of Materials, 32
     Taxable Income,
     The IRS Audit, 35
     Paying Taxes and Getting Bank Loans, 35
     Self-Employment Drawbacks, 35

Chapter Four
Accounting, Inventory, and Management Control, 36
     A Typical Company Budget, 36
     The Realistic Budget, 37
     Job and Quote Forms, 42
     Expense Logs, 50
     Profit and Loss Statements, 53
     Inventory Control, 57
     Computer Accounting, 62

Chapter Five
Finding Your Gravy Train, 64
     Specialty Painting, 64
     Low Cost Specialty Painting, 66
     "Specific General" Contracting, 72

Chapter Six
Selling, 74
     Proposal and Contract, 77
     Contractor Warranties, 80
     Presenting Yourself, 81

Chapter Seven
Estimating, 83
     Estimating Labor Costs, 83
     Rules for Good Estimating, 86
     Estimating Materials, 86
     Paints for Different Surfaces, 87
     Surface Area Calculations, 87
     Paint Coverage Charts, 95
     Paint Remaining Charts, 95
     Estimating Worksheets, 98

Chapter Eight
Painting Safety, 103
     Building Codes, 104
     Safety Precautions, 109

Chapter Nine
Choosing Paint, 112
     Paint Quality, 113
     Paint Life, 114
     Paint Failures, 115
     Specific Paints and Coatings, 119
     Primers, 126

Chapter Ten
Color, 128
     Residential Exteriors and Color, 128
     Industrial Colors, 131
     Interior Colors, 131
     Color Choice Problems, 133
     Color and Estimating, 135
     Mixing Your Own Colors, 137
     Touch-up Work, 138
     Color Properties, 139

Chapter Eleven
Surface Cleaning and Preparation, 143
     Cleaning Surfaces, 144
     Stain Removers You Can Make, 145

Chapter Twelve
Common Paint Problems: Prevention and Cure, 151
     Paint Handling/Storage Problems, 152
     Reason for Paint Failures, 152
     Paint Application Problems, 153
     Poor Coverage, 154
     Moisture Problems, 164
     Peeling, 165
     Plaster, Wallboard and Cement Problems, 167
     Poor Adhesion on Wood, 172

Chapter Thirteen
Water and Fire Damage, 183
     Looking for Water Damage, 185
     Sources of Water Leaks, 186
     Repairing Fire Damage, 195

Chapter Fourteen
Selecting and Using the Right Tools, 198
     Brushes, Pads and Rollers, 199
     Spray Equipment, 202
     Paint Removal Tools, 203
     Ladders and Scaffolds, 212

Chapter Fifteen
Surface Prep and Painting, 215
     Mixing Paint, 215
     Preparing Interior Surfaces, 217
     Painting near and on Wallpaper, 223
     Wallpaper Removal, 224
     Preparing Exterior Surfaces, 226
     Staining vs. Painting, 232

Chapter Sixteen
Painting New Construction, 234
     Building with Painting in Mind, 237
     Scheduling the Painting, 238
     Doors, Jambs and Trim Painting, 239
     Redwood and Cedar Staining, 242

Chapter Seventeen
Spray Painting, 245
     Conventional Spray Equipment, 245
     Types of Spray Guns, 247
     Thinning Paint Properly, 247
     Airless Spray Systems, 248
     Controlling Spray Patterns, 250
     Cleaning Equipment, 250
     Correct Tip Selection, 252
     Exterior Surface Spraying, 254
     Electrostatic Spray Painting, 255
     Spray Painting Tips and Precautions, 255
     Troubleshooting Guide, 256

Chapter Eighteen
Cement Products and Texturizing, 261
     Masonry Paints, 263
     Texture Coatings, 265
     Spray-On Textures, 275
     Repairing Texture Coatings, 278

Chapter Nineteen
Alternate Wall Coverings, 279
     EPA Rulings, 279
     Wallpaper, 281
     Murals, 283
     Wood and Paneling, 284
     Tile, 286
     Plastics, 290
     Brick, Marble, and Rock, 293
     Fabrics and Carpet, 295
     Sound Control, 296
     Charging for the Job, 301

Appendix
Paint Chemistry, 302
     Why Paint Adheres, 303
     U/V Radiation, 305

Glossary, 310

Index, 317

Painter's Handbook
by Bill McElroy

This complete guide explains what painters and paint contractors need to know to thrive in the paint contracting business. It’s loaded with practical “how-to” information you’ll use every day when preparing surfaces for coating, applying paints, bidding jobs and running your paint contracting company:

Doing Professional Quality Work – Selecting the right tools (including power equipment). Preparing all types of surfaces. Tips for repainting kitchens, bathrooms, cabinets, eaves and porches (whether wood, drywall, plaster or metal). Handling new construction (what to insist on and what to avoid). Getting good results from your airless spray rig (with a troubleshooting guide). How to apply every common type of paint, coating, texture and wall cover, including paper, plastics, laminates and fiberglass.

Paint Problems and Their Cure – Why coatings fail. Testing for blisters, chalking, poor adhesion and condensation. Recipes for removing all types of stains. What to do about voids, skips, holidays, pulls, wrinkles, color changes, gloss spots, streaks, yellowing, peeling, alligatoring, powdering, chipping, checking, cracking, crazing, fisheyes, graining, roller stipple, water stains and fire damage.

Using the Right Paint and Color – Avoiding paint oxidation, chalking, and fading. Creating special effects (cobweb, crackle and splatter). Using stains, varnishes, lacquer, shellac, plastics, preservatives and primers. Avoiding customer complaints about color match. Tried and true color schemes for everything costs by mixing your own colors. Making touch-ups blend in perfectly.

Setting Up Your Business – Selecting your area and specialty. Where to get start-up cash and how much you need. Protecting yourself with insurance. Controlling expenses. Staying legal (taxes and licenses). Getting top value for your advertising dollar. Typical budgets for paint contractors. Keeping your paperwork straight (including blank forms your should use). Tracking job expenses.

Finding Your Gravy Train – Over 30 profitable specialty painting businesses you should consider. How to sell the job (at your price). Estimating areas, material quantities and labor costs for walls, overhangs, gables, molding, trim, doors, and windows (including worksheets you can use).

Whether you’re an apprentice just learning the trade or a master painter with years of experience, this complete manual will open your eyes to better, faster, more professional ways to make a good living in the paint contracting business.

The Author

Bill McElroy started painting homes, offices, and apartments in the 1960’s. He soon found that being able to swing a brush didn’t guarantee success as a painter – far from it. He had to learn to supervise painters, keep books and records, and sell jobs before his business was consistently profitable. Over the last 20 years Bill McElroy mastered the art of paint contracting. He’s learned the tricks of the trade – how to do professional-quality work in the shortest possible time. He’s handles every type of work, applied every type of coating, and kept notes on his work and the manufacturers and master painters. In this book he’s recorded the wisdom collected in his career as a paint contractor.

Now operating in Southern California, Mr. McElroy’s paint and construction company specializes in shopping centers and larger homes in the Malibu area. A recognized expert in the field, he is a consultant to a number of California corporations. His articles about how color affects perception have appeared in several trade journals.

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