In this blog post, we’re going to talk about how to budget for your Vancouver paint project.
In business and in our personal lives it is generally agreed upon that budgeting is a good thing, allowing us to plan our cash flow more effectively. When it comes to homes in Vancouver, budgeting is essential, as maintenance and upgrades are both of high importance and (potentially) cost.
We want to always ensure we are prepared for upcoming expenses and seek to get the biggest bang for our buck, whether building a new home or maintaining your existing home or business.
We have put together some ideas and tips for helping you budget for the painting of your property or construction project. Please let us know if you find these helpful!
#1 thing to look for when budgeting:
You need an experienced company that has expertise in your type of project/home to work closely with you. There is no replacement for experience and repetition when estimating and budgeting paint projects, and you will experience a massive difference when working with the best.
New Construction Builders and Renovators:
- Your project will have a budget. You want to set realistic painting budgets as early in the project as possible, to get the clients on board. Often the painting component of the project gets worked out later in the process when budgets are tighter, then sacrifices need to be made. We don’t believe the quality of your painting should be an area where you sacrifice.
- Compare the cost difference in going from a cheaper paint contractor to a premium service We find that in the scope of a whole new build the cost to upgrade your paint experience and finish quality is a very low percentage of total project cost, yet the difference to your experience during the job and the finished product will be profound.
Strata Councils, Property Managers and Building Owners:
- Prevention is the best medicine. We advise being proactive in identifying painting projects that require doing, as the advantages are twofold:
i) by upkeeping your buildings you avoid preventable, costly damage and repairs, including urgent ones that can destroy your budgets
ii) your expenses will be more predictable because you will see what expenses will be coming up in the future. You can start to forecast multiple years out, allowing predictability in expenses related to painting.
- Well maintained paint is aesthetically much more appealing, thus increasing rents/property values/revenues.
Homeowners
- When homeowners don’t have a paint budget and maintenance plan, they so often have to wing it, leading to challenges. Consulting a paint pro will allow you to be proactive in protecting your biggest asset and cash flow management.
- Must plan a budget with other costs if doing renovations. When you have a set budget available, it is important to identify any critical items and prioritize them first. After taking care of the most critical items, you can work down the priority list with the remaining available budget.
Overall:
- It is so important to have clear communication and expectations when identifying and setting planning projects and setting budgets. When everyone is super clear, outcomes are predictably better.
- What is NOT included in a budget is equally important as what is included. Being vague when detailing what is to be done and what is not, leaves room for misinterpretation and cost overruns.
- When you are having your planning meetings, have clear and comprehensive documentation from your painters so you can make informed decisions on the spot.
- Coming out of meetings, when new budgets, projects and ideas are on the table it is important to consult your painters to ensure you will be able to achieve your goals with available budgets.
- Have a contingency fund for changes to scope that can come up, unexpected cost overruns due to unforeseen circumstances that can and often do come up during larger projects. This is especially important in construction projects.
- Painting the exposed areas more often helps your building look its best and stay protected. South facing sides especially need paint more often than north-facing sides. In addition, fascia boards, window trims, and other exposed areas need more attention than tucked away siding and soffit.
Summary
Hopefully, we have presented compelling and useful ideas for you around budgeting for painting. Elliott and Jay have been owners in the paint industry for a combined 35 years and have executed on thousands of projects of all types. We have the experience and knowledge to help you with planning and budgeting your painting needs. We are also passionate about and love it, so you will enjoy the process of working with us.
Please call or email us today to start or continue the discussion of how PLE can help you with all of your painting and budgeting needs this year!!!
Winter is hard on homes in Vancouver!
Vancouver winters are wet for up to 4 months. Deluges come and go, days are short, temperatures are low and humidity is high so things stay wet for months. And moisture is the hardest thing on many surfaces of your home, including the paint.
Over the past 2 decades, we have seen a pattern that many homeowners are not aware of. Over time, moisture can do damage, sometimes unseen or unnoticed, but it can be proactively addressed with regular maintenance.
Big water leaks definitely get peoples attention, but the slow degradation of painted surfaces and caulking can go largely unnoticed, especially in high and hard to reach areas.
Over time though, these issues can build up and lead to larger, more expensive issues.
Not to mention the aesthetic and safety issues of mildew buildup over time on a home’s surfaces including stairs, walkways, staining walls, gutters and trims.
As painters, we are up on roofs and ladders and see houses from all angles.
To help our clients identify issues requiring maintenance, PLE has come up with an assessment and maintenance approach that we want to share with you.
Assess Your House From The Top Down.
Start at the top on the roof:
- Look for damage, holes and degrading surfaces, including on chimneys
- Look for moss build up as moss traps moisture
- Look for areas and signs of pooling water
Your home’s gutters and drainage system:
- Are downspouts all attached?
- Are gutter seams sealed or leaking?
- Are the gutters full of leaves or other debris?
- Are the gutters stained, covered in mildew
Window sills and trims – Water ingress (penetration) happens here:
- How is the condition of the paint, is it intact without peeling or cracking?
- How is the condition of the caulking, is it cracked or shrunken?
- How is the condition of the wood, any signs of rotting or cracking?
Walkways, stairs, sidewalks, and other smooth surfaces are very slippery when wet:
- You may want your walkways and stairs to look good, clean and well taken care of
- You likely want your property to be safe, not having dangerous slippery areas people walk
- Is it time for a wash of your walkways and stairs? Look for green, feel it when it’s wet
Paint Protection:
- Time to examine the remainder of the painted surfaces on the house, looking for signs of degrading or failing paint, fading colours
- Do a full walk around, noting areas that can use attention next spring/summer
When you or PLE have gone through a comprehensive inspection of your home such as the one outlined above, you will be well equipped with the right information you need to build a proactive maintenance plan for your biggest asset, your home.
If you would like to speak to us about this process or book in for a maintenance service, please get in touch!
In this blog post we’re going to talk about painting trends in Vancouver, specifically challenges for strata councils, building and business owners as well as homeowners that have upset the typical maintenance and painting landscapes.
2020 has been a strange and unique year for us all.
During challenging times, it becomes even more important to plan effectively and spend wisely. We’re with you!
PLE has been working hard with our team, our clients, and our partners to adapt our strategies so we can continue to bring our best, and to help you, as our clients to get the most value possible.
With the influx of work we are seeing, here are 4 things to consider if you are thinking about hiring a painting company in 2020 or 2021:
1) More Demand: With all the uncertainty, many strata councils, homeowners, and businesses put capital improvement/maintenance projects (including painting) on hold in 2020.
As many of these projects are not optional in the long run, and we are spending more time at home than ever, wear and tear is still happening and these projects are still going to need to be done at some point. With that, we are already seeing a big demand for 2021
We recommend getting a quote from your painter sooner than later. Top local companies can book up fast!
2) Maintenance is best done on an ongoing/as needed basis: When it comes to painting, delaying needed work can have expensive repercussions from both an aesthetic and cost perspective.
If your budget is tight, top local painters can work with you to help determine what work is urgent and what can wait. At PLE we love to help clients build plans to help manage upcoming projects over time AND within your budget.
3) Clear Communication: When looking to put together a painting project, choosing a company that offers clear, concise and comprehensive quotes/estimates is really important.
At PLE Painting, we prioritize putting together great estimates that are easy to understand, knowing that we are all on the same team as we work through your project.
4) Indoor Painting: With winter coming, the Vancouver painting industry basically moves indoors. As such, October thru March is a great time to plan and execute interior painting projects.
Pro Tip: Local painting contractors will price more aggressively in the winter, so you can save money if you act fast.
Going into November, there is a push to get quotes and complete projects before the holidays, so by acting sooner, you can ensure your favourite company will be able to prioritize your project.
