Consider the following when reviewing a Hand Painting Bid vs. A Spray/Hand Application Combo.

This is intended to educate our potential cusotmers and is strictly the opinon of Stellar Custom Painting.

 1. What is the real goal of applying paint to any surface, no matter what the technique?

Answer- The even and consistent application of mil's/thickness of the coating to especially large surface areas such as Lap Siding to the Perimeter of your Home. This is especially important to the bottom edge or lip of your siding as the mission here is to seal the porosity and prevent any further moisture from wicking up into the board which causes the swelling, delamination and warping you will often see.

 2. What affects the ability to apply paint evenly?

Answer- It is very difficult to apply Paint evenly by Hand across a large surface area for the following reasons:

1. The back and forth action of going to the paint bucket to re-load the Brush or Roller. It would be impossible to load the brush or roller the same each time.

2. Different amounts of Hand Pressure when applying the paint. This would just be a natural occurance as it would take a perfect robotic stroke to maintain the same hand pressure.

3. Basic Human Fatique- Again, this would also contribute to the difficulty in applying paint at a consistant pace, pressure or thickness.

4. Up and down / Side to Side Ladder Work and all the movement required here would also make even distribution of a coating by hand very difficult. 

 By Airless:

  1. If the Applicator is consistantly more than 1 ft. from the surface making for inefficiency.

  2. If the wrong size tip is used as the tip dictates the volume and and a tip that is too big can contribute to paint waste and uncessary overspray.

  3. A Poor Power Source can cause inconsistant performance.

  4. Lack of experience with the Equipment can create some inconsistant results.

  Stellar's Conclusion- It takes skill  do use either technique. However, properly used, an airless that puts out up to 1 GPM at 3000 PSI can more evenly and consistantly distribute the paint across a large surface area and most importantly to the bottom edge of the lap board.

 This technology is a very successful multi-million dollar industry that exists to provide a more efficient and productive way to apply coatings vs. the hand painting that contractors had no choice but to do in years gone by. We are after all in the 21st century. Why not use the technolgy available today to produce a great end result.

 3. What surface can be Hand Painted effectivly.

Answer- Trim, Gutters, Down spouts, Roof Caps and to some degree Some Doors and Shutters.

These are smaller surface areas and paint can be more evenly distributed across them with more even application of thickness vs. across a 30 ft. x 30 ft. side of your home.

By the way, for the best results most all metal doors should be sprayed and not hand painted period.

4. What about spraying and back rollling?

Answer- First of all, Siding is difficult to roll as the paint has a tendency to drip and run as the roller is pushed across a very uneven and lapped surface. Secondly, when there is a back roll behind someone spraying in front there is actual thickness of paint or ultimate protection being removed.

5. Won't more time and care be taken when my House is Hand Painted?

Answer- Not necessarily, No question it takes longer to apply paint the old fashioned way. However, many times this added time is compensated by havng multiple painters on a home. Often 6-8 men at a time. This can make for inconsistant results as the job becomes difficult to manage.

6. Should Hand Painting a House cost more?

Answer- Sure, it just takes longer to do it. However, we believe it is a niche in the market being tapped in order to charge more and just to be different.  

Be careful, as no matter how paint is applied anybody can make a paint job look great for a couple of years or just after completion. The overall even application of paint will dictate the mid-term and long term life. Other factors for life of a re-paint-  Quality of prep, Quality of Paint, Non-dilution of Paint, Pre-exsiting condition of House, Exposure of House or Portions of House to Altitude and UV. A House in good conditon when painted will last longer no matter how the paint is applied.

Final Note:

Make sure info. being passed along as fact in regards to hand painting  has some legitimate source to back it up.   i.e. hand application applies paint with more pressure or pushes the paint into the surface more.?? vs. 3000 psi and up to 1 gpm. Pretty hard to believe!