Interior/Exterior Painting FAQs

We use quality paints from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore and Behr Paint, unless the customer requests a different brand.

Yes, all of our work comes with a warranty. (Please see our warranty policy.)

One of our main goals is to complete your project with as little disruption to your life as possible. Before your project starts we will guide you with a few things that you can do to help us to complete your project as quickly and smoothly as possible.

There are many things to consider including: type and size of the painted area, type of windows and other trim work, the intensity of the paint colors, the amount of protection needed for plants and furniture, the quality of the paint used, and the extent of needed paint surface preparation. All of those things will need to be considered to provide you with an accurate cost estimate.

The process can take as little as 4-5 days. However, the actual timing will depend on the condition of your paint surfaces, the type of work required, our schedule and weather conditions if the project involves exterior work.

During our consultation with you, we can evaluate your situation and let you know how long we think it will take to complete your painting project.

Yes. We schedule each job to be completed in consecutive days (M-F), unless otherwise stated in our contract agreement.

Our business hours are M-F, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM and Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. We can do work at other hours if needed, but these are our standard working hours.

On interiors, all areas or items will be covered with clean drop cloths or plastic sheeting. On exteriors, shrubs and surrounding areas will be protected so that no evidence of paint splatter or paint peelings remains.

Please move all small items and breakables if possible. Unless agreed otherwise, we will move and protect all of the furniture and fixtures.

Sheen refers to the light reflectivity of the painted or varnished surface. There are varying degrees of sheen, from no sheen to high gloss. Though some paint manufacturers may refer to their paint sheens by different names, generally, from lowest to highest, paint sheens correspond to these reflective degrees:

• Flat finish

• Eggshell finish

• Satin finish

• Semi-gloss finish

• High gloss finish

They provide even light reflection and give the surface a softer, more uniform look.

They don’t highlight surface imperfections like higher sheen paints, so they usually don’t require as much surface preparation (like patching, texturing or sanding) before painting.

They are much less likely to show “lap marks”, so they are generally easier to apply and touch up than higher-sheen paints. (When one painted section dries before the next section is painted, the two sections won’t flow together into a uniform film, resulting in a “lap mark.”)

They don’t need to be sanded or de-glossed before repainting, unlike higher-sheen paints.

They are less stain and scuff-resistant than higher-sheen paints, so they should not be used on surfaces that will be handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.

They are less moisture resistant than higher sheen finishes, so they are not the best choice for areas that are exposed to high humidity levels, like in bathrooms, or on any surfaces that will be washed frequently.

They have better stain resistance, so they resist dirt pickup and stay cleaner longer.

They have better scuff and wear resistance, so they’re good for high-traffic areas and on surfaces that are handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.

They have better moisture resistance, which makes them ideal for surfaces and areas that are frequently exposed to high humidity levels.

They tend to highlight any surface imperfections.

They are harder to touch up than lower-sheen paints because the higher sheen tends to highlight the slightly raised surface of the film where the touch-up was done.

They usually need to be sanded, de-glossed or primed before repainting, to ensure good adhesion of the new paint.

Latex paints are more environmentally friendly than oil-based paints. With oil-based paints there are paint fumes to contend with that can be particularly bothersome on interior painting jobs. There is also a by-product of dirty paint thinner that requires a trip to your local toxic waste site. (We always get rid of this waste as part of our work.)

There are other factors as well: Latex primers and finishes have been improving tremendously over the years and are very durable. For instance, a latex finish on an exterior painting job will stay elastic for years, where oil-based paint dries to form a hard and more brittle film. Surfaces expand and contract with the weather. While the latex paint will move with the surface, the oil will tend to crack sooner with this movement.

The advantage of using oil paints is that it will give a smoother look as it tends to lay out better on the surface and so not show brush marks as much as latex. Also, as was already mentioned, oil dries hard so it tends to be more washable than latex.

Elastomeric Waterproofing System is normally used on exterior stucco and often when the surface has a lot of hairline cracks. Elastomeric is formulated to be applied in very thick coats. When applied correctly, due to their high elasticity, they have a special capacity to span hairline cracks permanently. Instead of these cracks reopening on your stucco, the Elastomeric would stretch and keep them sealed up. This then keeps water out and protects your home from damage. Elastomeric looks much like any other paint and it can be tinted to most colors.

All paints, varnishes, and solvents contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Exposure to VOCs can trigger asthma attacks, respiratory problems, eye irritation, nausea, or dizziness. Because of these health concerns, several paint manufacturers have introduced Low or No VOC paint alternatives.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that to qualify as Low VOC, latex paint must contain no more than 250 g/L and 380 g/L for oil paint.

The term No VOC or Zero VOC for the paint is a misnomer. The No VOC labeled paint will contain some (less than 5 g/L) VOCs. Adding pigment to the paint will likely add another 2-5 g/L to the total.

Yes, we are EPA Lead Certified Company.

If your house was built before 1978, chances are it has lead paint on it. For a fee of $100, Syracuse NY Painters can perform a lab test to make sure.

There are procedures set by the Lead Paint Ordinance on how any work involving lead paint is to be done. These procedures are worked into our approach to the painting work and our painters are trained on all the necessary steps to take. We start with having a containment barrier to ensure that the paint chips do not go where they’re not supposed to, that being onto your or your neighbor’s property, or the inside of your home.

We clean up daily and bag the paint chips for proper disposal.

For more information on lead paint call 1-800-424-LEAD

The cost of a job is usually determined by the level of thoroughness, attention to detail, and quality desired. It costs more to properly prepare a surface for painting than to just pressure clean and scrape the surface. The majority of the cost of painting is in the surface preparation and the labor involved in the application of the paint and not the actual cost of the paint itself. As with most other industries, generally, you get what you pay for.

We keep a close eye on the weather and weather forecasts. If it starts raining while we are in the middle of a painting job, we simply stop and return after it dries up.

Acrylic (latex) paint dries much faster than oil paint. Usually, a couple of hours is plenty of time. Oil paint though should dry overnight. Flat paint usually dries faster than semi-gloss.

A payment schedule is outlined in our contract. We will invoice you accordingly and will expect to be paid at that time.

Generally, an exterior painting job will need to be redone every 5-10 years. Stucco tends to last longer, wood on the other hand expands and contracts more with changing temperatures which loosens the paint sooner.

It is best not to put off your exterior painting until the house is badly peeling. When it gets to that condition, it will end up costing you more in preparation time and possibly dry rot repair work.

If however, the property is in a bad condition when you get to it, do yourself a favor – go the extra length and ensure that thorough surface preparation is done. The idea is to create a sound surface for the new coats to adhere to. This requires more time but is necessary for the paint job to last.

You should walk around the exterior of your home at least every few months looking for dry rot, water penetration, cracks, and chalking. About once a year it is a good idea to pressure wash your home to remove the accumulation of surface dirt.

Interior paint typically gets dirty in many situations: handprints around switches and knobs, splashes in kitchens and bathrooms, marks on hallways and corridors, and “soot” accumulating above electric lamps and other heat sources. Removing dirt before it accumulates not only improves appearance, it reduces the chances of it getting permanently embedded in the paint film.

Check for dirt periodically and assume it will be present in and near cooking areas (airborne cooking oil) and at all places at hand height. Always initially clean the surface with a mild detergent using a sponge or a soft cloth. Resort to harsher cleaners only when necessary, recognizing that alkaline cleaners can dull the sheen or gloss of oil-based paint. Abrasive cleaner will burnish nearly any paint and will dull the gloss of satin, semigloss and gloss products. Washed surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly because residual cleaner can interfere with the adhesion of paint applied later.

Our service area includes: Syracuse NY, Cicero NY, Clay NY, DeWitt NY, Manlius NY, Salina NY, Baldwinsville NY, Camillus NY, Cazenovia NY, Constantia NY, Elbridge NY, Fairmount NY, Fulton NY, Geddes NY, Granby NY, Hamilton NY, Hastings NY, Lenox NY, Lysander NY, Marcellus NY, Mattydale NY, Mexico NY, North Syracuse NY, Oneida NY, Onondaga NY, Oswego NY, Pompey NY, Richland NY, Schroeppel NY, Scriba NY, Skaneateles NY, Solvay NY, Sullivan NY, Van Buren NY, Volney NY, Westvale NY, Albion NY, Amboy NY, Borodino NY, Brewerton NY, Bridgeport NY, Brookfield NY, Camillus NY, Canastota NY, Central Square NY, Chittenango NY, DeRuyter NY, East Syracuse NY, Eaton NY, Elbridge NY, Fabius NY, Fayetteville NY, Fenner NY, Galeville NY, Hamilton NY, Hannibal NY, Jordan NY, LaFayette NY, Lakeland NY, Lebanon NY, Lincoln NY, Liverpool NY, Lyncourt NY, Madison NY, Manlius NY, Marcellus NY, Minetto NY, Minoa NY, Morrisville NY, Nedrow NY, Nelson NY, New Haven NY, Onondaga Reservation NY, Orwell NY, Otisco NY, Palermo NY, Parish NY, Phoenix NY, Pulaski NY, sandy Creek NY, Seneca Knolls NY, Skaneateles NY, Smithfield NY, Spafford NY, Stockbridge NY, Tully NY, Village Green NY, West Monroe NY, Williamstown NY, Altmar NY, Boylston NY, Cleveland NY, DeRuyter NY, Earlville NY, Fabius NY, Georgetown NY, Hannibal NY, Lacona NY, Madison NY, Munnsville NY, Parish NY, Redfield NY, Sand Ridge NY, Sandy Creek NY, Wampsville NY, Hamlets NY, Cardiff NY, Fruit Valley NY, Hinmansville NY, Jack's Reef NY, Jamesville NY, Leonardsville NY, Messina Springs NY, Mottville NY, Mycenae NY, Onondaga Hill NY, Pennellville NY, Plainville NY, Shepard Settlement NY, South Spafford NY, Spafford Valley NY, Split Rock NY, Taunton NY, Texas NY, West Edmeston NY and Rome NY.