Monthly Safety Meeting: Driving Safely

Monday, September 25, 2006
Once a month, Chism Brothers Painting has a Safety Meeting that is required for all employees to attend. Sometimes we cover such basic topics as, "How to climb a ladder." Nonetheless, we have found that by having regular safety meetings, our people are more alert on and off the job. Safety on the job means lower workman's compensation rates for us, which means we can provide our services at a lower cost to you. If you are planning to paint your home, ask the contractor if they have a regular safety meeting. This month's safety meeting was on driving safely. Here is what we covered: Driving Safely (in a trance) Have you ever driven several blocks and then all of a sudden sort of woke up in a realized that you had driven the distance automatically? You had apparently stopped at the right places, moved at the right times and done all the other things correctly because you are in one piece and still moving along. But you don't remember each specific act. Your mind was wandering. You were thinking about your work or the next assignment. Perhaps you were pondering your problems, or maybe you were just plain daydreaming about a vacation. Maybe you were just bored with the "driving bit" and not concentrating for a few moments to think about other things. Often the comfort of the modern vehicle can transport the driver into a sense of false security, relaxation and unawareness. It is a frightening experience to suddenly find you've driven several moments without actually being aware of what you were doing. Driving is sometimes an automatic action like walking. You walk along without thinking about each step you take. Often while walking in such a daze, a person trips or bumps into something or someone. Even just walking can be serious enough. Usually it's simply embarrassing. Errors made while driving in such a trance can be devastating, if not fatal. You can keep your mind from wandering at the wheel by playing little games while you drive along. Count traffic lights or signs. That way you will also keep track of traffic around you. Leave the daydreaming to the walk in the park or in the woods. Chances of a serious injury are much less that way. (Taken from the PDCA Weekly Tool Box Topics) We also discussed the guidelines for safe driving while talking on the phone using the following information: Do's and Don'ts

Thoughts on Ceramic Coatings

Friday, September 22, 2006
For over thirty years, Americans have heard advertising on paint coatings that will reduce your energy cost by as much as forty percent. Such advertisers claim that homeowners using these coatings will never have to paint again. One of the first coatings to claim a lifetime coating was known as TexCoat. Now we have been hearing and receiving advertising from companies claiming a new product known as ceramic paint. If you have not heard the ads on the radio or received a mail piece, then you have probably had someone arrive on your doorstep informing you of this "amazing" technology. Chism Brothers Painting has had to research and answer questions about ceramic coatings so we can educate and inform our customers on what to do on their home. Question like, "Will I never have to paint again?" "Will I truly save up to forty percent in energy cost?" In this blog, we will answer these two questions and provide a link of more extensive research on ceramic coatings. 1) You will have to paint again. No paint can outlast the sun! These companies make false claims and charge prices that are extremely high. Another common problem is finding these companies out of business when you have a problem with your paint. 2) It will not save you up to 40% in energy cost. There is not enough ceramic in the paint to save you money and you still have issues of your roof, windows, doors, and flooring where heat or cool air can escape. We applied this coating to a home in Poway a few years ago and did a heat test on it. The product was very hot, and the sales rep. seemed a little embarrassed. The foreman on the project was smart enough to know that it wasn't the paint, but the color selected that was the problem. It was a very dark blue color. If we used a quality exterior white paint, the paint would have been cooler. In other words, lighter paint color will favorably influence your energy bill more than the ingredients used in the paint. Is There Any Value in Using a Ceramic Coating? Yes. Some of the ceramic coatings on the market today are excellent products but are falsely advertised to do more than they can possibly do for a home. The coatings we have found that work well seem to have excellent adhesion on painted surfaces and dry extremely hard. It appears that ceramic coatings are easier to maintain when the surfaces gets dirty, and we think the finish will last longer than your typical house paint. However, it will not last a life time! One final word: the product itself is expensive, but it should not cost what these sales companies are charging to apply the material. The cost to apply a ceramic coating would probably add 15-25% more to any good paint bid. For more information about ceramic coatings click on this link.

Painting for the Entire Family

Thursday, September 21, 2006
Early this year, we received a call from a Mr. Wilson in La Jolla who wanted his exterior painted. When I went to look at the home, I recognized the home and told him we had painted the home before for the previous owner. After giving him a proposal that he liked, and helping him select colors, we began painting the exterior again. A month or so later, I received a call from Mr. Wilson's sister who wanted her interior completely repainted. She had built her home 6 years before, but the painters did not paint the interior very well. In certain areas, they did not use the proper primers and finishes, so there was a fair amount of work for Chism Brothers to redo. She hired us to refinish most of the interior maple cabinets and repaint all the walls and ceilings with the right products and preparation this time around. When we finished, she had us stay and complete the exterior trim. By the time we were finishing up the exterior work, her mother, Mrs. Wilson, called and asked us to look at her home. We gave her a bid to paint all the exterior trim. She just informed us that she too is ready to begin work. We are so glad that the Wilson family has used our company to help with their home projects, and we are grateful for their trust in how we do business. It is our goal to treat all of our clients with the highest level of service possible. Our reward is seeing happy customers who will refer us to their entire family!

How To Clean Flat Finish Walls

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
One of the questions frequently posed to me on estimate calls is "How do I clean my flat finish walls?" Flat finish walls are tricky to clean. I typically give two suggestions, 1) Try to clean with hot water and a sponge (no detergents) and do a minor touch-up with areas that will not clean off 2) or Repaint your walls with an eggshell (satin) finish that is more washable. It is difficult to clean flat finish walls, and the longer you wait the less opportunity you have to make them look new. Using a lot of elbow grease and detergents often breaks down the paint quality and sometimes leaves hallow marks in the finish. Earlier this year, our Company discovered a new sponge by Scotch-Brite called the "Easy Erasing Pad" designed to clean flat paint walls. I was skeptical about its effectiveness but decided to give it a try. I must say after trying it on several different walls that it really did an excellent job cleaning the walls. It did not leave hallow marks either. If the walls had surface scuff marks, most of them came off with little effort on my part. I began trying the sponge on woodwork and cabinetry, and it worked wonders. I am sold on the new tool and am passing it on to my customers and friends who are reading this blog. To find out more about this helpful little sponge: Click Here

Semi-Transparent or Solid Stains

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Below, you will find a FAQ from the Paint Quality Institute that will apprise you of the differences between semi-transparent and solid-body stains. Chism Brothers Painting is very well educated on current products and what is best to use for your home. Please don't hesitate to call or email us with your questions. One thing to remember when re-coating over a semi-transparent stain with another coat is that finish appears more opaque. This is important to be aware of because semi-transparent stain can require more maintenance.

Q: From time to time we have to do staining. When should I consider a semi-transparent vs. a solid or opaque stain?

A: This depends very much on the desired look or appearance you want and on durability you want. To see the natural grain structure of the wood you should chose a semitransparent stain. Semitransparent stains have a thinner consistency and use less pigment. Solid color stains have a higher pigment content (more consistent with paint). As a result solid color stains go on thicker, and generally last longer than semitransparent stains. Top quality semitransparent stains usually last a minimum of 3 years while solid color stains last a minimum of 5 years before needing re-staining.

Designing with Color

Friday, September 08, 2006
Choosing the right color of paint can be either fun or frustrating. As an estimator for Chism Brothers Painting, I have seen some homeowners get excited when I talk about colors while others are scared to death to make a decision on what they want. I have two simple suggestions for you to think about when designing your home with color. (If you do not want to deal with selecting the colors yourself, we have a solution for that too.)

• Try to select colors that you naturally like: If you do not like a certain color, do not consider using it or think that you will end up liking it.
• The first color choices that you look at and find pleasing to your eye, are typically the ones you will end up using.

If you would prefer to get an experienced outside opinion on colors, Chism Brothers offers free color consulting with a certified interior designer. Our designer is skilled in more than color consultation and can offer advice on space planning, wall art, window treatments and much more.

Restoration of Dining Room Table

Monday, August 28, 2006
We are not just your ordinary painting company. We also specialize in staining and finishing custom woodwork. The latest project was the refinishing of an old dining room table. View the refinished product here: Tabletop

No Material Cost (now through Oct.)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006
If you schedule with our Painter for a Day™ program now through October 31st, you will pay no material cost. Utilizing Painter For a Day™ is an excellent way to: 1)get to know us and 2)to do minor touch-ups around your home, freshen up your baseboards, re-paint your entry door, or quickly add a new color scheme to a small bedroom of your choice. The total cost to receive a fully-licensed and qualified paint technician to your home is only $570 per day. He will arrive in a company vehicle with all the necessary tools and equipment he needs to complete your painting request. Please call our office for more details.* Note: *Extra cost may apply for certain specialty products such as select marine varnish, waterproof coatings, faux finishes or European paints.

On the Importance of Certification

Monday, August 21, 2006
Would you take your vehicle to a service technician who was not certified to work on your car? Would you allow a dental hygienist to clean your teeth who had not received proper training? I'm sure that like most of us, you want to feel confident that your car or your teeth are in well-qualified hands. The amount of training and time an auto technician puts into being certified is more than most would expect. The power of certification is huge in any industry. It requires diligence and a high standard of excellence. We at Chism Brothers Painting have observed the lack of quality and professionalism that is prevalent amongst many so-called professionals in the painting industry. We espouse a standard that is a cut above our competition. Because of our commitment to excellence, we established business goals; we practice superior preparation and quality standards; maintain tax and contract laws; and provide workers' compensation, employee training and safety meetings, as well as employee benefits. We also obtained certification from the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA). This PDCA seal of quality work and professionalism has been granted to fewer than fifty painting contractors in the United States. We are one of only two Certified Residential Contractors in San Diego County. When you hire Chism Brothers Painting to paint your home, you can enjoy utmost confidence that we will stand behind our word and provide you with quality you can depend on.

Las Patronas Spirit of Giving Award

Friday, August 11, 2006
Chism Brothers Painting received the 2006 Spirit of Giving Award from Las Patronas. Las Patronas is a philanthropic organization in La Jolla with a long history of giving to non-profit groups in San Diego. We dedicate this award to our former Vice-President, Pat Chism, for his faithful service with Las Patronas. Pat volunteered his time each year with a few of our employees until he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2005. Read more here: Spirit of Giving 2006

Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

A couple of weeks ago, I had an existing client in La Jolla call me to look at her white-washed oak cabinets. The finish was begininning to fail and yellow fairly severely. Several years ago, we had stripped and refinished a few bad areas to prolong the overall life of the kitchen cabinets. After inspecting the many cabinets, I gave her three options: 1) We could touch-up the cabinets like we did last time for around $1,500. 2) We could strip all the finish and re-stain them to whatever color she wanted for around $10,000. 3) We could thoroughly clean, prime and finish the cabinets with a very hard (non-yellowing) paint for around $6,500. Mrs. Dawson selected the third option, and I think she made a wise choice. Touching up the cabinets would have merely put a band-aid over the problem. The option to strip is an excellent choice, but costly. If you like the wood look, it is best to get an estimate on re-facing or replacing rather than stripping the surface and re-staining. Our company specializes in painting or staining cabinets and woodwork. If you have a questions related to your woodwork or even your furniture, please feel free to call, email or chat with us.

Hug Your Customers

Thursday, August 10, 2006
The Wall Street Journal recently had a review about a book entitled, Hug Your Customers by Jack Mitchell. This book offers excellent tips and anecdotes on how to treat your customers well. While reading the book, we realized that we have already been creating a "hugging" atmosphere here at Chism Brothers Painting. Hug Your Customers explains the importance of creating a business that excels in customer service so that customers feel special and important. We work hard to make our employees and customers feel that we treated them right. We want to build loyalty and trust in our customers so that they will look to Chism Brothers first for a paint job or great referral. We have one client in La Jolla who has asked us each time she needed a new tenant! This is the type of relationship we want with our customers. If you are a business owner, Hug Your Customers is a must read. If you have had a tough experience hiring great service companies, consider hiring us for a 1 day job to try us out!

Why Would You Hire a Painting Company?

Tuesday, August 08, 2006
If you have a moment, we would like to ask you a few questions that would help make our painting service even better. You can email your response or simply type your thoughts into our blog. We want to know what is most important to you in selecting a company to paint your home. We know that there are hundreds of painting companies in San Diego, so your decision is no piece of cake. Your response to the following questions will help us to offer even better service, pricing, and quality.

• What do you look for in hiring a painting contractor?
• How can a painting company make you delighted? Great prices? Showing up and doing what is promised? Excellent communication? Helping with colors? Special offers?
• Do you base your decision typically on the total price, quality, or reputation of a paint company.
• Would you hire a paint company if their bid was the highest price if they had the best reputation?
• How would you determine if a paint company had a good reputation?
• What kinds of things would hinder you from hiring a painting contractor or service company?
• If you had your wish of hiring the perfect paint company, what might that look like to you?

Summer Customer Newsletter

Monday, August 07, 2006
Here is a copy of "The Local Color" newsletter distributed to our clients. We try to keep them informed on what is happening in our business. We also offer design and maintenance tips, special offers, and other things that they may find helpful.

ChismNewsletter~Summer06.pdf

Summer Customer Newsletter 2006