We know that you have a choice when it comes to selecting a painter for your EXTERIOR house painting projects.
You can trust College Pro to treat your home like the prized possession it is.
• FREE detailed, written EXTERIOR house painting estimates
• Competitive pricing
• Full workers’ compensation and liability insurance
• Quality work, from preparation to cleanup
• Two-year warranty on house painting services
• Premium products
• A year-round Customer Service Center
• We are a proud member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating
• We follow all local and national safety and waste disposal regulations
• Energetic, dedicated, skilled EXTERIOR house painters, who work hard to deliver the service and value that you deserve
Our Process
The “College Pro Painters System” of producing high quality paint jobs consists of 5 steps: Surface preparation, Priming, Painting, Clean-up, and Inspection.
Surface Preparation
Surface Preparation is the key to the paint job. There are many methods of preparation and it is very important for you and the franchisee to decide what preparation needs to be done to deliver the desired result. Some methods of preparation will help the house last, while other types only improve the look of the finished product.
Washing
The first step to doing a good job is to ensure a clean surface. Should any mildew be present, we will hand wash the area with TSP or a cleaning solution. Power Washing removes all loose dirt, mildew, and chalking paint to provide a firm base for the finish coat to grab onto. Power washing can also brighten up your sidewalks, driveways, and rock walls by removing grease, dirt, and moss. Due to the power of the machines, only a person with specific training on this equipment will be performing this step in the process.
Drop Cloths
College Pro Painters will supply our own heavy-duty canvas drop cloths. We will place them all around the home where we will be performing any scraping. This will cover up your plants, cement or dirt and allows us to have an easier clean up at the end of the day. This will be beneficial to you as we can pick up all the scrapings, and, when the job is completed, it looks as if we weren’t even there.
Caulking
Caulking is a flexible sealer used in cracks where expansion and contraction is expected, such as around window and door frames. It prevents moisture from getting in the cracks of the wood. It is this moisture that causes some paint failures around windows.
Only paintable latex caulking will be used on your home. Silicone caulking is not paintable and must be removed and replaced prior to a paint job, as it is primarily designed for bathrooms.
Putty
Putty is filler used on older windows to provide a seal against moisture and cold air between the glass and wood. It provides a straight line against the glass that does not need to be painted.
This process is used on older, wood framed windows, often in heritage homes to preserve the authenticity. Many modern windows do not need this step, and your College Pro manager can provide you with advice on the windows.
Scraping
Scraping will remove all loose and peeling paint to provide a firm base for the top coat. This is essential to ensure the paint job will last. When an area is scraped there is an edge which is left. This edge does not affect how long the paint will last, but it is visible. This is an example of Level 1 Prep.
Sanding
Sanding is an option level of preparation that rounds the edges of a scraped area. This can be done with a belt sander, disk sander, or by hand, as appropriate. Sanding only helps with the look of the finished product and has no effect on the life of the paint job. If sanding is done, it is suggested to only do so in highly visible areas, such as the front door. Edges will be rounded and smoother, but not removed completely. Completely removing the paint is an uncommon, costly and time intensive procedure.
Priming
Priming is done to seal any porous surfaces or stains, and provide a flat finish for the topcoat to adhere. In most cases, this is done on the bare wood spots after scraping, sanding, or paint removal is done. Priming exposed areas, prior to the finish coat, is essential for a paint job to last. Your College Pro manager will choose high quality primers to best adhere to the surface type and conditions, such as metal primers or stain blockers.
Finish Coat
The finish coat will provide you, the homeowner, with the color and gloss level you wish for your home. The finish coat provides the protection from the elements and ultra violet rays that weather your home.
Clean Up
Clean Up is done daily, as well as at the completion of our work. Paint chips are removed and all our materials are packed up and stored neatly.
Inspect
After our own inspection, you are invited to inspect our work and asked to complete the feedback card for our exterior house painting job and the crew.
| Year Established | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Business Categories | Painting in Oregon, WI |
Though a standard question, it's important to ask. Most contractors will tell you how long they expect the job to take without you asking. If they don't volunteer that information, be sure to ask. It's also helpful to ask if that's a hard finish date, meaning that it's the definite finish date. If it's a soft finish date, it may be extended for any number of reasons.
This will be answered when you ask if all employees are licensed. The only way to obtain a legitimate tradesman's license is to be a legal or naturalized citizen of the US. The company may employ people in positions that don't require a license, however, so it's wise to inquire.
You'll certainly want to ask them this. Steer clear of any company that is not insured in Wisconsin, because that means that any incidental damage they may do on your property will be a real hassle to recover compensation for. It is never wise to work with uninsured tradesmen of any kind. Most states also require that someone have insurance in order to be issued a trade license. If they say they're licensed but not insured, they're being less than truthful.
You'll always want to ask how long the company has been in business in Oregon. While this isn't a guarantee that the company will do good work, companies with longevity on their side must be doing something right. That being said, there are newer companies that do great work. If the company is under three years old, ask where the owner was employed before and for how long. If he/she has a long history of employment, it's reasonable to infer that he or she decided to go into business for themselves after so many years of experience.
