House Painting

[Mobasser]

I just helped my nephew with a side job he set up. Painting a large older house in Kansas City. The house was built in 1921, and has steep roofs, and parts are 2 1/2 story. It's been several years since I painted a house. I agreed to help him 2 days per week. I've kind of forgotten how hard of work this is. Your either moving and climbing a large extension ladder, and/or reaching as far as you can to scrape, caulk, and prime areas that need it. He has a sprayer, but there were actually few areas that we could spray. So we did it the old school way, brushing and rolling on the paint. My nephew is trying to get a painting business going this summer. Himself, along with two other guys. They're all hard workers, but they're half my age. I told him at the start, he can make good money, but he'll earn every penny! He's had a couple of guys start already and quit within a week.Its a hard day's work. What's your experience with house painting?

[LonnieP]

I've been a house painter since I was 19 and I'm 48 now. I had my own business for 13 years, never advertised and all of my work was repeat customers and word of mouth. I got tired of the stress and headache of being self employed and went to work painting for a property management company a few years ago. You're right, painting is hard work and good help is hard to find. 

[GReb]

I painted during summers in high school in college. Tough work and those extension ladders can be dangerous when your bouncing 30 feet up. Dealing with customers standing 2 feet away while trying to work was horrible and some were impossible to please. The summers spent working for a local school district paintings classrooms and hallways were much better than the private sector. 
 

Even limited experience painting professionally was a curse because even 10-15 years later I still notice every flaw in the paint everywhere I go. When my house was built it was horrible. There were missed spots and runs everywhere I looked. Tell your nephew those paint guns are fast but deliver shotty work and a pain in the butt. He’ll make more money by slowing down and doing a good job. Bad reputation in the construction world happens fast and is impossible to overcome 

[lo n slo]

i’ve done my fair share these last ten years, since i retired from the city water works. side jobs mostly. people forget about all the prep. it’s decent enough money, but i’m about done with the side work. i’ve got enough to do around here. plus i’m getting old and there’s fish to catch.

[The Bassman]

I've been painting for 46 yrs., 30 of it self employed. Pretty much quit exterior 10 yrs. ago. One has to be in decent shape to handle the sets that exterior requires. Knee and ankle issues have shortened my work days. (more time to fish, though).

[Bankbeater]

I've been painting off and on for the past 32 years. It's usually a relative's place I'm painting.  I always thought that the prep work was the hardest. Once the scraping, patching, taping, and filling is done, the painting goes pretty quick.

[LonnieP]

2 hours ago, The Bassman said:

I've been painting for 46 yrs., 30 of it self employed. Pretty much quit exterior 10 yrs. ago. One has to be in decent shape to handle the sets that exterior requires. Knee and ankle issues have shortened my work days. (more time to fish, though).

I hear ya, my knees are half shot from years of painting.

[Hammer 4]

Painting is Hard work..??? Try building house's for a living. Carrying 100's lbs of lumber around every day, plus having about 30 lbs of nailbags around your waist..Then there's walking walls..

[Mobasser]

2 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

Painting is Hard work..??? Try building house's for a living. Carrying 100's lbs of lumber around every day, plus having about 30 lbs of nailbags around your waist..Then there's walking walls..

I started as a framing carpenter. Yes, it's really hard work. I guess the house painting was a little tough on me at 62.

[flyfisher]

i don't mind any type of construction but i hate painting.  If the house i bought needed painting...i'd move or install something that doesn't need painting lol

[Hammer 4]

15 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I started as a framing carpenter. Yes, it's really hard work. I guess the house painting was a little tough on me at 62.

Very likely...I stopped framing at 60..due to various injuries, and Old age....lol

[slonezp]

When I was younger, painting was easy money. I really dread it now. Think I painted the house 10 years ago or so. With any luck I'll shoot myself in the head before I have to paint it again.

[Scott F]

I hate house painting too, but I’d rather paint my house than fish for walleyes.

[Boomstick]

My experience with painting anything is if you like splotches here and there, then I'm the guy you want to paint it. Fortunately, I have some painters who do the majority of home repairs who are reasonable.

[Mobasser]

I think lots of folks underestimate how hard it can be at times, especially on a big exterior job.

[slonezp]

45 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I hate house painting too, but I’d rather paint my house than fish for walleyes.

I think you're lying.

[DitchPanda]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

I think you're lying.

 

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

I hate house painting too, but I’d rather paint my house than fish for walleyes.

 

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

I think you're lying.

I agree...there is no way that is the least bit true. I hate painting too..if rather fish for nasty bullheads than do it let alone a cool fish like walleyes

[Scott F]

Not lying. I hate targeting walleye. Most boring fishing there is. I don’t mind catching them, but only as accidental catches while fishing for bass.

[Log Catcher]

18 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I started as a framing carpenter. Yes, it's really hard work. I guess the house painting was a little tough on me at 62.

I have a little experience with carpentry and painting. I would much rather do carpentry work any day. I hate all the clean up process when painting is done for the day.