If you have chosen to hire a professional painter rather than doing the work yourself, you are already on the right track. The next step is to ensure that the painter delivers as promised. There are a few critical areas to go over with professional local Calgary painters to guarantee that you are ultimately happy with the job done.

Insurance

There are two critical types of insurance your professional painter should have; workman compensation insurance and comprehensive business liability insurance. The former guarantees that you are not hauled off to court in an unfortunate event where the painter is injured while on your property. The later means that you get compensation in case the painter damages your property in the course of his work. These incidents aren’t common with professional painters but it is still necessary to protect yourself against any eventuality.

Types of Materials

Paint isn’t created equal so you need to make sure the contractor is using good quality paint. You may need to educate yourself on the best paints in the market so you know if your contractor is being honest. While at it, consider that the quality of brushes and other painting tools can also impact the overall quality of the job. It is easier to go with an established company that has an established record of quality workmanship.

Who Is Expected In the House?

It is very likely that your painting contractor will come with an additional painter or even a whole crew depending on the scale of the job. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing, you need to be aware of who you are letting into the home. Any additional people should preferably work for the contractor directly. This allows for accountability in case of any incident of loss or damage in the course of the project. Additional painters who work directly with the painter on previous projects are also means the quality will be consistent.

Safety

It is better to avoid accidents from happening in the first place especially where great heights are involved. It may be necessary to ask your contractor what safety measure he uses while on the job. The crew should also adhere to the same safety measures. If you are unsure, ask for a safety policy manual or other documentation as proof that the painter takes safety seriously.

A professional painter always gets a better result than you could hope by doing it yourself. It is however necessary that you hire the right person for the job so everything goes to plan and you are happy with the result.

Ladders are often used for home improvement projects but safety when climbing is usually overlooked. This is a problem when it comes to domestic work – many homeowners are severely injured because they didn’t follow the safety precautions needed to work at height. Whether you’re cleaning your windows or making minor roof repairs, following the below tips will help keep you safe when it really matters.

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Don’t Climb If You’re Not Confident

Firstly, never climb a ladder if you’re not confident in your ability or you’re not sure the ladder itself is stabilized. Many homeowners have succumbed to injuries because of this exact reason. Ensure the ladder is fully stable and you’re confident you can undertake work safely. Also, if you’re using power tools for the first time, ensure you practice using them on the ground first so you’re confident when you’re using them at height.

Always Have Someone Watching You

Another key thing to do to ensure you’re working safely is to have a friend or family member watch you undertake work. It may not necessarily prevent you from falling, but having someone there if you did fall could be lifesaving. Someone at the bottom of the ladder can also hold the ladder while you’re descending just for added safety precautions. They will also give you a heads up if they think something is wrong with your setup that you wouldn’t have been able to see yourself.

Wear the Right Shoes

You’ll be surprised by how many people climb a ladder wearing their slippers or flip flops, or the amount of people that don’t wear any footwear at all. Don’t be one of those people, always wear footwear with the necessary rubber grips to keep you glued to the ladder at all times.

Only Use Quality Equipment

The idea of standing on a stool that’s sitting on your wheelie bin should be an idea that’s quickly forgotten about. Instead, invest in the right equipment to ensure the highest safety measures are in place to prevent a fall. Consider a quality ladder setup, fall protection equipment, PPE, and toolbelts to make carrying when climbing easier. The more you’re willing to invest in equipment will increase safety dramatically.

Use the Right System

For the different working at height jobs that need to be undertaken – a ladder isn’t always the right tool for the job. If you need to get on the roof to replace tiles or conduct repairs, a ladder might not be the best choice of system. Carrying tiles up and down a ladder is a safety hazard, so you should consider a scaffolding system or something similar. Always plan the job and use the right equipment to make the job easy.

Many homeowners underestimate working from certain heights and they don’t think it will do any damage. However, some of the most severe injuries can come from a few steps high – always ensure your working environment is safe and follow the above tips to ensure the chance of falling is at its minimum.