1 Resource for Painting Contractors Apcnovdec16 Draft01 12/7/16 9:05 PM Page 2 Apcnovdec16 Draft01 12/7/16 7:46 PM Page 3 Apcnovdec16 Draft01 12/7/16 7:48 PM Page 4

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#1 Resource for Painting Contractors APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 9:05 PM Page 2 APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:46 PM Page 3 APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:48 PM Page 4

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 Vol. 93, No. 9

F EATURES C OLUMNS 27 APC’s 2016 Contractor Operations Survey 6 From the Publisher: Hire With Your Gut Our biennial survey provides a snapshot of the industry, By Andrew Dwyer from revenue reports to services offered and strategies being explored for future growth. Take a look and see 8 Online Contents how your business compares to the industry at large. Have you seen the important news, By Megan Headley tips and info at paintmag.com? 10 Speaking With PDCA: Goal Setting for 2017 It’s that time of year for reflection on what went APC right and how to improve in the year ahead. What do you want to accomplish, and how are Contractor you planning to make it happen? Survey 12 From the Field: The Total Cost of Your Pricey Lights When you’re looking to invest in pricey new tools, it’s important to calculate the expected return on your investment. This column shows you how. By Scott Burt 16 Sound Business Management: Hire Slower, Fire Quicker Finding good employees can feel like a never-ending D EPARTMENTS struggle, but these strategies can help ensure 36 you have the best people in place. Contractor’s Tool Bag ...... By Monroe Porter Product Roundup ...... 37 The Wall ...... 39 20 Heart of Faux: Dwell With Dignity 39 One artist is using her talents to help a nonprofit Advertiser Index ...... group inspire and lift up the recently homeless. By Katie Fitzgerald 24 Decorative Touch: Salon Forever Learn what to expect at Salon New York City this April, a gathering of some of the best decorative painters in the world. On the Cover: By Victor DeMasi Photo courtesy iStock.

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From the Publisher APC NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 Volume 93, Number 9

Publisher Andrew Dwyer

Editorial Emily Howard, Editor-in-Chief Hire With Your Gut 4340 East-West Highway, Suite 300 Bethesda, MD 20814 veryone who’s ever hired anyone knows it’s a brutal process. Like drafting your [email protected] Efantasy football team during your daughter’s dance recital while seated next to your father-in-law. In other words, it’s hard to know what to focus on. Direct- Megan Headley, Managing Editor ly relative experience? References? Personal interview? Attitude? Injury history? [email protected] (Sorry, that last one would be for your fantasy team.) (540) 735-5196 My advice: Go with your gut. That’s not meant to be a cliché. I’m suggesting you hire Scott Burt, Senior Editor the person who just feels right. Even if you can’t put your finger on it, even if you can point to other applicants who for other reasons check boxes on what you’re looking Editorial Advisory Board for (previous painter, construction experience, your brother … whatever), scrap it all Jeff Winter, The Sherwin-Williams Co. and go with your heart. Jeff Spillane, Benjamin Moore & Co. This isn’t reverse psychology, like when your parents let you eat dessert for dinner Darylene Dennon, Solid Energy Inc. to prove what a bad idea it was (boy, did that backfire!). I’m serious. Trust your gut. Todd Pudvar, Prep to Finish Hiring is an art, not a science. Don’t try to quantify the process; focus on the subtle qualifications. Look for an “it” factor, even if you can’t define the “it” factor. Follow Peer Review Group Obi-Wan’s first lesson to Luke on The Force: “Let go of your conscious self and act on Dan Brady, Dan Brady Painting & instinct. Stretch out with your feelings.” Wood Restoration Did I go too far with the Star Wars quote? Maybe, but my point stands: For your Randy Fornoff, MTS Painting next hire, don’t feel obligated to justify or explain your choice. Justifications are used Nichole Lovett, Harmony Haus as crutches: “I hired him because he’s painted before.” Then when your new hire Rodney Paglialong, Wall-Pro Painting flames out, at least you can fall back on your crutch and say, “Wow, that’s surprising, Tony Severino, Professional Painters he had such great experience.” (Translation: “Don’t blame me. I made a safe choice.”) Dave Siegner, Siegner and Co. Don’t play it safe! Take a leap of faith! Jeff Stein, Blue Door Painters Think about the best employee you’ve ever had. What qualities made him or her fantastic? My guess is that it was their ability to work with people, anticipate problems, Advertising Sales stay calm when things went haywire, work well with others, positive demeanor … or Andrew Dwyer, Publisher that “it” factor that can’t be described. (Well, Obi-Wan could. He’d say “it surrounds (719) 471-7230 us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together.”) [email protected] Hire the person in whom you see that trait. Maybe you can’t quite put your finger Robert Scarola, Sales on it. That’s okay. Don’t worry about defining greatness. Just try to identify it. (813) 639-7062 [email protected]

List Sales Michael Costantino InfoGroup Andrew Dwyer (402) 836-6266 Publisher [email protected] [email protected] Production Office 4340 East-West Highway, Suite 300 Bethesda, MD 20814

Senior Advisor Frank Finn

APC: AMERICAN PAINTING CONTRACTOR (ISSN 003-0325) is and additional mailing offices. Copyright 2016 by Columbia Books published monthly, except bimonthly in January/February, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro- Production & Graphic Designer July/August and November/December, by Columbia Books Inc.; duced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or Corporate, Advertising, Production Offices: 4340 East-West mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information Jennette Gormley Highway, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814; Tel: (202) 464-1662. storage and retrieval systems, without written consent from the For subscription information, call toll-free (800) 791-8699 or go to publisher. The publisher does not warrant, either expressly or by www.paintmag.com. Editorial Office: 4340 East-West Highway, implication, the factual accuracies of articles or descriptions here- www.paintmag.com Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814. Annual Subscription Rates: Unit- in, nor does the publisher warrant the accuracy of any views or opin- For subscription inquiries or customer ed States $40.00; International $51.00. Two-Year Subscription ions offered by the authors of said articles or descriptions. APC: Rates: United States $63.00; International $86.00. Single Copies: AMERICAN PAINTING CONTRACTOR is a registered trademark of service, please call (800)791-8699. United States $6.00; International $9.00. November/December Columbia Books Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes Buyer’s Guide; United States $36.00; International, Canada and to APC: AMERICAN PAINTING CONTRACTOR, Mexico $52.00. Periodical postage paid at Richmond, Virginia, P.O. Box 71625, Henrico, VA 23255. Cover printed on 10% PCW recycled paper. Text printed on 7% PCW recycled paper. 6 November/December 2016 • APC APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 8:33 PM Page 7

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CHECK OUT WHAT’SON PAINTMAG.COM

WHAT’S NEW ON PAINT TV THIS MONTH TRENDING STORIES IN PAINT NEWS Where contractors go to see industry and product videos. Need training videos for your crew members? Interested in seeing demonstrations of products before you APC’S WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER buy them? Check out PaintTV for helpful videos that can Are you up on the painting industry’s latest news? If not, sign up improve your business—especially during slow periods. for your free subscription to Paint News at www.paintmag.com. Below are some of the most-read news, tips and events from our weekly e-newsletter. Click on Paint News at www.paintmag.com to learn more.

What’s Being Read on Paint News?

Mural Painter Dies on the Job When a swing stage alongside an under-construction HITTING THE AIRWAVES Florida condominium fell, two mural painters were saved by APC Paint Radio: Check Out Our Podcasts their safety harnesses. A third was not so fortunate. OSHA APC content for Publisher Andrew Dwyer and Editor-in-Chief continues to investigate the circumstances of his death. contractors Emily Howard have interviewed a wide variety of the painting profession’s top experts and on the go. Halloween Signals Pain for Painters contractors. Next time you’re thinking of killing In October, demand for painting services begins to drop time listening to the radio or your iTunes, check out and die like the leaves on the trees. But there are strategies PaintRadio to hear what the painting industry is talking about. savvy painters can put to use to prevent a winter slowdown.

Are You in Compliance With the Davis-Bacon Act? As recently as October 2016 painting contractors were being fined for paying employees less than the prevailing wage for work performed on a public works project. To avoid similar penalties, read up on five must-know facts about the act.

Congress Might Delay Overtime Rules Despite pushback, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act is still set to put new overtime rules in APC’s effect Dec. 1. At that time, workers who earn up to $47,475 mobile-friendly will begin to qualify for overtime. digital edition gives you access to Improve Your Professional Stature APC anytime, How can you snag more high-level, high-paying work anywhere. while climbing to the top of the painting profession? One answer is that you can work on raising your professional profile in your local market and the industry nationally.

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Speaking With PDCA Goal Setting for 2017 A New Year means new adventures

his is the most exciting time of year. Not only is it a time of reflection— Twhat went right, what went wrong— but it’s also full of anticipation for taking the lessons learned and actually applying them to next year. Whether you want to take your business to the next level or scale down to maximize profitability, you first need to define where it is you want to go. Only then can you focus on the tactical aspects of how you are going to get there. There are no wrong answers when it comes to assessing yourself and your business. Simply recognize what you want to accomplish and then plan how to make it happen. BUILD YOUR TEAM What skill sets do you have and what skillsets do you need to dramatically lift your business? Most small businesses don’t have in- house expertise in all areas needed—sales, “The education and peer support have really helped us begin to take our business to the next level. marketing, estimating, production, finan- We have the years of experience and technical knowledge to provide a great product for our clients, cial, management, etc.—nor can they but a lot of the things we’ve learned since becoming a member of PDCA has really helped us begin to systematize our processes and improve our business structure. We are far more aware of what’s going afford to hire for them. How do you on in our business both financially and organizationally at any given time.” - Dustin Zupancic, increase your profitability and not break Dreamscape Painting the bank? It becomes overwhelming when you start looking at everything that growth entails what you do well. PDCA new season but a new game. There are no can dramatically accelerate your growth losses in any categories; you are starting “Being an active PDCA by leveraging the expertise of others. with a clean slate. By reviewing monthly member has helped our financial statements tied to a budget, you people develop systems for running our business. can celebrate your successes each month. NEW SEASON, NEW GAME We’ve been able to learn Keep the positive momentum going If something goes awry, you can spot it from other established and think of the New Year as not only a quickly and easily make a course correc- firms and incorporate their best practices into tion. Unsure how to proceed? PDCA has our company. Our goal is not to re-create the monthly technical and business webinars, wheel … we would rather develop a more effi- “The training and podcasts and trusted advisers in our Ask- cient one.” – Dave Scaturro, Alpine Painting & education we have Sandblasting Contractors received at meetings, A-Peer network, plus a catalog of courses conventions and that are set up as a road map to guide you online, plus the net- on your journey. afford not to set goals and have a team of working and sharing Whether you experienced a year of business experts supporting you. of information growth or endured a year of just getting by, “I’m glad I missed my goal,” said no one, between members at meetings and conven- repeating what you did last year is not a ever! No one likes to miss a target. Commit tions, has greatly helped our success and given sustainable strategy. What can you do dif- to a plan and experience extraordinary us added confidence as painting contractors. As owners of a relatively new business, we ferently to make this your best year ever? results and a clear path to success. Don’t never feel alone. [We] always have someone we Now is the time for painting business own- finish 2016 just reflecting. Instead, create can check with if we have questions and con- ers to explore PDCA. We believe in the momentum that will take you into 2017 cerns about the business.” -Art & Rosanne premise that when the leader gets better, and make next year your best year ever. For Courtien, ARC Painting & Refinishing, LLC everybody wins. more information and guidance, visit If you want to be a true pro, you can’t www.pdca.org. APC

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From the Field The Total Cost of Your Pricey Lights Jobsite lighting: An ROI case study

By Scott Burt

ith interior Wseason here, it is time once again to dust off the work lights, check the bulbs and clean the lenses. Sound familiar? If you are still in that cycle, then you probably haven’t upgraded to LED jobsite lighting yet, and it might be time to take a look. It is best to take a top-down approach when exploring tool technology change. By that I suggest finding the best available options and working backward from there to make a decision. Leading the charge in the LED jobsite movement is the 2016 Festool Syslite Duo. I was fortunate to be able to test a manufacturer-supplied loaner for several months before its release this year. Festool, while better known for its production power tools for painters, has offered work lighting for a few years now. In 2011, the company debuted a battery- powered Syslite LED work lamp, a higher- end, virtually indestructible work light available to painters and other trades for handheld or tripod-mountable usage. The original light, which is still available, had six LEDS at 3 watts each for $175. Three years later, the manufacturer changed the output of the original light and began offering the Syslite II, which Festool’s recently released Syslite Duo has a number of features to help painters do the job, featured the same basic housing and as well as a hefty price tag. Depending on the work you do, it’s an option that could pay styling. The updated version sells for for itself over time. $195 with 12 LED lights at 1.5 watts, bumping the color temperature from 4,500 to 5,000 Kelvin. of whether state-of-the-art LED work light- durability, they have at least been rea- 2016 has brought a larger, brighter and ing is a luxury item or a smart investment. sonably priced, albeit disposable in the stouter incarnation called the Syslite Duo. end due to short life spans. For painters, the advantages of LED This light has 80 LEDs and is available by SAY GOODBYE TO HALOGEN? technology over other types are obvious. itself or paired with a high-quality tripod. Halogen and fluorescent have long LED provides a cooler white light that is been the most common types of lighting The light by itself costs $300, and with the safer, longer lasting and visually more tripod the kit runs at $435. In both incar- on jobs. However, LED lighting has accurate than all other types of lighting. It nations the light comes in a Systainer, steadily been taking over the realm of doesn’t run hot, and is easier to keep clean which is Festool’s modular toolbox design jobsite lighting for painters and other and bright. that integrates with the rest of the compa- professionals in recent years. While While small LED inspection lights are ny’s stackable system. halogen and fluorescent lighting have generally accessibly priced, it has been I feel that the Sys Duo raises the question been far less than perfect in quality and more difficult to find larger tripod-

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From the Field

friendly units that have enough output to we usually have to cover their lighting. Halogen lights are relatively cheap to fully light a good-sized room. Good-quality, reliable lighting is impor- purchase, but how much does it cost every One thing to keep in mind when tant—and therein begins the slippery slope. time you have to stop and change a bulb (a researching lights is that watts aren’t the My company has wrecked more twin-head pain in the neck) or, worse, dispose of a critical stat. Watts refer to the amount of halogen units in transport and use than I melted-down unit and go buy another? energy required to light products. That is care to share. They are fragile and finicky, Hours can be lost in maintenance and energy used, not brightness. The amount requiring cool-down time before leaving replacement time. of light output is measured in lumens, so their own overheated circumstances. That’s Short life-span tools, which our society that is the important spec in lights. For a bad combo, but we often don’t realize it shamelessly defines as “disposable,” are all example, it takes about 5,000 lumens to until a better option comes along. too common. light a typical 250-square-foot living room. Five thousand lumens are the equivalent of five 100-watt incandescent bulbs.

PED FO IP R IS ROI EASIER TO REACH ON U Q E BETTER (AND PRICIER) LIGHT TODAY TECHNOLOGIES? READY FOR One of the most popular articles that I W T R O have written over the years, in the March O M O R 2012 issue of APC, was about how to determine the true cost of a tool. The purchase price rarely tells the whole story of cost. Your ROI, or return on investment, is where the smart tool investor looks. It’s important to understand how (and how quickly) the tool will pay for itself. We WORK HARD. often overlook ROI on items under $20, but when the price tags show hundreds, our attention is needed. BREATHE EASY. So, is a $100 light cheaper to own than a $400 one? 3M Respirators with Cool Flow™ Valve Technology A quick internet search reveals that Get proven protection with long-lasting comfort. 3M Respirators twin-head halogen lights on tripods range with Cool Flow™ Valve Technology feature a patented valve design anywhere from $30 to $300, depending on that helps reduce heat and moisture inside the respirator for cool the quality you seek. For the purpose of comfort and easier breathing. So you can keep your cool on the job. analysis, let’s assume that the average purchase price of a decent one is $100 and that you will spend $30 on replacement halogen bulbs during the product’s life span. The first ROI consideration with any tool investment is how often you will use it. If 3M™ Paint Project 3M™ Paint you aren’t going to use a tool much, you Respirator with Sanding Valved might rethink buying it. Tools that sit don’t Quick Latch Respirator 8511 make money. In my paint company, we have historically worked inside half of the year and outside half of the year. During the interior season, the days get pretty short, with dark mornings and early sunsets. We absolutely need to bring artificial light into our interior projects, especially because the norm on new construction is string lights with dirty incandescent bulbs, hardly sufficient for the details of painting. See how it works at 3Msafety.com. On residential repaint projects, we really © 3M 2016. All rights reserved. 3M and Cool Flow are trademarks of 3M. can’t be at the mercy of whatever lighting the homeowner has in the house. In fact,

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From the Field

So, we often consider tool acquisitions nate hand tasks (such as sprayers and would be 200 days of operation. Typical in terms of how frequently we will use sanders) can pay for themselves on the halogen lights can die from overheating them and how long we expect them to last. first job or two. or from just being banged around too Lights are not that way. They enhance much. We won’t even factor in the time it LONG-VIEW ROI: HOW MUCH the way we work and help ensure our takes to maintain them and change bulbs. AND HOW LONG quality and safety, but we don’t turn on a Consider moving this sentence to directly When looking at tool ROI, some tools light and complete a job three times as follow “200 days of operation.” pay for themselves right away because fast. Lights pay for themselves over time. The Sys Duo costs 3.3 times as much as they make such an immediate impact on If we assume that we can get a full year our halogen comparison, but is rated to production. In particular, tools that elimi- of use out of our $130 halogen light, that last six times longer and comes with a three-year warranty. How much would that cost to operate over its rated life span? The Sys Duo is rated for 10,000 hours of use. That translates to 1,250 work days—and you’ll likely never have to replace a burned-out bulb. If we use this light five days a week for eight hours a day, we should get about six years of actual run time out of it. This translates to $0.36/day to own this light, or under $0.05/hour that we would have to build into our rates to eliminate lighting problems for an expected six years of use. The numbers indicate an initial purchase price of over three times as much but an expectancy of six times the return, with the bonus of minimal inconvenience to own and operate. By way of specific comparison, there is a Husky LED light that puts out 2,500 lumens at a purchase price of $100. The Sys Duo light puts out 8,000 lumens at $435. It would take three of the Husky lights to approach the output of the Fes- tool light. Remember cost per day to own and the efficiency of carrying one item in its own case instead of three that are loose and banging around in a truck. It is often said that most purchases are emotional. Perhaps that is true, but it is also important to explore the intellectual side of the decision-making process. There are all sorts of angles to look at when trying to talk yourself into or out of a tool purchase for your business, but always remind yourself of the two most important points: how much it will be used and how long it should last. Anytime a tool can reduce or eliminate a nagging problem in your company, it is worth a look. The Festool Sys Duo is defi- nitely a candidate as a problem-eliminator in the category of work lighting. APC

Scott Burt is president of Topcoat Finish- es Inc. of Jericho, Vermont. He enjoys com- municating with contractors and manu- facturers at www.topcoatreview.com.

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Sound Business Management Hire Slower, Fire Quicker

Never stop working to put a team of top performers in place

By Monroe Porter

inding good I don't fire people. I merely lay out“ employees is a Fnever-ending “the criteria required for them to battle for painting contractors. Yet as frustrat- continue employment. ing as it can be to find and keep good people, having professional employees is the heart and soul of every contracting are busy and just hope the problem If you have someone in your organiza- business. employee will miraculously straighten tion who you know is about to lose his or up. Or it’s possible you have gotten emo- her job, ask yourself one big question: DON’T LET BAD EMPLOYEES DRAG tionally attached to the employee and Does he or she know it? Frequently, dis- YOU DOWN have bought into his or her unending cussions with tenured employees tend to Contractors tend to keep bad employ- stream of problems. No matter the rea- be more like nagging sessions. If you ees too long. This can be caused by many son, underperforming employees drag have enough of these sessions, the competing emotions and rationales. Per- down the entire organization. Rarely does underperforming employee sees you as a haps you think the devil you know is bet- the employee you terminated keep you dog with no teeth. You must give the ter than the devil you don’t. Maybe you up at night. problem employee a clear ultimatum that if the behavior continues he or she will be terminated. As a consultant, I don’t fire people. I merely lay out the criteria required for them to continue employment. The employees must choose to either conform to the criteria or leave. We recently surveyed our customers to determine the profile of a long-term employee who had “gone south”. We found this employee tended to be someone almost everyone wished they had been terminated years before. In hindsight, they felt that it was in both the employee’s and their best interest to move on. What is interesting is that well over half of these enabled employees have the capacity to do good work but there is simply too much • Sand wood floors, stairs and clapboard • Sand drywall seams quickly and cleanly drama in their lives. From drug addict kids siding up to the edge before painting, plastering or decorating to crazy spouses, you name it, the drama • Variable speed, high removal efficiency • Ideal for sanding large areas never ended. Since the employers could not control such outside influences, it was

Demo Videos nearly impossible to have the employees generate consistent performance. No mat- • Best on market for collecting fine dust from drywall and wood sanding applications ter how much sympathy you show for peo- • Automatic filter cleaning system – cleans filters while ple, you cannot wish them into compliance you work, maintaining maximum suction and air flow or wish away their poor judgment. • Activate vacuum from the power tool switch • Wet/Dry, up to 9 gallon capacity STAY ON THE LOOKOUT FOR STRONG PERFORMERS Let’s focus on the more positive aspect of hiring good people. Too often con-

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Sound Business Management

tractors wait until they are desperate to hire someone and then they have to accept a less-than-spectacular applicant. Contrac- tors should always be hiring, the same way they should always be looking for more work. Finding good people is not easy. If you see someone working hard in a fast-food restaurant, consider offering the person a job. Let everyone you know that you are always looking for good people. At the same time, contractors should hire slower. What do I mean by this? First, make sure you take the time to ask the appro- priate questions. Make sure what the applicant is telling you makes sense. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Try taking a phone interview cut. Call the applicants and do interviews over the phone. Tell them a little about your company and then ask some broad questions to see whether employment with your company would be a good fit. Good questions to ask are: • Can you tell me a little about your last job and what caused you to leave? • If I was to call your former employer, what positive things would he or she say about you? • What would your past employers say you need to improve? • If you had the perfect job, what would that look like? (Listen and probe into what they are saying.) • What was the first job you ever had where you were paid to perform duties? (This question shows work ethic and how the person grew up.) When interviewing field employees, ask what tools they own. What specific type of work do they enjoy the most? Would they rather work with an experienced person, or would they mind training someone? Give them a simple task to perform such as painting a window, flashing a chimney or leveling some pavers. See what their skill levels look like. If you are hiring an office man- ager, have the candidate take a QuickBooks test or some other type of office efficiency profile. Trust your gut feeling. What’s the person’s story? If the story makes sense, consider hiring the person. If it doesn’t, ask more questions and beware. Consider having the person work a few days as a test. If the person has a weekday job, have him or her work on Sat- urday. That way both of you are protected. Do your due diligence. KEEP SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT FIT Hiring people is never easy, but you can’t give up. Remember, if it were easy everyone would be able to hire employees who are a perfect fit. Your competitors have the same hiring issues you do. You out-market and outsell your competitors every day in order to win jobs. You have to take that same attitude toward recruiting. There are lots of bad employers out there. Be a good place to work, and beat your competition on the playing field. APC

Monroe Porter is president of PROOF Management Consul- tants, a company specializing in seminars and business consult- ing for contractors. He is also founder of PROSULT Networking Groups, developed to help noncompeting contractors. He can be reached at (800) 864-0284 or [email protected]. For more information, visit his website atwww.proofman.com.

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Heart of Faux Dwell With Dignity How one artist is helping keep families strong after poverty

By Katie Fitzgerald here did you eat your meal Wwhen you were last at home? Were you at a table? Did you use a plate and a fork? These may seem like silly questions, but how do you think you would answer them if you and your family had recently been homeless? Even if you have an apartment now, you probably would have lost all your possessions. Without a table or cooking parapherna- lia, you’d be eating pizza from a box on the floor. Meet Dwell with Dignity, a nonprofit group with a passion for creating homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty. It’s common for families in need to receive assistance and training from local agencies, but once they manage to acquire homes they struggle to fill them. DwD meets this critical economic need by providing families with fully furnished homes. It’s about more than meeting just an economic need, though. A person’s home and surroundings play a critical role in feelings of self-worth, motivation and even hope. By changing the environ- ment and creating design-inspired homes, DwD creates sanctuaries where client families can thrive. When a family is ready to move away, they can take everything with them. Dawn Cleaves of Artisan Finishes is a part of creating such inspiring environments. If you’re anything like me, and especially if you have school-age children, you’re constantly being asked to donate Dawn Cleaves of Artisan Finishes helps inspire families struggling with homelessness and poverty. your time to worthy causes. Most of us will say yes to some things and figure out how to say no to the rest because our time is so overscheduled. When Dawn due to landlord considerations. But DwD with a design to meet the vision. moved to Dallas with her two children, found a perfect fit for Dawn’s painting Dawn has painted many inspiring pro- she read an article in a local magazine skills and experience as a sign-maker. jects for DwD in group homes and in the about DwD. Rather than saying no, The people at DwD strive to inspire the waiting areas of organizations with whom Dawn sought the group out and volun- people they serve. That’s where Dawn they partner, such as counseling centers. teered her painting expertise. comes in. DwD usually has a good idea of She’s also created signage for the pop-up Unfortunately, the walls in the homes the motivational message it wants to designer Thrift Studio run by DwD once provided to DwD families can’t be painted share. Dawn takes the direction and runs a year as a fundraiser.

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Heart of Faux

HOW TO TRANSFER AND PAINT TEXT ON WALLS A pounce is used to transfer an image to a wall. To create a pounce: • Use a square of muslin approximately twice the size of your hand. • Fill the center of the cloth with a small amount of powder. The type of powder depends on the color of the back- ground: • For dark backgrounds, use baby powder. • For light backgrounds, use charcoal or rotten stone. Don’t use graphite, which will bleed tint into your paint. • Place cotton balls on top of the powder to fill out the pounce so it easily fits in your hand. • Gather up the edges of the muslin and twist it to tie off the powder and cotton balls. • Use a rubber band to secure the cloth.

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Heart of Faux

Transferring text • On a computer, create the text or design you want on the wall. • Take the file to a print shop and have the text printed on regular paper at actual size. • Using a pounce wheel or electric pounce tool, create perforations in the paper along the edge of the design or down the center of the text, depending on your image. • Tape the paper on the wall. If you’re creating text, make sure it’s level. • Tap the pounce a few times to get the powder flowing. Rub or tap the pounce onto the perforations in the To transfer images to a wall, try a pounce wheel for making perforations and a pounce for paper so that it transfers through to transferring the pattern through the perforated paper. the wall. You might want to lift up an edge of the paper to check that the powder is transferring. • Remove the paper and your image should be on the wall. • Now just follow the lines!

Tip: Dawn recommends that you try out the pounce before using it on the wall so you can ensure a proper amount of powder transfers. If there’s too much powder, you can end up with a “cloud of dis- aster.” If you need to cut down on the amount of powder coming through, use two layers of muslin. APC

This column spotlights charitable projects championed by members of Save timtimee and money the International Decorative Artisans League. Author Katie Fitzgerald owns A Fine Finish and works in the San Fran- cisco/Monterey Bay areas. You can find Katie’s blog at www.anartistichome.com. To see Katie’s work, visit www.afine finish.com. You can contact Katie at (831) 419-2748 or [email protected].

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22 November/December 2016 • APC APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:49 PM Page 23

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Decorative Touch Salon Forever Decorative artists plan to gather in New York in 2017

By Victor DeMasi ried me to places I never expected to go, exposed me to artistic treasures I never o, I’m not going imagined and helped me develop skills Nto the Salon to that have rewarded me handsomely. And get my nails there was fun along the way. and hair done. Salon is Now, are you ready to attend? Read on. the best gathering of decorative artists anywhere. The finest WHOM YOU’LL MEET demonstrations of marbleizing, wood My first sit-down at my first Salon, in San graining, faux finishes and murals are on Antonio in 2002, gives a hint at what you display. Accomplished artisans can apply can expect. At dinner, I got to sit with enter- as members, aspiring sorts should attend taining blokes from England, very jolly for inspiration and everyone else can chaps. Robert Woodland and Gilbert Dowl- expect a good eyeful. ing had me awestruck as they described My first Salon was in 2002. In Con- graining at the Palace of Westminster, built necticut I was a big fish in my pond of in 1835. Here were fourth-generation grain- skilled painters. I was expecting just ers still carrying tools in the bags that their another trade show. Wrong, wrong, grandfathers used. I didn’t normally run wrong. The level of expertise demon- into these types on bleary-eyed mornings strated and the variety of panels on dis- getting mud mixed at the paint shack. play was sobering; it was really depress- Did you know not a stick of visible ing to be in the presence of skills that For the Denmark Salon’s “land of fairy wood in the palace was real oak, but was tales” theme, Victor DeMasi captured a eclipsed my own. I crawled home (actu- grained-in imitation? Oak construction, fairy in a jar to add to his collection of but- ally took a plane) and determined to do once common in England, was banned terflies. (Curiously, many winged fairies better now that the bar was a lot higher. after the Great Fire of 1666. All oak was have Monarch wings.) And I did do better. reserved for His or Her Majesty’s fleet. Since then, Salons in Belgium, Holland, Complete records going back a few cen- Italy and France, to name a few, have car- turies document the original graining and THE THEMES YOU’LL SEE all the individuals who grain-painted the Most Salons offer a theme as inspira- Palace of Westminster. This sense of tra- tion for the panels that members are dition fascinated me. These men are required to create and display. You’ll be members of the same trade organization, amazed to behold the variety of visions The City & Guilds Group (for grainers created around the themes. The “land of and painters) that trained generations fairy tales” theme at the Denmark Salon before them. The grainers at the Palace of was especially inspiring, with images Westminster all signed their work with ranging from playful to the dark corners block letters, which are visible today along of the Grimm fairy tales that would scare with the fragments of German shrapnel the hell-o out of kids. damage from the Blitz. Oh yes, you must- In Bergamo, Italy, members were given n’t patch Blitz damage. I never do. masks to decorate for the final ball in a The next day I chatted with Sean Cros- baroque palazzo. Have you been to one of by, who was demonstrating wood grain- those lately? ing on a metallic paint ground. His results New York’s theme is art deco—very were impressive and his sharing of infor- apropos for Gotham, which saw the U.S. mation generous. I took that information take its place as a creative center among to the trompe l’oeil project I'm planning the design meccas of the world during the for in the near future. Thanks Sean and all Great Depression years. World-class art the other Salonsters who gave so freely, deco abounds in the Chrysler Building The parties are a part of Salon fun. The Berg- both visually and verbally. Every Salon (especially the lobby), the Empire State amo, Italy, Salon featured a masked ball in a primed my pump with ideas and lessons Building and Radio City Music Hall, to magnificent 19th-century palazzo. big and small—priceless! name a few.

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Decorative Touch

Lots of Salon members work together to craft group murals.

English grainer Gilbert Dowling, a dear friend now departed, demonstrates his marbleizing technique in Oslo. No do-overs.

Talented students add to the spicy mix of Get your job done right with our Salon participants. This English high schooler painted many Salon members in full line of masking products. her iconic style. Indoors. Outdoors. Walls. Trim. Archways. Large surfaces. POST SALON Whatever you’re masking, save time and rework by choosing Plan to stay a few extra days for a great the right tape for your project. With easy unroll, sharp paint draught of what our greatest city has to lines, clean removal and protection from paint bleed, our full offer. Besides soaking up the 24-hour line of products gives you incredible results the first time. energy of Manhattan, plan on trips around all the cultural and artistic inspi- Find the right tape at ScotchBlue.com. ration of the Big Apple with like-minded artisans turned friends. There will be fun conversations, great dining and new per- spectives not imagined a few days earlier. My choice of non-deco destinations includes the Metropolitan Museum of Pull Off a Better Paint Job Art, specifically the dozens of American and European period rooms, the temple of Dendur, the Japanese Tea Garden and more. The recently installed Thomas Hart

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Decorative Touch

Send me $10 and your email address and I’ll send copies of the numerous illus- trated articles I’ve penned about Salons through the years. Salon New York City will be April 13- 16, 2017, at the High School of Art and Design in midtown Manhattan. Decora- tive painters from more than 20 countries are expected. Accomplished artisans, teachers and students will attend. Exhibit- ed works, ongoing demonstrations, group mural painting and a student mural will be on display for members and the public. There is free admission for the public. Arlene Mcloughlin and Jeanne S. Schnupp, skilled American painters, will host the first-ever Salon New York City. Painters who want to exhibit must sub- mit several photos of their work to be considered. A final panel should be painted in the theme, or as you like, and sub- The sights of Salon included, for DeMasi, Unexpected fun is to be expected at Salon. mitted for approval. For more informa- Versailles in France. A typical French wall At one event, members had their faces cast tion, visit www.salonnyc2017.com. and ceiling job frames his spouse and trav- in plaster. I plan to drop in on Friday the 14th, so eling companion, Roanna. make like Willie Mays and “say hey.” APC Rwenzori Mountains of Africa were based Benton Mural is the best in our art and on me without morning coffee. rivals anything from across the pond. MORE ABOUT SALON Victor DeMasi is the 30-year owner Allow a full day for the Met. and operator of Monarch Painting in My book Designer Faux Finishes (2008 Redding, Connecticut. He teaches And muralistas, don’t miss the Ameri- and remaindered on Amazon) celebrates in workshops frequently on decorative can Museum of Natural History, with its extensive pictures gallery works by numer- painting and faux finishing and dozens of dioramas of animals in natural ous Salon members from all over the world. can be reached at (203) 448-0106 or settings with incredible painted back- Eight members’ works are featured with [email protected]. To view grounds. Expect the finest painted work profiles on two-page picture spreads. Victor’s work and workshop schedule, by masters of their craft. You’ll be carried For extensive pictures of the incredible visit monarchpainting.com. His book to Abyssinia, Kazakhstan and a distant demonstration panels painted by mem- Pacific atoll. My kids still claim the goril- bers, visit http://salonforever.se and click Designer Faux Finishing is available las rising threateningly at dawn in the to particular years (2007-2016 are best). on Amazon.com.

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APC Contractor Survey APC’s 2016 Contractor Operations Survey

By Megan Headley Painters see sales increase in 2016 but explore new services and strategies for growth

2016 has been a good year for many painting contractors. Respondents to APC’s biennial Contractor Operations Survey overwhelmingly reported (64%) that sales have been up thus far for the year. While 3% saw a major downturn in sales, and 13% more a small downturn, an additional 20% of respondents said sales have been flat. It’s an ongoing trend, and one that we (like all of the contractors read- ing this!) certainly hope will continue in the years ahead. Contractors who arm themselves with data on market trends and strategies for growth are sure to come out ahead—and it’s exactly this market insight you’ll find in the next few pages. We’re focusing in particular on the 64% of survey takers who are seeing growth in their sales. In the charts to come we’ll explore the markets they serve, the strategies they’ve applied to growth and the equipment in which they’ve invested, in hopes of creating a road map that other painting contractors can apply to grow their businesses and report stellar sales performance in the next version of this survey.

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APC Contractor Survey

About the survey business growth and evolving practices to A picture of our industry The biennial Contractor Operations our last survey, conducted in October While more contractors than ever Survey presents a comprehensive cross- 2014. We encourage you to have on hand reported increases in sales, it’s not to say section of business practices from paint- information about your company’s annu- that every company has seen an enor- ing contractors across the United States. al revenue and marketing plan to see mous boost in revenue. In fact, we noted Readers were invited by email and where you fall among your peers. While only a marginal increase in survey through the paintmag.com weekly everyone wants their business to grow— respondents who report revenue in excess newsletter to participate in the survey. If no matter how good they may have it of $500,000 (30% in 2015, compared to you don’t currently get the newsletter, we now—having a realistic picture of the 27% in 2013). The largest category of con- encourage you to sign up today to help painting industry as a whole helps each tractors surveyed identify as small com- provide valuable industry insight. company set goals and pinpoint invest- panies; 42% of our survey respondents In the following pages, we’ll compare ments for the year ahead. report earning under $100,000. Annual Revenue 2013 Revenue vs. 2015 Revenue

2015 42%

2015 2013 28% 37%

2013 2015 20% 2015 0% 2015 16% 14% 2013 2013 16% 15% 2013 12%

Small Small/Medium Medium Medium/Large Large Up to $100,000 $100,000 to $250,000 to $500,000 to Over $1 million $250,000 $500,000 $1 million

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APC Contractor Survey Sales Growth by Region

Northwest Northeast Sales up 100% Midwest Sales up 69% Sales flat 0% Sales up 51% Sales flat 23% Downturn 0% Sales flat 27% Downturn 8% Downturn 22%

Mid-Atlantic Sales up 48% Sales flat 22% Downturn 30%

West Sales up 8% Sales flat 16% Downturn 4% South Sales up 78% Map depicts percentage of contractors Sales flat 13% reporting sales up, flat or down. Downturn 9%

2016 Revenue Company Size by as of November Full- and/or Part-time Employees Sales up Reporting 64% 40% Sales flat 30% 20%

20% Small 10% downturn 13% 0% Major Just me 1-5 6-20 21-50 51-100 100+ downturn 31% 39% 20% 5% 2% 3% 3%

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APC Contractor Survey

The contractors we surveyed offer a pressure washing was provided by 86% of list, replacing paperhanging as one of the diverse array of services. While 93% of survey takers and deck refinishing by most offered services. When breaking the these contractors perform interior/exteri- 70%, these services are still in the top tier top seven most frequently offered services or painting, as to be expected, pressure of offerings. down by company size, we notice that this washing and deck refinishing continue to The biggest jump on our service list is particular service is more popular among be critical support businesses, according seen by decorative/faux finishing work, midsize companies, where it’s a differen- to 78% and 66% of survey takers, respec- which, being offered by 39% of respon- tiator worth investing in. tively. Although down from 2014, when dents, moved to the seventh spot on this Services offered Interior/exterior painting 93%

Pressure washing 78%

Deck refinishing 66%

Architectural wood staining 52%

Drywall taping/finishing 40%

Decorative/faux finishing 39%

Exterior waterproofing/sealing 39%

Multicolor coatings 36%

Paperhanging/paper removal 33%

Wood furniture refinishing 30%

Shop painting 33%

25% Drywall installation

14% Certified lead paint abatement

12% Roof coatings

6% Water blasting

6% Sand/abrasive blasting

4% Line stripping

3% Electrostatic spraying

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APC Contractor Survey

In taking a closer look at the top seven companies, with about half of large compa- vided this service. On the other hand, most frequently offered services, we find nies surveyed (52%) offering this service. architectural wood staining remains a top that deck refinishing services are over- That marks a hefty decrease from our last service choice for larger companies, being whelmingly popular with small to midsize survey, where 61% of large companies pro- offered by 65% of these companies.

Services offered, by company size Small Small/Midsize Midsize Large Interior/exterior painting 94% 93% 95% 96% Pressure washing 71% 87% 77% 83% Deck refinishing 67% 71% 64% 52% Architectural wood staining 47% 56% 50% 65% Decorative/faux finishing 36% 44% 45% 30% Drywall taping/finishing 33% 36% 36% 22% Exterior waterproofing/sealing 31% 38% 50% 35%

So how do these services translate to work as bringing in the greatest profit end residential projects as their biggest profit? Residential repainting remains, (40% each). moneymaker. When we take a closer look, across the board, the most profitable por- The high-end residential market contin- we see that small to midsize contractors are tion of these contractors’ work. In 2016, ues its dramatic drop as a leading source of more likely to report high-end residences 45% of survey respondents see the greatest profit. In our 2012 survey, 52% of respon- as a significant source of profit (24%). reward in residential repainting, com- dents reported high-end homes as their Historic renovation and decorative/faux pared to 38% in 2014. Only the largest most profitable market segment, and we finishing remain the domain of smaller, companies, with annual revenue over $1 were surprised to report in 2014 that this more niche-focused companies, while million, are evenly split between residen- dropped to 29%. Today, only 17% of sur- new construction is largely profitable for tial and commercial and/or industrial veyed contractors are highlighting high- the largest of firms.

The most profitable markets, by company size

Market Small Small/Midsize Midsize Large (up to ($100,00 to ($250,000 to (over $100,000) $249,999) $1 million) $1 million)

Residential Repainting 51% 42% 43% 40% Industrial/Commercial 9% 22% 19% 40% Paperhanging 3% 4% 5% 0% High-end Residential 16% 24% 14% 8% Historic Renovation 7% 2% 0% 0% Decorative/Faux Finishing 9% 2% 0% 0% Other 1% 4% 10% 0% New Construction 4% 0% 14% 16%

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APC Contractor Survey

New ways to grow ences in growth strategies compared to enue—14% of survey respondents— Few of the painting contractors we sur- those reported in 2014. According to the compared to only 8% in this year’s surveyed are sitting still and waiting for results, fewer companies are turning to vey results. business to come to them. Companies seasonal sales to drive big gains in rev- For good news, cutting employees that reported growth have been active in enue. In 2014, seasonal sales sat in the loose was also much less popular this exploring new solutions to keep their number 5 spot on our list, while his year year, where 7% of painting contractors businesses profitable, as have their peers it has dropped by 7% to the number 7 report cutting staff as a growth strategy, who have been working through slumps. spot. And in 2014 more contractors were compared to 10% in 2014. It’s worth noting a few distinct differ- slashing prices to increase their rev-

Steps taken in the past six months to ensure business becomes or remains profitable

Companies reporting that All companies sales are up so far in 2016 surveyed

Increased networking opportunities 55% 46%

Invested more in marketing 25% 27%

Asked prospects more stringent 25% 22% prequalifying questions to decrease the cost of chasing leads

Increased and diversified offerings 24% 23%

Started accepting credit cards 14% 11%

Enrolled in online lead program 11% 9%

Promoted seasonal sales to create 12% 11% a sense of urgency in clients

Put incentive programs in place for 10% 7% employees who bring in business

Nothing 7% 6%

Increased prices 5% 3%

Created more lax prequalifying questions 4% 7% for customers in order to have more face time with potential clients

Cut prices 3% 8%

Cut staff 3% 7%

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APC Contractor Survey

Much like in 2014, increased network- ers to describe the initiatives they’re tak- tractors relying on it as a form of marketing opportunities were overwhelmingly ing to boost their profiles in their local ing, compared to 55% in 2014. Interest reported (46%) as a solution by which markets. More than half (53%) of these continues to wane in traditional media contractors can grow their business painting contractors describe their web- such as newspapers (from 10% to 7% in opportunities. Many of these contractors site as a primary source of marketing— 2016) and the Yellow Pages (22% to 14% also increased their marketing invest- down significantly from 71% in 2014. in 2016). ments (27%) to boost their customer More surprising than the drop is the fact On social media, Facebook still domi- bases. While the numbers on these strate- that this year only 19% of survey respon- nates as a marketing tool (used by 28%), gies have decreased somewhat since 2014, dents report following up on that valu- although its usefulness overall may be in when networking was favored by 58% of able format by putting in place a program question as that number has dropped by survey respondents and marketing by to pursue online leads. While a website nearly half since 2014 when 43% of survey 32%, we noticed in the survey results that often is the first place to which con- takers relied on a Facebook presence. most contractors are taking a broad and sumers turn when searching for informa- Only a small number of contractors are diverse approach to strengthening busi- tion, traffic without a way of tracking it is looking beyond Facebook at social plat- ness by adopting a range of solutions. like paying to have an unmanned booth forms such as Twitter, (4%), Pinterest at a trade show. (3%), or Instagram, Houzz and Yelp (1% Exploring Marketing Strategies Vehicle side advertising remains near each). Similarly, a mere 1% are relying on With marketing investments being the top of our list of popular marketing the old standbys such as local magazines such a popular target, we asked our read- strategies, with 47% of these painting con- and postcards.

Forms of marketing in which survey takers are investing

57%

53% 52% Those businesses whose sales are up are in 2016

47% Total businesses surveyed

33%

28% 20% 19%

15%16% 14% 14% 13% 13%

7% 7% 6% 5% 6% 4%

Website Vehicle side Facebook Online Email Mailing lists Yellow Newspaper Word of Coupon advertising leads marketing Pages mouth mailers

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APC Contractor Survey

Your toughest challenges Thirty-six percent of survey respondents Interestingly, scheduling continues to Marketing remains an important cite this as a significant challenge, up from increase as a challenge for many contrac- investment because many of our readers 20% in 2014. Most of our survey respon- tors. In 2012, this was reported as a chal- are still seeking to differentiate the dents have at least one employee on board lenge by only 9% of survey takers, increas- breadth and quality of their services and (69%), making this an understandable ing to 13% in 2014 and high on the list of set themselves apart from their toughest challenge. To take a quick glance at that challenges for 20% of this year’s surveyed challenge: low-priced competitors. Survey workforce, only a fraction of those sur- readers. respondents consistently report this as veyed report an immigrant-heavy work- Some of the other challenges survey their most significant challenge; this year force, with 22% of contractors surveyed takers reported included educating cus- it was listed by 46% of survey respon- noting that their employees speak anoth- tomers, learning how best to charge for dents, up from the 2014 report of 39% and er language on the job—Spanish, Ukrain- unique jobs and a declining market for closer to the 2012 survey as the top ian, Italian and Albanian were mentioned. some of the more niche services. response of 51% of respondents. Only 17% of these employers have a Employee hiring and retention remains workforce that dominantly speaks Span- an area where contractors struggle as well. ish on the job. Low-priced Competition Greatest industry challenges Marketing

8% 46%

Cash Flow/Collections

12% Scheduling

Employee Hiring 20% and Retention ?

36% Maximizing Profit

9% Staying in Business 7%

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APC Contractor Survey

Equipment investments by 33% of survey respondents, while air- Coming in our “other” category were Our investigation into contractors’ equip- atomizing and electrostatic sprayers are a reports of shot blasters and concrete ment revealed some overwhelmingly popu- necessity for only 6% of respondents. grinders and polishers, as well as sanders, lar selections. A full 81% of survey takers Compared to 2014, we noticed a slight showing a truly diverse range of equip- reported they can’t do without their airless drop in use of pressure washers—from ment to get the job done. sprayers, the consistent top choice in this the top-rated choice at 89% in 2014 to 73% survey. Air-assisted sprayers were favored in 2016.

The most-used pieces of equipment

Airless sprayer 81%

Pressure washer 73%

Scaffolding/rigging 57%

HVLP sprayer 41%

Aerial lift (scissor or boom) 35%

Air-assisted sprayer 33%

17% Wallcovering-pasting machine

7% Abrasive blasting equipment

6% Air-atomizing sprayer

6% Electrostatic sprayer

6% Trailer-mounted compressor

5% Water-blasting unit

4% Two-component sprayer

2% Airless or conventional line stripper

Tech savvy those contractors surveyed, 90% say they readers are an active bunch, continually Although the surveyed painting con- are hungry for information on painting working hard to grow. After glancing tractors may not be relying on social media techniques and products and are turning through this information, consider what as a primary form of marketing, they are a to the Web as a source of new information. strategies you might change to boost your fairly social group. In social media, Face- In addition, 70% are watching painting growth in the year ahead. book is overwhelmingly the preferred videos to boost their skillset. Painting- Send your comments and questions to engagement method for contractors. Fifty- specific apps are somewhat less in use, with the editor at [email protected], Sub- six percent report having a Facebook page, only 36% of survey respondents reporting ject: 2016 Contractor Operations Survey. with only 17% claiming a Twitter handle the use of this tool on the job. and 14% on Instagram. Compared to 2014, Megan Headley is the managing there’s a drop in social media traffic. But How do you compare? editor of APC. She can be reached at that doesn’t mean these contractors aren’t One thing that is clear every year in [email protected]. using the web to the full extent possible. Of which this survey is performed is that our

AMERICAN PAINTING CONTRACTOR • November/December 2016 35 APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:50 PM Page 36

Contractor’s Tool Bag

Environmentally Friendly Solvent tight seal. Self-closing action maintains power boost technology, which reportedly Replacement the tight seal. The door is reusable, provides 30% more power/pressure beyond durable and easily handles high traffic. any HVLP unit available in the marketplace. The door measures 7'2" x 4'7" and can This system provides contractors with the be used with barriers made of plastic ability to apply virtually any coating without sheeting or with ZipFast reusable barrier compromise. panels. Features include full variable pressure www.zipwall.com control with LCD pressure display, accurate to 1/10th of a PSI. Patent-pending Ladder for Painting Over Stairs technology assures the painter of true and accurate pressure at any altitude and baro- metric pressure. The Throttle Back Con- trol provides added longevity. www.hvlp.com Bio Brands LLC says that its environmentally friendly Bio-Solv solvent replace- Worm Drive Saw Specifically for ment is 100% bio-based, bio-degradable Concrete and on the USDA BioPreferred list. More- over, the supplier says, the cleaner is more than five times stronger than acetone and lasts up to 10 times longer. Bio-Solv can be used indoors and out, and is suited for paint preparation and Painting walls over stairs can be a frus- wipe down. It can be used on metal sur- trating task. Ideal Security has designed a faces, paint systems, pumps, overspray, new tool to simplify the process of using a adhesive cleanup, parts cleaning and vinyl ladder on stairs. The Ladder-Aide is a graphics, and can remove graffiti from compact but versatile platform that makes smooth and rough surfaces. it safe and easy to use regular extension SKILSAW has introduced a fully inte- The product can be recycled though fil- ladders on staircases of all shapes and sizes. grated worm drive saw designed to score tering or distillation for repeated reuse, www.ladder-aide.com and cut concrete. Users previously had to and the low evaporation rate and high- create their own tool workarounds to solvency formula can reduce overall sol- score concrete by modifying a worm vent usage. It is considered a combustible PRECISION-6 Turbospray System drive saw with costly third-party or liquid but, unlike flammable liquids, homemade attachments, and the results requires no special storage. were less than ideal. www.greenacetone.com MEDUSAW features an integrated wet/dry dust management system to con- Magnetic Dust Barrier Door trol dust, allowing for clean cuts, and ZipWall, maker GFCI protection. Both features extend the of the ZipWall life of the saw and protect the user. A Cut- Dust Barrier Sys- Ready adjustable plunge lock allows users tem, has now to quickly and accurately set and make launched a self- consistent plunge cuts. The saw also has closing ZipWall an integrated rolling foot plate with rubber Magnetic Dust wheels that help users move it smoothly Barrier Door Kit. across hard surfaces and rust-resistant The door pro- brackets and fasteners to protect against vides a hands-free corrosion. Finally, the tool includes a entryway into the retractable front pointer that accurately jobsite while keep- guides the saw along the cut line and ing dust contained. According to the retracts for tight spaces. manufacturer, it is quick and easy to Apollo Sprayers International Inc., a MEDUSAW comes equipped with an install, and has an adjustable header bar manufacturer of high volume low pressure onboard multifunction wrench, making it that works with all ZipWall spring-loaded (HVLP) products for spray finishing, says easy for users to change the blades, oil, poles. Specially designed magnetic strips it has developed the world’s most powerful brushes, water feed attachment and snap together to attach the magnetic door spray system, the PRECISION-6. wheels. APC to the barrier material, forming an air- The PRECISION-6 features the company’s www.skilsaw.com

36 November/December 2016 • APC APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:50 PM Page 37

Product Roundup Tape

Blue Painter’s Tape, Floor cation technology. The result is enhanced barriers. DS 154 features a differential Protection Films durability that makes it possible for the adhesive system. The exposed/wall side fea- tape to be removed in one piece without tures a premium-grade painter’s tape adhe- tearing or slivering, helping prevent paint sive (the same used on patented FrogTape bleed. 3M’s micro-replication technology brand painter’s tape) that allows for 21-day allows for a straight 90-degree hand tear. clean removal without damage or residue. ScotchBlue PLATINUM Painter’s Tape On the linered side is a specially formulat- is easy to apply and readjust. The 90- ed, aggressive adhesive that securely holds degree tear allows painters to mask cor- poly-sheeting, tarps and other protective ners with more accuracy than when using coverings in both wet and dry environ- paper tapes. It is recommended for use on ments. The double-sided construction baseboards, trim, metal and glass. Scotch- results in full surface contact with the poly- Blue PLATINUM Painter’s Tape is UV- sheeting, ensuring a strong, airtight hold resistant and compatible with zero-volatile that lasts throughout the job, including Presto Tape has introduced retail packag- organic compound paints in normal con- negative pressure containments. When the ing for its blue painter’s tape, floor protec- ditions. job is done, the tape and poly-sheeting tion film and carpet protection film, mak- www.ScotchBlue.com remove cleanly and easily in one step. ing it easier than ever for retailers to have www.shurtape.com these products counter or shelf ready for Tape for Low-VOC Paints and point-of-sale display. Containment Painter’s Tape Presto’s P621 Blue Painter’s Tape is now packaged under the name R2 SuperBlue with R2 printed cores. The packaging allows retailers to easily offer a private- label brand to their customers on their shelves or counters. The retail packaged blue painter’s tape is available in 3-, 2-, 1½- and 1-inch widths by 60 yards. Presto’s blue painter’s tape is a water- based acrylic tape that removes cleanly for up to 30 days. The high-performance masking tape does not dry out or lose its holding power. The blue painter’s tape can FrogTape products include Multi-Surface be used on walls, trim, glass, woodwork Shurtape Technologies LLC has two solu- and Delicate Surface, Shape Tape and Tex- and a variety of other surfaces. tions to help painting contractors get bet- tured Surface sharp paint lines solutions. Presto’s floor and carpet protection films ter results. Each is treated with the manufacturer’s can be used to protect hardwood floors, To accommodate a market filled with patented PaintBlock Technology, an tiles or carpets against paint spills, stains newer paint options that are designed with absorbent polymer that reacts with the and damage. Both films are available in 24- lower or zero VOCs Shurtape introduced water in latex paint and instantly gels to inch by 50-foot rolls and are reverse wound ShurSTICK paint masking tape. This form a micro-barrier that seals the edges for easy “kick out” application. The Carpet medium-high adhesion paint masking of the tape, preventing paint bleed and Protection Film is clear and the Floor Pro- tape was specially formulated to stick to creating crisp paint lines. tection Film is blue for easy identification. low- and zero-VOC paints and other Whether you’re taping off baseboards, www.prestotape.com hard-to-stick-to surfaces. It was designed trim and walls for basic painting applica- to deliver adhesion without sacrificing key tions or creating decorative patterns, Frog- Painter’s Tape That Delivers 90- performance characteristics including Tape aims to make it easy to achieve sharp Degree Hand Tears easy unwind, flexibility and conformabili- paint lines and create professional-looking 3M Co.’s Scotch- ty. It also offers three-day clean removal, results. And in 2017, watch for new design Blue PLATINUM eliminating surface damage and touch- trends, created by interior designer and Painter’s Tape is ups. DIY television personality Taniya Nayak the first and only To reduce time and costs spent prepping exclusively for FrogTape: Luscious Layers, interior tape of its paint jobs, Shurtape introduced DS 154 Nature’s Influence, Modern Morphing, kind to use an double-sided containment tape. It’s a solu- Haute Homemade, Inter “Woven” and advanced polyeth- tion designed to help contractors cut steps, Timeless Touch. APC ylene backing not corners, when creating high-perfor- www.frogtape.com with micro-repli- mance containment systems and critical

AMERICAN PAINTING CONTRACTOR • November/December 2016 37 APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:52 PM Page 38 APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:52 PM Page 39

Welcome to The Wall. Here you can find cool stuff, including marketing tips, funny customer blunders and projects from APC readers. Got some cool stuff of your own? Just email [email protected]. Don’t forget to check our Facebook page for even more updates on The Wall.

Is DIY painting finally on According to Debbie Zimmer, director of systems, insurance policies, home the decline? Communications and Alliances for PQI, improvement budgets and DIY skills. “During the recession period (2009), home- Findings indicate that homeowners’ con- Homeowners may finally be ready to owners were applying more paint. The confidence levels don’t necessarily reflect a invest in painting services rather than tractor numbers have been increasing since true understanding of their homes. tackling big paint projects themselves. that time—good news for the professional For example, although 88% of home- Data from the Paint Quality Institute indi- painting contractor.” Good news indeed! owners expressed confidence in their cates a changing ratio of do-it-yourselfers abilities to properly maintain their homes, compared to contractor-applied coatings the survey found that less than 40% of in the architectural paint segment. Most DIYers have to call in a pro respondents actually have the necessary DIY% Contractor% know-how. Among other stats, the survey 2006 48 52 Here’s some solid information to found that 66% of respondents have no 2008 40 60 include in your marketing handouts: It maintenance plans for their homes’ exte- 2010 50 50 turns out that most homeowners overesti- rior surfaces. 2012 42 58 mate their do-it-yourself abilities. The report goes on to advise homeown- 2014 40 60 Insurance provider Esurance recently ers to hire credible professionals to ensure surveyed 1,000 U.S. homeowners on their home maintenance projects are done knowledge of their homes’ maintenance right—the first time. APC

AD INDEX

3M Dizzolve PDCA www.3m.com www.dizzolvebrushcleaner.com (800) 332-7322 See our ads on pages 9, 13, 25. See our ad on page 22. www.pdca.org See our ads on page 11. AllPro Dumond Chemicals www.allprocorp.com (800) 245-1191 Sherwin Williams See our ad on page 14. www.dumondchemicals.com www.sherwin-williams.com [email protected] See our ad on page 15. California Paints See our ad on page 3. www.californiapaints.com Shoe In Covers See our ad on back c. Ford Motor Media www.shoeincovers.com www.ford.com See our ad on page 21. Crown Paint See our ad on page 17. The Academy for www.LatexAgent.com Professional Painting Contractors See our ad on page 21. Homax (888) 510-6027 www.homaxproducts.com www.freepaintingreport.com Crawford Products See our ad on page 2. See our ad on page 18. www.crawfords.com See our ad on page 5. MDC Wallcoverings Wooster (800) 621-4006 www.woosterbrush.com See our ad on page 7. CS Unitec www.mdcwall.com www.csunitec.com See our ad on page 16. See our ad on page 19.

AMERICAN PAINTING CONTRACTOR • November/December 2016 39 APCnovdec16_Draft01 12/7/16 7:52 PM Page 40