Pro painter has benefits

Bigger houses with large spaces mean hiring professional painters

For some people, doing their own painting is a no-brainer. For others, just thinking about doing it makes their head hurt.

Tim Barry, sales representative for Porter Paints, concedes some people are better painters than others. But, he says, “Most people who are doing these projects (themselves) don’t want to be doing them.”

Paint contractor Joe Zoeller says husbands used to use a week of vacation to paint, but not anymore.

“People call me because they’re afraid to get up on the ladder,” he says.

With more houses designed with two-story foyers, more people don’t have the equipment to do the job themselves.

Zoeller says people often call him to fix things he can’t fix. They spill paint on their carpets or start projects they can’t do, then they call a contractor.

Professionals have the equipment to safely paint two-story foyers, stairwells and other tricky spots.

Spending $350 for a ladder may be close to what a contractor would bill you for the entire job.

“Basically, it should be common sense,” he said. “You should look at the project and ask yourself, ‘Am I going to get in the middle of this and get overwhelmed?”’