Get Quotes from Top Painters in Columbus, OH
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Painter in Columbus
Indeed, a new paint is an affordable means to improve your home's appeal and market value. However, beware paints contain substances that may affect your health if not handled according to established national standards. Similarly, Ohio has a strict anti-lead paint policy that must be followed in removing old paints, most especially for homes built before 1978. As such, it is best to leave your painting job to a qualified professional in Columbus City with adequate training on handling all kinds of paints. Before you pick your preferred painter, ensure they provide satisfactory answers to the following questions:
Are You Licensed to Practice as a Painter in Columbus?
There are no general statewide requirements for painters to be licensed in Ohio since the state does not require persons engaged in minor repairs, such as painting, to be licensed before they can offer their services. However, before professionals can open painting businesses in Columbus, Ohio, they must first register with the Ohio Secretary of State. Also, following the United States Environment Protection Agency's(EPA) rule on Lead Renovation, Repair, and Paintings, professionals who want to paint any house or building occupied predominantly by children in Columbus that was built before 1978 must first be trained by the EPA and receive appropriate certification.
Columbus generally requires professionals to be licensed as home improvement contractors before they can repair, replace, alter, remodel, convert, or modernize any land or building for family dwellings. Thus, before you embark on any painting project, it is best to contact the Building and Zoning Services by phone (614) 645-7433 or fax (614) 645-0082.
How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Painters in Columbus?
When trying to find a competent painter, it is always best to retrieve quotes from several painters within your vicinity. Retrieving quotes would give you insight into the rates charged by painters in Columbus. The rates painters in Columbus would charge you would usually be affected by factors like the cost of materials to be used for the painting project, the nature of the painting project, and the scope of the painting project. When you get a quote from several painters, you can create a workable budget. The quotes would also enable you to avoid getting scammed by painters who might bring outrageous quotes.
A painter in Columbus earns $46,710 annually. The table below provides the hourly mean wage of painters in Columbus and compares this with the wages of painters in other parts of Ohio and several other major cities in the United States:
What Kind of Painting Services Do You Offer?
Before you hire a painter, you should find out the area of specialization and level of expertise the painter you wish to hire has. Painters in Columbus typically offer different services, including interior and exterior painting services for residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Thus, it is always best to confirm the kind of services the painter you wish to hire can offer. It is also advisable to get cost estimates from several painters within Columbus so that you can prepare a suitable budget. The cost estimates of some painting services readily available in Charlotte are listed below:
Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Painters in Columbus?
Employing an insured painter is an excellent way to avoid the financial and legal liabilities associated with work-related injuries, accidents, property damage, and fatalities. In 2019, there were 78 fatal injuries that involved general maintenance and repair workers, including painters. More than 21,400 non-fatal injuries within the same time frame warranted workers to take some time away from work. Even though Columbus, Ohio, does not require painters to carry commercial general liability insurance, you should still hire painters who hold general liability insurance.
However, you should keep in mind that Ohio requires all employers to keep proper workers' compensation insurance for all employees if the business has more than one employee. The worker compensation insurance requirement is administered per the Ohio Workers Compensation Act. Suppose you have any questions regarding the insurance requirements in Columbus. In that case, you can contact the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation(OBWC) by email, sending a fax to (866) 336-8352, or dialing the OBWC toll-free line (800) 644-6292.
How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Painter in Columbus
The Office of the Attorney General of Ohio(AG) released a statement warning all residents within the state to avoid home improvement contractors who exhibit signs that show they might be fraudulent. The AG warned that contractors could sometimes start a project and stop work without notice or try other ways to stall or perform a poor job.
In 2021, the AG filed a lawsuit against some contractors who had been accused of scamming some homeowners who had suffered damage from tornadoes in 2019. The total amount the contractors had scammed the homeowners amounted to $300,000. Also, in 2021, the AG brought a lawsuit against StormAid Restoration LLC after promising to repair some roof damage and collecting deposits totaling $213,569. The proprietor of StormAid then proceeded to do a subpar job, violating the Consumer Sales Practices Act.
Considering the financial losses that home improvement scams cause, actively protecting yourself from fraudulent contractors is good. Note you can identify a fraudulent painter by the following acts:
- Painters that loiter around, moving from door to door seeking contracts. Painters who are good at their job do not need to solicit contracts in this manner.
- Any home improvement contractor or painter trying to entice you to make payments when you haven't signed a contract yet.
- Home improvement contractors who use pressure sales tactics are usually fraudulent. Any deal you are forced to take immediately is most likely fraudulent.
- Get price estimates from several painters within your vicinity. Avoid doing business with contractors whose quotes are too high or too low compared to the other quotes you received.
- Painters who force you to pay in cash are highly likely to be fraudulent.
Since we have highlighted some of the signs of painters who might want to scam you, below is a list of some steps you can take to avoid getting scammed:
- Never hesitate to walk away from contractors who use high-pressure sales tactics.
- Go through home improvement contracts very carefully before signing. If you do not understand the contract, contact a lawyer to understand the meaning and implications of the contract.
- Properly document all negotiations, proof of payments, and contracts related to the painting project.
- Avoid giving out details of your personal life or information such as your social security number to painters. Only provide information that relates directly to the painting project at hand.
- Only pay for jobs when completed. Avoid large upfront payments.
- Make use of reputable third-party services like the Better Business Bureau website to find the services of a competent painter in your vicinity.
- Gather quotes from several painters. Take extra precautions around painters who provide quotes that are too cheap or expensive in comparison with estimates you had previously received from other carpenters.
- Since painters are required to be registered as businesses within Ohio, always verify the business license of the painter using the Business Search Tool maintained by the Secretary of State.
- Take note that the Ohio Home Solicitation Sales Act allows consumers the right to cancel contracts signed at their homes within a three-day window. The law only applies if you sign a contract at a location that is not the painter's company's usual place of business.
You can report a home improvement contractor scam to the Ohio Attorney General's office by filing a report a scam form and inputting all the pertinent details. You can also make a consumer complaint to the AG if you have any complaints about subpar jobs performed by painters or any other general complaints by filing a consumer complaint form. You can also contact the AG by phone at (800) 282-0515 to make complaints.
If the monetary value of the dispute you have with the painter is $6,000 or less, you can file a small claims case at the small claims division of the Franklin County Municipal Court. You can contact the small claims division by email or phone at (614) 645-7381 to make inquiries about the procedure for filing a small claims case in Columbus. Ensure you contact a lawyer before filing your small claims case for legal advice.