small job questions

eric s

Wondering:

Use two layers of brown paper to cover wood stairs in area to be painted and tape the edges?

Windows recessed bout a foot into wall. Thinking to use brown paper taped up to edge to avoid roller splatter.

Brown paper under the molding to cover rug? Maybe folded to make it stay under better. Thinking that to cover the entire living room floor with drop cloths would be overkill plus it would cost a tidy sum to acquire them. Best to cover a quarter of the area at a time instead?

This client has settling cracks near steps. The best I can do is spackle, sand, and paint over. I tried this once before and wound up having a crack winding up anyway. I'm not a drywall guru.

Thank you.

AtlanticWBConst.

Eric....

.........

Regarding the lack of drop clothes and your arguement that it will cost more to use them:

It is your client's property. You need to take ''whatever precautions'' you honestly feel are necessary to protect it. They are extending their trust that you will do what is needed. They have hired you and have made the assumption that you will do what is necessary PROFESSIONALLY to ensure that the work area (their property) is properly protected.

You can't afford to provide the required drop clothes???

All I have to say is this: That is pathetic.... (This is quite blunt....but you need to hear it)

You are hiring yourself out as a person that is experienced/ concerned with/ and working/doing: areas of "HOME IMPROVEMENT" .....

If you can't afford to have, or, aqcuire the materials to properly do that....then maybe you should not be in this line of work...

Again, I apologize for the 'bluntness'.....but that is the 'reality' of this business...


(Regarding the Drywall:
Did you paper tape the crack prior to applying compound/spackle?
If you don't do this...it will most definitely crack again...)

__________________
- Build Well -

Tscarborough

You will surely step in droppings on the area you have taped and track them into the areas that you did not protect. Do it right, or don't, but only charge for it when you do it right.

AtlanticWBConst.

Hi Eric,

The posts you have...should really be on the 'CONTRACTOR TALK' forums.

DIY - is realistaically for Home Owners, renters, people in general, who are ...'doing projects themselves'....and not making a profit or a living .... off of it.


On ''Contractor Talk'':

You will find a load of information and prudent advice and suggestions from many people who have been thru the stages that you are at now. They can offer you technique advice, as well as business advice.

You are obviously very serious about your undertaking....Really, This is not the forum for the advice you are seeking or in need of.

__________________
- Build Well -

eric s

Bringing it into focus...My previous text.

It was not to say that having enough drop cloths to provide total coverage was too expensive so much as to ask if that is what is generally recommended...total coverage. I do not want to end up with extra drops that might never be used again as I have plently of tools collecting dust already but, have zero problems with doing the job right and seeing these drops as investments.

Judging from posts I will go htiw total coverage.

About DIY...OH! I actually was considering myself closer to DIYs than Pros but, since you are putting it thataway my future posts will be seen where they belong.

TANKS.

send_it_all

Check into carpet mask also. Although it is a little on the expensive side, I like to use it around the edges of a room to mask the outside 2 feet of carpet and tuck it up tight to the base boards. This way even if the drop cloths move a little from being walked on, the edges are still protected. I just add it into the set up costs.

eric s

Send It All:

Yes I will check it out. Cool of you to suggestit.

I have been thinking that folding paper (doubling the brown paper) and getting it under molding would be good along with drop on top. Drop will move so the trick seems to be getting the edge protection to not move or move less.

Thought that plastic might be betters like than paper as I'm concerned with sticking.

Happy painting to pros...sincerely: novice.