Decades ago we painted the exterior of our first home together. That is something that a married couple does once, if they want to stay married. So late last summer, knowing that it was time to re-paint this house, I began the task of trying to find a painter who would:
- take my call;
- be available this spring/summer/fall to paint our house;
- have decent references [or no outstanding warrants];
- show up; &
- actually know how to paint.
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This is not the first time we’ve hired professional painters to paint the outside of a house that we owned. Happily, our first experience was good, albeit noisy and chaotic. The crew of 12 men swarmed the house like ants to a picnic, but after a hectic 2 days the house looked nice.
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About 70% of our house is brick. The brick has some bluish-greenish gray in it which softens the bricky color and allows the house to blend into nature year round. The mortar between the bricks is a soft tan/gray color which provides a small contrast with the brick. Nothing too dramatic.
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Our second experience with a professional painting company was difficult and frustrating. I don’t think that the painters used the correct color on the house and the whole mess ended with Z-D, Esq, applying a bit of legal pressure to make certain that the yokels painters fulfilled the conditions of the contract. When this bunch finished painting the house, it did not look so wonderful.
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For the 30% of the house that is painted we chose Sherwin-Williams 7029 Agreeable Gray. I would describe it as a more warm than cool light gray shade that is about as neutral as our mortar, but doesn’t look dreary at all. In fact, we painted a test of it on two side of the house last fall, then watched to see how it looked during the winter & spring. It’s pretty.
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This, our third experience with professional house painters, has been the best to date– that is, if this man and his on-again off-again crew ever finish. We’re into week 5 now, so this has been slow project. Fortunately this bunch is tidy, polite and show up when they say they will + they are doing a wonderful precise job, so however long it takes is fine by me.
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The shutters will be re-painted Sherwin-Williams 6216 Jasper. It’s the same dark green color that they’ve been since we had the house built. I like this color because there is a definite contrast with the brick and when there is only grayness outside during the winter, this subtle green shade cheers my soul.
THE SPECTACLED BEAN 