1. art and entertainment
2. visual art and design
3. painting

PAINTING
Vol. 1 No. 1 Spring
The
A few words from
Editor
corators out there,
sional painters and de
HELLO, all you profes s for the better.
changing peoples live
listen to the news
en a paper today or re unemployment,
Mo
Bad news or good. Op
.
om
doom and glo
and there is lots of 00’s of employees put off, companies
retail sales down, 10, horror VAT stories, etc. etc. The news
is
liquidated, prices upthis talk about times getting harder
is not good and all But every downside has an upside, so
e.
often self fulfilling. can turn bad news to our advantag
we
w
ho
at
k
loo
’s
let
ople do in times of
estion ‘What do pe
Ask yourself the qu ’ They stop buying major assets. Theyir
economic slowdown?as. They become more careful with the y
stop travelling overseat do they do instead? They spend mone
spending habits. Whng conditions. An addition to their homeg
to improve their livi ber deck for the B.B.Q? Finally gettin ?
perhaps? Maybe a tim job done or putting new wallpaper up
that long put off paint
ors and the smart
painters and decorat
r
That’s good news for benefits. Just market yourself and you
ones will reap great y and jobs will follow. Don’t wait for the.
business the right wayou. Get out there and drum up business?
customer to come to ve past a house that needs a paint job .
How often do you dri it, there is a chance the inside will too
If the outside needsck or fence that needs restoring to itst
Seen a wooden de not invest a little of your time to get tha
original beauty? Why um of expense?
business with a minim
s
you to get those job y
mpany, want to help
We, at The Flood Co e benefit too. So we are doing exactlto
and at the same tim. We are spending time and money d
what we ask of youbusiness. In this newsletter you will fin
improve our mutual new customers, tips which will help youy
ideas on how to get problems, details on time and moned
overcome painting ggestions for better staff relations an
saving products, su ve the bottom line. We’ve also included
many ways to improtalk from fellow tradesmen and Flood
stories and trade world and if there is just one thing you
fit. It’s up to you.
customers around the
u will already bene
learn from this yo
ed to anybody in
you feel should be air
,
If there is somethingrelated sector, let’s hear it. Grievances
the Australian painthelps the industry as a whole, is welcome
of
news, anything that shed will be rewarded with a 4L can
and every item publiabond or Floetrol. The choice is yours.
Penetrol, E-B Emuls
The Editor.
How to Get
Free Publicity for
Your Business
After a long day on the job, the last thing you want to see is a story featuring
your competitor on the cover of the local newspaper. How can you get the
media’s attention? What is the ‘perfect pitch’? Here are a few ways to grab
the local news (and hopefully some potential customers) attention.
Make some news
Before you can pitch your
news, you have to make
some. If you’re working on
something that is
newsworthy, the media will
be happy to talk with you.
Examples of newsworthy
work include community
projects such as playgrounds
or parks, historical
restorations or city
landmarks.
Build relationships
Now that you have your news,
who do you contact? The
editor of the local newspaper
is the ideal place to start.
Explain that you have a
project you’re working on that
is of impor tance to the
paper’s readers. The editor
will be able to refer you to
the appropriate reporter or
section editor.
When you contact the correct
individual, tell them about
your project, and find out how
they prefer to receive further
information. They may want
to communicate via fax or email.
However you correspond,
remember to keep it simple.
Outline the project in two or
three bullet points, always
remembering to emphasize
the newsworthiness, but
most importantly, include
thorough contact information
- your name, address,
address of the project site,
phone number and hours you
can be reached.
Watch the calendar
You may not be working on
a project that will appeal to
the media, but your skills as
a c o n t r a c t o r m ay b e
newsworthy. When summer
rolls around, it brings articles
about outdoor projects with
it. Get in touch with your
media contact, and let them
know you’re available to them
as an expert resource if they
are planning any home
improvement stories. In many
cases, media will feature
summer project tips, and
quote a local expert to add
authority to their stories. This
also applies in the winter,
when it comes time to
winterize homes and decks.
If you position yourself as an
expert and provide sound,
applicable advice, the
reporter will reference you
more than once. Soon, your
competition will be coming
home to stories featuring you.
When pricing a job,
present before and after
photographs of jobs you
have done in the past.
These will illustrate the
quality work you have
performed for other
customers. Ask if there is
an important upcoming
event for which the job
needs to be completed.
Developing this intimacy
with a customer will
endear you to them. Give
customer your mobile
phone number if you have
one. If they know you are
easily accessible, they
may also find you more
dependable. Be on time!
If you are called out to
quote for a job ... be on
time. It may sound simple,
but by showing up late you
are demonstrating
irresponsibility. Follow
through after making your
bid. Show persistence phone to check if they
have made a decision or
if they would like to
discuss your bid further.
This proves your
dedication to their project.
Leave something for
them. Come up with a
creative hand-out that will
remind them of you,
ideally with your
company’s name on it. A
pen, mug, etc. Check
Yellow Pages under
Advertising - Promotional
products.
•••••••••••••• BREAKING NEWS ••••••••••••••••
IN THIS
ISSUE
Contractors Viewed as Untrustworthy
2 Can Acrylics flow
like oil?
A recent Gallup poll on trust in America did not reflect favourably on contractors. The survey asked a cross section
of Americans which occupations were the most honest in their opinion. Construction contractors ranked 19 out of
32 occupations with only 23% of people saying that the industry was trustworthy. Even politicians ranked higher. Ouch!
3 From pub to
mission
4 Obstacles get you
down?
5 Complaints are
opportunities
6 Why own a
digital camera
7 When to say no
8 Painting & Poker
9 More profit with
spraying
10 Tricks of the trade
11 Painter or
contractor?
12 6 best promotion
tools
13 Sponging on
your mates
14 Stop that mould
for good
15 Going up in
flames
16 New Hi-Tech wood
finish
Add to this the findings of 82% of their consumer agencies, who
listed home improvement as the major source of complaints. The
most common were failure to finish the job, and poor quality of
work. For the first time home improvement surpassed the car
industry as the biggest source of customer complaints.
DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN HERE
A trustworthy contractor can win very strong customer loyalty.
Separate yourself as a PROFESSIONAL with high standards of
integrity.
EDUCATE YOUR CUSTOMERS
Encourage your customers to ask the right questions. What type
of materials will you use and what are the guarantees. Tell them
about shortcuts other contractors might take and explain why you
do things the way you do. Taking time to educate your customers
will allow them to see what distinguishes you from other contractors.
HAVE A CONCRETE CONTRACT
Think of the contract as an outline for the homeowner as well as
the contractor. Include the approximate dates when work will begin
and be substantially completed as well as a description of the work
to be done, the materials and equipment to be used. Most importantly,
don’t forget the price and a schedule of payments showing the exact
amount of each one.
By far, the most important tip is to be honest with your customer.
It’s the easiest way to avoid problems and add credibility. Setting
yourself apart as a professional in your line of business will
establish trust in the contractor/customer relationship, making
your job and their experience much more enjoyable. BE THE BEST
IN YOUR TRADE.
Got Some Nice Warm Ceilings
and Interior Walls to Paint?
YEAH! It’s cold, damp and miserable outside,
nice and dry inside and you’ve got a bunch of
nice warm ceilings to roll out and cut in, so you’re
bracing yourself for a bit of long, hard work?
Fear not my friend, you don’t
need to involve yourself or
your crew in this time
wasting, sweat producing
hardship anymore, there’s
an easier way, have you not
heard? It’s called the
Floetrol way.
“Oh no! not some other
magic potion to cure all the
ills of my stressed out
trade” you say. Well, if
you’re the kind of painting
contractor who thrives on
brute force and sheer hard
work, and are satisfied
making smaller earnings
than you deserve, there’s
no point in reading this any
further! It’s not for you!
On the other hand, if you’re
forward thinking, and want
to be ahead of the pack,
and not afraid to try out
something a bit different,
check out this Floetrol stuff.
It works, and I know it
works! Ask anybody who’s
used it. As the old saying
goes, “He who did not sail
out from his home port,
never discovered new
shores”. It’s the same in
the painting game. Some
would say the old way is
still the best way, fair
enough.
But consider this, once
upon a time not very long
ago, we all rode around on
bicycles and we still got to
our destination, but only
within
a
narrow
geographical area.
N o wa d ay s , we d r i v e
everywhere, and we still get
to where we are going so
to speak, albeit a bit of a
drag with traffic etc. But we
get there a whole lot quicker
and with a lot less sweat
than if we cycled.
Most painters scoffed at
paint rollers when they first
appeared, describing them
as for wimps, or sissys etc!
but you’ll not find a painter
now who goes out without
his rollers.
If this Leonardo de Vinci
guy had Floetrol back in his
day, God knows what more
he could have done on the
roof of that Sistine Chapel!
Cost versus payback
Yes, Floetrol will cost you a
few dollars from around $5
to $7 a litre, depending on
the size of can and quantity
you buy, but the pay back
is very handsome in costly
time saved, in terms of
much quicker output with a
lot less strain
and you’ll end up with much
nicer workmanship,
which does no
harm at all for
your
reputation!
“Are you mad, I can buy a
bucket of paint for only a
bit more than that!” you
say, “and you’re suggesting
I should chuck in another
five or six into that bucket?”
“That would be expensive
paint!” “I’d be out of
business in a week!” Not
so, and I’ll tell you why.
If you examine your average
charge out bill, you’ll notice
that, on average, only 10
to 15% of the total bill
is paint etc, and ALL
THE REST IS
TIME! Time is
your biggie! NOT
the few tins of
paint or the like.
Better paints +/additives etc, and less
time spent is the way to
go.
I’ve often seen painters
who would waste an hour
or more driving around
trying to save fifty cents or
a dollar on a bucket of
acr ylic. Imagine the
stupidity! Wasting valuable
time, petrol, probably worth
a minimum of $40 between
driving time and what he
should be doing, painting
and making some money!
The logic is, that for each
$5 you invest in Floetrol,
you should save up to $10
or more, in man-hours, not
to mention the paint wasted
trying to hide roller marks.
You’re the person who has
to judge when to use it, and
not to use it, just like your
roller versus the brush, or
airless sprayer!
If you’re not already into
special effects, try it with
Floetrol. You’ll be surprised!
Conditions will determine
how much is needed, but
for special effects work you
generally add up to 25%
depending on open time
required. Sometimes you
will need less and other
times you will need a bit
more. As they say, your
wrists will let you know, as
soon as the drag and pull
sets in. In fairness, there
are many times in normal
paint jobs when you can get
by quite comfortably without
it, and do a lovely job
without too much hardship.
Floetrol is, as I said earlier,
a tool, just like your roller
or brush, there are times
when you absolutely need
it, and times when you can
How does it work?
manage fine without it.
“How do I save money”?
Imagine you’re doing a
ceiling or drywall, and its
drying like a bedroom in
hell, you’re huffin & puffin
to get it covered, going back
and over like a blue arsed
fly trying to kill all the marks
and streaks so that you
leave it looking half decent!
No need for all that time
wasting stuff with Floetrol,
just get it right first time,
it’s that simple really!
Floetrol is a paint
conditioner for water based
paints, interior or exterior.
You’re adding to the paint,
not taking from it. It does
not thin or dilute the
inherent qualities of the
paint like water does, but
rather makes it flow out
lovely and creamy, especially
in warm conditions, where
rolling or brushing can be a
nightmare, with roller and
lap marks resulting from
the paint drying too fast.
The real magic is on the wall.
For breath-taking results on your next painting job, rely on Floetrol® Acrylic Paint
Conditioner. Just mix Floetrol directly into acrylic paint for flow and levelling similar
to oil-based paint. Floetrol extends the paint’s wet edge to eliminate brush and roller
marks, and is ideal for faux finishing.
For oil-based or alkyd paints, Penetrol®
Quality Paint Conditioner improves flow and levelling, increases penetration and
adhesion, and provides better hiding and coverage.
Unlike
paint thinners, Penetrol does not evaporate and won’t weaken
the properties of the paint. In fact, 1 litre of Penetrol
added to 4 litres of paint creates 5 litres of a superior paint
product. Which makes it value that’s hard to beat.
Look
for us online at www.floodaustralia.net
THE FLOOD COMPANY
HOW PAINT SHOULD BE TREATED
All paints are manufactured
to flow out smooth etc in a
given condition, and when
conditions vary from that
“ideal” it drags or doesn’t
flow out properly, and it
needs to be adjusted.
Dumping water into the
paint, as we all know, simply
ruins your hiding power and
paint quality.
Floetrol is like an adjusting
tool that works by keeping
the “wet edge” open longer,
thereby allowing the paint to
flow out properly. The rule
of thumb is, the more you
add in, the longer your wet
edge stays open, like the
accelerator in your car only
in reverse, the more you give
it the “slower” it gets.
Special effects
If you are into special
effects, marbling, ragging,
sponging or the like, you’ll
love this stuff. If you’re doing
a big wall and you need to
step back many times to
see your progress and make
changes here and there,
Floetrol does the business!
Other fantastic uses
Deep colours like
terracottas, dingle blue,
amber, marrakech, etc are
very fashionable, and can
be a pain in the butt to apply
because of their tendency
to show up roller marks all
over the place depending on
the lighting etc. If you add
Floetrol to the paint, as
recommended, you will have
no streaks or roller marks,
full stop. All you will have is
a beautiful, even, streak-free
finish.
Low hide colours like reds,
yellows etc can be real time
gobblers, going over and
over to get proper hiding.
Not so with Floetrol, by
adding some of it to your
low hide colours you will
see a profound difference
in your hiding power as well
as that all impor tant
number of coats necessary
to get the desired result!
You don’t need to have a
masters degree in
economics to figure out that
if you get that yellow or red
on in two coats instead of
three, or three coats instead
of two, you save a whole lot
of valuable time which you
can put to better use on
your next job. Result: Lots
more money earned in the
same time frame! So what
are you waiting for, next time
y o u ’r e i n y o u r p a i n t
suppliers, get yourself some
of that magic potion and try
it for yourself, see and feel
the difference!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FLOETROL CALL 1800 226 113, EMAIL: [email protected]. VISIT OUR WEB SITE www.floddaustralia.net
2
A CASE STUDY:
THE E-B EMULSABOND HIDING STAIN SYSTEMS
FROM PUB TO MISSION
WAS MADE EASY WITH
E-B EMULSABOND
THE PROJECT
An old pub in South
East London was to be
conver ted into the
headquarters of its
new owners, the ‘Rise
and Shine’ mission.
The exterior had to
reflect the bold message
of the mission using vivid
colours to grab attention.
But above all, the new
paint had to adhere to
the 120 year old walls.
THE CHALLENGE
The stone work had not,
in places, been painted
since it was built in the
1870’s. Poor maintenance had left the
surfaces chalky, weeping
alkali salt and encrusted
with lime scale. Years of
pollution and dir t
completed the sad story.
THE CONTRACTOR
D i r k Wo o d , a p r o fessional painter with
extensive knowledge of
the restoration of old
buildings, had used E-B
Emulsa-Bond for many
years and knew from first
hand experience that the
product had an excellent
track record.
He was confident that
E-B Emulsa-Bond would
overcome the serious
problems he was faced
with on this project.
THE JOB
After thoroughly cleaning
the surfaces by hand
brushing only and making
good all cracks and
voids, a mixture of
50/50 E-B Emulsa-Bond
and Acrylic was applied
by brush and roller. The
E-B Emulsa-Bond made
the paint flow into all
crevices and pinholes on
the stone work and made
the paint adhere tightly
and evenly. This was
followed by a top coat of
quality acr ylic to
complete the job.
THE RESULT
With the use of E-B
Emulsa-Bond excellent
coverage and solid hiding
was achieved with only
two coats and without
using a special sealer or
binder. 18 months later
the paint film is even and
adheres tightly and shows
OLD BRICKWORK IS HAND CLEANED WITHOUT
SANDBLASTING OR CHEMICALS.
E-B EMULSA-BOND / PAINT MIXTURE GOES DIRECTLY ON
THE CLEANED SURFACE.
no sign of peeling or
cracking. According to Mr.
Wood, the use of E-B
Emulsa-Bond should add
years to the life
expectancy of the
paintwork. A paint life
exceeding 10 years would
be nothing unusual.
THE BOTTOM LINE
E-B Emulsa-Bond has
saved the owner
susbstantial money. The
cost of sealers and
binders was eliminated
and the job was
completed in 2 weeks,
one week less than
estimated by competing
contractors.
E-B EMULSA-BOND HAS DONE IT AGAIN.
E-B EMULSABOND IS AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING PAINT OUTLETS
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON E-B EMULSABOND AND YOUR FREE SAMPLE CALL 1800 226 113
EMAIL: [email protected]. VISIT OUR WEB SITE www.floddaustralia.net
3
WHEN OBSTACLES
GET YOU DOWN
Do obstacles get you down when you’re trying to get something done?
An excellent book, ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’, asks you to consider
the following:
5
WAYS to
build top
staff
To build a staff into a team that does the
best possible job for your company:
Be friendly to staff members but don’t treat
them like close personal friends. They want
you to be the boss and they want to be
employees. It works better that way.
After Fred Astaire’s first screen test, a 1933
memo from the MGM testing director said:
“Can’t act. Slightly bald. Can dance a
little”. Astaire kept that memo over
the fireplace in his Beverly Hills
home.
The teacher of famous opera singer
Enrico Caruso said Caruso had no voice
at all and could not sing.
Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper
for lacking ideas. He also went bankrupt
several times before he built Disneyland.
Tell them everything. And expect them to
tell you the same. Shared knowledge builds
loyalty and trust.
Louisa May Alcott, the author of
Little Women, was advised by her
Eighteen publishers turned down Richard
Bach’s 10,000 word story about a
soaring seagull before Macmillan finally
published it in 1970. By 1975, Jonathan
Livingstone Seagull had sold more than
seven million copies in the U.S. alone.
Invest heavily in loyalty. If staff members
know that you’re always loyal to them, they’ll
give you the same in return.
family to find work as a servant
or seamstress.
Beethoven handled the violin
awkwardly and preferred playing
his own compositions instead of
improving his technique. His teacher
called him hopeless as a composer.
Source: “Chicken soup for the soul: 101 stories
to open the heart and rekindle the spirit”,
written and compiled by Jack Canfield and Mark
V. Hansen, Health Communications Inc.
Realize that fairness establishes your
credibility.
Never be too busy to laugh. Nothing gets
people through a crisis like a good laugh,
and a manager who’s willing to enjoy it with
them.
WOOD
A CONTRACTOR’S
You may be loosing
money you didn’t
even realize could be
yours.
Do you drive past a new
cedar home without
seeing opportunity? If you
walk away with a cheque
after the last nail is driven
into the wood, think again.
Wood - whether on walls,
fences or decks - needs
to be maintained. The
builder isn’t going to do it
and the home owner
doesn’t know how. It’s your
chance to step in and take
a bigger share of the work
in your area.
The Bay Painting Company
specializes in wood
restoration and maintenance. If it sounds like
the kind of work you’d do
just to fill in the gaps
between major projects,
read on.
According to Manager Jim
Codde, Bay Painting Co.
completes between 500
to 700 projects a year.
Fuelled by the love Cedar
home owners share for
the natural look, the
majority of the company’s
work involves restoring
deteriorated wood to its
original colour and, using
the Flood Company’s CWFUV Clear Wood Finish to
keep it that way.
“The beauty of this kind
of wor k is that it’s
ongoing”, says Codde.
“The clearer the product
the more maintenance
required. Paint has more
pigment than a clear finish
so it protects the wood
from the elements longer.
But there is no
comparison aesthetically,
and it’s worth it to my
clients to maintain the
natural look”.
“Every one of our clients
is on a maintenance
programme that brings the
team back every 2, 3 or 5
years, depending on the
kind of exposure the wood
gets”.
For new wood the team
begins wood treatment
immediately with Flood’s
Seasonite, which helps
new wood to weather
slowly and naturally in its
first year.
For restoration projects
the work begins with
cleaning, using Flood’s
Dekswood and a pressure
wa s h e r. “ D e k s w o o d
lessens the work for us,
because we don’t have to
exert as much pressure”,
says Codde. “In fact, if we
didn’t use Dekswood we
simply wouldn’t get it
c l e a n e n o u g h . We
preser ve the newly
restored wood with CWFUV to stave off
deterioration”.
“The dramatic effect of
restoring wood to its
natural look does two
things for us. It builds
business and creates
happy customers. A few
years ago every luxury
cedar home near the
ocean was turning black,
but no one knew what to
do about it and they were
often painted. One of the
homeowners hired us and
the results were so
astounding to everyone
Nothing maintains that youthful, natural glow like CWF-UV®
Restore and protect the natural beauty of your
customer’s wood with CWF-UV Clear Wood Finish
from Flood.
Unlike other finishes that just sit on
the surface, oil-based
CWF-UV penetrates
deeply into the wood.
CWF-UV also blocks
out harmful UV rays,
which prematurely age the
wood,
effectively
protecting it against the
CWF-UV restores and
protects the beauty of
your wood
warping and cracking caused by overexposure to weather. Available in Natural and Cedar finish.
For more information and a free sample call the Flood Company
on 1800 226 113.
THE FLOOD COMPANY
HOW WOOD SHOULD BE TREATED
4
that we now do all the
houses
in
the
neighbourhood. It was a
bonanza for us”.
Without CWF-UV, Codde’s
initial wood washing
wouldn’t last very long.
“The deterioration is
almost immediate if we
didn’t coat the wood right
away” he says. Weather
exposure is behind most
symptoms of wood
deterioration. Water is
hard on wood and the sun
is the arch enemy”, says
Codde. “Wood swells with
rapid water absorption and
then shrinks as the brutal
sun pulls the moisture
back out. The unsightly
consequence of this
process is wood that
cracks, warps and cups.
CWF-UV protects against
both water absorption and
the sun’s strong U.V. rays.
“The secret is penetration.
Nobody knows how Flood
have done it but their
product truly penetrates
the wood”, says Codde.
“The competitors products
just sit on the surface. The
sun then dries out that
surface, it starts to peel
and flake - and there goes
your wood protection”.
Whether he is working on
a house, a deck or a roof,
Codde’s first step is to
clean the surface or
remove any old, broken
down finishes still present.
He uses Dekswood Timber
Cleaner from Flood to rid
the wood of any dirt that
may have accumulated. If
mould is present he uses
a 50:50 mix of bleach and
water to kill the spores.
To remove old finishes he
uses Flood’s PowerLift,
which lifts old oil based
stains and water based
sealers.
After being washed the
wood should be allowed
to dr y before the
application of CWF-UV.
When the surface is ready,
CWF-UV is applied by
brush, roller or spray.
When it first goes onto the
wood, CWF-UV has a milky
appearance but this milky
look disappears once the
product is absorbed into
the wood when it dries
clear.
Codde says that the Flood
Company probably isn’t
aware that the milky look
is one of the advantages
of CWF-UV. “What we call
the white foaming action
allows us to see clearly
which sections have been
done”, he says. “When
using something that goes
on clear, it’s hard to make
sure you are giving it an
even coat”.
After spraying the product
on, Codde’s team goes in
with a roller, which helps
to drive the product even
further into the wood. They
apply
the
two
recommended ‘wet on
wet’ coats - the second
right after the milkiness
of the first coat has
disappeared.
Clean-up is a simple soap
a n d wa t e r p r o c e s s ,
another advantage of
CWF-UV.
CWF-UV is available in
natural and a pre-mixed
cedar tone.
For more information and
a free sample call the
Flood Company on 1800
226 113.
NOTE: The Bay Painting
Company is located in
California, with similar
climatic conditions to most
part of Australia.
MUST
If you
criticise someone
Here are some suggestions for giving criticism in a way
that motivates others to do a better job:
See yourself as a teacher or coach
- as being helpful. Keep in mind that
you’re trying to help someone improve.
Pick the right moment to offer criticism.
Make sure the person hasn’t just been
shaken by some accident.
Show you care. Express your sincere
concern about sharing ways the other
person can boost his or her success.
Avoid telling people they “should do
such and such” or “should have done
such and such”. “Shoulds” make you
appear rigid and pedantic.
PROBLEM
Old difficult to remove paint
Avoid giving the impression that you’re
more concerned with seeing your
recommendations put into practice than
in helping the other person improve.
Show how the person will benefit from
taking the actions you suggest.
PAINTER’S
ABC
Alligatoring
A scaly pattern that
appears on paint
due to the inability
of the paint to bond
to a glossy coating
beneath it. It can
also be due to the
application of a hard
coating over a soft
primer, or - with oil
based
paint
because the wood
was recoated before
the undercoat had
properly dried.
Give specific suggestions. Being vague
might only make the situation worse by
creating anxiety and doubt. Tip: Be sure
you can take criticism yourself. If not, you
may not be perceived as a credible source.
CITRISTRIP is a patented, safe,
biodegradable stripping gel, which
does not contain dangerous methylene
chloride, but still outperforms all other
strippers we have tested.With its
pleasant orange scent it lets you work
both outdoors and indoors too
without those annoying fumes from
ordinary paint strippers. It is so thick,
it clings to vertical surfaces and stays
active for up to 24 hours, removing
even the most stubborn coatings.
TOP
TIPS
If you have a tip or suggestion
for the Flood Crew Tips
section of the newsletter
Please call us on 1800 226
113. If your tip is used in a
Newsletter you will receive 4L
of Penetrol, E-B or Floetrol.
SOLUTION
Painting new
drywall.
CITRISTRIP
Add 25% E-B into first
coat of Acrylic for a superb grip, smooth
application and pull-off resistant finish.
Great where posters etc used.
STRIPS MULTIPLE LAYERS OF PAINT
How to Turn Customer
Complaints into Opportunities
for Your Business
One of the best
opportunities to win
over a customer is
when they have a
complaint. It’s true.
When you turn a problem
into a solution, you win a
customer for life - not to
mention lots of great wordof-mouth publicity about
your company’s integrity.
Problem-solving skills are
more impor tant for
contractors than any other
group. From past
experiences, consumers
can be weary of being taken
or ignored. If you can
surprise them with a
prompt courteous and fair
solution, they will feel
validated and perceive your
company as one that is fair,
honest, and above-board.
The keys to handling
complaints are simple.
1. Call back about
complaints immediately.
2. LISTEN to the entire
story. Repeat back to the
customer what you heard.
This shows that you care
about what they are saying
- and also ensures you fully
understand the extent of
the complaint. Ask
questions and show
concern.
3. If necessary, go to the
customer’s home and look
at the problem promptly.
Many customers are afraid
you will disappear and never
get back to them!
Satisfied customers are
more likely to use your
company again - and to refer
you to others. In contrast,
unhappy customers will tell
everyone about their bad
experience. Studies show
that consumers tell ten
times more people about a
bad experience than a good
experience. And word-ofmouth is the most
persuasive form of
communication.
6. If it is a big problem, offer
to do some additional work
free of charge, due to the
inconvenience.
Ann Winnen, Manager of
Winnen Handyman Service
makes it a policy to always
ask the customer what they
think would be a fair
solution. “I usually bend to
the customer’s benefit, but
it pays off in the long run.
A problem isn’t always
entirely our fault. Most
people are reasonable and
will meet you half way.”
Perhaps you could power
wash a cement sidewalk,
fix some loose fence
boards, or replace a tattered
mailbox post. Small efforts
can go a very long way to
make the customer feel
good about using your
company.
The next time the phone
rings with a customer
complaint - don’t get upset.
Think of it as a great
opportunity to remedy a
situation and create positive
word-of-mouth about your
company to everyone in the
neighbourhood.
4. Ask the customer what
would satisfy them.
5. Work out a fair solution
and quickly remedy the
problem.
Faded or sun
bleached wood.
Wet surface fully, apply
Dekswood leave for
about 20 minutes
(warm, dry day, keep
moist) agitate slightly
and rinse off. Repeat if
necessar y. Fabulous
stuff. Great on old cedar
windows, garden seats,
MISSION BROWN
CIRCA 1960
AVOCADO GREEN
CIRCA 1972
TAUPE
CIRCA 1980
HARVEST GOLD
CIRCA 1967
Demand for our paint stripper has been
building up for years.
Strip through years of paint and varnish build up easily and quickly with
Citristrip paint and varnish stripping gel. Its unique patented gel formula works
on vertical surfaces without running off, penetrating and removing multiple
layers in 30 minutes or less.
Citristrip is environmentally safe with a pleasant citrus odour. It contains no
harmful methylene chloride and no flammable ingredients. Suitable for indoor
and outdoor use, it works on wood, metal and masonry for most types of paints,
varnishes, acrylics, polyurethanes and epoxies.
Free Sample:
Call 1 800 226 113
and see how Citristrip cuts
through layers of varnish,
acrylics, polyurethanes and
epoxies.
Other strippers evaporate or harden,
requiring you to work in small sections.
Citristrip stays wet and active for up to
24 hours so you can cover and strip an
entire surface in one application.
FOR A FREE CITRISTRIP SAMPLE AND MORE INFORMATION CALL 1800 226 113, EMAIL: [email protected] VISIT OUR WEB SITE www.floddaustralia.net
5
THE ANTI-CORROSIVE TREATMENT
USED FOR OVER 50 YEARS BY THE
WORLD’S MAJOR SHIPPING LINES
WHY OWN A
DIGITAL CAMERA?
A GOOD digital camera is a
really great tool for the
professional painting
contractor. Here are just
a few ideas you could use
it for.
The durable anti-corrosive coating
proven in the toughest environments
WHERE TO USE IT?
WHAT IS IT?
Penetrol Aluminium is a highly effective and durable coating
which combines the strength of A-grade aluminium with the
penetrating powers of Penetrol. It is very flexible, crack and peel proof,
has great adhesion powers and abrasion resistance. Penetrol Aluminium
air dries without dangerous fumes and is safe to use in confined areas.
It is non-toxic when dry.
Use Penetrol Aluminium on storage tanks, water towers, wire fences,
corrugated iron roofs and sheds, ventilators, trailers, exhaust pipes,
pipelines, boat bilges, cargo holds, steel structures, factory ceilings and
wherever long term protection from corrosion combined with a bright
appearance is desired.
IS IT EXPENSIVE?
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Penetrol Aluminium will restore rusted and corroded surfaces to an
acceptable appearance and give lasting protection against further
deterioration. It is easy to apply and touch up and maintains viscosity
under a wide range of temperatures and conditions being resistsant to
120° C. It withstands severe climatic conditions and offers high
resistance to chemical attack. It has excellent light and heat reflecting
properties.
No. Penetrol Aluminium is most economical. It has a much greater
spreading rate than ordinary aluminium paint. Independent tests have
shown coverage of up to 15 square metres per litre...twice as much
as other aluminium paint brands.
USED BY THE WORLD’S MAJOR SHIPPING LINES FOR
OVER 50 YEARS WITH OUTSTANDING RESULTS.
1. Take pictures of a house
before you paint to
remember
colour
placement.
2. Use the image with a
programme
like
www.showoff.com to play
with house colours.
3. Add pictures to your
newsletter.
4. Take photos of existing
damage such as broken
windows before the job
starts.
5. Save an image under the
clients name to pull up
when they call you on the
phone to talk about their
job. “Yes, I remember you.
You have the tan and white
house with the green
shutters”.
6. Take a photo of an area
of the house and use it in
the morning to go over with
the crew what you want
done and where.
7. Give the client a before
and after photo of the
house as a gift with your
company name and phone
number in the lower right
hand corner.
8. Create a portfolio of all
your jobs to show new
clients.
9. Use it to recall details
when preparing the
estimate.
10. Use the images to add
spice to your companies
website if you have one.
Yes, a good digital camera
can be a real asset to a
painter. The good news is
now that they are getting
more popular the prices are
coming down. So, what are
you waiting for! It’s time to
take some pictures. Ask
about this wonder tool at
your local camera shop.
SPREADING THE NEWS
ABOUT SERVICE
Research has shown that when we receive personal
service that exceeds our expectations we tend to tell
4-5 people. When we receive personal service that
falls below our expectations, we tend to tell 16-20
people. In other words, it is four times easier to get
a bad reputation than it is to get a good reputation.
COVERS UP
TO TWICE
AS MUCH
Spring Cleaning
Here are some earth-friendly tips for cleaning
you home in Spring.
AS OTHER
ALUMINIUM
PAINT
For general cleaning
Nothing beats vinegar. This non-toxic potion can prevent
streaks on glass and cut the grime on any surface. For
windows, mirrors, floors and counters use about 1/2 cup
of white vinegar to a bucket of hot water. For extra cleaning
power, mix some salt or borax with baking powder to form
as paste for cleaning your sink or bathtub.
Furniture and copper polish
Vegetable oil combined with lemon juice will polish your
wood and leave a fresh scent behind. Lemon juice or
lemon peel combined with a pinch of salt will make your
copper dazzling.
Jewelry Cleaner
Toothpaste makes a great jewelry cleaner since it can help
metals sparkle and shine.
Place a dab of any sort of toothpaste on a damp cloth and
scrub your gems thoroughly. Then rinse with warm water
and let dry in fresh air.
Air Freshener
If you don't have flowering plants in your home that will
keep the air filtered and smelling fragrant, you can try
simmering fresh herbs or spices - such as cloves or
cinnamon sticks - in an uncovered pan on your stove.
A Perfect Pan
Speed up your
cleaning process
when painting.
Before pouring
paint into a roller pan, place the
pan inside a plastic bag. When the job
is finished, throw away the bag - the pan
needs no cleaning!
Painting
outside steel
structures.
If steel has severe
rust, prepare with
Penetrol first. After that apply 2 coats
of Penetrol Aluminium. This is a highly
pigmented, tight gripping, yet FLEXIBLE paint
which will give years of service.
Oven
After cleaning an oven you can eliminate the unpleasant
odour by 'baking' orange peelings briefly for a warm,
inviting scent.
Rubbish Bins
Add a sprinkle of baking soda into the bottom of your bin
to absorb bad smells.
Saltwater Miracles
Soak coloured cottons overnight in strong saltwater and
they won't fade.
Sugar
If your hands are badly stained from cleaning, cooking or
gardening, add a teaspoon of sugar to the soapy leather
you wash them in.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PENETROL ALUMINIUM AND A FREE SAMPLE CALL 1800 226 113, EMAIL: [email protected].
6
VISIT OUR WEB SITE www.floddaustralia.net
TALES BYFROM
THE
TIN
VAN GO(FF)
Mrs Murphy never knew what colour
she wanted. She thought a green
would be nice. It just so
happened that we had three
gallons of luminous citrus green
left over from a previous job. A
colour-blind Architect (sorry folks)
had changed his spec!
We got to the house,
covered ever ything ,
curtains neatly folded,
the lot. I put a bit of the
green on the wall. She
hesitated: “Well I don’t
know” she muttered. “It
will be great” I answered
reassuringly. (I would
lose at least two hours
going to the paint shop
now). We got on with
the job, and after we had
applied the first coat,
Mrs Murphy came in.
“It’s a bit eh, eh...
different” says she, “Ah
don’t judge it now, wait
till it dries” I replied. (If
we had to kill that colour
now it could take ten
coats without Floetrol).
We left for home. The
following morning when
we came in, Dave, one
of the lads said, “instead
of safety glasses we
need sunglasses in this
place”.
Mrs Murphy came in
looking a bit on the tense
side, and said “My
husband says that colour
is a bit too bright”. I
played my trump card....
“Sure you’re the one
who’s going to be in here
all the time, and once
you’re happy, isn’t that
the main thing! He loves
green anyway, isn’t he
always out on the golf
course?”
We put on the second
coat and got the rest of
the job done.
The next day I came back
with an apprentice to put
things back in order. We
hung up the curtains.
Seeing the curtains and
walls together was
unreal, like something
Marty Whelan would wear
at the Rose of Tralee! I
decided the best plan
was to get the cheque,
fast.
I went into the kitchen
and told Mrs Murphy that
we were just finishing up,
and true to form the
cheque was produced.
She gave me the cheque,
and as we walked into
the room, she asked the
apprentice if he liked the
colour. “I wouldn’t put
that colour in a f...ing
dog kennel missus!”
says he without as much
as a blink.
Oh, holy smoke! rev up
the van lads, we’re outta
here!!
When to say NO
When is the best time to say no
and walk away from a prospective
client or remodelling project?
By Phil Ray
If you are new in the business and haven’t
had that customer who caused you to lose
or gain 15 pounds or kept you from sleeping
through the night, I feel sorry for you.
Because yours is coming. I was in business
for 12 years before I met my match, but that
customer forever changed the way I do
business. Prior to my nightmare, my company
philosophy had always been, “We can satisfy
anybody”. Well, that customer taught me
that some people can’t be satisfied.
I’ve been in countless meetings and
conferences where remodellers have talked
about their “customers from hell”. All of our
nightmare situations have had three things
in common. One: We had strong suspicions
that the prospect was going to be a problem.
Two: Business was slow so we took the job
anyway. Three: We regretted it big-time.
A good salesperson can sell just about
anybody. But as a salesman friend put it,
“It’s not who we sell, it’s who we choose not
to sell” that counts.
A good ‘one-coat’
exterior paint job.
If you have to do a paint
job that is a borderline
between one and two
coats, but price
sensitive, add about
25% E-B to any high
quality exterior
emulsion, and you will
be amazed at the hiding
power. This will, in many
cases, give you and your
customer a very acceptable ONE COAT finish,
which will not peel or
flake. A good money
maker.
If you have reason to question your ability
to satisfy the prospects, get them to talk
about previous purchases such as cars or
houses. Do they complain about everything
and everybody? Some complaints are
legitimate, but don’t fool yourself. If all they
can do is complain, let someone else take
the sale or you could be the next victim.
Trust your senses about problem customers.
And trust your ability to sell a job to someone
else.
Phil Ray is a general contractor.
Removes Build-Up of Clear or Weathered
Semi-Transparent Finishes and Water Sealers
Removes previous finishes and build-up from decks
Removes dirt & gray from weathered exterior woods
Removes weathered water sealers
Does not contain bleach
Ready-to-use
FOR A FREE SAMPLE CALL FLOOD ON 1800 226 113
Five ways to make
people like you.
Principle 1
Become genuinely interested in people
Principle 2
Talk in terms of the other person’s interest.
Principle 3
Make the other person feel important. Sincerely.
Principle 4
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about
themselves.
Principle 5
Remember that a person’s name is to that person
the sweetest sound in any language.
Paint paving slabs,
wood, etc any
colour you want!
Just add 50% E-B into
a ny g o o d q u a l i t y
exterior emulsion and
apply. One coat often
does the job! If second
coat required apply
paint neat. Great idea
for patio slabs,
pathways etc.
F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N O N P OW E R L I F T & F L O E T RO L A N D A F R E E S A M P L E CA L L 1 8 0 0 2 2 6 1 1 3
7
PAINTING & POKER
In many ways
painting can be
likened to a game of
poker. How so you
may ask? Well, with
poker you usually
have about four guys
all bidding against
each other. Sound
familiar? Some guys
can bluff pretty well,
but they often don’t
have the hand to
back it up.
You might compare him
to a guy bidding a large
job without the work
force to really handle it.
In the end, he only hurts
himself and ends up out
of the game usually
broke or r uins his
reputation by having
some ver y unhappy
clients. With poker you
also have the low bidders
and the high bidders.
This is true in painting
also. Some guys will
throw out a bid so low
you would think they were
crazy. They just want to
take a hand any way they
can. I used to think this
way when I first started
out in the painting
business many years
ago.
My goal was just to land
any job. I used to think,
“I wonder what number
my competition will turn
in? I need to go pretty
low to get this one”. I
never understood why I
was having such a hard
time making payroll. I had
no clue that landing every
“hand” so to speak was
not such a good idea.
good poker player is
“never let them see you
sweat”. You need to
explain to the client why
you feel your holding a
better hand. Why you have
four aces and they are
holding jacks. You can do
this by separating yourself
from your competition and
showing them the
perceived value of your
service. The conversation
might go something like
this: (Customer) “Looks
like you’re about a $1000
dollars more than the
other guy on my exterior”.
(You) “That’s not surprising
to me. Do you understand
the difference between the
two bids?” (Customer)
“What difference are you
talking about?” (You) “Well
for one thing I give a five
year written guarantee that
my job won’t peel! I notice
my competitor was not
I think it was Kenny
Rogers who said, “You’ve
got to know when to hold
them, and know when to
fold them. Know when to
walk away, and know
when to run!” This same
advice has saved many
a good painter over the
years. When you give a
bid you should, as they
say in poker, bid your
hand! Know what number
you need to turn a decent
profit. Once you give the
number - hold to it. You
can’t bid someone else’s
hand, so to speak. You
know what your payroll
and overhead cost is. So,
figure out what you need
to bid and then stick to
it. What if someone
under bids you? First,
don’t panic. Again going
back to the game of
cards, The first rule of a
confident enough about his
work to do the same. I
want to paint your house
right and I want it to last
as long as it can. That’s
why we use only the very
best paint and pay
special attention to every
detail of the job. Let me
ask you this: if you have
to have your house
painted again in two
years would you consider
that $1000 a real
savings”. (Customer)
“No”. (You) “I think you’ll
find that by spending a
little more now - to have
the job done right your
going to find you really
did save money in the
long run”. (Customer) “I
see your point! When can
you start?”
In actuality, landing
unprofitable work hurts
you in two ways. One,
you work for nothing, and
two, you can’t be working
on a profitable job
because your guys are
tied up working on a
looser job.
So, next time you’re
tempted to lower that bid
just think about it like a
game of poker. Ask yourself, am I bidding my
hand right or will I end
busted? Then stick to
your game!
TOP
TIPS
TIP...
Doing special
effects, ragging,
sponging etc?
Get yourself some
FLOETROL, and mix it
in to your emulsion.
Rule of thumb is: the
longer you want the
paint to stay open - the
more FLOETROL you
add. Simple!
Make Paint Easier To Work With
Turn Four Gallons Into Five
Cure For A Common Headache
Flood’s Floetrol will improve a paint’s flow,
Unlike thinners, Floetrol and Penetrol won’t
Cleaning brushes doesn’t have to
leveling and brushability. When added to
weaken your paint. On the contrary, they
be a pain. Keep paints and
latex paint, it extends the wet edge to
actually enhance the qualities of paint and
finishes from bonding to
virtually eliminate brush marks from
make it easier to use, even in extreme
your brushes with Flood’s
new Brush Stuff. Just work it
brushing and lap marks from rolling.
into the bristles before every
TIP...
job and cleanup will be a
Rolling HOT ceilings
or drywalls?
No more hardship, just
add FLOETROL to
emulsion and you will
put an end to your
streaking and roller
mark problems. And
with a lot less effort.
breeze. Even brushes that sit
around and dry are easier to
clean when you start with
Brush Stuff. Works wonders
on rollers, too!
TIP...
Want to get rid of
mould or algae?
To kill bad mould use
Mould Action, a
powerful, yet safe to
use, mould killer which
has been used for
years in the tropics. To
prevent mould or algae
coming back onto your
wall etc... mix some
VC175 into your paint
(oil or water based).
The mould will not
come back during the
life of the paint!
TIP...
Painting whitewash
or old distemper?
No problem if you add
about 30 to 40% E-B
to your first coat of
emulsion. Also works
very well on poor sandy
surfaces or brick.
TIP...
Rustic look for
interior wood.
A lovely rustic look can
be achieved on indoor
wood with a coat or two
of Penetrol by itself.
Apply with any
conventional means,
but wipe off excess.
Stain it if you wish to
darken or whatever. A
great idea, yet so
simple.
Without Floetrol With Floetrol
Flood Knows Painting.
Paint conditioned with Floetrol also
Since 1841, The Flood Company’s been
reduces wear and tear on your because it
solving painting’s most nagging problems.
glide on more like an oil.
In fact, we were working on ways to help
painters long before paint was even
Speaking Of Oil. You can also
available in stores. So if there’s a problem
improve the flow, leveling and hiding of
that’s nagging you, just call. After all,
oil-based and alkyd paints by mixing in
Flood’s Penetrol. Like Floetrol, Penetrol
extends the open time of paint. In
+
finding solutions is in our blood.
temperatures. Best of all, both conditioners
practically pay for themselves. One
=
®
fact, that’s what makes these additives a
gallon of Penetrol or Floetrol added to four
must for faux finishing. Both Floetrol and
gallons of paint gives you five gallons of
Penetrol increase the paint’s working time,
superior paint. So no matter what grade of
as well as ensuring the smoothest possible
paint you use, Floetrol and Penetrol are
base coat.
values that are hard to beat.
HOW WOOD SHOULD BE TREATED
www.floodaustralia.net
S AV E T I M E , H A R D WO R K A N D B E M O R E P RO F I TA B L E W I T H F L O O D P RO D U C T S
8
To spray or not to spray?
We meet GERARD CUNNIFFE and asked him how spraying benefited his business.
Q: When did you start
your business and what
kind of work did you go
after?
A: I started out in 1995,
and specialised mostly at
that time n site work.
Q: did you own a
sprayer at that stage?
A: No, we used Rollers
and Brushes all the time
like ever ybody else.
Q: How many in your
crew?
A: I now have 4 men plus
myself.
Q: has your mix of work
changed over the last
few years?
A: Yes, we now take on all
kinds of work ranging from
new work on site, to
commercial, and even
some sheds. A lot of our
work is spraying.
Q: How did you get
involved in spraying?
A: I heard about a Graco
Airless Sprayer from a
friend who has one, and
who recommended it
highly.
Q: Did you have reservations or doubts about
getting into spraying?
A: Yes of course, I figured
that I was as quick rolling
and that any spraying
advantage was going to
be lost timewise on
masking up everything.
Q: Has this been the
case?
A: No way. I have proved
beyond a shadow of doubt
that even allowing for
masking off, I can get
through the work in a
fraction of the time rollers
etc would have taken.
Q: Could you give me
any examples?
A: Yes. One man with a
sprayer can spray out all
the ceilings on 5 houses
in one day. In general
terms, we can now get
through a weeks (rolling)
in tow days.
Q: Obviously this has
made a difference to
the profitability of your
business?
A: Well, I can put through
over twice the volume of
work done with the same
crew and overheads, so
the answer to that is
obviously yes.
Q: How did the purchase
of your sprayer affect
the crew?
A: As I said earlier, we can
now get through over twice
the work but with an awful
lot less hardship like
rolling ceilings and the like,
so its easier on the men,
they don’t have to work
quite as hard physically.
Q: Do you consider the
sprayer an
important part
of
your
business?
A: I’d be lost
without it!
Q: Did it take
you long to
recoup your
investment of
nearly $3000?
A: It paid for
itself in about 3 months.
Q: What kinds of paint
do you spray mostly?
A: Mostly acrylic, but we
also spray floor varnish,
and for some farmers we
spray on a special oxide
which they purchase
themselves.
Q: What kind of
throughput would you
do on a farm building?
POLLOCK DECORATORS TAKE ON
CEREBRAL PALSY HOSPITAL CONTRACT
A: One man can spray two
4-bay haybarns with one
side lean-to in a day.
Q: Is this work
profitable?
A: Very.
Q: Going back to the
masking in hew houses,
how do you deal with
this thor ny issue?
A: Initially, it seemed a big
job, but with the special
pretaped masking paper I
use now, we get it done in
no time! It’s still far
cheaper to mask at about
$60 a house than cutting
in, from a time point of
view.
Q: Any examples of
time and so on?
A: I reckon, one man will
mask all the skir ting,
architraves, frames etc,
and spray the whole inside
of a 4-bed house in a day
except for cutting in the
next day.
Q: You also spray the
doors?
A: Yes, I now spray all the
doors with an HVLP
System.
Q: Do you find that
fast?
A: It took me a day or so
to get used to it, but after
that it took off. On an
average of 18 to 24 panel
doors per house. It used
to take about 2 days to
undercoat or gloss by
hand, this now takes me
about 6 hours which is a
substantial saving, or
earning depending on how
you look at it.
Q: Overall, are you glad
yo u g o t i n t o t h e
spraying?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Anything else you
want to tell our
readers?
A: Yes, we never spray
acrylics without adding
Floetrol or E-B to the paint.
That way we get a more
even paint film and save
on tips.
PROBLEM
Acrylic paint dries too quickly. Brushes and rollers
clog. Spray guns spatter and block.
BEN POLLOCK explains how Floetrol and E-B help his painting business.
Ben Pollock has been in
the Painting & Decorating
business for over 40 years
in Dublin.
(You wouldn’t think it to
look at him!) His gracious
wife Kate and sons John
and Alan are all heavily
involved in the Pollock
business.
Apart from his hectic
contracting business, Ben
is a member of the
executive board of the
Construction Industr y
Federation (C.I.F) as well
as chairman of The Alliance
of Specialist contractors,
which is a body within the
C.I.F. This organisation
consists
of
22
associations from right
across the building
industry.
Ben has also served as
President of the National
Association of Master
Painters and Decorators
(N.A.M.P.D.I.) on three
separate occasions.
Asked what kind of work
they do Ben replied “we
specialise in hospitals,
colleges, schools, public
buildings, hotels, food
industry, and other work
such as the Stephens
Green Shopping Centre, the
Gaiety Theatre also come
to mind. A couple of years
ago we were appointed the
licensed applicators for
TEFCOTE Hygienic Coating
Systems for the whole of
Ireland. We have appointed
contractors who cover all
areas outside Dublin. This
is a coating system
especially suited for use
on tiles in areas such as
food halls, bottling plants,
food processing plants
etc”.
Presently Pollock’s have the
contract for the complete
paint and decoration of the
new hospital/school for the
Cerebral Palsy in
Ballsbridge and that’s
where I met Ben when I
asked him how he felt
about using various
Penetrol products in his
business.
“We use lots of E-B and
Floetrol” I asked “why and
where?”
Paint spatter and build-up.
Brush and lap marks.
Short cup gun life.
“We mix in 25% E-B into all
our water based prime
coats because it makes it
easier to apply, gives it
great penetration and it
make it very easy to de-nib.
The E-B also gives me
peace of mind that the
paint will stay exactly where
it’s put.”
FLOETROL extends wet edge for
acrylic paints. It lubricates the paint
and makes it behave like oil paint.
Floetrol ensures even paint
flow and avoids paint buildup on brush or roller. It
extends the life of spray
equipment up to 50% and
makes paint go further.
“What about FLOETROL?”
MAINTAINS ACRYLIC PAINT VISCOSITY
SOLUTION
FLOETROL
“We always use Floetrol in
our second and third coats.
In fact, I wouldn’t dream of
taking on a job like this
without using those
products.”
“No, we use it all the time,
I wouldn’t take on any job
like this now without those
products”.
“Tell me, Ben, what
specifically does Floetrol
do for you?”
“Because it saves labour
and time! It makes the paint
lovely and creamy, and cuts
out roller drag, and gives
much better coverage”.
“Well, for instance on this
particular job, it’s full of
long and ver y bright
corridors, which show up
any imperfection, so we use
the Floetrol to keep the wet
edge to ensure we get the
finish we want, i.e. no roller
marks or orange-peel effect
whatsoever, only a smooth
flat sheen finish as per
spec”.
“Do you use Floetrol only
on special jobs?”
“Why not?”
“What time saving to you
achieve with Floetrol?”
“At least 20% time saving
which far outweighs the cost
of the product used. We find
it especially good in vinyl
silks, in fact I often
wondered when visiting the
USA over the years, how
American painters managed
to paint outdoors in such
high temperatures and yet
keep the wet edge open ...
now I know!”
“Do you benefit in any other
way from Floetrol?”
“For the sake of the few
bob, we use Floetrol in all
our emulsions and we find
that our customers are
usually highly impressed
when they see us adding
it to the paint instead of
the usual water which has
the opposite effect”.
“Ben, how would you sum
up E-B and Floetrol, and tell
it as it is?”
“I wouldn’t be without
them, they are worth every
penny!”
Thank you Ben for your time
and comments. We are
very pleased to hear that
you are earning extra
money with Penetrol
products and wish you
continued good health and
business success.
Bad rust that requires serious treatment.
You won’t beat PENETROL on rust...FACT!
Step 1. Paint entire surface including rust lumps.
Step 2. After 1 hour or so, get scraper and de-scale (with
the greatest of ease, no more hammer or wire brush) remove loose dust
with dry paint brush or similar. Step 3 Top up any hungry areas with another
drop of PENETROL and leave for 24 hours approx. to dry to a tough but
flexible finish. Step 4. Apply undercoat or metal primer (oil) mixed with
25% PENETROL. Step 5. Apply top coat with about 10% PENETROL added.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FLOETROL AND E-B EMULSABOND AND A FREE SAMPLE CALL FLOOD ON 1800 226 113
9
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
ON BEING ORGANISED
by MARCY LAWTON OF DYNAMIC DESIGNS PAINTING & DECORATING
Are you organised? Most people would say they are not.
To find out, take this simple test:
1. Do you waste time looking for important material?
2. Are you often late or unprepared for appointments?
3. Do you often feel like your day is out of control?
4. Do others describe you as “disorganised”?
If you answered “yes” to at least one of these questions, your
organisational skills can use some improvement.
Time
Nothing gives a painter
more time than always
being on time for
appointments.
The number one excuse
for being disorganised is
Lack of Time. We hear
things like “I’m so busy
managing the day to day
activities of my painting
business that I just don’t
have time to be
organised.” As selfemployed professional
painting contractors we
are painfully aware that
t i m e i s m o n ey a n d
Flaking paint on facia’s
sills etc.(Oil based)
After removing all the
loose stuff, mix about
25% (or more) Penetrol
into your first coat and
apply. This will give
massive penetration and
grip to the paint. Add a
drop (about 10%) of
Penetrol into next coats
for a superb finish.
DRIVES OUT AIR
AND MOISTURE
therefore our time is best
spent on increasing
productivity and improving
customer service. Being
organised actually allows
you more time to focus on
achieving your business
goals because your
administrative functions
are being managed
effectively.
Getting organised requires
an initial time commitment
but the rewards are well
worth the effort.
Getting Started
Whether you’re a one-
CIP
person company or a large
operation, the rules of
organisation are the
same. The easiest way to
get organised is to just
get started. While reading
this ar ticle, imagine
yourself following through
on the suggestions and
when you have finished
reading, begin putting
those suggestions to
work. You will immediately
be more organised than
you were when you woke
up this morning! As you
move through each stage
think of other areas in your
life where these
techniques can work and
apply them. Before you
know it, people will notice
how organised you are and
you will feel much more in
control of your time and
your business.
Clean up the Clutter
Ok, now it’s time to get
tough. Clutter control is
PENETRATES THROUGH
RUST TO CLEAN STEEL
PREPARES RUSTED SURFACES FOR PAINTING
CAN BE OVERCOATED WITH ANY PAINT
A TOUGH ALL-WEATHER PRIMER FOR BOTH NEW AND RUSTED STEEL
Penetrol CIP... the Corrosion Inhibiting
Primer, that makes short work of rusted
and corroded steel, and offers a lasting
bond for paint. Penetrol CIP is also a perfect
protective coating on its own or as an
undercoat on new steel. It performs well
even when difficult drying conditions exist
such as in relative high humidity or low
temperatures.
Penetrol CIP is a high solid, bright
red/brown formulation incorporating the
powerful penetrating properties of
Penetrol. It penetrates into the metal
surface and bonds with granular rust
forming a secure base for any type of paint
including 2-part Epoxy, Urethane,Vinyl,
Chlorinated Rubber and conventional
finishes.
the quickest way to get
some control of your life
and get you on the road to
organisation. Pick a spot
either on your desk, in a
d r a w e r, o r o n t h e
dashboard of your van.
Grab a large trash bin and
prepare to be merciless remember this is the fun
part!
First, toss anything that is
clearly garbage such as
scraps of paper with phone
numbers and no names;
business cards of people
you never intend to call;
old coffee cups; empty
paint cans (follow proper
disposal standards); old
magazines, newspapers,
etc. Don’t make the
mistake of buying more
office furniture to increase
storage space. Instead,
reduce what you already
have by cleaning out your
existing files.
Once the clutter is cleaned
up you see a significant
reduction in the amount of
material that is left and
you instantly feel a little
more in control. If the job
is too overwhelming tackle
one area at a time and this
will make it more
comfortable for you. (*Hint:
when your business is
complete, try cleaning up
clutter around the house
as well).
Second, determine if the
remaining material belongs
in your business or
personal files. You can sort
this material into general
categories such as;
Customers, Legal,
Financial, Administration,
Marketing, Sales,
Production, Personnel, Job
Site Material, Taxes etc.
There, now you have
narrowed down the number
of places you need to look
for something. You should
be feeling much more
organised already.
Third, set up your filing
system. This is the part
most people dread but if
you followed steps one and
two, the worst par t is
already over. Most people
automatically file
everything under an A-Z
system. Instead, set up a
separate file section for
each general category you
created in step 2 above.
Then, pick a category and
sort through all of the
material you placed there.
By doing this you are
creating sub-categories for
the individual items you
have in each pile. Each
sub-category then gets its
own file. Your file system
may begin to look like this:
Category: Marketing SubCategory: Fliers, Door-toDoor, Newsletters, etc.
Category: Materials SubCategory: Inventory Lists,
Manufacturers, Warranties,
etc
Now ever ything has a
home and whenever you
want to find something it
will be in a spot
specifically designated for
it. If you need a little help
remembering where you
put things, just write up
an index listing the general
categories and the file
names of all the subcategories. Keep this list
posted nearby and it will
become your memor y
when you need something
in a hurry. (Hint: don’t
forget to update the index
whenever you make
changes).
Setting Standards
Finally, in order to have an
efficient, organised
painting business, it is
important to establish
standards for your
administrative functions
just as you have standards
for customer service and
productivity. Whether you
have a large office with a
full staff or work from your
kitchen table, you need to
examine every function in
your office and set up a
standard for it. For
instance, make it a
minimum requirement that
all customer files contain
certain information such
as the client’s name and
contact numbers, the
contract,
colour
selections, project
speficiations, and referral
information. Another way
to stay organised is to
keep a printed list in your
van of all the items that
you use regularly so you
can ensure you always
have them in stock.
Standardising the
administrative details of
your painting business
instantly improves your
professionalism because
you are in control of the
“business”. Your level of
customer service
improves because clients
can now count on the
consistency of your
company. And best of all,
now that you are
organised, you enjoy more
time to focus on
increasing your productivity
and getting the job done.
But, that my friends is a
whole other article ...
Best of luck!!
Marcy Lawton
Dynamic Designs Painting
& Decorating
Reprinted with the kind permission of
Painters chatroom.
A Perfect Pan
Speed up your cleaning
process when painting.
Before pouring paint
into a roller pan, place
the pan inside a plastic
bag. When the job is
finished, throw away
the bag - the pan
needs no cleaning!
PENETROL CIP PRIMER COVERS UP TO TWICE AS MUCH AREA AS OTHER RED OXIDE PAINTS
10
WHO ARE YOU? A PAINTER,
OR A PAINTING
CONTRACTOR?
BY JOSEPH SCHUSTER
In case you hadn’t noticed, image is king
these days. Perception is everything.
Probably always has been.
“Whether or not someone
perceives you as a
professional painter or
wallcovering contractor has
less to do with your technical
ability and more to do with
your ability to project an image
of professionalism”. So says
Kevin Dougherty of PROOF
Management, a consulting
firm that, among other things,
helps construction industry
contractors spiff up their
images.
Dougherty’s statement is such
a simple truth that it’s easy
to gloss over, but it’s absolutely
fundamental to business, and
especially the painting
business: You may be the
greatest painter in the Western
hemisphere, but if you show
up for a bid half-covered in
paint, sweaty, unshaven,
cigarette dangling from mouth,
with a hamburger wrapper for
a notebook, most people will
think you’re a derelict and no
one will hire you.
Not all that many contractors
really recognise that,
Dougherty said. “If you drew
a pyramid of the industry, you’d
find that the majority of
contractors fall into the bottom
tier. They may be great
technicians, but have
absolutely no clue as to how
to present themselves,” he
said. Maybe they drive a beatup station wagon, or wear
brown-caulk-covered whites
when calling on potential
customers. Maybe they’re
deficient in the polite small
talk that occurs when the
homeowner walks them
around the house.
At the next level up on the
pyramid, Dougherty said, you
might find painters who have
business cards, who drive a
decent truck, who wear
reasonably clean whites when
they bid a job, but lack that
real continuity to what they’re
doing. At the next level - and
each level is smaller, naturally
- you begin to find contractors
who have quite a clue as to
professional appearance:
proposal packages, job signs,
professionally lettered trucks
- “all the little things that really
make a contractor stand out
above the competition; what
I see as the true painting
contractor and not just
someone who paints,”
Dougherty said.
At the pinnacle - and there are
only a handful who fit here are the contractors who are
businessmen, first and last.
“They may not be topflight
technicians, but they’re always
busy,” Dougherty said. “They’re
the super-professionals, the
ones who make a customer
feel comfortable. They’re
uniformed and their workers
are as well. They don’t look
anything like any other painter.
In the first and second tiers,
the contractors all look alike,
but the higher you go, the more
distinctive the contractor
becomes”.
(Lest anyone get the wrong
idea, let’s get something
straight right here: Image is
not a substitution for
craftsmanship. The point is
that if you don’t know how to
present yourself and your
business, you’ll be the only
one that ever knows what a
fine craftsman you are).
Fifty-dollar foolish:
Packaging yourself can seem
a formidable project something that comes easily
to an M.B.A., but not to
someone who’s spent the last
15 years trying to run a
painting business. But it’s not
difficult, especially to start,
and it’s inexpensive.
“If you wanted to, you could
spend $20,000 to $30,000,
but you don’t need to,” said
Dougherty. “A decent proposal
package might cost two bucks;
printed T-shirts for all your
employees might run $30 a
person. Business cards aren’t
all that much, and neither are
stationery and envelopes.
“At the same time, it’s not free.
But a lot of contractors are
penny-wise and dollar foolish;
they don’t see the value of
spending $50 to give their
painters shirts with the
company name and logo on
them. That one little step can
take you a long way toward a
professional image”.
In fact, dress and personal
appearance were high on the
list of several industry experts
who talked to PWC about
professionalism.
“Unfortunately, a lot of
potential customers hold a
stereotype about painters, that
they’re unkempt, that they’re
slobs,” said Betty Pickett, a
partner in Pickett Painting of
Fountain Valley, CA. “There’s
a joke that goes, ‘If you can
keep the contractor away from
the customers, you might have
a better image’. It’s a
generalisation, but it’s
something that the
professional contractor has to
counter if he’s going to
succeed.”
Pickett has 10 full-time
painters on its payroll, and the
company supplies each one
with five company shirts and
orders to wear them. “It gives
us uniformity and also some
free advertising”, Pickett said.
Emphasis is also placed on
looking neat. “They can have
long hair and beards, but they
have to look groomed. If they
have long hair, it’s put back in
a ponytail; if they have beards,
they’re trimmed. We require
everyone to wear clean whites
and construction boots - no
athletic shoes. This way they
all look alike”.
For the contractor himself, the
question of appropriate dress
becomes a little more
complex: You have to walk the
line between dressing neatly
and overdressing. One
contractor who struggled with
this before he hit on the right
look is Jim Turner, who
operates Oregon’s Regency
Walleraft. And even his
negative experience with
overdressing, so to speak,
underlines the power of image.
“When I started out, I tried to
look nice”, Turner said. “I wore
good slacks, a sport shirt,
carried a soft briefcase. In
many areas, that’s the right
approach, but for me, for the
kinds of customers I was
calling on - the value
customers - it was wrong”.
Turner looked around and
found that the successful
contractors in his area were
wearing profesional-looking
whites, with the business
name and personal name on
the shirt. “I found that by
dressing in nice, casual clothes
instead of work clothes, a lot
of customers assumed I must
be too expensive before I could
even give them a bid. They
preferred to see the person
who would be doing the work,”
Turner said.
That switched, of course, when
Turner called on commercial
clients - hotels, for example.
On those calls, he wears sport
coats and shined shoes.
“Commercial clients expect to
see a businessman. They
expect to see the boss,” he
said.
“In either case, you have to
dress in clean clothes,
because you want to set
yourself apart form the basic
station wagon warrior”.
brochure, he had eight
painters. But his company grew
so fast that the brochure was
quickly outdated, and having
spent big bucks on the firstclass job, he was stuck with
it. “We’re up to 30 painters
now, and the colour brochure
wasn’t flexible enough to allow
us to reflect our changes,” he
said.
Betty Pickett joins Hennan in
flouting the conventional
wisdom about the quality of
printed materials.
“There’s no way in hell I would
spend that kind of money”,
she said. When she did a
marketing roundtable several
years ago, “some contractors
got huffy with me when I
expressed this opinion,
because they had spent major,
major money.”
Pickett thinks it’s overkill to
show four-colour photographs
of every job you’ve ever done.
“Maybe it’s fine if you’re a big
contractor who tackles largescale projects, but if you are,
you’ve got the money for such
an expensive piece,” she said.
All your package has to do,
Pickett maintained, is list the
jobs you’ve done, and educate
your customer: “Tell them what
they should expect from a
professional contractor - where
to paint, where not to paint.
But it’s possible to look too
slick”.
Jim Turner has produced a
simple but polished
presentation packet that has
a unit cost of around a dollar.
He sues a plain, black pocket
folder he buys from a discount
office supply company, and
slaps a two-colour gummed
label on the front, bearing his
name and logo, address and
telephone number, and his
professional affiliations.
he ruined the furniture’, I’ll
highlight the line ion my
material that notes that a
professional paperhanger
protects all furniture. If they
say, ‘It took them forever,” I’ll
highlight the section that deals
with timely completion.
Inside, he encloses letters of
reference and information
sheets, explaining to clients
what they should expect from
a professional paperhanger,
and providing them information
about selecting wallcoverings.
“Ibis shows them that you’ll
meet them on their turf, and
when you do that - man, you’re
king , because so few
contractors are willing to show
they’ll meet customers on their
turf,” Turner said.
Tu r n e r ’s a p p r o a c h t o
professionalism also includes
a steady stream of thank-you
letters that his computer
generates thank you for
calling for a bid, for meeting
with me, for awarding me the
job. After finishing the job, he
follows up with a more formal
card. For customers who
make referrals, Turner uses
a fairly slick, partially gilded
thank-you note. Every year, on
the anniversary of Turner’s
completion of a project, he
sends a card acknowledging
the anniversary.
Echoing Tur ner, Kevin
Dougherty said that one of the
biggest mistakes that
contractors make in this area
is not training their workers in
the tricks of the customer
service trade. “You’ve got to
teach them how to deal with
the customer, how to handle
complaints, how to introduce
themselves when they show
up for a job, how to show
extreme consideration for the
customer’s environment.
A crucial aspect to Turner’s
mailings is that although they’re
pre-printed, he customises
them by highlighting the
specific aspects addressing
each customer’s particular
concerns.
“A huge part of a professional
approach is showing the
customer that you listen to
them,” he said. “If I have a
customer who says, ‘The last
time I had a contractor here,
“A lot of contractors forget that
for most customers, every
painting or wallcovering job is
a significant event. A $500 job
might be small time to you,
but to your customer, it might
be the biggest job they’ve ever
paid for.”
Looking at yourself from the
customer’s point of view brings
us back to the beginning, and
the beginning is perception.
Would you hire yourself - or
your employees? Who are you?
A painter, or a painting
contractor?
HOW BRUSHES SHOULD BE TREATED
Too slick? Another aspect of
the professional image are the
printed materials that
represent your company - your
business cards, your bid
sheets and invoice forms, your
presentation packets.
Here again, the trick is to look
polished. But just as Jim Turner
found it’s possible to look too
good in some situations, it’s
also possible - quite simple,
actually - to spend too much
money producing your printed
materials. Previous articles in
PWC have stressed the
importance of having a
brochure, and that fact never
changes. But your packet
doesn’t need to look like Life
magazine to be effective.
Bob Herman, of Bob’s Painting
found that out the hard way.
“The biggest mistake I ever
made regarding packaging was
producing a first-class fourcolour brochure,” Herman said.
In 1987, when Herman did the
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BRUSH STUFF AND A FREE SAMPLE CALL FLOOD ON 1800 226 113
11
A recent coast to coast survey of over
200 painting contractors revealed some
rather interesting results.
The survey asked a
number of
questions on how
contractors
promoted their
painting business.
The following
chart gives a
breakdown o the
survey finding.
1. DIRECT MAIL
Get names and addresses
of home owners from
councils or from one of
the ‘Australia on Disk’ type
directories available on
CD-Rom. Use a simple
mail merge programme for
personalised letters. With
the help of a PC, a letter
would be mailed to all the
list stating what kind of
service was on offer etc.
house. Do you give a free
estimate?’ From those
enquiries we generally get
about half of the jobs
quoted for.”
3. COUPONS
For example 5% off on jobs
up to $1000, 10% off on
jobs up to $3000 etc.
Coupons can be dropped
in letter boxes or used in
your local advertiser on
paper.
2. SIGN ON-SITE
“They may be old
fashioned” said one
contractor, “But they work!
Whenever we put them up,
we always get at least 3
or 4 people from the
locality phoning us up or
saying ‘I saw your sign at
so and so and I’ve been
thinking of painting my
4. NEWSPAPER ADS
Are considered ver y
reliable if done regularly.
Strike a deal with your
local best selling paper for
a box ad. One company
used the ad to offer a free
touch up each year for 3
years after a major paint
job.
THE ALL-TIME
6 Best
PAINTING
PROMOTION TOOLS
RANK PROMOTIONAL TOOL BIGGEST DRAWBACK
1
Direct Mail
Cost
2
Sign On-Site
Temporary
3.
Coupons
Wastage
4
Newspaper Ads
Cost
5
Press Releases
Time Spent Writing
6
Referrals
Time Spent Obtaining
5. PRESS RELEASES
(Free advertising) Very
effective if done properly.
All you have to do is: if
you are doing a job that
could be classed as an
interesting story, e.g. repaint of some well known
building etc, have a few
before & after photos
taken (professionally) and
then send some with a
shor t and concise
background story, to all
the local media such as
local radio, newspaper,
newsletters etc. Not all
press releases are
printed, but when they are,
they can have a ver y
powerful effect.
6. REFERRALS
CONCLUSION
One method used very
successfully is to write a
one page letter to your
customers about two
weeks after you complete
the job, asking if everything
is o.k.
If you are up to your
eyeballs right now, which
you probably are, there’s
no harm in getting yourself
ready and fully tuned in
for the leaner times ahead
which will surely come.
A prepaid stamped
addressed envelope is
included as well as a short
form for them to fill out.
The form also includes a
space for the customer to
enter two or three referral
names.
A response rate of approx
20% is common with
business obtained from an
average of half of them...
not bad at all!
If you have
an unopened container of paint stored
for a long time, turn it
upside down overnight
to help loosen any
solids settled on the
bottom. This will make
stirring faster and
easier once the can
is opened.
CREW TIPS
DESIGNATE A COMPANY
PHOTOGRAPHER
BUILDING A
SAFETY KIT
Building a library of photos is important
to help enhance your company’s image.
Having a nice portfolio of before and
after pictures will give potential
customers more confidence in the
quality work you do. Find an employee,
family member or friend who loves
snapping photos and designate them
the company photographer. Your
portfolio will improve along with your
profits!
Even with a strong safety programme
and training, accidents can happen. Be
prepared for job site injuries with a firstaid kit tailored specifically for your crew.
You should not need to visit a hospital
for minor injuries such as a small cut,
but it will need to be tended to before
continuing to work.
EXPLAIN THE WEATHERING
PROCESS OF WOOD
While you can purchase a standard
first-aid kit at several area retailers,
you will need to supplement this with
other job-specific items. First, make
sure your kit container is weather-proof.
You will want to keep your safety items
dry and safe from contaminants such
as dirt or paint.
After a deck is built, customers are
always anxious to immediately apply a
finish. Coach them through
understanding that applying a finish
before a proper weathering period can
cause problems. A product such as
Seasonite New Wood Treatment will
help the wood weather during the first
year, after which a finish can be applied.
Applying a finish before the wood has
proper ly weathered will inhibit
penetration, causing the finish to peel
or prematurely fade.
There are several standard items that
you should include in your safety kit:
• Band-aids, antiseptic and first-aid cream
• Cotton balls, gauze and latex gloves
• Aspirin & Pain Killers
• Ice packs and heat packs
•Tweezers for removing splinters
• Emergency eye care materials such as
saline solution and an eye wash cup
Based on the nature of your business,
other items may be important to your
safety kit. Designate your crew leader
responsible for determining additional
items that should be included. He or
she spends a large amount of time
with your employees and on the job
site where the safety items may be
needed. For example, if your employees
work with combustible materials, you
should have a fire extinguisher at every
job site.
Simply wipe on - leave 10 minutes or so, and wipe off.
No sanding necessary (provided it is a smooth surface)
Prepare smooth slick surfaces for painting or varnishing; i.e, old gloss enamel or
varnish, glazed or ceramic tile, baked appliance enamel, lacquer and glass.
Easy Surface Prep eliminates time consuming, laborious sanding. Just wipe it on and
WIPE IT OFF. This simple operation cleans the surface and then provides adhesion
for conventional oil/alkyd or acrylic paints. All the user has to do is to wait
90 minutes after application before repainting. Or, wait until the next day, or even
a week later. IN EVERY CASE,THE PAINT WILL STICK. Easy Surface Prep
is the best guarantee against future paint chipping.
DECREASE YOUR PHONE BILLS
With internet usage on the rise, many
businesses are finding their phone bill
prices are through the roof. Most phone
companies offer various pricing
formulas. Analyze the amount of time
you spend on the internet and the
number of times you log on. Some
plans charge a large amount per call,
but a small amount for each additional
minute online. Others charge a small
amount per call, but additional minutes
are more expensive - and this can add
up if you spend a long time online.
Research what works best for you and
contact your phone company.
FOR INFORMATION ON FLOOD TIME AND MONEY SAVING PROBLEM SOLVERS CALL FLOOD ON 1800 226 113
12
Sponging - but not
on your mates
Faux Finish decorating has
been the rage overseas
and is becoming more
fashionable in Australia.
Faux finishes can be
applied using different
techniques such as:
‘sponging’ for giving a
deep-textured rich look to
walls, ceilings or furniture;
‘ragging’ where a
crumpled rag is used for
soft and delicate effects
as a backdrop for furniture
or artwork; ‘combing’ for
subtle contrasting lines;
‘marbling’ for distinctive
appeal with a luxurious
feeling; or ‘woodgraining’
to create the rich patterns
and colours of fine wood
without the high price-tag.
Sponging is perhaps the
quickest and easiest way
to go faux. It lets you
create colourful walls from
a dappled, mottled look
to one of marble. Subtle
or bold design variations
are limited only by the
number of colours, the
contrast between different
shades and the variety of
application techniques
used. Here is a quick
r undown to get you
started:
1. Apply a base coat using
any good quality interior
satin or semigloss oilbased or acrylic paint in
the colour of your choice.
2. Once the base coat is
dr y you are ready to
sponge. Mix 3 parts of oilbased paint with one part
of Penetrol or 3 parts of
acr ylic with 1 par t of
Floetrol. Dampen a large
sea-sponge (synthetic
sponges leave hard-edged
identical impressions that
don’t flow together) in
water and squeeze out the
excess. Lightly dip the
sponge into the paint and
blot off any excess on a
paper towel.
3. Now press the sponge
lightly against the wall,
repeating this in an overall
pattern and texture,
making sure the base coat
is showing through. Rotate
and twist the sponge
(except when touching the
wall) so you are not
creating repetitive patterns
or marks.
4. Work the edges of the
wall first. Balance the
finish on the wall to match
the edges. Stand back
once in a while to judge
the uniformity of the
pattern or finish. You can
make corrections by using
the base coat colour and
a new sponge. Whilst the
pattern will be quite
irregular, try to keep the
amount of paint applied
consistent for a uniform
appearance. Finish one
wall before starting the
next.
Always experiment on
sample boards to find the
best colour combinations
and practise your sponging
technique before starting
on the actual wall. Sponge
one square metre at a
time.
Always use the darkest
colour (or the lightest if
sponging over a dark
base) first. Use the least
amount of this colour. Dab
a bit more with the second
colour, filling in blank areas
with some overlap onto
the first colour. The third
colour should overlap
ever ything, leaving no
glaringly blank areas. A
third colour close to the
base coat colour will blend
in the first two colours and
even-out the overall visual
texture. Always let the
paint dr y thoroughly
between applications.
When sponging only one
colour over the base coat
go for close in value for a
rich subtle look. For a
s t a r ke r e f f e c t , u s e
contrasting colours such
as blue or green over
yellow.
It is a good idea to thin
acrylic (but not with water)
when sponging to achieve
more translucent, softer
colour s and avoid
premature drying. Use
Floetrol acrylic extender
or Penetrol for oil-based
paint. Both are made by
the Flood Company. Call
them on 1800 226 113
for a free copy of their
30 page ‘Guide to Faux
Finishing’.
Never give employees bad news on a Friday
Remember, it’s better to avoid giving employees bad news, such as a negative review, on a Friday or before
a holiday. This gives workers extra time to brood without giving them a chance to respond constructively.
Weekend surprises may be easier for the manager who wants to avoid confrontation, but they are more likely
to demoralise the staff than improve performance.
ON THE JOB
A High Calibre Performance
When Shayne Butcher of Calibre Group of Painting
Companies, began work on a metal-sided
warehouse, he knew he had his work cut out for
him.
“It was chalking so badly you couldn’t run your
hand over it without peeling some of the coat off”,
says Butcher. “The Flood Company’s Emulsa-Bond
was recommended to us, so we power-washed it
and added Emulsa-Bond to our paint at a 1:4
ratio. The building looked fantastic when we were
finished”.
Five years later Butcher is now co-president of
Calibre Group of Painting Companies and can
testify to the longevity of Emulsa-Bond.
“We drive past that building all the time, and it
still looks fantastic”, says Butcher.
Terry Jennet founded Calibre Group of Painting
Companies in 1986. Butcher joined in 1991 and
became Jennet’s partner in 1997.
“When Terry first started, he was painting houses
and apartment buildings”, Butcher says. “Now
we’ve expanded to commercial buildings and are
doing revenues around $5 million”.
According to Butcher, Calibre Group of Painting
Companies has taken on more than just painting
projects.
“We’ve worked on dozens of decks and apply
Flood’s Semi-Transparent and Solid-Colour Deck
Stains,” Butcher says. “We haven’t received a
complaint yet, and our estimating department now
recommends the stains for all horizontal and
vertical wood surfaces”.
Since then, Butcher’s projects have grown. The
latest project is a 50,000 square foot, metal-sided
theatre complex, which includes Gold’s Gym and
an indoor amusement park for kids.
“The bid was a designed build renovation system”,
Butcher says. “We give this type of bid when a
client asks for advice, so we submitted our
recommendation, complete with the suggestion
to use Emulsa-Bond, and we landed it”.
Butcher claims that having a product he can
consistently recommend makes his job much
easier.
Paint contractors and do-it yourselfers have discovered
how Odour Zapp paint additive dramatically reduces customer
complaints about paint odours. Odour Zapp reduces
unpleasant odours caused by acrylic and oil based paints,
primers, lacquers, strippers and thinners.
Picking another man’s pocket
Business is the art o extracting money from another
man’s pocket without resorting to violence.
Your single source for paint additives
AMAZING NEW SOLUTION TO OLD PROBLEM OF PAINT ODOUR
“Paint odour? what paint
odour? Never bothers me”
you say bravely. But does
it bother your customer?
That’s the real question.
Just because it doesn’t
bother you, doesn’t mean
it doesn’t bother your
customers! We’ve always
taken it for granted that
paint odour is part and
parcel of that paint job.
It need not, and should
not be anymore.
You can now add a new, extra
comfort dimension to your
customer care programme by
simply adding a few drops of
a new product called, not
surprisingly, PAINT ODOUR
ELIMINATOR, into your paint
bucket which neutralises the
paint odour and leaves behind
a pleasant smell, after you
apply it.
Imagine the surprise and
delight of Mrs Murphy when
she comes into her newly
painted living room, and it not
only looks the business, but
even smells good! Do you think
she will appreciate it? You bet
she will!
Even more so when you remark
“Well, we’re used to the stink
but I realise my customers
don’t like it, so we go that extra
m i l e t o m a ke i t m o r e
comfortable for you by using
a special paint odour
eliminator as part of the way
we do things”. “Hmmm! I’m
impressed! I can’t wait to tell
Jean and Colette about this”
says she.
This amazing product will also
be greatly appreciated by
hotels, guest houses, shops,
schools, hospitals, office
blocks, factories, and any place
where people work or
congregate. (Architects, please
take note).
Follow instructions carefully,
as more does not mean better.
Does it affect the paint? No,
only delays drying time a little
bit by about 5%. Negligible
considering the benefits.
More details from the Flood
Company on 1800 226 113
For all indoor painting, and in
virtually any kind of paint,
acrylics, oils, eggshells, even
lacquers, and nasty smelling
floor finishes, two packs etc,
Paint Odour Eliminator is a
breath of fresh air. A 50ml
bottle will treat up to 10L of
paint but 100ml and 1 Litre
sizes are available from most
trade and paint stores.
PAINT ODOUR ELIMINATOR IS DISTRIBUTED BY THE FLOOD COMPANY AUSTRALIA PHONE 1800 226 113
13
SOLUTION CORNER
PROFITABLE PAINTING HINTS
STOP THAT MOULD FOR GOOD
in paint. Mercury was an
excellent mould preventer
but could have some
dangerous side effects.
So a market developed for
a mildeweide that could
be added on site to suit
job demands.
A sizeable segment
of the additive
business are mildeweides and insecticides... chemicals
which stop the growth
of mould and mildew
as well as others
which control flying
and crawling insects
and infestation by
bugs on new paintwork.
These products have
grown in popularity ever
s i n c e m e r c u r y wa s
banned as an ingredient
You might ask why the
paint companies don’t
include these chemicals
in manufacture. They do,
but in small quantities only
because (a) it drives up
the price of paint as
mildeweides are ver y
expensive and make the
manufacturers products
less competitive and (b)
not all areas where paint
is sold require extra mildewcides - e.g. areas with
low humidity and good
ventilation.
Mildew preventing additives in Australia are in
liquid form whilst in other
countries they are also
available as a powder to
mix yourself. The products
available here are safe to
use when the manufacturers instructions are
followed.
A few drops or 0.5% to 2%
added to the paint
common brand in Australia
is VC175
Many more brands are
available overseas but
Australia’s strict safety
requirements prevent
them from being sold
and remove all old mould
on infected surfaces first
as painting over a mildew
affected
surface
guarantees return of the
mildew, which will grow
through new paint rapidly.
Commercial
mixtures for
washing are
available such
as
Mould
Action but four
The unsightly black, gray or dark brown areas or spots that
to five cups of
sometimes appear on an exterior paint film may look like
dirt, but they might be mildew - a type of fungus that needs
household
nutrients in order to survive. Mildew can make a meal of
bleach in four
just about anything, including:
litres of water
will make a
* nutrients in bare wood
good wash
* dirt on top of the paint surface
solution. Paint
* Oil in oil-based alkyd paints
as soon as the
* thickeners used in some latex coatings
surface is dry
but preferably
within 24 hours
especially in
depending on the brand
here. An important point
humid conditions. Apply
used is generally sufficient
to remember is this: whilst
generous amounts of top
for good results and afford
these additives will do a
coats since thin coats
protection for a long time
good job when used
allow mildew spores to
sometimes for the life of
according to instructions,
the paint. The most
penetrate more easily.
it is absolutely vital to kill
MILDEW
Bug Stuff is one additive
for the control of crawling
insects on exterior
surfaces.
Flies,
mosquitos, ants, spiders
and other insects are
killed on contact with the
paint. These products
have many uses on farm
buildings, factories,
schools, hospitals and
outside restaurant
kitchens where insects
can spread disease.
Still another new additive
to come onto the market
recently is a paint odour
eliminator from Bio Zapp
which eliminates the
unpleasant smells
present in freshly painted
rooms. It works in all
types of paint, solvents
and adhesives.
Additives not only fill and
assure a better job for
your customers but they
are also an additive to
your profits when
recommended to your
clients.
USED AND
RECOMMENDED
BY MASTER
PAINTERS
it’s ugly! it’s smelly!
Get rid of it!
MOULD ACTION
ELIMINATOR
WORKS IN ACRYLICS, URETHANE, EPOXY,
OIL, ALKYD AND ALL WATER BASED PAINTS
Kill mould and algae bacteria and prepare contaminated
surfaces for safe painting with Mould Action.
It is biodegradable and harmless to humans and plants.
It contains no bleach or formaldehyde.
Mould Action prepares exterior AND interior surfaces for painting...
the ideal all-purpose sterilising solution.
Mould Action is economical...costing only cents per square metre!
Stay rid of it!
VC175 TROPICAL
STRENGTH
MOULD KILLER
Prevent mildew, mould and algae from
growing again by adding a few drops of
VC175 to any paint or primer.
CONCENTRATED
INDUSTRIAL
FORMULA
It works great in grout, stains and wallpaper adhesive too!
Stop unsightly, mould and mildew before it starts to smell.
MOULD ACTION AND VC175 ARE AVAILABLE FROM MOST PAINT AND HARDWARE STORES.
GETS RID OF SERIOUS
ODOUR PROBLEMS
FOR INFORMATION ON FLOOD TIME AND MONEY SAVING PROBLEM SOLVERS CALL FLOOD ON 1800 226 113
14
WANT TO GO UP IN FLAMES
OR SUFFOCATE
What you should consider when using a stripper
Most paint strippers
are volatile and
extremely dangerous
if used incorrectly.
Solvents used in strippers
are organic liquids used
to dissolve other organic
matter. The points of
concern with strippers are
their flashpoint and their
vapour pressure.
Flashpoint is the
temperature at which
liquid gives off sufficient
vapour to form an
ignitable mixture with the
air near the surface of the
liquid. Depending on the
flashpoint, solvents are
either flammable or
combustible. Products
with a flashpoint below
37C are classed
flammable. It is important
to remember what actually
burns is the vapour - not
the liquid itself.
Vapour Pressure is the
tendency of a liquid to
evaporate into a vapour
state. The higher the
vapour pressure the faster
the rate of evaporation
and the higher the danger
of exposure to the user of
the solvent and its harmful
side effects. If the solvent
h a s a h i g h Va p o u r
Substance
Methylene Chloride
(EzyStrip)
Acetone
Methanol
Toluene
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone
(NMP) Citristrip
pressure and is also
flammable, then the risk
of fire and explosion is
greatly increased. Below
are some characteristics
of the more common
strippers.
Flash Point Vapour
(Celsius)
Pressure
none
355
-26
10
6.1
-5
95
185
98
26
71
0.32
From that you can see that
the 2 best to use strippers
are those based on
Methylene Chloride such
as EzyStrip - nonflammable but High VP and NMP based products
such as CitriStrip - nonflammable and the lowest
VP. Therefore the safest
way to strip is to use
Methylene Chloride
Stripper on outside
applications where there
is plenty of fresh air to let
the vapour dissipate and
select an NMP stripper like
Citristrip for any inside jobs
as these are a. nonflammable and b. evaporate very slowly, minimizing any dangerous
fumes. Do not work with
M e t hy l e n e C h l o r i d e
stripper inside unless you
can provide ventilation.
NOTE: Recently strippers
based on Sodium
Hydroxide have been
introduced. These can
cause severe burns if
h a n d l e d i n c o r r e c t l y.
Regardless of which paint
stripper you use, always
follow the safety
precautions on the label.
THE ONLY 2 STRIPPERS YOU NEED
FOR NTERIOR USE
FOR EXTERIOR USE
THE PAINT DAWG
It’s a doggone
good tool!
It’s never been easier to clean up or to change
paint colours. With “the painter’s best friend”,
you can actually lift paint out of the bucket
and dispose of it in a quick and safe manner.
24 disposable liners are pre-packed using an air tight
method. Simply pull out the top liner to expose the next
clean bucket. Ready when you are.
Snip or pierce a corner of the bag to squeeze leftover
paint quickly and easily back into the original container.
Simple, easy, quick, and clean.
Sturdy .7ml polyethylene bags with Pull Tabs for easy
removal.
Innovative plastic “Bucket Cap” keeps paint and paint
brush fresh and free of dust and debris during work
breaks or overnight.
A n E c o - Fr i e n d l y
System for Bucket
Clean-up
Safe and proper paint
disposal is of concern in
today’s paint industry.
Paint laden waste water
pollutes waterways and
seeps into ground water.
The Paint Dawg provides
a clean-up system that
meets EPA Guidelines for
safe disposal. Allow the
used liner to air-dry then
safely dispose of it into
any trash receptacle.
•Fewer discarded buckets
in land fills
• L e s s wa s t e wa t e r
•Save on paint thinners
NO MORE MESSY CAULKING
Ever tried to stop the drips from a caulking gun? The more you tried the messier
it got? Now there is the ‘Dripless’ caulking gun. No more mess. Absolutely. The
flow of caulk stops when you stop. No
thumb release to push. No special way
to click the handle. Caulk run-on is
eliminated. It’s simple and trouble free.
The gun is powder coated to prevent
rust and is fitted with a convenient
ladder hook. It also has a spout cutter
and punch. With a 10 year warranty,
the ‘Dripless’ caulk gun is available
from hardware and paint stores. For
your nearest dealer contact The Flood
C o m p a ny o n 1 8 0 0 2 2 6 1 1 3 .
AVAILABLE FROM YOUR PAINT SUPPLY STORE
FOR INFORMATION ON FLOOD TIME AND MONEY SAVING PROBLEM SOLVERS CALL FLOOD ON 1800 226 113
15
NEW FINISH CLAIMS TO
OUTLAST OILS 3 TO 5 TIMES
Before applying Spa N Deck.
Extensively
Tested
Spa-N-Deck has been
Economical and
easy to maintain
Spa-N-Deck Comes in
Natural, Cedar, Redwood,
Sedona, Driftwood Grey
and White, and with a
spreading rate of up to
45m2 per 4 litres - far
greater than conventional
After applying Spa N Deck.
PROVEN TO WITHSTAND EXTREME
ENVIRONMENTS, LONG LASTING, DURABLE.
come. Spa-N-Deck is
made by the Flood
Company, the people who
make the well known
Penetrol. Available at your
favourite paint store or
call The Flood Company
on 1800 226 113 for
more information and
your nearest dealer.
Treating Outdoor Wood in Extreme Coastal Comditions
Case Study: Spa-N-Deck
Ocean saltwater, penetrating sun rays, and strong winds are great
conditions for a vacation but are harsh and unrelenting for a wooden
deck. The Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral, Florida exists with
conditions such as these. Tarpon Point is a semi-private marina along
the Gulf of Mexico and a favourite fishing resort of many celebrities.
The Situation
The Product
With more than 4000
square metres in wooden
decking, finding the right
finish was a big job for
Harbour Master Dennis
Raney. The deck had
become worn and gray,
warped, spotted with
mildew and somewhat
hazardous because of
splintering wood. Since
the deck was built in
1989, only a small portion
of it had been coated. That
portion, which was coated
with Flood Spa-N-Deck,
looked much better than
the rest of the deck that
was left untreated.
Spa-N-Deck Natural was
chosen to protect and
finish the deck. Spa-N-Deck
is 100% acr ylic and,
uniquely, must be applied
on a wet surface which
helps it penetrate into the
wood planking and saves
application time.
The Research
Raney spoke with several
area contractors to
determine if they knew of
a product that could
provide all of the solutions
needed, including longter m protection. He
wanted the application to
The Application
The contractors first cleaned
and bleached the decking,
then re-wet it. The product
was supplied in five-gallon
pails and spray-applied.
Once sprayed, the product
was lightly spread with a
long-handled paint pad. The
deck was completed in
sections to ensure the
“wetness” of the decking
as the finish was applied.
Because Spa-N-Deck must
be applied to a wet surface,
three coats of finish were
applied to more than
40,000 square feet in less
The dockside at Tarpon Marina was worn, grey, warped.
last at least three years,
and after several
conversations, Spa-N-Deck
was the answer that kept
emerging.
“Our research process
basically involved
discussions with
contractors in the area.
We wanted to talk to
people in the business
who were familiar with the
products. According to the
opinions of contractors,
Spa-N-Deck was the
product of choice. They
thought it was the best
coating for the job”, said
Raney.
N
EW
Imagine being able to
strip, clean and finish a
deck in one day. All
possible now. Spa-N-Deck
is unconventional in its
application because it is
applied to wood with the
surface thoroughly wet.
The high tech formula
works together with the
wet surface and the
moisture inherent in the
wood to penetrate deeply
into the wood pores. In
fact it dries both in and
on the wood. A by-product
of this technology is great
saving in application time.
You don’t have to wait for
the wood to dr y after
cleaning it, but star t
applying the finish
immediately. There is no
need for dry time. The
home owner can see the
end result in one day.
finishes - it is economical
to use. Periodical
maintenance and touchups will give protection
and a nice appearance
to wood for years to
than six weeks. Only two
contractors worked on the
job.
The Results
The deck now has a rich,
deep luster that contrasts
beautifully against the
ocean. In addition to a
great appearance, Spa-NDeck also “healed”
boards that were
splintering, making them
smooth again and easing
barefoot traffic. Boards
that needed replacing - at
a high cost - were greatly
improved and repaired by
Spa-N-Deck. Return
visitors to the deck
constantly remark on its
beautiful condition.
According to Raney, “One
year after the deck has
been coated, it still looks
ver y good. Customers
comment all the time that
it looks like it was just
coated”.
3 coats of Sap N Deck finish were applied to more than 40,000
square feet of marina decking in less than six weeks.
BRUSH STUFF
Brush Stuff makes good brushes
last longer.
It makes all brushes easier to clean,
prevents them clogging up with paint
and keeps the bristles smooth and pliable.
Use it with all oil and water based paints.
Good for rollers too. Costs a mere 10
cents per application and saves those
good expensive brushes for the next
paint job.
FR
EE
Finish most
decks in one day
tested, used and proven
successful in the extreme
sun and weather
conditions of Florida as
well as on test sties in
Australia. Spa-N-Deck
can be used on all
properly prepared new
and weathered wood
surface such as decks,
weatherboard siding ,
fences, windows and
doors, outdoor furniture
and all exterior wood. It
is also effective on
finished wood surfaces
once the previous coating
h a s b e e n r e m ov e d .
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
There is a new exterior wood finish on the market
which contractors will embrace. Spa-N-Deck
Exterior Wood Finish, a new technology 100%
acrylic, provides the best of both penetrating
finishes as well as surface coatings. It has been
shown to last 3 to 5 times longer than oil based
finishes, even in severe environments. Bonding
both in and on the surface, it dries to a tough,
durable and lustrous finish which protects and
enhances the natural character of the wood.
LIMIT 1 PER
CUSTOMER
Buy any 4 litres or $50
of Flood products and
get a tube of Brush Stuff
absolutely FREE. Value $10.00*
Just send a copy of your invoice and we’ll mail you
Brush Stuff at no cost.
SEND TO: THE FLOOD COMPANY,
4 NELSON AVE, PADSTOW, NSW 2211,
AUSTRALIA
Send in your articles and stories. Any article published in ‘PAINTING NEWS’
will be rewarded with $100 worth of Flood products.
16
PAINTING NEWS is published by The Flood Company Australia, 4 Nelson Avenue, Padstow, NSW 2211 Australia, Phone 2 9790 5158, Fax 2 9709 2604, Email [email protected]