contents vol. 98, no. 5 June 2021

4 June 2021 • APC

contents June 2021vol. 98, no. 5

www.paintmag.com

FEATURES Crew Spotlight

Marc Helmrich of D'Franco Painting demonstrates exceptional leadership skills.

By Jerry Rabushka

Mission: Vacation Kxxxxxxxxxx By Emily Howard

Make Your Own Video Making quality videos may be

a lot easier than you think. By Jerry Rabushka

Addressing Addiction andMental Health Issues

Best practices for dealing withthese important issues.

By Jerry Rabushka

Yes, Try this at Home Get to know new products before

taking them out to the field. By Jerry Rabushka

Ding Dong, OSHA Calling How to handle (or not to handle)

a surprise OSHA inspection.

COLUMNS Emily Howard

xxxxxxxx

Paintmag.comYour guide to this months news,videos and podcasts.

From the Field Why meeting your employees'

expectations is as important as having them meet yours.

By Scott Burt

DEPARTMENTSContributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10New Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Product Showcase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24In My Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41The Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

On the Coverxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxx

20 Lifestyles

38 Safety 36 Advice

8 June 2021 • APC

paintmag.comMaster your craft, master your business — Read. Watch. Listen. Subscribe.

Boost Efficiency With Training and Tools,Part 2The Imhoff Fine Residential Painting teamcontinues to discuss how to boost efficiencyand revenue by using tech in the office andquality tools at the jobsite. Scan the QR codeto learn more about these tools.Sponsored by Purdy.

scan me

Will Painters Vaccinate?In response to the hesitancy of many contrac-tors to get a COVID-19 vaccine, a Californiatrade association has launched a “Roll Up YourSleeves” campaign to encourage them to getthe shot. Leave your thoughts in the commentsection.

scan me

@PaintMag @american_painting_contractor

Follow us on social media to stay up to date on the latest news.

Paint TV: Learn From the Best

Paint Radio Podcast: Listen Anywhere

Paint News: The Biggest Stories

Time Management With BreakthroughAcademyNeed help staying on task? Whether your day is centered on solving immediate problems, future planning or you’re looking for new waysto organize your time, check out this episodefeaturing Danny Kerr of Breakthrough Academy.Sponsored by Benjamin Moore.

scan me

OSHA Fines Contractor $104,000OSHA throws the book at a company that hasrepeatedly violated safety requirements, one of them seven times.

scan me

10 June 2021 • APC

APC ContributorsAPC Thanks Its Contributing Contractors & Businesses

Joe BiestekRust-OleumVernon Hills, IL

David ChismA David CreationsFrederick, MD

Michael CraineCraine PaintingLake Geneva, WI

Jeff DupontSound Painting SolutionsSeattle, WA

Yanni FikarisCustom RenovationsHaddonfield, NJ

Erick GatcombGatcomb Painting &DesignHancock, ME

Cindy HowardDecorative and FauxFinishesSugar Land, TX

Tim KenneyW.T. Kenney Co., Inc.Arlington, MA

Zach KenneyZK PaintingCoventry, RI

Peter LawtonParker Safety GroupSouth Berwick, ME

Arlene McloughlinArlene McloughlinMuralsMassapequa, NY

Dimitri NidisOmega PaintingServicesReading, PA

Brian NolanNolan ConsultingConshohocken, PA

Matt PisaenoPisaeno Painting &ConstructionUnion, NJ

Matt RathgebMatthew RathgebPaintingPhiladelphia, PA

Matt Schmohl & Curtis TankersleyJust Add PaintShiremanstown, PA

Brandon SmithBrand New Again RefinishingBismarck, IL

Weston SpiveyPremier PaintingDothan, AL

Wanna Contribute? If you’d like to be a contributor to APC,email [email protected].

12 June 2021 • APC

New Tools

New Products Want more info on our new products? Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera!

Eco Wood Treatment is long-lasting, envi-ronmentally safe, and nontoxic. After one application to any wooden structure, there isno need to reapply ever again! It will not wearoff, fade or peel. It can be applied to decks,fences, siding and more. It is a proven woodtreatment that gives all wood — interior andexterior — a silvery patina/high-end aged,weathered look. The product mixes com-pletely with water; no inert particles areadded. It is a natural organic product with noharmful chemicals. Eco Wood Treatment is amember of The U.S. Green Building Council.The eco-friendly product is LEEDS certified.

More information atwww.ecowoodtreatment.com

Long-lasting Wood Coating

Have a screw loose? Fixing it has never been easier or faster than with Tank Bond Thread StopperTape from DAP.

Thread Stopper Tape absorbs shock and vibrationwhile holding screws tightly in place. It works on allfastener types and sizes and is ready immediately —no dry time required. Simply wrap the tape aroundthe threads of any loose screw for a fast and effec-tive solution. Screws treated with Thread StopperTape can still be easily removed and reused up tothree times. It works on metal, wood and plastic, and a single roll covers up to 150 screws so you canfix every shake, slip and rattle on the job.

More information at www.dap.com

Tighten Loose Screws

AMERICAN PAINTING CONTRACTOR • June 2021 13

New Tools

One-coat Paint

The Paint Line’s ProDryingRack EX Plus Series is aheavy-duty rack that can be configured with eitherthree or four towers, each with 15 removableshelves, providing up to 180" of horizontal rackspace on each level. The PDREX Plus uses the two-towered, expandable PDREX as the base rack config-uration for the series. Each tower includes heavy-duty, 5" locking casters and anti-torque stabilizersfor rolling the entire rack to the desired shop area,even under load.

PDREX3 features:• Three-tower rack with stabilizers and shelves.• 120" (10 ') of horizontal rack space on each level.• 1,350-lb. weight capacity.

PDREX4 features:• Four-tower rack with stabilizers and shelves.• 180" (15') of horizontal rack space on each level.• 1,800-lb. weight capacity.

More information at www.thepaintline.com

Pro Drying Rack

With EVOpaint, you never need a primer or secondcoat over new drywall. One gallon of EVOpaint replaces 2 to 3 gallons of conventional paint. While a one-coat product, this is not “paint and primer inone.” Carry less product to the jobsite while you and your customer save money on product and labor!

At the manufacturing level, each gallon ofEVOpaint is made with Self-Build Technology. The products work by “building” onto themselves in real time while you’re rolling, giving you the equivalent of multiple coats in one application. This is achieved through an exclusive treatment and sequencing of raw materials coupled with unconventional processing methods. Products arelow VOC, LEED certified and Green Quantified formaximum life cycle waste prevention.

More information at www.evopaints.com

14 June 2021 • APC

New Tools

Titan’s Elite 3000 electric-sealed hydraulic airlesspaint sprayer is a versatile one-gun sprayer that deliversa consistent finish and is easy to operate. It is outfittedwith PermaStroke Technology so there are no pistons,packings or clutch to wear out or replace, and the fluidpump and electric motor are backed by a lifetime war-ranty. Designed to spray up to 150 gallons per week,the Elite 3000 is a durable, contractor-grade sprayer.

Titan’s PermaStroke Technology provides top per-formance at all pressures, even when using smaller tipsor spraying coatings that are prone to shearing. Mainte-nance is minimal with only two-cartridge style wearparts, the inlet and outlet valves, which are field serv-iceable and can be changed with common tools.

More information at www.titantool.com

Hydraulic Airless Sprayer

The Paint Can HERO is the tool painters need to effortlessly prep, pour, apply andstore paint. Designed to nest inside a one-gallon paint can, the extendable spoutmakes stirring and pouring mess-free. When doing pot and brush work, utilize theextended spout with integrated brush wipes to simplify painting and eliminate mess.

Between uses, there's nothing to clean as the Paint Can HERO retracts back intothe can and seals with the original air-tight metal lid. When finished, leave clients aspotless, perfectly sealed can of paint for touch ups while you take the reusablespout to your next job.

More Information at www.pntworx.com

Mess-Free Paint Can Spout

16 June 2021 • APC

New Tools

Graco’s 39O PC Cordless Airless Sprayer is the first and only high-perfor-mance airless sprayer on the market built to spray anywhere with free-dom from power cords, electrical outlets and generators. It combinesmultiple patented technologies to provide the ideal portable solutionby combining high-performance spraying with long battery runtime. The RAC X Low Pressure SwitchTip provides a professional air-less finish at lower pressures while the compact, brushless DCmotor delivers higher efficiency and consistent performance.

The sprayer runs on high-capacity Dewalt Flexvolt batteriesthat allow you to spray anywhere, delivering up to six gallons ofspray power before needing to charge. The 390 PC cordlesssprayer ships with two batteries and a fan-cooled fast chargerfor consistent, all-day spraying capability.

It is the lightest weight high-perfor-mance professional airless sprayer onthe market, for easier use around thejob site.

More information atwww.graco.com

Cordless Airless Sprayer

ClarkDietrich Strait-Flex Original is a versatile,multi-purpose drywall corner bead that delivershigh-quality results in less time. Its composite con-struction readily accepts paint, allowing you to finishcorners with up to 50% less joint compound whencompared with standard corner beads. The first fin-ishing coat of joint compound can be applied imme-diately, which gets you to painting faster. It creates aclean inside and outside, 90-degree and off-anglecorners with much less compound than conven-tional corner beads.

The slotted edge design facilitates superior bondto the drywall substrate, providing clean cornerswithout paper fuzz-up during finishing and sanding.Original is ideal for bay windows, coffered ceilings,or any inside corner where gaps are present. Applywith all-purpose joint-compound. Available in 100-foot rolls.

More information at www.clarkdietrich.com

Flexible Corner Bead


New Tools

Adhesive and Sealant in One

Sherwin-Williams new Latitude ExteriorAcrylic Latex gives painters more flexibility in theirschedules and extends the paintingseason. Latitude is formulated with ClimateFlexTechnology, which provides exceptional early mois-ture resistance, applies smoothly at extreme temper-atures (application at 35°F[2°C]-120°F[49°C] air,surface and material temperatures) and resists earlydirt pick up. The technology in Latitude develops re-sistance to early moisture in as little as 30 minuteseven at 35°F(2°C). Professionals can paint confi-dently in extreme temperatures or when rain is fore-casted.

More information at www.XXXXXXX.com

Extreme Temperature Paint

Red Devil’s Strong Bond is specially formulated with premium performance in mind. This ad-vanced hybrid polymer technology holds heavy applications quickly and achieves a strong, per-manent bond to both porous and non-porous substrates. Use Strong Bond for fast instantstrength, eliminating the need for nails, screws, or fasteners in most applications. This all-in-oneadhesive and sealant provides more than double the initial bond strength of most other adhesives.

It is paintable, VOC Compliant/low odor, great for interior and exterior use, and is mold andmildew resistant when cured. This hybrid polymer remains flexible, will not shrink, and allows forvibration and movements. Strong Bond meets or exceeds federal specifications ASTM C920 Class25, is USDA Compliant and comes with a lifetime durability guarantee.

More information at www.reddevil.com

18 June 2021 • APC

One of the things I enjoy the mostabout being a paint contractor ismy clients. I didn’t always feel

this way in the early years of my busi-ness. They drove me nuts at times, butfor better or worse, I learned a lot fromthem. These days, as I have learned (orperhaps earned the opportunity) to bemore selective about projects andclients, I am gathering more insight thanever from those with whom we work.

Collectively, there are so many issueson our minds these days. Health andlifestyle are more prominently in focusthan ever before. Many people who haveworked from home for the past year willlikely not return to a conventional work-place setting. The way businesses aredoing business has changed, perhapsforever.

At the same time, interest rates arefriendly and people are investing in theirhomes on a pretty impressive scale. Thismakes for favorable market conditionsfor us in the home services industry.

Where are the goods?What started out as a mass lumber

shortage and spiking prices seems to becrawling its way into other arenas. I wastalking with a customer recently who isin the automotive supply business, witha pretty robust shipping and receivingdepartment. They are paying $54 persheet for oriented strand board, one ofthe lowest forms of sheet goods used inbuilding shipping crates. That is consid-ered a good deal right now, but youhave to buy hundreds of sheets to getthat deal. As recently as two years ago,you could buy cabinet-grade plywood at that price.

I was talking with the longtime manager at one of my paint suppliers

the other day. For several awkward mo-ments, I think we both tried to avoidpointing out the remarkably emptyshelves in the room — shelves thatshould be full of dozens upon dozens ofgallons of paint, racks that should beoverflowing with roller covers of all sizesand colors, and bins that should havenumerous choices of caulking tubes.

She told me that, in some cases, thereare issues with raw material shortagesbut that the ability to move product isalso now a huge challenge … literally, asin getting trucks from point A to point B.It’s not because of traffic or fuel pricesbut because of a sudden lack of peopleinterested in driving the trucks that deliver the products to the paint stores.As in our industry and many others, thetruck-driving population is starting toage out, and there are fewer people entering that field. As I got in my truck to go about my day, I heard on the radioan ad for truck drivers. They were offer-ing six-figure salaries with impressivebenefits packages. Go figure.

Where are the people?That same day, I found myself chatting

with a current client as I loaded my truckfor the weekend. This guy is very muchin demand as a sales consultant — verywell-regarded and skilled in that field. He works with top companies locally, regionally and nationally. We were talk-ing about market conditions, and heasked if my business has enough work.Most good clients want to refer you ifyou are good. I told him that we havemore work than we can handle, and thatin good conscience I really can’t take onany more until we solve staffing issues.

It is a frustrating position to be inwhen you can sell at a high rate but

doubt your company’s ability to deliverthe services. You become your own sup-ply chain problem. I asked him what heis hearing from the companies he con-sults with. He said that while millennials(current 25-40-year-olds) have alwaysgotten a bad rap for not being as inter-ested in work as their predecessors, it isan actual fact of life now and not a trend.

The reality, according to this consult-ant, is that people have cracked the codeon how to make money without theconstraints or physical exertion of tradi-tional occupations. He took his cellphone out of his pocket, held it up andsaid, “This, right here.” Research points tothe reality that there is a whole economyof people making money by just flippingitems all day long right from theirphones. They’re buying and selling with-out touching any of it. Load up yourphone with apps for venues like Face-book Marketplace, eBay, PayPal andVenmo, and you can do business fromanywhere. Moving items and movingmoney … it’s amazing to think thatmajor corporations are suddenly crip-pled in their ability to do that, but indi-viduals are doing it in large numbers.And here I thought these kids tied totheir phones were just watching videos

Can’t Find Painters? Who’s To Blame?Out-of-date employment practices might be keepinggood people awayBy Scott Burt

From the Field


and playing games. What to make of it?It’s kind of inspiring, really.

OptionsI had to ask my client, the consultant,

how people “cracked the code” to de-cline traditional roles and forge a newlifestyle. He said that throughout history,when the game changes and the statusquo becomes outdated, a common de-nominator is that people look aroundand see clearly what their options are. Inthe past decade or two, there have beenexponentially more options than ever,brought about by technology and theconvenience that accompanies it.

That is an empowering concept, that aperson can look at their situation andsay, “No, I am not going to do that.”

Now our reality in the paint industry is that people are looking at our busi-nesses and the employment opportuni-ties we offer, and they are on a prettylarge scale declining to do this type ofwork. Certainly, this raises the questionof how we adapt and evolve so that wecan capitalize on the new market.

I think an obvious answer is to rebrandhow we are perceived — right down tothe language we use when we talkabout what we do. If it looks like just awhole bunch of jobs and work, that isn’tso appealing. It used to be that peoplewanted security and to know that thereis plenty of work. But now the model ofthe traditional 40-hour workweek is inserious question.

The band Dire Straits may have beenonto something when decades ago theysuggested in the song “Industrial Dis-ease,” that we should “abolish Mondaymornings and Friday afternoons. But seriously, it is time for us to take a goodhard look as an industry at our ownmodel. I think the focus in the past hasbeen customer facing, delivering high-level service with appealing customerexperience.

Now it is time to look at the employeeexperience. No one wants to be your“helper.” That’s just not a career goal thatmany people are going to go along with.I think it will be important going forwardfor paint contractors to customize theemployee experience. This breaks frommuch of the conventional wisdom in our

industry — to systematize and work to-ward a franchise model of plug-and-playemployees. I think that is too impersonaland not appealing to the people wewant to recruit into our companies.

This season, I am going with ayounger and more flexible model forstaffing than ever before. The oldest per-son I employ will be 24 years old. We arebuilding schedules around the needs of our people by getting to know theirinterests and passions outside of work,then creating a schedule that is conven-ient and practical and meets their finan-

cial goals. I encourage all of us tosharpen up our listening skills andgather information from customers andemployees to continue crafting our com-panies to be strong into the future. APC

From the Field

“

“

We are building schedules around theneeds of our people by getting to know

their interests and passions outside of work, then creating a schedule

that is convenient and practical and meets their financial goals.

Scott Burt is senior editor of APC and ownerof Topcoat Finishes in Vermont. He enjoys communicating with paint contractors at topcoatreview.com.

20 May 2021 • APC

From Corporate Analystto Field Manager Mark Helmrich of D’Franco Painting and Wallpaper

By Jerry Rabushka

Lifestyles — Crew Spotlight

Marc Helmrich learned how to treat a crewin the field from his experience behind a desk. Mainly, it was what not to do.

“I learned a lot of things that I didn’t like — that I vowed if I were ever in a leadership position, Iwould never do to anybody on the team. Therewere things that I saw that I didn’t appreciate, andI didn’t want to be that type of leader,” he said.

We owe his presence in the painting industry tothe recession of 2008, when he was downsized outof a longtime corporate analyst job and couldn’tfind similar employment. As he ticked off his options, he thought back to his younger years,when he and a friend would paint together — forfun. “When we were teenagers, I would help himpaint at his house, and then he helped me paintmy bedroom,” said Helmrich. “I wanted a differentcolor, and my parents said, ‘That’s fine; we're notdoing it. You do it.’”

Marc knew a bit about brushing androlling, but it had been a long time.Was it a viable alternative? “I remem-bered how much I enjoyed paintingwhen I had the opportunity, so Ithought maybe there’s something that I can make of this,” he said. “WhenI was a younger man, I liked workingwith my hands, but I kind of got awayfrom that in the office.”

His rudimentary skills were ripe forimprovement, and his return to thebucket put in him just the right place.He got on with a company owned bysome former union painters who hadstruck out on their own. If there’s onething they knew, it was how to paint.“I started learning the ropes andsoaked up as much knowledge as Icould,” said Helmrich. “I knew how toroll a wall, but how do you roll a wallreally well? I got the benefit of learn-ing from those guys who had done it the right way for so long. I wasblessed by not picking up some of thebad habits that some people developalong the way.”

There wasn’t enough work to keephim busy, so Helmrich took some side

jobs and then made a go of it on hisown. Turned out that business owner-ship wasn’t for him. “I realized quicklythat I didn’t enjoy owning my owncompany,” he said. “I did not enjoy theheadache and the stress of where’s thenext job going to come from, that afterI’m done working, I’m running aroundall over the Chicago-land area trying toclose bids.”

Despite a long drive to the Chicagosuburb of Elgin, the help wanted adsfrom D’Franco Painting and Wallpaperspoke to him the loudest, and com-pany owner David Cook hired him onas lead painter. From there, he becamecrew leader, and shortly after that Cookpromoted him to his current positionas field manager. He’s seen the com-pany contract during the COVID-19pandemic and is now helping it notonly regain its position but also growfrom here.

“When I started with Dave, it was areally small shop; there were four of usout in the field. We started growing,but of course COVID hit, and nobodywas really sure what was going to hap-pen,” Helmrich recalled. “We lost most

of the guys — we went down to two. I was still on board, and then anotherguy was helping out from time to time.If we got into a vacant house, he wasokay to work, but he didn’t feel com-fortable being around people.”

Since then, the two have turned into11, and Helmrich sees the company asonly growing from here. “I like that Iget the chance to work with Dave,” hesaid. “I can bring my perspective andexperience from working in othershops and working with other peopleand help this company grow the rightway, making sure we have the thingswe need and that the growth isn’t out of control to where that we can’tprovide the level of service that ourcustomers deserve.”

David Cook tells us he was im-pressed with Helmrich right off thebat. “The moment we met, I knew I hadto hire him,” he said. “We connected instantly, and I knew he was going tobe a great fit with our business. Marchas a great attitude and dedication to our business; he cares as much as[my wife] Daphne and I do about howwe do business, meet our goals, and

Lifestyles


Helmrich installs a graphic mural wallcovering for a nearby hospital; joining D'Franco has given him the opportunity to become proficientin fine finish work as well as wallpaper and mural installation..

22 June 2021 • APC

live up to our mission statement. It is fun to see him grow into this role,set an example, and show our newpainters and people without a tradebackground that this is a great careerpath.”

Apple pickingFinding good painters is a challenge,

or as Marc says, without hesitation,“There are a lot of bad apples out there,and it’s difficult to choose which aregoing to be the right ones and whichare going to be the wrong ones.” Theydo a lot of screening before they hireand check in after to make sure every-one is doing OK. “We’re in constantcommunication when we get a guy in:How is he doing? Is he struggling?What’s his work ethic like, what’s his attitude like, does he come across astrustworthy? These are the sorts ofquestions I’m asking my lead paintersand job leaders all the time.”

He lets the crew know they are partof an elite corps. “I’ll sit down with anew painter and I’ll tell them that weare extremely picky about who webring in,” Helmrich said. “I let themknow that they should feel proud of just getting in the door.”

Once there, they’re treated well, inpart thanks to Marc’s bad memories.“We let them know that this is not like alot of other shops where your boss isscreaming at you to get it done on timeor you’re going to lose your job,” he said.“That’s something that we really try tostay away from. Letting new paintersknow that they don’t have to deal withthat, that we’re a different sort of com-pany, sets them at ease and allowsthem to work to be the best they canevery day.”

Look for the goodWhile it’s on Marc to call out a slack

performance or point out a blunder, hetakes even more care to point out the accomplishments. “If I hear about or I seethat you’re busting your butt and you’redoing it right and you’re making thatcustomer feel wonderful, I’m going tomake sure that everybody knows whatsort of a job you’re doing,” he said.“Everybody makes mistakes. What’s im-

portant is that we learn from the mistakeand we work hard not to repeat it. Daveand I both think that it’s far more impor-tant to recognize when you do a goodjob than to recognize the mistakes.”

He’s willing to acknowledge that he,as well, can mess up. “I’m always askingthe guys for feedback. ‘Hey, if I misssomething, if I screw up, if I aggravateyou or frustrate you, don’t hesitate.You’ve got to let me know,’” he said. “Idon’t wake up thinking about ‘how can I piss the guys off?’ My job is to maketheir job easier because at the end ofthe day, the guy with a brush in his handis the one that’s making us money.”

Off the clock, Marc likes to go out-doors. “I like to do things that make mefeel alive,” he said. “I do a lot of hiking,

some rock climbing; I’m an avid scubadiver. I’ve gone skydiving a number oftimes. My stepdaughter and I will go on nature hikes and I get to explainthings to her and teach her things —expose her to new things that she’snever seen before.”

Back on the clock, he’s happy withthe opportunity a painting career pro-vides. “Painting can be viable careerchoice, not just something that getsyou a little bit of quick money,” he said.“Just like with any career, it’s what youput into it. If you join a company andyou work hard and look for ways to im-prove and to become more efficient,you can take that job that looked like itmight just be parttime or short termand turn it into a career.” APC

Lifestyles

Helmirch topcoats a kitchen cabinet.


Make Your Own VideoTips on getting started … and finishedBy Jerry Rabushka

Erick Gatcomb, proprietor of Gatcomb Painting and Design, Hancock, Maine, edits a video with InShot. “It’s free, but I paid the whopping$9.99/year for the filters that replicate silent films,” he said. Gatcomb enjoys making his videos look like silent movies, with dialogue boxesand century-old banjo recordings. “I’m still getting my feet wet, but everything’s done on my phone through (mostly) free apps,” he said.“The setup’s a lot like Pro Tools or other digital recording software with layering, cut/paste, overdubs, etc. I like that can put togethervideos on my cellphone at the kitchen table while I’m cooking a frozen pizza.”

One salient piece of advice on video production isto get right to the important content. So, with nofurther delay, let’s talk about putting together a

video for your website or social media. The contractorswe talked to do most of it themselves, and with today’sequipment and technology, a minimal investment canlead to a maximal payoff.

What do you need?First, get not only into the 21st century, but into the

2020s. David Chism of A David Creation Company in Fred-erick, Maryland, helps contractors create content and mar-ket themselves on social media. He’ll tell you that you canmake a darned good video with your phone, but youshould use a phone that’s only a year or two old. That goesfor your crew as well if you want them to take photos orvideo at the jobsite. You might have a four-year-old phonethat you think is doing a great job, but you won’t know thedifference until you wrap your hands around a currentmodel. Currently grasping an iPhone 12, Chism says oneperk is great interior shots with minimal lighting.

need a different pix

“Get a selfie stick that can hold twocameras,” advises Yanni Fikaris of CustomRenovations in Haddonfield, New Jersey.“I hold my phone vertically for a livevideo, and then I’ll use a GoPro to do myhorizontal shot,” he says. “This way youcan edit your horizontal shot in post-pro-duction.”

Michael Craine of Craine Painting inLake Geneva, Wisconsin, places his betson a Gimbal Stabilizer for some straight

shooting. It will keep your camera inplace while the world beneath it totters.“No matter much your hand shakes, thephone stays steady,” he said. “It gives youan almost cinematic shot.”

How do you begin?Chism says to begin with a pen and

paper and write down what you plan toaccomplish. What’s the purpose, what’syour message, and how long will it be,

for example. You don’t want your two-minute video to turn into 35. Also thinkof it from your customers’ point of view;what do they need to see that wouldencourage them to get in touch? Cus-tomers know you paint, but whatmakes you different? Check for theirpain points and try to be the salve. “Yes,you do residential or commercial orfloors or whatever, and you can high-light that, but you want to talk aboutpeople — how people hire you becauseyou’re clean and you show up on time,”said Chism.

Think of those FAQs, says Fikaris. “IfI’m going to your website, I have ques-tions,” he said. “I could watch a three-minute video or I could scan yourwebsite and look for my answers. Sopreemptively, if you know what thehomeowner’s going to ask, knock thosequestions out in your intro video.”Fikaris strongly suggests that the per-son selling to customers in the fieldshould be the on-screen personality.“Basically, your salesforce is going to bethat person, so it’s great if that’s the person who does the sales calls as well,so it’s not just this untouchable charac-ter personality,” he said. “I would really,really, really emphasize that the personselling should be the one in the videos.”

Be yourself, adds Craine. Leave theglamour at home, or in real life youmight come out as fake. “I found thatjust being me and the way that I am inreal life has actually won me a lot ofjobs,” he said.

Before and after tells your storyIt’s nice that your father started paint-

ing when he was 5, but that shouldn’tbe the first thing your client sees. Peo-ple want to know that you can do thejob and that you won’t steal. “Beforeand after is gold,” says Craine. “Everyonealways wants to see a before and after,and that will get you more clients.”Craine adds to make sure to take yourafter shots at the exact spot that youtook your before so people don’t haveto squint to see what you’ve done.

Fikaris explained that a good beforeand after can answer a lot of your customers FAQs, and he suggests a separate before, during, and after video. “Your before walk-through

30 June 2021 • APC

Just be yourself —Michael Craine finds that keeping it real is the best medicine for getting new business.

best practices…bullet points

should explain what you are going todo, the color selection, maybe costs, the timeline, any procedural events that the homeowner needs to know,about’ he suggests.

Your during video should show yourcrew at work, preferably being neat,clean and professional. Get theGatorades, lunch wrappers and ro-mance novels out of the way — youcan’t very well charge a top-notch priceif you look like a bottom-shelf company.“Video number three is either a setup tothe end or a final walk-through,” he said.“I like to show when the crew is puttingstuff back together and cleaning up,and then you could do a final walk-through at the end.”

Let the pictures tell the storyIf you’re watching a movie in which

someone is talking about what’s for din-ner and you see a 6-foot cockroach

slobbering behind them, it sends astronger message than words can tell.Chism reminds us that in our videos, itgoes the same way.

If you want people to know that yourpainters wear masks or dress neatly,don’t just talk about it, show it whileyou do a voice-over. Also, plan beforeyou talk. Think about how you surfchannels — or how your spouse doesand how aggravating it is — but ifsomething doesn’t catch your attentionin a few seconds, it’s on to the next. “So a lot of people will push record and just keep talking, and that’s boring,”said Chism.

In general, you might need less timethan you think to make your impres-sion. If you want to show a house beingpressure washed or a baseboard beingbrushed, just show a few seconds of it,not from start to finish. Shots from acouple of different angles are good as

well. Think of your favorite show — theangle changes all the time. You don’thave to be all high tech about it, butyou can be creative, for cheap.

Hot topics? Don’t touch.No one cares what you think about

the current or former president of theUnited States. Oh wait, they totally do… and they may or may not hire youbased on that opinion. John QuincyAdams might be fair game, but that’sabout it. “I avoid any kind of hot topic,”says Craine. “You’ll have people who sayyou don’t stand for anything, and I do,but this is business and realistically it’sfor my family and for the amazing peo-ple who work for me. I want to makesure that I can appeal to as many peo-ple as possible.”

Your musical taste can also makepeople click NEXT — think twice beforeyou open a video with the explicit

Steve Adickes, Adix Painting, Phoenix, Arizona, in production for APC’s Paint TV Series “Fit Your Whip.”


32 June 2021 • APC

version of your favorite song. If some-one in a corporate setting is looking for a contractor, says David Chism, hard-edged music can disrupt theworkflow or the Zoom meeting andeven make the boss wonder what’sgoing on. “You’re looking for a painter?Doesn’t sound like it.”“But it’s not any goooood.”

If you look at someone’s videos overtime, you’ll notice that the recent onesare usually more polished than the ear-lier oeuvre. Crain acknowledged thathis first attempts weren’t Oscar con-tenders. “The first post that I ever madewas about a brush,” he said. “It sucked.

Your first couple of things are going to suck, but eventually things will get better. And then all of a sudden, youhave too much business that you don’t have to pay for.”

Once your video is posted, he re-minds us, it sells all day and all night. Ifyou have a video on how you turnedsome 1970s wood-paneled cabinetsinto a wonderful two tone, years latersomeone can still see it and ask for that treatment or color scheme. Sowhat you post now might even bring in business in 2028.

Are your best scenes on the

cutting room floor?Editing is fun if you’re really into it.

But if you’re not, it’s easy enough to hireout. “You can find someone on Fiverr or a freelancer, perhaps even a crewmember, who is good at such things,”said Fikaris, who prefers not to edit. “Athree-minute video is going to cost you between 60 and 80 bucks. It’s notworth my time to do, because I neverthink my video editing is as good as itcould be, so I’m constantly going backand recreating it. The ironic part is thatwhen you give the task to somebodyelse, even if it doesn’t even meet thestandards that you would give your firstshot, you’re a little more thrilled be-cause somebody else did it.”

Craine does his own; he likes usingQUIK but also mentions Splice andiMovie as editing options. “There are alot of different video editing apps thatare simple to use and intuitive,” he said.“It will let you pick your music, maketransitions — it’ll do everything. Andit’ll make this beautiful video for you.You can put your logo at the end alongwith your call to action — whateveryou want.”

If you do hire an editor, says Chism,don’t let them talk you into stuff that,however cool it looks, obscures or de-lays the point of your video. You mightlive in Utah, but a half minute of spin-ning logos and mountain scenery doeswhat, exactly? Back in the ’90s, he said,people would be more inclined towatch your whole video because suchthings were new and unique. Nowthey’re a dime a thousand. “The atten-tion span of your audience today is notwhat it was,” he says.

Hey, while you’re here let me showyou my new … CLICK. APC

Zach Kenney of ZK Painting, Coventry, Rhode Island, likes to finish off with a professionaltouch. “We use a top architectural photographer named Aaron Usher to photograph ourprojects after completion,” he said. “His sskill at shooting and editing are so valuable fordocumenting our work in its best light.” Here, Usher documents a ZK restoration projectin Cambridge, Massachusetts.


Most likely, dealing with sub-stance abuse, alcoholism ormental health issues wasn’t on

your radar when you signed your incor-poration papers, but perhaps latelyyou’ve noticed a change in some long-time employees. Or you’re afraid that hir-ing someone with a “past” will hauntyour future. While this is far too deep asubject to conquer in a short article, wehope the advice below will help you bet-ter understand how to work throughthese problems.

Recognizing the signsWe met Matt Rathgeb last year in our

Contractor Comeback series; Mattshared his story of conquering alco-holism and substance abuse. Now asowner of Matthew Rathgeb Painting inPhiladelphia, he’s lauded as one of thecity’s finest painting companies and devotes much of his time to helpingothers towards recovery. But he didn’tdo it alone; much of his success wasthanks to another contractor who hadfaith in him making the change.

Rathgeb knows the signs; use orabuse of different substances will bringabout different behaviors. Someonewho drinks a lot will start missing workor showing up late with a variety of ex-cuses, for example. People on opioidpainkillers tend to overwork, they talk alot either to you or your customers, andthey scratch themselves a lot — opioidsmake people itch.

Your first step, says Rathgeb, is to alertyour crew member that you’re aware ofthe problem — privately. “Keep it be-tween you and that person and not any-body else in the company,” he said. As arecovering addict himself, his first incli-nation is not to fire someone but to

help. “I’ll let them know that I’m aware,”he said, but this is followed by a re-minder that he’s still running a businessthat demands professional behavior.

“The second step is to offer that per-son some sort of help; get them intodetox or rehab or something like that. I’ll blow my own cover if they don’t knowalready,” he continued. “I’ll say, ‘Hey, I’vebeen there. That’s why I’m able to seewhere you’re at. I’m not guessing.’” IfRathgeb notices no effort, or if he feelshe’s working harder on the recovery thanthe painter in question, it’s time to partcompany. “Then it just becomes a busi-

ness decision for me,” he said.What if it’s you? Recognize it and get

help, fast. “There’s no way you’re goingto have a successful business,” saidRathgeb. “Leadership starts at the top,and people are unconsciously lookingup to you when you’re the owner. Ifyou’re drinking and messing around,how could you expect your employeesto take your company seriously? Anyonewith an ounce of self-respect would beout of that company.” Plus, what kind ofhelp will you hire? “I’m a big believer inyou attracting who you are,” he said. “Ifyou’re struggling with alcoholism or ad-

Addressing Addiction andMental Health IssuesBest practices fordifficult situationsBy Jerry Rabushka

.triGrmetDe

tengrtS

.noitani.ht

S CTER TRAITCHARA

r tierrabmahe sT

ORK DONE.HARD WT GET THA

.pler hog fnikso ate an bas ctiare tm

41ential

the national suicideprevention lifeline at

INFORMATION & RESOURCES ATpreventconstructionsuicide com

BRAIT’S OK TO NOT BE OK. BE AVVEFOR YOUR TEAM. SPEAK FOR Y

text hello to 741747 Free, 24/7,, Confide

E – SPEAK UPSELFYOUR F..

T1.800.273.TAALK (8255) orsuicidepreventionlifeline.org

crisistextline.orgpreventconstructionsuicide.com

34 June 2021 • APC

diction and you think you’re going to gethelp on your own, you’re wrong. I alwayssay, ‘Don’t walk to get help — run.’ You’renot going to do it on your own, becauseit would have already been done.”

Take a chance on someoneYanni Fikaris, owner of Custom Reno-

vations in Haddington, New Jersey,often works with at-risk employees, perhaps those with a “record” or whohave a history of addiction. When it’ssuccessful, it can be wildly rewardingand even a boon to your business, hesays. Someone in recovery has a lot toprove to friends, family, even a govern-ment that has given up on them. “Theyare often your most valuable asset be-cause they’re so committed to success,” he said. “It might not be financial success, but the success of overcomingan addiction.”

Chances are likely that in your hiringefforts you’ve already come acrosssomeone who has been in prison or hashad issues with alcoholism or addiction.“Most often, people don’t give anybodythe chance because they say, ‘Okay,you’ve been locked up,’” said Fikaris. “Mytake on that is you don’t know whothese people really are. I’m not tellingyou to have them paint the inside of abank or a high-end hotel, but it’s agrowing process. If you’re not willing totake the chance, you’re never going toget anywhere.”

First thing, set guidelines. It’s still aplace of business. “They have to be will-ing to change the mentality from‘they’re in charge’ to ‘you’re in charge,’”he said. If the rules are to come to workdressed neatly and smelling clean andsober, and on Day One that’s alreadygone to heck, Fikaris will make the call — quickly — that it’s not going to work out. It’s still on them to put inthe effort. “If you don’t think that the attitude is going to change, then yousever the tie,” he said. “You have to make sure that you’re upfront aboutthis in the beginning.”

In most cases, he attests, the experi-ence is going to be stressful and likelyunsuccessful, but when it succeeds, it’sglorious. “It’s not fun, but it is reward-ing,” he said. “These are the individualsin this country that really have no sup-port system, and they’re often great

employees over time.”Finally, he advises, only do this if you

have the heart and the guts. “This isn’tfor everybody,” he said. “It’s hard. Ifyou’re very haphazard and just lookingfor bodies on-site, then this isn’t some-thing you should do.”

Help with Suicide PreventionSuicide in the construction trade is

a huge issue — more constructionworkers die by suicide than by ladderaccidents, and according to the Con-struction Industry Alliance for SuicidePrevention, the trade has the second-highest suicide rate in the U.S. “Themacho, tough guy, and stoic nature ofconstruction workers can discouragethose who are most at risk for suicidefrom seeking help,” says the CIASP web-site. There is also a high count of veter-ans in construction, and they are

already at a higher risk for suicide thanthe general population.

Painting is a hard job. The work canbe demanding, the deadlines harsh, thepay might not be the best and there’sthe danger of a layoff if work slowsdown. A painter who feels he can’t pro-vide for his family or is in imminent dan-ger of losing his job may have addedpressures beyond just getting a wallcoated on time. The physical demandsof the work can lead to chronic pain,which in turn can lead to self-medica-tion with alcohol, opioids or otherdrugs. Opioid abuse, CIASP reports, islinked to an increased likelihood of asuicide attempt.

By making sure you’re open to dis-cussing mental health issues, and thatyou are a safe confidant, you could savesomebody’s life. If someone finally getsthe courage to tell you they’re not doing

.triGrmetDe

tengrtS

.noitani.ht

S CTER TRAITCHARA

r tierrabmahe sT

ORK DONE.HARD WT GET THA

.pler hog fnikso ate an bas ctiare tm

41ential

the national suicideprevention lifeline at

INFORMATION & RESOURCES ATpreventconstructionsuicide com

BRAIT’S OK TO NOT BE OK. BE AVVEFOR YOUR TEAM. SPEAK FOR Y

text hello to 741747 Free, 24/7,, Confide

E – SPEAK UPSELFYOUR F..

T1.800.273.TAALK (8255) orsuicidepreventionlifeline.org

crisistextline.orgpreventconstructionsuicide.com

well and you say, “Snap out of it, looney-tunes,” that might be the last time theyask for help. “Think about what you aresaying and whether it will make youseem approachable for someone who isexperiencing mental illness or suicidalthoughts,” CIASP advises.

Look for these warning signs in yourcrew — or even yourself: talking aboutself-harm, self-criticism or self-hatred,withdrawing from others, self-destruc-tive behavior, no hope for the future,decreased productivity, talking aboutbeing a burden, extreme mood swings,and increased tardiness.

CIASP offers the following prevention tips:● Don’t ignore the signs — speak up

if you’re worried, and offer help andsupport.

● Show concern that you’ve noticedthey are acting differently and in-quire why they don’t seem likethemselves.

● Respond quickly if you believe yourfriend/coworker is in crisis.

● Contact the Suicide Prevention Life-line at 800-273-TALK or text HELLOto 741741 if you need help or forideas to help your co-worker.

Proactively addressing this issue inteam meetings and fostering a support-ive work environment will also helppeople have the courage to come for-ward with mental health issues.

More information at www.prevent-constructionsuicide.com

Mental Health; a Business Owner’sPoint of View

Tim Kenney, of W.T. Kenney, Inc, Ar-lington, Massachusetts, has seen hisbusiness and his family affected by sui-cide when they lost his nephew Kevinsome years back. In response, the com-pany maintains an open-door policy forthose with mental health issues. “Noone has a crystal ball but we each needto look out for each other both at homeand at work,” he said. Here is his adviceon how a business owner can look outfor the crew:● There’s a lot of anxiety, depression

and uncertainty in the economythese days.

● Often people will hide the prob-lems in their life while at work.

● You need to humanize the relation-ship. It’s a good practice to get toknow your employees on a per-sonal level, for example, what dothey like to do? Any hobbies? Arethey married; any kids? This can betricky because some people will tryto draw you into their problems,which are often financial. I’ve givenout thousands of dollars in loansthat I’ve never recouped but theother employees see that we careand that’s important to them.

● Through an open door policy youmay create better communicationwith your field employees and bemore comfortable asking them tolook out for each other’s well-being.

● Another good practice would be tohave mental health counseling con-tacts in your employee manual, orreadily available to them throughthe office. If you can arrange to pickup the co-pay, it might make themmore apt to go. APC


SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers this advice for dealing with someone you suspect has an addiction problem, be it friend, family member, or co-worker.

● Find a private setting with limited distractions in which tobring up the subject.

● Ask how they are feeling and describe the reasons for yourconcern.

● Listen openly, actively and without judgment.● Provide reassurance that mental and/or substance use disor-

ders are treatable. Help them locate and connect to treat-ment services.

● Recognize that change doesn’t happen overnight. Continuereaching out with offers to listen and help.

More information at www.samhsa.gov or 800-662-HELP.

36 June 2021 • APC

Before you take a product into thefield, you should make sure itwon’t embarrass your crew and

rile up your customer — or bring youback to paint for free. Read on for howsome contractors learn about and testproducts before they give them a per-manent place in their repertoire.

See how it works“The most important thing is to get a

gallon and play around with it,” says JeffDupont of Sound Painting Solutions,Seattle, Washington. “Paint walls in yourhouse, shop, millwork — prime somemolding, see how it goes. Any time youtake a new product and apply it tosomeone’s house, you’re taking a risk. I would never get a brand-new gallon of something I hadn’t tried and put it onsomeone’s house. It’s a recipe for disas-ter.” There have, after all, been productsthat have come to market too soon.“Sometimes a product has problemswhen it comes out,” he says. “If they hadtested it, they’d know there were airbubbles in it.”

At one point, for example, Dupontwas working with a new thick wallpaint. “The first time I sprayed it, it ran.All the cracks and crevices got runs;turns out, it needed to be sprayed likean oil,” he said. That’s the last thing youwant on a customer’s project, and whyhe recommends having your crew dosome work with it as well. “I havepainters play with it, put it on whateversubstrate it’s designed for and see howit performs.”

It’s also good to try it out on your customer. “We do mock-ups with cus-tom stain work,” says Dupont. “We dothe process to make sure the customerslike it. Don’t just stain 20 doors andhope they look good.”

Learn from othersWeston Spivey of Premier Painting in

Dothan, Alabama, finds that networking

with reps, retailers and other contrac-tors is the best way to help get a prod-uct off the ground. “If you have a goodsales representative or store manager atyour local paint store, that person canmore than likely put you in contact witha contractor that has used the product,”he said. “I have found this to be truewith new products especially. As a smallpaint contractor, I use every way possi-ble to learn from other industry leaders.We all have information that other con-tractors can use to better their end re-sult and overall help the coatingsindustry.”

Brandon Smith of Brand New AgainRefinishing in Bismarck, Illinois, testsout the overall industry reaction to aproduct before he tests it out in hisshop. “I don’t test a large variety of ma-terials,” he says. “Operating an extremelysmall team, we cannot afford to testevery single product that comes to themarket.”

Instead, Smith pays attention to othercontractors who test the product. If itshows promise, he’ll bring it in for a testrun himself. “If other contractors have

made conclusions that I feel can helpmy refinishing schedule or outcome,I will order select materials to test insmall batches before running them onfull jobs,” he said. “By the same token, nomatter how effective the product was forthem, it might not always work for me.”

Between Durock and a Hard Place Matt Pisaeno of Pisaeno Painting and

Construction in Union, New Jersey, is afan of creating sample boards to learnabout a new product and then to showits potential to his clients. “Epoxy is newto me, and it has a learning curve. Idon’t have a huge portfolio, so to present a few boards, in my opinion, isbeneficial,” he said. “I make the sampleon Durock cement board by throwingsome flakes into a base coat,” he said.“Once it’s dry, we sand it lightly andthen apply a polyaspartic or urethanetopcoat. We use these samples forgarages, boiler rooms, basements andutility areas. It allows the client to feeland see how the floor will turn out.”

Piseano makes a stain testing boardby cutting down a damaged birch

Yes, Try This at HomeAdvice for testing and learning about new productsBy Jerry Rabushka

After Brandon Smith applies a new finish, he applies some close scrutiny.


veneer commercial door, useful for his purposes since he is largely a commercial contractor. “I stained the squares on the boardswith popular stain colors, then putpolyurethane over them,” he said.Again, he can see how a product isgoing to look before he applies it on aproject, and the customer can make amore accurate determination as towhat they like.

Sample boards help Pisaeno learn how a product works but also explore options with his clients. Inthis case, he's showing different amounts of flake application over flooring epoxy. By experimentingin your shop, you can learn how to create a variety of effects with a new product, with no harm doneif it doesn't work out.

Putting stain on an old door provides a real world view for how the wood takes stain, giving Pisaeno and his clients a real world view of potential results.

Learning how to apply decorativeproducts can be a challenge, even for anexperienced painter. Joe Biestek, seniorbrand manager, industrial coatings atRust-Oleum, shared some ideas for get-ting a decorative product off the ground.

Q. How is learning a faux/decorative fin-ish product different from learning howa conventional coating works?

• With decorative products, there is adegree of both art and science to it.

• With most conventional painting,the goal is to achieve an even, con-sistent appearance to the entirearea, whereas with decorativepaints, the variances in appearanceare what give the finish a one-of-a-kind look.

Q. I’m opening my product for the firsttime. What now?

• Read the technical data sheet andinstructions.

• Make sure you have the manufac-turer’s recommended applicationequipment.

• Watch the manufacturer’s installa-tion videos online.

• Experiment with the product onyour own prior to using it on a job.

Q. What if I am new to decorative paint-ing altogether?

• Experience and exposure to various

products and application techniquesmake a difference.

• Experiment with the products, learnfrom others and bank the lessonslearned from all sources.

Q. How can I be sure I’m ready? • First, try it in your own home or a

friend’s home after you have devel-oped a comfort level with applica-tion techniques.

• Look at your finished projectthrough the eyes of your prospec-tive clients and get opinions fromyour family and friends. Make sure you tell/show them what the

product is supposed to do/createprior to showing them your work.

• Gather their observations (the morehonest the better!) and make adjust-ments to your technique as needed.

Cindy Howard of Decorative and FauxFinishes boils down testing a new deco-rative product to four quick takeaways:

• Check the TDS for proper prep instructions.

• Try it in your own home.• Ask industry peers if they’ve used it

and what products it’s comparableto in another brand.

• Take a class to learn about it. APC

Modern Masters Stenciled Metallic opens up amazing possibilities, but make sure you’re well versedin it before you try it on a client’s wall.

38 June 2021 • APC

Peter Lawton, certified safety and health official with the Parker Safety Group, spoke with Andrew and Emily onwhat to do when OSHA comes calling — unannounced. For one, don’t be a donkey to the inspector. For two, knowyour rights and responsibilities. For three, have a plan in place before the visit. And for four, follow OSHA safetyguidelines to begin with! What follows are some highlightsof APC’s Paint Radio interview with Lawton. Catch thewhole interview at www.paintmag.com/paint-radio.

Ding Dong, OSHA CallingIt’s not a singing telegram; it’s OSHA! Now what?


Andrew: How common an occurrenceis the surprise OSHA inspection?

Peter: It seems to go in spurts, be-cause many people believe there are alot more OSHA inspectors than there re-ally are. Surprise inspections do hap-pen, but they have everything to do withthe availability of that inspector’s time.

Andrew: We’ve heard rumblings of increased OSHA inspections as theyears move forward.

Peter: Without a doubt. The last administration almost demolished thefunding for enforcement, and this ad-ministration has already restored it toprevious levels, plus some increase.

Andrew: So if the inspector comes a-knockin’, what happens?

Peter: There are certain rights thatyou have that you should be aware of,as well as knowing how to approachthe person with a badge. You have aright to refuse entry; however, if you exercise it, within an hour they will re-turn with a court order and I guaranteeyou that inspection is going to be much different.

It’s a matter of developing a coopera-tive attitude with this person — an-other human being just like you. Theyhave their job to do, but unless they seesomething close to imminent death,they basically collect information andreport back to their superior. Then aprocess goes through the superior todecide what, if any, citations are goingto be issued.

Andrew: So the inspector shows up.How does it work from here?

Peter: After the presenting of creden-tials, the officer has to hold an openingconference and basically explain whythey’re there. If you do not have a safetyofficer on-site, but you have someonein your company or someone like meavailable, you have the right to call usand ask if they can wait for us to get tothe site so that we can represent you.

That’s a smart move because whileyou ask people to wait, someone else inyour company should be going aroundthe site — and this is my suggestion:everything gets shut off, everythinggets de-energized and unplugged, andeveryone goes home. There are manytimes I’ve seen workers do stupid thingsright in front of the enforcement officerout of nervousness.

Emily: I think one of the things thatwe’re talking about here is that the hourbetween when you’ve refused entryand they’re coming back with a courtorder is the improper time to be plan-ning for this. It’s something that youneed to be planning for right now.

Peter: Exactly. I’ve suggested manytimes not to take the road of refusing tocooperate. You’re not going to escapethis. It’s just under what attitude are yougoing to get it?

You have the right to demand an in-spection warrant, but it’s just not a verysmart way to go. What would be smarterwould to be listen in order to make theinspection work smoothly. Then tellthem, “You told us you’re here becauseof fall protections. Can we ask you tolimit your inspection to those issues?”

Emily: If they see something elsewhile they’re looking for trip-and-fallhazards, does that lead to probablecause for a later inspection?

Peter: It might, but you’ve justdodged the bullet for a day so that youcan correct those issues.

Andrew: Let’s talk about what the rea-sons for the inspection could be.

Peter: Let’s assume that it’s not be-cause there’s a fatality or a serious in-jury, because those are pretty obvious.But after that come worker complaints,and whether they’re anonymous or not,they have to be followed up on. They’realso called referrals, which could befrom your competitor — we used to call that ratting out. They could also be targeted inspections due to a na-tional emphasis. It could be that spring-time is coming, so they look around for ladder hazards. So they’re drivingaround, they see ladders and they seemnot to be set up properly. Once you'vebeen visited, they can follow up tomake sure that you have corrected theviolations and you haven’t gone back to your old ways.

Is your safety gear up to date and right for the job?

40 June 2021 • APC

Emily: We’ve noticed too many storiesabout people being hurt. This is some-thing that a business owner is responsi-ble for. Keeping people safe is animportant part of your company andyour job.

Peter: It’s a federal law and peoplejust don’t pay heed to it. You can tell methat you can’t afford it. You can tell meyour customers aren’t willing to pay,you can tell me everything like that.Then you should get out of business. It’sblack and white in the federal law thatworkers have to go home — today —the way they came in. It’s such a tough industry, and all these things are reallyoverwhelming to the person who justwanted to get a painting companygoing. I understand where they’re at; I was there myself. But you’re going to learn the hard way if you learn itthrough OSHA.

Emily: So back to the inspection: Yourcompany’s safety person shows up.Now what?

Peter: The inspector is free to walkaround, and if they did not agree to

limit the scope, then they can go any-where. But if you ask them to explainthe probable cause and ask them tolimit the inspection to that, then they’lllimit where they go. Remember thatyou are you allowed to be next to thatperson and walk with them. If they takea picture, you take a picture. If they takea measurement, you take the measure-ment, so you gather the exact evidencethis person is gathering. It’s very impor-tant that you do this.

Also, they can meet privately withany of the workers on the job site; how-ever, you have the right to be there be-cause if it’s written in a report that oneof your workers said this or that, youwant to make sure that you believe it’s true.

Andrew: Is there any chance thatthey’re going to quiz your crew?

Peter: Yes. If you say to the inspector,“All my workers have been trained onladders,” it’s quite possible that they’regoing to ask several people, “What’s the difference between a stepladderand an extension ladder? When was the training and how long ago was it?Where was it? When was it?” Because alot of people have false certificates.

Emily: So, as you’re walking aroundwith the inspector and he’s asking questions, is there any reason that youshould say, “I’ll get back to you,” as opposed to answering all the questionsimmediately?

Peter: If you are not sure of the an-swer, then be honest about that so thatyou’re not incriminating yourself. We domake mistakes, and if you’ve not beeninspected before you are nervous rightnow and less is better.

Andrew: If a contractor hires some-body like yourself, would they call you asafety consultant?

Peter: Yes. I’m a certified safety offi-cer, a CSA. Most OSHA enforcement offi-cers understand what that means and

that they’re getting someone who’s ed-ucated in the regulations so they’re notgoing to be dealing with very innocentor immature questions; it’s going to bea professional inspection.

Andrew: So if Dwyer’s Painting hiresyou to be my safety consultant and I call you and you show up on the jobsite, are you now doing all the speakingon my behalf or are you simply advising me?

Peter: I’ll be answering them. And I’mgoing to suggest that you be quiet.

Andrew: So my guess is getting safetyconsultant early might not be a bad idea.

Peter: Obviously, my answer is bi-ased; however, the sad fact is I meet almost all my clients in the informalhearing process. The best medicine toget out of this alive is to already havethings in play.

I hate the phrase “safety pays.” It’sgoing to cost you money to change theculture in your company, but you willget it back tenfold because it doesn’ttake much more than one claim toerode everything you’ve done. It’s eas-ier to do it right from the start, becauseonce you’re under their target, it’s notgoing to be the last time you see them.

If you’ve never seen an OSHA agenton your site, it could be luck or it couldbe that you do everything perfectly.Most likely it’s the first. That’s how casi-nos make money — they just expectpeople to throw the dice one more day,but eventually it catches up. So I knowit’s difficult, but please start thinkingabout safety now, because it could im-pact you in a serious way. That you’veworked so hard to build a business, andthen to see it go in one day, one inci-dent — it’s just a shame. APC

Peter Lawton can be reached [email protected].


What are your best tipsfor Cabinet Finishing?Matt Schmohl and Curtis TankersleyJust Add Paint, Shiremanstown, PA

Be patient. Cabinet refinishing is notan easy process, no matter how manyblogs and Pinterest articles may say so.It is a learned skill that takes hundredsof hours before you get really good at it.The best way to learn is by doing, whichmeans a lot of failure and trial and errorto gain knowledge and achieve success.That takes time.

Not allowing coatings to dry properly,sanding something too soon, or rushingthe prep process to get the job donefaster will lead to more issues in thelong run. So just chill. When you havean issue or things are not going as an-ticipated (which is most of the time),sometimes the best thing to do is noth-ing — just walk away and come back to it later.

Another very important tip is toget educated on the processes, stan-dards and products in the industry and how to use them. While having athorough prep process and using theright tools is very important, knowingwhich primer/topcoat to use on certainsubstrates, knowing which grit of abrasive to use between coats or forsurface preparation, and knowing what spray tips, pressure, temperatureand humidity the products need to beapplied at is crucial to achieving a nicefinish. We take notes on everything wedo and have a dedicated iPad specifi-cally for this task.

Dimitri NidisOmega Painting Services, Reading, PA

There are two types of cabinet finish-ers: those who really know about woodspecies and how to prepare the surface,and those who grab a brush and a rollerand change the color with very little suc-cess in the final finish. I use an airlesssprayer unless there is a specific type offinish (for example, a faux finish) that thecustomer requires.

Have a question? Curious how other contractors solve application problems? APC can help. In each issue, we’ll aim to answer some of your technical questions by reaching out directly to the product experts. Send your questions to [email protected], subject: In My Experience.

Dimitri Nidis shoots his before and after photro from the same angle to better show thetransformation. Nidis uses a sprayer for cabinets in most instances.

Before

After

42 June 2021 • APC

Starting correctly is key. Were the cabinets previously painted or stained?Are there any existing top coatings thatyou need to remove? If you’re paintingover previously painted cabinets, agood coat of primer will ensure the suc-cess of your finished product. Onstained cabinets there are a lot of un-seen imperfections, but once you primethem, they will show dings and cracks.

First, use 180 grit sandpaper and sandthe entire surface. Next, vacuum andwipe off any dust, then Bondo-patch allthe imperfections and let them dry.Sand again with 180 grit sandpaper andrepeat by vacuuming and wiping offthe dust. Now you’re ready to primethem and repeat the same process allover again. When your last coat ofprimer is completely dry, sand againwith 220 grit sandpaper, vacuum andwipe. Make sure there’s no dust, thenapply two coats, sanding between coatswith 220 grit sandpaper.

How do you prepare fora decorative paintingproject?Arlene McloughlinArlene Mcloughlin MuralsMassapequa, NY● I always have my client sign the

back of a faux sample and keep iton-site for reference.

● I gather my supplies the night before.

● I try to have a visual reference of asimilar room so the client can seewhat the finish will look like.

● I always have extra rags, ceilingpaint and trim paint in case ofbleed onto any areas that shouldn'tbe painted.

●Mentally, I prepare for a big job byplanning it room by room, tacklingthe hardest areas first.

● Having a good playlist and myspeaker charged always helps too!

APC

Mcloughlin makes sure to have a big project like this mapped out ahead of time.

Taking a break is an important part of a large detailed project, especially if you’re paintinga ceiling.

Documents

contents vol. 98, no. 5 June 2021