The most important part of any paint job is preparing the underlying surface beforehand. If it’s not done right, even the best quality paint and most skilled technique won’t prevent problems down the road.

If you hire a paint contractor, you’ll probably assume that all surfaces will be properly prepped beforehand. But Harold Jagoda, owner of J&D Painting, knows otherwise. With nearly 40 years of experience, Jagoda can quickly spot the telltale signs of inadequate prep. The Bay Area, for example, is rife with stucco houses whose exterior is lined with cracks that Jagoda calls “road maps”–a consequence of the caulking process used by many less-experienced painters to fill underlying cracks. Road maps are notoriously difficult to eradicate, often reappearing year after year despite many new coats of paint.

The polymer sealant used by J&D, by contrast, is far more permanent. Homeowners may not notice the difference right away, says Jagoda. But one day they will.

Whether it’s a single room within a home or the exterior of a business complex, J&D is often able to start and complete work far more quickly than its competitors. In a profession not known for its longevity, some J&D painters have worked at the company for over 25 years. As a result they have developed a highly efficient system of working together efficiently and productively that saves customers time and money–and results in beautiful, professional work every time. Because J&D has a relatively large staff, Jagoda can send bigger crews to finish quickly and on-schedule. In contrast, many contractors send a two-person team that spends weeks on a single job.

The J&D staff is friendly and reliable, earning them many repeat customers and referrals. They guarantee quality and commit to resolving issues fast. Whatever size the job, they leave every work site neat and meticulously clean.

References, references, references

When evaluating painting contractors, there is no substitute for references, says Harold Jagoda, owner of J&D Painting. Ideally, learn about finished jobs in your area that you can personally visit and inspect. If the contractor provides a phone number, call ahead and ask to meet the customer in person. And don’t just survey the work. Find out whether the job was started and finished on time, whether the company was comfortable to do business with and whether workers left the site clean and free of paint drippings.

Equally important, ask whether problems arose and how the company responded to them. Was it courteously and without complaints, or begrudgingly and only after an argument?

If you know builders or building contractors, ask them to suggest a painter. Since they’re likely to have worked with many painters in the course of business—and because their own credibility is at stake—their recommendations carry a lot of weight.

Jagoda advises wariness of any paint contractors who “guarantee” their work for years. Many larger companies merely end up offering dissatisfied customers a few replacement gallons of paint. As often as not, warns Jagoda, getting a company to honor a so-called “warranty” becomes a matter of negotiation.

“If there’s a problem in the first year, they take care of it, since they have to under California law anyway. In the second year, there’s a discussion. After that, it gets harder and harder. Even under the ‘warranty,’” says Jagoda, “many customers end up paying as much to have their house repainted” as they would have otherwise.

He suggests using operators who are licensed and insured. Another valuable credential: membership in PDCA, the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America.

Q: long does it take to paint my house?

A: For the majority of houses, it will take two to three days.

Q: How do you work so fast?

A: We generally have a bigger crew. Where other contractors might bring in two people, we come with six.

Q: How long can I expect a paint job to last?

A: On stucco, it should last and look good for ten years—to a professional painter’s eye. A homeowner might still be happy after 15 years. Expect a wood surface with a southern exposure to look good for seven years. An indoor paint job should look good for 15 years, unless you have mold problems—common in closets and other places with no air movement.

Q: Why do mold and mildew keep coming back?

A: Though paint has a mildicide in it, it dissipates after five to seven years. At that point, cleaning off mold with a pressure wash is just throwing good money after bad. Once the mildicide in the paint is gone, the mold will invariably return. Your only option is to repaint.

Q: How valuable is a guarantee from a painting company?

A: Be careful. Some large companies “guarantee” their work for years, but what they end up offering to dissatisfied customers is merely a gallon of paint. In the first year, most companies will fully honor their guarantees. After that, it often becomes a discussion with lots of haggling. Choose the company you believe will give you the best paint job for your money, not merely the best guarantee.