Category Archives: Online Extras

Game Changers: New Airless Handheld Sprayers Bring Maximum Efficiency to the Job Site

Airless spray application is a result of atomizing the paint stream under high pressure, but without the use of supplemental compressed air. Paint flows from a spray tip at high speed and separates into a spray pattern. While airless paint spraying is an innovation introduced more than a century ago, the technology continues to evolve today as contractors seek tools and methods to maximize their job site efficiency. Continue reading Game Changers: New Airless Handheld Sprayers Bring Maximum Efficiency to the Job Site

‘You Are Not Alone’: PCA Offers Education and Support for Paint Pros During COVID-19

“You are not alone.”

That is the message members say they’re getting from the Painting Contractors Association (PCA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading ‘You Are Not Alone’: PCA Offers Education and Support for Paint Pros During COVID-19

Need to Decompress? These Stress Relievers Can Help

Stress levels may be high these days in the paint contracting world, and if you’re among those struggling to deal with the pressure, you’re not alone. A recent survey conducted by the University of Chicago for the Data Foundation found that roughly two-thirds of Americans say they felt nervous, depressed, lonely or hopeless on at least one of their last seven days. Continue reading Need to Decompress? These Stress Relievers Can Help

Are You An Exterior Expert? Here’s How To Raise Your Game

The time is right for exterior painting, especially with interior painting demand down due to COVID-19. If you’re not an exterior specialist, this article will give you the building blocks to elevate your outdoor painting game, from proper surface prep and when to prime to topcoat sheen, applicator options and cleanup. Continue reading Are You An Exterior Expert? Here’s How To Raise Your Game

The Best Coatings for Your Exterior Painting Projects

To ensure a quality, long-lasting paint job, you need to choose the right topcoat. For best performance, proper preparation is critical. Here are our recommendations for the best exterior coatings to use based on your project and environmental conditions.
Continue reading The Best Coatings for Your Exterior Painting Projects

What We’re Doing To Stay Safe And Productive During COVID-19, With Colorado Painter Dave Barry

Dave Barry started painting at age 14 in Boston. He moved to the mountains of Colorado in 1996 and started his own company, Barry Painting Inc. Over the years he has painted everything from small homes to some of the most exclusive residential properties in the Boulder, Colorado area, as well as commercial and multifamily properties. He recently started a new business called Rocky Mountain Finishing LLC, with a spray booth that helps him expand into finishing cabinets, metal, furniture, trim packs, doors and more. PPC editor Mike Starling caught up with Dave to ask him about the challenges he’s facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading What We’re Doing To Stay Safe And Productive During COVID-19, With Colorado Painter Dave Barry

New Rule Affects PPP Loans For Contractors

A new rule regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) could help contractors running small and mid-size businesses gain greater access to low-interest loans for meeting short-term payroll needs. Continue reading New Rule Affects PPP Loans For Contractors

3 Smart Ways to Keep Your Company Strong through a Down Economy

The COVID-19 emergency is presenting numerous challenges for painting contracting companies. In this article, we explore three ways you can mitigate your risk and build for the future during these challenging economic times.
Continue reading 3 Smart Ways to Keep Your Company Strong through a Down Economy

Lessons from the Past: How Contractors Handled the 2008 Downturn

“The West Wing” was a popular television series that ran through 2006. One episode tells the story of a guy who walks down the street and falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts for help. Continue reading Lessons from the Past: How Contractors Handled the 2008 Downturn

When Leadership Matters Most: Tough Times Require Strong, Courageous Leaders

It’s never easy to be a leader, even when business is booming. Remember when your phone didn’t stop ringing and your crews barely had time to clean their brushes between jobs? Your critical decision-making and guidance then led your team to maximum success. Continue reading When Leadership Matters Most: Tough Times Require Strong, Courageous Leaders

A Four-Point Plan to Wow Your Customers and Pull Your Company through the COVID Crisis

What steps are you taking to protect your business during the COVID-19 emergency? In this article, pro painter and PPC contributing writer Terry Begue offers a framework to help you stay engaged and take care of your customers through this restricted time, so that you can emerge on the other side of this crisis with a business that’s ready to take care of you. Continue reading A Four-Point Plan to Wow Your Customers and Pull Your Company through the COVID Crisis