To help celebrate Sherwin-Williams National Painting Week, we surveyed design pros to learn the most effective ways to work with painting contractors.

By Amanda Lecky

Ask a fellow designer and they’ll tell you that a collaborative relationship with a trusted painting contractor is key to overall project success. This is just one of the findings from our recently conducted survey of design pros, in which we asked a series of questions about how they’re collaborating with contractors.

Here are three more interesting things we learned from the survey:

1. Designers choose the painters for their projects 60 percent of the time.

Surprised to discover your fellow designers have that much influence in contractor hiring? Considering how critical communication, shared goals and execution are to client satisfaction, it makes sense.

“Paint is a complex design element,” says ASID designer Marilyn Russell of Design Magnifique in Ocoee, Florida. “I’ve made it a goal to foster the relationship with my paint contractor because he listens to my ideas and executes them flawlessly.”

Ben Nicholas, design director of The Gettys Group in Chicago, Illinois, agrees. “It’s very important to have a go-to painter, someone who understands the subtle nuances of paint, color and light.”

What happens when the designer is not able to select the painter for a job? They’re not nearly as happy with the results. In fact, when the client chooses the painter, designer satisfaction rates fall from 69 percent to just 17 percent.

2. Referrals and personal relationships influence the hiring process over 50 percent of the time.

When hiring a painter, designers rely on referrals from trusted sources. Our survey respondents said they value the painter’s professionalism and reputation above all other attributes when making a selection. Price was last on the list of considerations, a testament to the importance of competence.

Sometimes the referral process can work another way, says Sherwin-Williams Designer Account Executive Heather Bourgeois. “Most successful designers not only have go-to painters, but about half of them get a majority of their work from those contacts. What starts out as a color consult can blossom into a full-service design job. So the designer-painter relationship is absolutely worth fostering.”

3. Designers specify everything, from color to finish — and do their own research.

On the job, designers specify the color 98 percent of the time, the finish 93 percent of the time and the brand 92 percent of the time. Designers also report making regular follow-up visits to their job sites to ensure specifications are being followed, sometimes even checking the cans.

“Communication is everything. Be specific. Very specific. Painters always appreciate knowing what you’re expecting ahead of time,” says Paige McClellan, sales manager of The Lawrence Group in St. Louis, Missouri.

But designers do rely on their painters’ knowledge and insight. “If a designer explains their intention and overall vision, then the painter will be able to offer insight and experience,” says Nicholas. “Just asking them to paint a blank wall doesn’t allow them into the conversation, and you can miss out on some insider tips from a pro.”

Get involved

Through May, contact your local Sherwin-Williams store to find out how your design skills can contribute toward a National Painting Week project in your community. Find your local store. You can also follow Sherwin-Williams National Painting Week on social media using #NPW.

Learn more

Read 5 Tips for Communicating With Contractors from STIR magazine.