An Innovative Paint Process Sweeps the Land: Part 1

Learn about processes R+CO follows to alleviate surprises, while lowering cost & time of delivery.

Apple innovated the telephone by merging it with a mini-mobile computer in 2007; In 1930, Wonder innovated the bread market when it introduced sliced bread. Rogall + Co. is innovating the process of painting your house, with the “Diagnostic-First-Model” introduced in 2019. 

“We have seen a number of instances where surprises derail a painting project,” said Rogall + Co. Founder, Steven Rogall. “Having to halt a project to fix areas of damage on a house increases the budget, and the time it takes to complete the work.” These surprises add headaches, cost, and unease to the homeowner.”

Table of Contents

1. Understand How It Has Always Been Done
2. Preparation: The Wild West
3. Conclusion: Part 1

Understand How It Has Always Been Done

To understand the innovation we must first understand how the quoting & estimation process had been done, and in many cases still is done.

Traditionally, when a customer called to get an estimate to paint their home, a person would come visit them, do some measurements, and quote a price for the job. The industry vernacular was “an estimate” was prepared for the customer by an “estimator.” The quote for the job is an estimation on how many labor hours it would take to complete the job.   

This price “estimate” usually would not contain material costs, for example, cost of the paint; the price may vary depending on what type of paint the homeowner selects. The homeowner would choose their paint selections after they have accepted the “estimate” for the labor work to be performed. 

Preparing the home for paint is included as well, which may include washing the home, for example, but in this “preparation cost” is where there is a lot of variance in the industry. 

Preparation: The Wild West

Most people understand that the home needs to be “de-webbed” or “washed” to prepare for paint. What some may not understand is that there is a lot more that goes into preparation than just washing a house.

In order for a long lasting paint job, the surface must be in a condition that allows the paint to adhere properly. This may be done by sanding or filling the substrate. The better the surface is prepared, the longer the paint coating will last. See our article explaining the levels of surface preparation: The Painting Contractors Association (PCA) Industry Standards.

Painting preparation is where the landscape becomes reminiscent of the Wild West. Contractors, painting companies, and handymen all have a different understanding and philosophy of surface preparation. Some adhere to the PCA levels, others simply wash and paint the home, with very little concern for proper  preparation. This tactic is done to keep the “estimated” costs low, and to compete with the competition by being the cheapest to deliver the work.  

Conclusion: Part 1

The major concern is when the substrate has sustained damage. A variety of villains may cause this damage, including dry rot, insects, sun, water and other surface contaminants. 

In the next article we will discuss why damaged substrates (wood, stucco, etc.) create a number of surprises when it comes to painting and home repair projects!  

This is the first of a two part series on the “Innovative Paint Process” we have created here at Rogall + Co. In the next article we will address how to get in front of, and in most cases alleviate surprises.