Painting Business

by Lee Cusano
(Kalamazoo, MI)

13 Point Checklist of Essential Tools Needed to Start a Painting Business

If you are considering starting a commercial or residential painting business you will only need some basic low-cost tools to start with. You can buy other tools as more jobs come along and with your down payments. Here is a list of the most essential painting business tools needed to get you started.

1. Quality Cage Frame - Also called a paint roller. Wooster and Purdy both have strong, commercial-use cage frames sold at most professional paint stores.


2. Extension Pole - Get yourself a good medium-size fiberglass extension pole for rolling out walls and ceilings.


3. Wall-Sander - I always sand walls and ceilings before I roll them out. It cleans up cobwebs and anything else that needs to be knocked down to make the walls and ceilings smooth.


4. Roller Bucket - I use Wooster's roller bucket. It is tall, square and has a lid. It is made out of durable plastic and balances a lot better than a paint tray and washes out easy. It's a must have.


5. Cut-in Bucket - I like to put some paint in a small plastic bucket for cutting in. There are small 1-gallon buckets of drywall compound that when empty make a great cut-bucket plus they have a lid. They will last for years.


6. Step Ladder - A nice wooden 5-foot step ladder works great in most homes. If I need a 6-foot ladder I have an aluminum one for that. Most of the time all I need is my 5-footer and I am only 5'6" so there you go.


7. 16' Extension Ladder - Great for stairwells or ranch-style exterior jobs. I use my 16-footer more than any other size. I also have 20' and a 24' extension ladders, but i couldn't get by without my little 16-footer.


8. Drop Cloths - I like using the runner type the most. They are inexpensive, light to carry and can be moved around the room easily. I also have 9 x 12's on hand.


9. Fluorescent Light - Interior painting without a fluorescent light is nearly impossible, especially on a cloudy day. Fluorescent light is a nice white light that is great for painting and shows up the colors in their true form.


10. Tool Bucket - An empty 5-gallon bucket makes a great tool bucket. I keep my pliers, a hammer, razor-blade knives, a caulk gun, etc., in my tool bucket.


11. Small Fan - I bought a $30 blower type fan made by Stanley Tools from Walmart. It dries out walls and ceilings quickly so you can get back to work cutting in and moving around the room without it being wet.


12. Drywall Compound - I hate spackle. It flashes under paint jobs. I get the Sheetrock brand of 90-minute quick-dry drywall compound at Lowes or some other hardware store for around $11. It will last me all year long. It is in powder form and is simple to mix up on the job with water in a small cut bucket. This way you don't have to carry a heavy 5-gallon pale around with you that can also freeze during the wintertime and can get lots of chunks in it over time.


13. Caulk Gun - I use painters caulk all the time to fill gaps between woodwork and walls. Most paint stores have it on hand. I use the 35-year interior/exterior type.

So there you have it. If you are considering starting your own painting business and want to know how much it will cost to get started this list will help you. I would guess off hand that everything on the list totals around $300. If you already have a step ladder and even a small extension ladder, this will cut the cost down some.

Lee Cusano has owned and operated his own successful painting business since 1991. He has also helped many others to start their own painting business with his Paint Like a Pro Estimating and Advertising CD-ROM. Lee also offers a free report titled "How To Gain a High Success Rate For Getting Painting Jobs". To get it go to www.painting-business.com

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