Colorful Insights

Roof coatings are a major component of our business here at Custom Coatings inc.  At times people have a hard time grasping how a painting company can fix a roof and provide a water tight warranty, but when you take time to think about roof coatings and how they work it becomes clear! 

First, you have to know that the roof can be coated.  We can generally coat any type of roof except one that has gravel on it.  The simple fact is that you cannot get them clean enough to coat.  Another factor to make sure of is that they are not too far gone.  While coating roofs can help to extend the life of a good roof indefinitely, there is no cure for a roof that is already saturated or just plain bad.  Over the many years of coating roofs we have become quite adept at inspecting roofs and before we coat we also have an infrared test performed.  Proper testing is the only way to make sure a roof can be coated.  For instance performing an adhesion test is incredibly important – you want to make sure that the coating you are going to apply is going to stick and not peel off in big sheet!

The other reason we are so good at installing roof coatings is because our crews understand coatings and how they work.  Our crews know the ins and outs of applying liquid coatings (paint) because it is what they do every day.  So if they know how to properly apply coatings on a 100’ tall building how much easier do you think it might be to apply coatings at your feet?  Much more simple if you already have the proper knowledge and understanding of how coatings work! 

Take a look at the full article on adhesion testing below and check out the videos of an actual adhesion pull test.  And contact Custom Coatings for all your Roof Coating Needs!

http://bloggingpainters.com/adhesion-test-coating-epdm-roof/

http://youtu.be/JuZPfX0urnk

http://youtu.be/5Y_Ix_RgM1I

One of the questions that should always be asked when you are hiring a contractor, but most often is not, is whether or not they drug test their employees.

You shouldn’t trust something as expensive as your house to just any contractor, and often times we get scared when hiring someone to work in our home because we don’t’ really know anything about them. At Custom Coatings, we help you to feel better about letting us work in and around your home in several ways.

First, all of our employees are drug tested before they are hired, after any accidents, and randomly throughout their time with us. We hold all of our experts to a high standard when it comes to doing their jobs and dealing with the customers, and we believe our customers should hold us to high standards as well.

Second, we make sure they pass a strict background check, and that they are fully insured in compliance with all local and regional laws. This helps you, the customer, to take comfort in the fact that the quality of the individuals we have on staff will match the quality of the work that they do.

At Custom Coatings, our experts have decades of not just experience, but certified success. 85 percent of our business is repeat business. We take pride in that. Our customers routinely refer us to the family, friends, and neighbors when the opportunity arises.

Our business is built on expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and the highest quality work for each client we serve. We rely on a knowledgeable team, excellent supply chain partners and continually educate our employees on the latest methods and equipment to maximize efficiency, durability and energy savings. We are fully licensed and insured and lead the industry in safety.

We offer worry-free projects with dedicated, background checked employees who are reliable, prompt and trustworthy. Simply select your paint color and we will handle the rest.

Trust us to make you our next satisfied client!  Just call us at 828-482-0168 and let’s talk about your project!

If you knew you needed a heart operation, would you trust that project to an inexperienced physician who is on a break from Med School?  We would guess that your answer would be no. 

You shouldn’t trust something as expensive as your house to an inexperienced contractor either.  Let’s face it; any type of home improvement project is going to come with a price tag.  Shouldn’t you be concerned with the type of quality and skill that you’re getting for that price? 

At Custom Coatings, our experts have decades of not just experience, but certified success. 85 percent of our business is repeat business.  We take pride in that.  Our customers routinely refer us to the family, friends, and neighbors when the opportunity arises.

It is very important for a contractor to listen and understand the needs and wants of his clients. Your contractor should show enthusiasm for your project and suggest ideas that can make your project stand out. A good contractor can help relieve any stress or concerns you have about your project.

Our business is built on expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and the highest quality work for each client we serve. We rely on a knowledgeable team, excellent supply chain partners and continually educate our employees on the latest methods and equipment to maximize efficiency, durability and energy savings. We are fully licensed and insured and lead the industry in safety.

Custom Coatings isn't strictly a "big box" company. We bring our expertise and passion for quality work directly to you - where you live. Whether it's a new coat of paint, wallpaper or pressure washing, put the Custom Coatings team to work at your home. We offer worry-free projects with dedicated, background checked employees who are reliable, prompt and trustworthy. Simply select your paint color and we will handle the rest.

It should be common sense that contractors doing any type of work at your home should always clean up on a daily basis, and at the completion of a project. At Custom Coatings, we take pride in the fact that our experts in the field are very mindful of the homeowner’s convenience and safety at all times during and after the completion of a project.

Look for a contractor who places an emphasis on customer service. Your contractor should be friendly and professional. Check his references and ask if there were any problems in getting the contractor back to fix any problems you might have had or taking care of any warranty work.

The contractor should try and honor any special request you might have while working on your house. If you need him to clean up the site because you are having company over for the holidays, he should be glad to accommodate you. The little things make for great customer service.

Custom Coatings is an industry leader with more than two decades of experience in commercial, industrial, and residential painting and coatings projects. Our business is built on expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and the highest quality work for each client we serve. We rely on a knowledgeable team, excellent supply chain partners and continually educate our employees on the latest methods and equipment to maximize efficiency, durability and energy savings. We are fully licensed and insured and lead the industry in safety.

Located in Hickory, NC, you can rest assured that with Custom Coatings, you have chosen a company that has earned the trust of top commercial, industrial and property management firms throughout the Southeast. We have hundreds of very satisfied residential clients. That's why 85 percent of our business is repeat business. Trust us to make you our next satisfied client!

Just call us at 828-482-0168 and let us help you choose the right type of paint for your job.

People often ask our experts at Custom Coatings whether or not Custom Coatings is a licensed contractor.  That’s a very good question to ask, and the answer is yes.

The state of North Carolina does not have a requirement for contractors to be licensed.  However, many of the cities where our clients reside do have requirements for “privilege licenses”.  Those who practice good business will ensure that they comply with the requirements of those cities. 

Hiring a licensed contractor generally assures the following:

1. The contractor has demonstrated knowledge of their industry via written exam.
2. The contractor has the training and experience necessary to obtain a contractor's license.
3. A criminal background check has been performed on the contractor and they have been found worthy of holding a contractor’s license.
4. The contractor has liability insurance and pays workman’s compensation for their employees if they have any.
5. The contractor is able to obtain and sign building permits.

People often ask our experts at Custom Coatings whether or not a written contract is necessary when hiring a contractor to do work at your home.  The answer is most definitely “yes”. 

Written contracts are very important for both sides.  Every aspect of the job should be clearly detailed, so everyone knows what is expected of them, and in what time frame.  Without a contract, both the owner and the contractor take a chance on misunderstandings, problems on the job, and maybe even a lawsuit. 

Having a written contract which details every aspect of the job is critical. Written contracts are legally binding documents that protect both the contractor and client by compelling each party to adhere to the contract’s contents.

Any and all verbal agreements between the contractor and client will not be enforceable in court in lieu of a written contract, so if it is important, make sure it is in writing!

Your contract should at least include the following details:

1. Full name, contact information, and license # (if required by state law) of the paint contractor.
2. Description of surfaces to be painted.
3. Details of paint application.
4. Description of prep work to be preformed.
5. Number of coats to be applied.
6. Materials and products to be used.
7. Description of cleanup to be preformed.
8. Project schedule.
9. Payment agreement.
10. Warranty information, if any.

In addition to the written contract, it is important that you that your contractor is fully insured, and licensed in your state.  It is also important that you work with him to choose the right materials for your project.    

People often ask our experts at Custom Coatings, “How long will my job take?”  There is no easy answer to that question, because the answer depends on many factors. 

For example, the size of the house is a major factor, as it takes much longer to paint a larger home than a smaller one.  Another factor is the amount of prep work there is to do before the project begins.  Yet another key factor is the amount of cleaning work that the contractor has to do with regard to your project, and the amount of caulking involved. 

All of those processes take time, and they are all very important to the quality of your finished project. 

Typically, most houses will take about a week to complete.  However, it is important to realize that this varies.  It could be a few days, or it could be more than a week.  No two projects are exactly alike. 

At Custom Coatings, we provide free estimates to every one of our potential customers. One of our expert painters will come to your home, review all of the steps necessary to repaint, and then sit down with you and give you an estimated time for completion.

Custom Coatings is an industry leader with more than two decades of experience in commercial, industrial, and residential painting and coatings projects. Our business is built on expert knowledge, outstanding customer service and the highest quality work for each client we serve.

We rely on a knowledgeable team, excellent supply chain partners and continually educate our employees on the latest methods and equipment to maximize efficiency, durability and energy savings. We are fully licensed and insured and lead the industry in safety. 

Our answer to that question is “absolutely!”  This issue is what separates the real companies from the “fly by night” outfits that many people are scared of.

The fact is, many companies either do not carry insurance, or they don’t carry the right amount of coverage limits. 

You don’t want to be liable for any injuries or damages to any property that happens during your project. That is why working with a fully insured contractor is so important. It protects both you and the contractor to ensure that if something does go wrong, you are both covered.

There are varying levels of coverage, but two of the important types of insurance that your contractor should have are Comprehensive Liability and Worker’s Compensation. If your contractor is properly insured it let you know that they are legitimate and are invested in getting the job done correctly and safely.

Comprehensive Liability Insurance

Comprehensive Liability insurance protects you and your contractor against claims of bodily injury, physical injury, or damage to the property. You don’t want to be held responsible for paying all the damages that can occur in an accident, no matters whose fault it is.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Worker’s Compensation insurance gives medical care for employees who are injured in the course of employment, in exchange for relinquishing the right to sue his or her employer for negligence. This offers not only another layer of protection for you to avoid legislation, but also makes sure there is money available for any medical or rehabilitative services needed for anyone injured on your project. Again, though no one thinks these accidents will happen, it is best to be prepared when working in the construction field.

Completed Operations Insurance

At Custom Coatings are always searching for new ways to help our commercial clients protect their building investments and save money on energy.  One way we do this is with a revolutionary way to help do both. Coating roofs with “Cool roof” coatings can reduce cooling bills substantially while stopping leaks and protecting the environment by eliminating roof tear offs and keeping that material out of the landfills.  

This advanced technology is called a “Cool Roof”.  

In the world of industrial and commercial buildings, a Cool Roof is a roofing system that can deliver high solar reflectance (the ability to reflect the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun, reducing heat transfer to the building) and high thermal emittance (the ability to radiate absorbed or non-reflected solar energy). Most cool roofs are white or other light colors.

Cool roof coatings are typically applied to metal, rubber, asphalt and modified roofing substrates by a spray application process. Once in place and cured these coatings systems employ a high solar reflectance and high emissivity to keep the roof cool.

On a sunny summer day, a typical roof surface can reach temperatures that are 50 to 100°F above the ambient temperature.  A cool roof, by contrast, stays at or near the ambient temperature due to the characteristics of its outer layer. Cool roofs by definition do not get hot like metal, asphalt and black rubber roofs do.

Cool Roofs enhance roof durability and reduce both building cooling loads and the urban heat island effect.  Cool Roofs are also an effective alternative to roof replacement and environmentally friendly.

Cool Roofs can reduce the roof surface temperature by up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, thereby reducing the heat transferred into the building below. This helps to reduce energy costs (by keeping interior structures cooler), improve occupant comfort (production), cut maintenance costs, increase the life cycle of the roof, and reduce urban heat islands along with associated smog.

If you would like to learn more about how the many benefits of installing a Cool Roof on your building can save you money, give our Custom Coatings Professionals a call at 828-326-0953.  We’ll be happy to come to your business and provide you with a free estimate tailored for your situation.