inPAINT Magazine July/August 2024

inPAINT T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L S | J U LY/A U G 2 024

PRO RESOURCES

Where 5 pros turn to learn, grow and be more profitable

+

Strategize now for a strong Q3 and Q4 Using a systematic approach to address challenges

®

Make Painting With Purdy Your Signature Move. ®

You know you need high-quality tools to do your best work and that maximum productivity is essential for success, too.

That’s why you make getting the job done right with Purdy your signature move.

Scan or visit purdy.com/signature-move to learn more.

THE #1 BRAND PREFERRED BY PROS.

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*2024 inPAINT Magazine Brand Preference Survey, Brush and Roller Categories. May/June Issue.

© Purdy PURD 385/24

your skills are needed to help families in your community.

Join Habitat for Humanity and help families near you build affordable places to call home.

Volunteer or donate at habitat.org.

CUTTING IN

“Every problem is a gift—without problems we would not grow.”

—Tony Robbins, motivational speaker and writer

PUBLISHER

Edward McAdams

MANAGING EDITOR

Amanda Haar

P

roblems come in all shapes and sizes. From a poorly cleaned spray gun producing a less-than-perfect finish to losing a long-standing employee to a competitor, the causes and impacts of every problem are hard to predict. But one consistent element of problems is the opportunity they provide to learn, adapt, and ultimately, reach goals.

In this issue, we devote a good amount of ink to solving problems. Beginning with Trend in Focus (page 19), we explore how involving employees in the problem-solving process leads not just to workable solutions, but improved morale to boot.

Then, in the feature Standard Operating Procedures (page 20), one pro reveals how SOPs can work to solve recurring problems and, in some cases, can prevent them from ever happening.

And in a timely break from focusing exclusively on tools and products, this issue’s Pro Picks article (page 24) features five pros sharing the resources they rely on to correct specific problems and lay the groundwork for ongoing success. It not only offers insight into the problems that other pros are dealing with today, but also highlights some interesting resource options.

Finally, there’s one other problem cited in this issue that remains in need of a solution that I could have never anticipated gracing our pages: turkey vulture poop (page 29).

If you’ve got a solution to that problem or other problems you’d like us to address in future issues, please reach out.

Cheers,

DESIGNER

Carl Bezuidenhout CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR

Cindy Puskar

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Brian Sodoma

CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS

Kaylan Barry Paint Denver Steve Burnett DYB Coach Rocky Cherry Cherry Coatings Nicole Cline Estes Construction Jay Grosman iAutoAgent.com Les Landes Landes & Associates Jimmy Livanos Midwest Pro Painting Scott Lollar Consulting4Contractors

Amanda Haar, Managing Editor, inPAINT amanda@inPAINTmag.com

Kate Paull PMV Custom Finishes Rich Purnell BASE Painters Phil VanderLaan PMV Custom Finishes

2024 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Ryan Adamski Production Manager, CertaPro Painters

Jen Frey Co-Owner, MJ Painting & Design

Rich Purnell Owner, BASE Painters

Bryce Benfield Owner, South-East Paint & Protective Coatings Co.

Jeremy Fyfe Owner, GLS Painters

Steve Spinelli Owner, Uni Pro Painting

Melissa Caperton Co-Owner, MJ Painting & Design

Larry Marler Owner, The Works Remodeling and Finishing

©2024 REM Publishing Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without written permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Publisher assumes no liability for any damages or loss of any kind that might arise from the use, misuse or inability to use the materials or information contained in this publication. All material and information appearing in this publication is distributed and transmitted ‘as is,’ without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, and is subject to the terms and conditions stated in this disclaimer.

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inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

EDITORIAL

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publishing group REM Publishing Group LLC 8924 E Pinnacle Peak Rd, Suite G5 #575 Scottsdale, AZ 85255

WE PUT MORE IN, SO YOU GET MORE OUT Everything we do is designed to help Pros save time and money.

From paints formulated to help you get great coverage and hide to free job site delivery, and preferred pricing for Pros, that’s how you get more out of every gallon of BEHR® Paint.

TALK WITH A BEHR PRO REP AT BEHR.COM/REP

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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inPAINT® July/Aug 2024

CONTENTS FEATURES

Standard Operating Procedures

20

Step-by-step process for drafting SOPs that will make you more efficient and profitable

Pro Picks

Five pros share the resources they trust to help grow their businesses

Project Snapshots

Challenges, coatings and color choices for two unique projects

16

24

Courtesy of Behr Paint

DEPARTMENTS

28

10 What’s New New tools and coatings for the trade 16 The News Industry ins and outs 18 Trends A fast look at the forces at work in our industry

Cover Image Courtesy of BASE Painters

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inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

19 Trend in Focus Addressing challenges systematically benefits both employers and employees

30 Upcoming Events The what, where and when of the industry’s leading events 31 Bottom Line It’s time to reflect on this year’s first half and strategize for a strong second half

PaintCare offers free pickups for recycling!

In addition, painting contractors and businesses can recycle smaller quantities of leftover house paint, stain, and varnish for free at more than 2,400 PaintCare drop-off locations in ten states and the District of Columbia.

To find a drop-off location near you or request a large volume pickup, visit paintcare.org or call (855) PAINT09.

CALIFORNIA | CONNECTICUT | COLORADO | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | MAINE MINNESOTA | NEW YORK | OREGON | RHODE ISLAND | VERMONT | WASHINGTON

FOR WHEN ENDURANCE MATTERS. 3M ™ PRO GRADE PRECISION ™ Dust Channeling Sanding Block Sponge Dust-channeling design for less clogging and a faster finish.* It’s a dual-purpose tool for both detail and flat sanding. A tool that’s engineered for endurance.

built to perform

*Compared to 3M conventional sanding sponges. © 3M 2024. All rights reserved.

3M and PRO GRADE PRECISION are trademarks of 3M.

3M.com/Sanding

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

WHAT’S NEW

The Best Paint Jobs Start with Scotch® Painter’s Tape!

The best paint jobs all start the same way, with Scotch® Painter’s Tapes.

Scotch® Brand has a full line of painter’s tape to help you conquer whatever surface you’re painting. It’s the #1 most trusted brand by painters*.

The best paint jobs start with Scotch® Painter’s Tape. *ScotchBlue™ and Scotch® brands are ranked as the most trusted based on Oct 2023 Methodify Global Claims Study.

Learn more at Scotchbrand.com/painterstape 3M 2024. All rights reserved. Scotch is a trademark of 3M.

3M™ Pro Grade Precision™ Faster Sanding Sheets #1 Sanding Performance. 3M™ Pro Grade Precision™ Faster Sanding Sheets with enhanced mineral technology resist clogging and sand faster. Fold once and the NO-SLIP GRIP™ durable backing grips together to prevent slipping, so you can sand longer with less hand fatigue. Superior cut durability from start to finish. For when endurance matters.

3m.com/Sanding

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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Blue Dolphin AXISAPT Advanced Professional Painting Tapes AXISAPT painter’s tapes are designed and manufactured with the needs of professional painters in mind. These tapes utilize the most Advanced Technology and State-of-the Art manufacturing facility. This new technology allows AXIS to be used for Interior & Exterior applications.

FEATURES & BENEFITS: ■ Infinitely Superior Paint Lines ■ Easy Tear ■ Clean Easy Removal ■ Temperature Resistant ■ Multi-Surface AXISapt.com | DolphinSundries.com

Dunn-Edwards DECOGLO®: Acrylic Paints for Cabinets, Doors and Trim DECOGLO, available in Eggshell and Semi-Gloss finishes, is an ultra-premium, ultra-low VOC, urethane modified acrylic paint perfect for cabinets, doors and trim.

DECOGLO provides a lacquer-like finish, ideal for properly prepared interior wood substrates, including furniture.

Why choose DECOGLO? It offers exceptional film hardness, superior scuff and chemical resistance, fast drying and block resistant, and excellent flow and leveling. Unlike competitor products, the advanced technology of DECOGLO ensures surfaces remain smooth, beautiful and durable.

Pair DECOGLO with DECOPRIME®, a water-based wood primer, for the ultimate interior painting solution.

Learn more about Dunn-Edwards DECOGLO: DunnEdwards.com/product/decoglo

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inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

WHAT’S NEW

Mi-T-M Truck-Mount Pressure Washers Mi-T-M Corporation announces the new CTM Series of pressure washers. These cold water pressure washers can be mounted to a truck or trailer with a water tank and are ideal for custom cleaning setups.

The new 3000 and 3500-PSI pressure washers feature a powder coated steel frame and mounting plate, powerful Honda OHV engine, belt drive pump with external bypass and enclosed belt guard. Both units require a 200-gallon or larger water tank and deliver five to eight gallons per minute of cleaning power.

Each model is designed with mobile cleaning in mind and is customizable with accessories and options such as an extra fuel tank, 50-foot hose, 48-inch lance, rotary surface cleaner, rotating nozzle and more.

For more information, visit MiTM.com

Mr. LongArm Long-Handled Tool Storage Rack Compact tool storage rack is available in black, yellow or blue. Sturdy, lightweight design is 18.5" high and at 17" x 17" square, requires minimal floor space. Holds up to 24 extension poles or other long-handled tools, with handles up to 1.375" in diameter. Easy assembly requires only a rubber mallet, just six total parts. Better than wood, unaffected by water and humidity. Easily cleans up with soap and water. Proudly made in the USA. Buy direct from Mr. LongArm at: MrLongArm.com/product/tool-storage-rack-0079

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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PaintLine’s NEW Rolling Base for Compact PDRTT Drying Rack PaintLine’s new rolling base for its 20-shelf ProDryingRack TT transforms the highly portable PDRTT into a mobile and convenient drying solution for just about any jobsite.

Easily navigate and reposition it as needed. No tools required! Simply place the PDRTT into the base slots for maximum mobility. PDRTT Rack sold separately.

PaintLine.com/products/pdrtt-base

Titan® Impact X™ 120 18V – The Ultimate Mobile Spray System Step up to industry-exclusive portability, flexibility, and comfort with the Impact X 120 18V. Featuring Backpack, Side-Carry, and Stationary operational configurations so you’re ready to go no matter what the job calls for. Optimized for Titan HEA and Fine Finish Spray Tip use with 1600 max psi for peak airless performance, and extended pump life. Powerful AMPShare™ by Bosch® 4Ah batteries delivers up to 1400 square feet of coverage per charge on a single battery system and features intelligent power management when entering low battery mode to prevent poor pattern quality. Titan’s commitment to Smart Design continues with a 1.25 gallon hopper making it easy to pour material without spills, integrated tip holder and hose management systems to keep the jobsite organized, and removable backpack straps for when you’re operating in Side-Carry or Stationary modes.

For more information visit TitanTool.com

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inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

WHAT’S NEW

AllPro® Quick2Bond™ Instant-Grab Construction Adhesive AllPro® Quick2Bond™ is a water-based construction adhesive that provides immediate adhesion to most common building materials, minimizing reliance on traditional fastening methods. Quick2Bond™ can be used in a number of adhesive applications, including paneling, trim, foamboard, moulding, drywall, and repairs. This new addition to the AllPro® portfolio offers superior instant adhesion that outperforms the competition, with no sagging.

Instant adhesion to most building substrates ■ Water cleanup ■ Meets AFG-01 & ASTM C-557 ■

Compatible with porous & non-porous substrates ■ Paintable ■ Low odor ■

Learn more and find a nearby member at AllProCorp.com

Wooster® GripTech™ MORE COMFORT, MORE CONTROL Designed for enhanced ergonomics and featuring a rubberized grip built into each side of the handle for increased comfort and control, GripTech™ provides reduced slip during use. Its firm polyester filament blend is formulated to deliver excellent cut-in ability and smooth finishes in all paints. Innovative grip technology—available only from Wooster® WoosterBrush.com/brushes/griptech-hero

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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THE NEWS

Werner launches fall-protection videos > As part of their unwavering commitment to worker safety, Werner has created free training videos focusing on fall-protection basics and safety tips, for both English and Spanish speakers. These educational, on-demand videos are designed for industry professionals, including end-users, general contractors and safety directors.

Video topics include: The ABCs of Fall Protection (in English), hosted by Chad Lingerfelt, national jobsite safety and security director The ABCs of Fall Protection (in Spanish), hosted by Angel Jimenez, national jobsite safety and security manager Rescue Basics of Fall Protection (in English), hosted by Kevin Denis, technical service expert Available on the Werner Safety page found at: bit.ly/3UCKDAb

PCA updates its Industry Standards > The Painting Contractors Association (PCA) recently revamped its Industry Standards. Designed to make the industry more transparent for both contractors and consumers, while promoting a culture of excellence and standardization, the Standards covers issues that are commonly the subject of misunderstandings, or in extreme cases, contract disputes, and provide guidance for both the contractor and the layman.

Now available in English and Spanish at: PCA.so/standards

Paint storage practices tied to ALS

Behr Paint launches virtual sampling effort

> A recent study out of the University of Michigan revealed a possible link between storing chemicals in home garages and an increased risk of developing ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The study’s findings underscore the importance of the ‘ALS exposome’—a concept describing the cumulative exposure to environmental toxins linked to ALS. Researchers assessed exposures in the residential setting from a survey of more than 600 participants, both with and without ALS. Through statistical analysis, they found that the storage of chemicals—including paint, gasoline and gasoline-powered equipment, lawncare products, pesticides and woodworking supplies—were significantly associated with ALS risk. When paint and other chemicals were stored in a detached garage, they did not show as strong of an association with risk.

While the study did not cover the risk associated with daily exposure, the findings suggest proper precautions should be taken when storing paint in other settings, such as a shop.

> MattoBoard recently tapped Behr Paint as its first paint brand partner.

An online 3D sampling platform, MattoBoard allows designers to draw from an extensive virtual library to build sample boards featuring materials, textures, finishes, and now 1,600+ Behr Paint colors in six different sheens. Designers can manipulate light intensity and position materials on diverse surfaces to create rich details that depict texture, reflective qualities and mood.

The partnership eliminates the waste and expense of preparing mood board samples, while making the entire process easier and more cost-effective for designers.

Behr.com/pro/onthejob/blog/mattoboard

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inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

Finding talent, finding jobs made easy > Tired of hearing his clients complain about wasting thousands of dollars on online jobsites, Steve Burnett of DYB Coach decided to take matters into his own hands and launched a jobsite dedicated exclusively to painting companies looking for workers—as well as paint pros looking for work.

Painter Job Board features job listings searchable by location, job title, salary, company, and full- or part-time status. It also includes a section for paint pros to post their profiles, including resume and contact information.

Currently, there is no cost to post standard job listings, though ads, which appear at the top of the page and are also posted to its social channels, are available for a fee. All job posters are vetted by the site.

And there’s no cost to paint pros to access the job listings, apply for jobs, create profiles, and subscribe to a twice-weekly email featuring the latest job listings. PainterJobBoard.com

FROGTAPE OFF. FIVE-STAR REVIEWS ON. ®

When performance cannot be compromised, FrogTape® – the brand that reinvented painting with PaintBlock® Technology – delivers professional results you can trust – when it matters most.

FROGTAPE.COM/PRO

©Shurtape Technologies, LLC 2024/ASW00730

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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TRENDS

Better together

Make room According to the 2023 Better Business Bureau Industry Report, the number of new companies and employees entering the U.S. paint industry will increase at the same rate as the previous five years. That equates to another 4,600 painting companies and approximately 8,000 new employees joining the industry by 2027.

When asked to predict top challenges at work in 2024 in a 2023 survey, 39% of skilled tradespeople noted a lack of knowledge-sharing and collaboration on the jobsite.

Just beachy Here’s a look at how some major paint manufacturers capture the spirit of the beach in their color collections.

Color you loyal The Home Improvement Research Institute recently analyzed contractor purchasing behavior and found that, when it comes to paint and painting equipment, here’s where brand loyalty matters most to pros: Paint sprayer Exterior paint Interior paint

Sherwin-Williams Beach House SW 7518

PPG Beach Party PPG1211-6

Behr Paint Beach Foam S450-1

Dunn-Edwards Pale Beach DE6199

4.0 4.0 4.1

KEY: 1 = no loyalty / 5 = extremely loyal

Location matters The home service site Paint Gnome recently ranked 2024’s metro areas for housepainters based on job opportunity, earning potential, supply access and competition.

Here’s which locations emerged as the best and worst locations for residential pros:

SOURCE: NFPA Industry Trends Survey

The big contribution of small businesses

88%

of the U.S. paint industry’s revenue comes from smaller companies with fewer than a dozen employees.

Farrow & Ball

Light Sand No. CC2

Benjamin Moore Sea to Shining Sea 789

BEST Metro Areas for Housepainters

SOURCE: 2023 Better Business Bureau Industry Report

WORST Metro Areas for Housepainters

1 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1 Lansing-East Lansing, MI 2 Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, CA 2 Yuma, AZ 3 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 3 Elkhart-Goshen, IN 4 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA 4 El Paso, TX 5 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5 Saginaw, MI 6 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 6 Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 7 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 7 Flint, MI 8 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 8 Terre Haute, IN 9 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA 9 Idaho Falls, ID 10 Kennewick-Richland, WA 10 Las Cruces, NM KEY: 1 = best / 10 = worst For the full ranking, visit: PaintGnome.com > blog > 2024’s Best Metro Areas for House Painters

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inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

Systematic continuous improvement Better for business by being better for employees

A

t a time when having enough talent on hand is an issue for many in the industry, it’s important for business owners to reduce challenges that might drive existing talent to consider leaving. Key to that, of course, is getting a clear understanding of exactly what those challenges are and finding a systematic way to continually address them.

According to management consultant Les Landes of Landes & Associates, “Far too many businesses address problems—like lack of both knowledge-sharing and collaboration on the job—as one-off issues, and only give them attention when something goes wrong. They tend to be reactive and focus on simply getting back to work instead of recognizing the value and opportunity for systematically and continually improving operations at every level.”

Questioning the norm, creating opportunities Through his more than 25 years of helping organizations run more efficiently and effectively, Landes has come to recognize that employees—at companies big and small—desire the same things.

“Employees value two things: 1) being heard and taken seriously about issues affecting them or their team; and 2) having some control over the decisions and actions that affect their lives in the workplace.”

He says the most effective way to address these needs is to implement a process for regularly soliciting ideas from employees. One of the processes he recommends is a short, routine, weekly huddle for employees in small groups to meet for the sole purpose of submitting their ideas for improvements in work practices and processes. “You’re not looking for big ideas, like ‘we need to change our business model,’ but rather small ideas that improve operational efficiency.

It could be as simple as relocating a table where tools are kept or creating defined bins and spaces for tools.

If it contributes to efficiency, it’s worth doing. And if you implement those types of small changes consistently, soon you’ve made a big impact on operations and, more importantly, you’ve engaged your employees in improving their own jobs and the business.”

Landes notes that while some businesses start with weekly meetings, they often end up just holding them twice or even just once a month. “I wouldn’t recommend

Courtesy of Martin Painting & Coating Co.

TREND IN FOCUS

less than one per month,” he cautions, “as you lose momentum, and it stops being a systematic process.

“Another systematic method to consider is mapping out a detailed plan for fixing a broken process. You have to figure out all the steps, assign the tasks to the appropriate individuals, and then hold them accountable in a way that’s constructive, not punitive.

The great part about accountability in this case is that when people are involved in initiating a change, they’re excited to make it happen. So, holding people accountable isn’t about riding them to do the task as much as it is making sure they’re able to execute, and supporting them if help is needed.”

“It’s the very best thing I’ve ever done for my company.”

As the owner of iAutoAgent.com in Chesterfield, MO, Jay Grosman is all about creating efficiencies and building morale. In 2021, he implemented a systematic continuous improvement effort with Landes’ help. By his own reckoning, “It’s the very best thing I’ve ever done for my company.”

“We implemented weekly huddles in 2021 and have never missed one,” he says. “In addition to helping us implement good ideas, it’s provided a huge boost to employee morale. We work together to solve problems that plague us all and people really enjoy taking ownership of their ideas. From developing a process for ensuring how thank-you notes go out to resolving an issue related to accessing the building—which was a BIG problem, it works for us on so many levels.”

Grosman appreciates how business owners might roll their eyes at adding another meeting to the weekly to-do list but notes, “This was a game-changer for my company, and it was so simple. Once you commit to it and get employees onboard, it’s something you not only look forward to, but really benefit from doing.”

It’s important for business owners to reduce challenges that might drive existing talent to consider leaving.

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 5 steps for creating SOPs for your painting business

BY STEVE BURNETT

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inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

You may understand that creating standing operating procedures (SOPs) is a crucial step toward organizing and systematizing your business, which will not only enable you to work more efficiently, but it can also help you grow profitably. But, developing SOPs may seem like a daunting project, so here’s a simple, 5-step process to help systematize a painting business:

STEP

1

DRAFT YOUR SOPs

Start the process by listing just three SOPs you want to tackle.

A few examples: ■ Answering client calls ■ Setting up an exterior paint project ■ Collecting final payment You might think, ‘Really, answering client calls?’ Well, yes! In many cases, the initial phone call is the first contact a customer has with your business, so it’s important that experience leaves a good impression on them. By developing an SOP, you are making a concerted effort to make the experience consistently good.

Once you’ve listed your three SOPs, list the steps necessary to help ensure the desired outcome for each SOP. You don’t need to go into nitty-gritty details; just capture the basic ideas.

Congratulations. You now have rough drafts of your first three SOPs. Keep the momentum going and capture every SOP that comes to mind. Get them out of your head. Your head is for creating ideas, not storing them.

STEP

3

STEP

2

ORGANIZE YOUR SOPs

It’s important to organize SOPs by the department they are managed by. For example, below is the life cycle (SOPs) of an exterior painting project, and where they’d likely fall in the structure of your business: SOP Department Answering client calls Admin Booking an estimate Admin Arriving at the estimate Sales Selling the job Sales Scheduling the job Sales Loading jobs into the system Sales Ordering paint and materials Admin Setting up an exterior project Production Painting an exterior project Production Closing out an exterior project Production Collecting final payment Finance

WRITE YOUR SOPs FOR 3 SKILL LEVELS

It’s likely you’ll have painters of varying experience levels working for you. To make your SOPs relevant to all skill levels, write them using Tim Francis’ ‘Triple Path of Readership,’ a proven method for writing SOPs that maximizes the chance a team will follow them. It involves using a writing structure that allows you to craft a single SOP that works for all levels. Below is a simple example of how a project’s SOP might appear:

Painting Interior Walls Prepare areas for painting: Step 1 > Step 2 > Step 3 …

Paint the walls: Step 1 > Step 2 > Step 3 …

Clean up the areas after painting: Step 1 > Step 2 > Step 3 …

Final checks: ■ Did you pull all the tape?

■ Do all of the walls have an even and consistent sheen?

■ Did you do a final walk-through?

■ Did you clean up, leaving it looking better than you found it?

And here’s how that method works for each type of employee: Novice users can read every detail they need to complete the task.

Often, novices will read a step then do that step, reading every detail as they go.

Intermediate users can skim just the headlines so they’re reminded of what to do. Often, intermediates will be familiar with what to do but need a little refresher on a few steps or details along the way.

Expert users can go straight to the final checks at the end and perform a bit of self-quality control. Often, experts will do (almost) the entire task without looking at the procedure, then review a procedure to confirm they completed the tasks fully and correctly. NOTE: Regardless of how ‘expert’ a pro is at executing a procedure, final checks should always be reviewed. Try to keep this short, listing only items that could be problematic if missed.

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

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“Get your SOPS out of your head in an app.

Your head is for creating ideas, not storing them.”

STEP

4

STEVE BURNETT, a former painting contractor, is now the owner of DYB Coach, a consulting business that helps other contractors streamline their painting business. He has also authored books on the subject. DYBCoach.com

MANAGE YOUR SOPs

The key to creating SOPs that work and get used is to make them accessible to all—and easy to edit as needed.

There are both apps and software for managing SOPs. By going digital, you can document, edit, organize and distribute SOPs quickly and effectively across all teams in your business at the same time, ensuring no one is ever operating off an outdated SOP. Again, there are lots of options for managing SOPs digitally. Here are my recommendations for choosing the best one for your operation: ■ Use technology that’s not going away anytime soon. I’ve learned this one the hard way. Not once, but three times, I used the latest app that showed the most promise then, within a year or two, a new SOP app hit the market and my app became obsolete.

■ Use technology that allows the end-users to update the SOP. This is key because nobody knows how relevant an SOP is more than the person executing it. So, you must allow those people access to update it to keep it relevant. Bear in mind that changing the text of an SOP is easy; photos not so much, and videos are 10X harder to update. So here’s my advice: Only use a photo or video as a reference to the written SOP and only if that photo or video won’t likely change in the next 3–5 years.

■ Use tech that allows you to retrieve deleted information or even a completely deleted document.

Sometimes, a deletion is done by mistake (guilty). Your SOPs are far too valuable to lose, so make sure your technology allows you to retrieve deleted documents and/or information on a document. Ideally with a complete history of the document.

Which app do I recommend? Google Docs.

Yep, it’s not shiny, nor is it new. But it’s not going away anytime soon; it allows end users to make updates easily; and it allows you to retrieve any deleted information with a complete history of the changes made.

STEP

5

PROVE YOUR SOPs WORK

Once you’ve completed step 4 of your SOP journey, it’s time to test each out to prove it works. With a proper SOP, an intended user should be able to execute by simply following it. During this testing stage, you will often find missed items or steps that need clarification. Once the SOP can be executed by simply following your guide, you’re done. Well, that one’s done …

Let this step-by-step process be your guide as you continue to write and test other SOPs. Done right, your SOPs can put you on the path to a standardized business that can fully function without you, putting you in position to one day sell it if you so choose. n

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What it takes: kitchen cabinets

PRO PICKS

Four pros share their trusted brushes and roller covers

Escaping the entrepreneur’s trap

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Pros on their preferred exterior coatings

Creating raving fans through relationship marketing Hiring talent—even when they’re not looking

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SPECIAL SECTION How the indu stry is suppor ting pros

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Booking profitable repaints year-round The ins and outs of epoxy floors

PRO PICKS

Five pros talk resources that made big impacts on business operations Like other business professionals, paint pros turn to certain business resources help them grow and become more profitable. Those resources may include software, a consultant, a perspective-shifting book, or some combination of all three. Here, five pros share which business tools have helped them either right the ship, correct a specific problem, or steadily build on previous success.

BY BRIAN SODOMA

OUR PROS

1 24

NICOLE CLINE Estes Construction EstesConstruction.com

inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

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ROCKY CHERRY Cherry Coatings CherryCoatings.com

3

KAYLAN BARRY Paint Denver PaintDenver.com

4

PHIL VANDERLAAN PMV Custom Finishes PMVCustomFinishes.com

5

KATE PAULL PMV Custom Finishes PMVCustomFinishes.com

“Cherry Painting now embraces ‘a culture of learning,’ which has helped revenues to double in the past three years.”

–ROCKY CHERRY, CHERRY COATINGS

1 NICOLE CLINE

Cline is the director of business development for Estes Construction, an IA-based commercial general contractor with roughly 150 employees.

She uses skills and motivation assessment tools to help herself, company leaders, field crews and office teams run efficiently and be productive.

“Assessments can bring additional selfawareness,” she said. “The person taking the assessment can learn what they are good at, what they’re drawn to, and where their blind spots are.”

StrengthsFinder (now CliftonStrengths), from Gallup, is one tool she has found beneficial.

It finds an employee’s greatest talents within four specific domains: relationship building, executing, influencing, strategic thinking. The goal is to use those strengths to maximize job performance and teamwork or meet other goals. Pat Lencioni’s Working Genius is another tool that identifies key competencies to help an employer best position an employee for success, she said.

Cline also used Enneagram assessments a few years ago and revisits the results periodically with team members. An Enneagram categorizes people by nine motivation types (see below).

But Cline cautions against using assessments to limit perspectives about a person. Results should also not pave the way for a lack of accountability, excuses for poor performance, or even overuse of strengths.

“Those are important things to understand, especially if you’re new to assessments,” she said. “You have to work with what’s helpful and disregard other stuff.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: As with all inPAINT articles, the pros featured in Pro Picks articles are selected based on their areas of expertise, geographic location and reputation. inPAINT has no prior knowledge of their product preferences nor do we filter their responses in any way.

The content represents the genuine responses shared with our writer.

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2 ROCKY CHERRY

The chief growth officer of Cherry Coatings, a TX-based commercial and residential painting company, says one of the best things he did to improve his business was to invest in himself. About five years ago, he made the decision to read more and work with a life coach to improve his leadership skills.

Cherry has read his share of tactical books, such as Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman, which uncovers secrets to running the key components of your business, and Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It ... and Why the Rest Don’t by Verne Harnish, which uses Rockefeller habit mastery to propel company growth. However, he has found the greatest benefit in books that helped him improve his empathy.

“I feel where we miss out sometimes is on the emotional intelligence side of things. When you understand yourself better, then you can grow,” he said. “I was a performance-driven machine. That programmed me to be successful, but prioritizing performance also hindered me as a leader.” Books that helped him discover the value of empathy in business include: ■ Leading with a Limp: Take Full Advantage of Your Most Powerful Weakness by Dan B. Allender ■ Power vs Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David R. Hawkins ■ Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl ■ How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie With the help of a coach, Cherry now empowers employees to make decisions and encourages them to invest in themselves.

As a result, Cherry Painting now embraces ‘a culture of learning,’ which has helped revenues to double in the past three years.

“I think sometimes it’s scary to look inside and face some fears holding us back from being our better selves,” he added.

“But for me, now, I love that people come to work because they feel a purpose, feel part of a team, feel togetherness. There’s something special about doing something because you love it and enjoy it—and you want to come back every day.”

3 KAYLAN BARRY

Barry serves as a fractional COO for Paint Denver, in Colorado. Like many others in the industry, hiring is a challenge for her company. To solve that, Barry uses HireBus, whose primary feature is an aptitude test to screen candidates for competencies associated with the job description. High scores land applicants further down a hiring funnel to assure companies only interview strong candidates. The program also works with employers to craft job listings that resonate with the company’s vision and potential recruits’ motivations.

“HireBus sees your job post as a marketing piece,” Barry said. “They make sure the people we attract align with company values and the ad speaks to someone’s sense of purpose.”

Thus far, Paint Denver has hired a sales associate and office manager, and is looking to fill three more positions.

“It saves so much time before you get to that first round of interviews; you already know they are a natural fit for that type of job,” she added. “For me, the main thing is the science behind the aptitude test. This is an investment in making sure you’re getting the right people much faster.”

26

inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

“For me, the most valuable thing about EOS is finding and building a leadership seat and then finding a person to fit in that seat.” –PHIL VANDERLAAN, PMV CUSTOM FINISHES

4&5 PHIL VANDERLAAN & KATE PAULL

VanderLaan is the owner of MI-based PMV Custom Finishes. A few years ago, he felt he was “wearing a lot of hats and lacking a clear structure” in his company. At the same time, PMV faced a stubborn revenue plateau.

Knowing he needed help, VanderLaan met with paintbusiness consultant Scott Lollar, owner of Consulting 4 Contractors. In addition to his work with Lollar, VanderLaan also met David Sullivan, an Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) implementer. These two resources have proven to be a game-changing combination. Implementing EOS has been VanderLaan’s primary focus since 2022, and he works with Lollar more specifically on sales and revenue-building efforts.

EOS looks at a business through six key components: Vision, Data, Process, Traction, Issues and People. Problems are identified, goals are set, and quarterly check-ins with an implementer keep everyone accountable. VanderLaan’s EOS process began with an off-site discovery meeting with company officials and the EOS implementer (Sullivan, in this case) to “take a 20,000-foot look at the company,” VanderLaan said.

This helped to establish PMV’s vision and growth goals, both of which serve as a final check before making major decisions, such as hiring or adding service lines. There were several realizations for VanderLaan as he began working with EOS. First, he figured out that he was hiring on emotion instead of seeing if a person aligned with the company’s vision. In addition, he was in a visionary role but too involved in operations. Meanwhile, Paull, the company’s operations manager, had ‘integrator’ capabilities and knew how to implement VanderLaan’s ideas, but she too was involved in other areas of the company.

To help them fully utilize their strengths, Sullivan, with the help of the EOS model, guided them through hiring two production managers. VanderLaan also chose to shed unprofitable work, and let go of employees who did not fit the company vision.

“For me, the most valuable thing about EOS is finding and building a leadership seat and then finding a person to fit in that seat,” VanderLaan said. “We got clear on what type of people would be good for certain positions and we began to hire on culture.”

Before implementing EOS, gross profit was 36% on $2.8 million in revenue. Since then, revenues have eclipsed $3 million with a 42.5% profit.

“We have a much clearer understanding of what the organization is, fundamentally,” Paull added. “That speaks to the strengths of EOS … getting that clarity about who you are, then aligning yourself with the right employees and customers.” n

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PROJECT SNAPSHOTS

PROJECT No.

1

ALLEGIANT STADIUM Location: Las Vegas, NV Painting contractor: Jimmy Livanos, owner Midwest Pro Painting MPP-inc.com Time frame: 14 months Crew size: 65+ people Tools & equipment used: ■ Scaffolding ■ 185� boom lifts ■ Crawler lifts ■ Sprayers ■ Brushes ■ Rollers Challenges: ■ Sourcing coatings with the ability to: - Retain a bright color despite exposure to Las Vegas’ harsh sunlight - Maximize protection and service life in high-traffic areas - Color-match the Raider’s iconic silver and black uniforms - Provide excellent corrosion protection - Apply the topcoat quickly ■ Adapting and pivoting during times of uncertain product availability due to COVID-19-related supply chain issues ■ The large-scale scope of the project required alignment of several subcontractors and maintenance support.

Pro product comment: “When selecting coatings for Allegiant Stadium, it was essential that we picked an extensive roster of easy-to-apply and long-lasting products to protect and enhance the stunning appearance of the venue now situated adjacent to the worldfamous Las Vegas Strip. Durability, color retention and maximum service life were among the top considerations.”

COATINGS AND COLORS: Interior Concrete Walls: ■ PPG PERMA-CRETE Interior/Exterior Alkali Resistant Primer ■ PPG SPEEDHIDE Interior latex Paint (eggshell) in: Silver and Black Premier Suites: ■ PPG SEAL GRIP Alkyd Universal Primer/Sealer ■ PPG SPEEDHIDE Interior Latex Paint (eggshell) in: Black and White Concession Areas & Restrooms: ■ PITT-GLAZE WB1 High-Performance Pre-Catalyzed Waterborne Epoxy in: Black and White Exposed & Unexposed Steel Structures: ■ PPG AMERCOAT 68 HS Zinc-Rich Epoxy Primer ■ PPG PSX 700 in: Silver and Black Paint colors were custom-matched to the Las Vegas Raiders' team colors Black

Images Courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders 28

inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

White

Silver

PROJECT

2

No.

HARD ROCK STADIUM 200'-TOWER REPAINT Location: Miami Gardens, FL Painting contractor: Rich Purnell, owner BASE Painters BASEPainters.com Time frame: 2 weeks Crew size: 5 people Tools & equipment used: ■ EDELRID climbing equipment and ropes ■ Mi-T-M pressure washers ■ 200� ladders ■ 4" mini rollers with 3/4" nap ■ 3" Purdy sash brushes

Pro product comment: “We love the SherwinWilliams Corothane I Mio Aluminum for its moisturecuring properties and the coating’s application procedures for marginal substrates. Sher-Loxane 800 is a simple, self-priming coating that can withstand the harshest elements and has become a go-to topcoating product for us.”

COATINGS AND COLORS: Sherwin-Williams Corothane I Mio Aluminum (used as a primer) ■ Sherwin-Williams Sher-Loxane 800 in: ■

Custom Color Match to Miami Dolphins White

Challenges: ■ Climbing 200� ladders daily to reach the tower platform ■ The notoriously bad, wet weather of south Florida ■ Turkey vultures roosting and pooping on freshly painted surfaces ■ The beach calling our employees July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

29

UPCOMING EVENTS

4

9

ADVERTISER INDEX 1

3M 3M.com Pages 8, 9 & 11 AllPro Page 15 AllProCorp.com Behr Paint Behr.com Page 5 Blue Dolphin DolphinSundries.com Page 12 Dunn-Edwards DunnEdwards.com Page 12 FrogTape FrogTape.com Page 17

5 2 3

What, Where & When

Mi-T-M Mi-T-M.com Page 13

6 7

5

18: Women in Construction Conference, Arlington, VA womeninconstructionconference.com

SEPTEMBER 1

19–21: Wallcovering Installers Association, Philadelphia, PA wallcoveringinstallers.org/2024-convention

6

20–23: TPC Connect: Commercial Painting Hosted Buyer Event, Austin, TX tpc-connect.com/cp

2

20–21: Mile High Profit Summit, Denver, CO thecontractorfight.com/upcoming-events

7

Oct 31–Nov 3: 2024 PowerClean Convention, Orlando, FL pwna.org/powerclean-convention

Graco Graco.com Back Cover Habitat for Humanity Habitat.org Page 3

8

OCTOB E R

N OV E M B E R

3

3 & 4: The Contractor Lab LIVE!, Las Vegas, NV about.propainternetwork.com/events-page

4

14–18: Wallcoverings Installation Academy, West Rutland, VT wallcoveringsacademy.com

8

4–7: TPC Connect: Industrial Coatings Hosted Buyer Event, Henderson, NV tpc-connect.com/ic

9

11–15: Wallcoverings Installation Academy, West Rutland, VT wallcoveringsacademy.com

Mr. LongArm MrLongArm.com Page 13 PaintCare PaintCare.org Page 7

October 20-23

PaintLine PaintLine.com Page 14 Purdy Purdy.com Page 2 Titan Tools TitanTools.com Page 14 Wooster WoosterBrush.com Page 15

If you're a commercial painter looking to network, trade tips and advice with your peers, and learn the newest trends and technologies, you won't want to miss this fourth annual event.

Free for qualified contractors—including travel—this three-day event connects you with C-level execs from suppliers—not just your

local rep. Educational programs will build your business acumen and your knowledge of the latest in fire-protection coatings, anti-graffiti paints, textured coatings, concrete protection, as well as tools and equipment for surface prep and coatings application.

Learn more: tpc-connect.com/cp 30

inPAINT | July/Aug 2024

BOTTOM LINE

Welcome to halftime It’s time to revisit your game plan and make strategy adjustments to meet your goals.

H

ere you are, midway through another year.

With half the year still ahead of you, it’s a great time to do a little looking back—and forward.

It’s not too late to make some corrections if you are off course—or if you are on track, then you’re in a great place to make adjustments that might make a great year even better.

Examine your first-half performance Not sure how to assess how you’re doing? Asking yourself the following questions about performance can provide some valuable insights.

Have you hit your revenue goals?

Revenue is critical to achieving your financial goals. It is imperative that your revenue targets are sufficient to cover your expenses and profit projections. This number can also be useful in determining manpower requirements as well as marketing targets in order to hit your revenue goals.

Business is math. If you are trying to achieve a revenue goal that requires 10 painters but you have seven, you will fall short of your goal.

What is your gross profit?

Do an analysis of your cost of goods sold (COGS) and your resulting gross profit (GP). The COGS should include all items that were required to produce a painting project—labor payroll, taxes, insurance, rented items, subcontractor costs, paint and other materials, and any direct job costs. A healthy painting company should be pursuing a 50% GP. A company with a GP of 40% or less will struggle to pay their expenses and provide the return on investment (ROI) to the owner while maintaining the cash needed for growth. If your GP is less than 40%, you should be asking why, then taking steps to increase GP toward 50% immediately.

Are expenses in check?

Your expenses encompass everything required to run your business except for the COGS. You should be looking at areas you may have overspent compared to your budget. Look for spikes or decreases in expenses compared to last year during the same period. Are there good reasons for them or

“... no matter the halftime score, the game isn’t over.

There’s still time for improvement and correction.” is there poor fiscal discipline? Determine if you need to make some modifications either way. It is not easy to cut expenses without some consequences but if there are some ways to cut costs, now is the time to do it.

How is your net profit tracking?

Are you hitting your net profit number? This number is critical because when it is in perfect alignment with your revenue and COGS, it enables you to achieve your ROI goal.

Plan for a stronger second half With a handle on where you stand, you can begin asking yourself strategic questions about what lies ahead, then start doing what it takes to meet your goals. Here’s where to start: ■ Do you have sufficient leads at your historical close ratio to meet the revenue requirements for the next six months? If the answer is no, boost your marketing.

■ Do you have sufficient manpower to meet your revenue goals? If not, focus on staffing.

■ What are you doing to improve your own performance? To keep your business running at its best, make time for second-half self-improvement that will benefit your business. This might include reading more books, listening to podcasts, attending a conference or a retreat, or enlisting a coach. It is a long game, and you need to stay sharp, so set personal-improvement goals.

Huddle up with your team It’s important to make sure your team is clear what the scorecard for the first half looks like and what your vision is for the second half. They can’t meet expectations if they don’t know what they are.

The good news is that no matter the halftime score, the game isn’t over. There’s still time for improvement and correction. But you can‘t make corrections without analyzing your data and then having the fortitude to take the action needed to make it a winning year.

SCOTT LOLLAR is a 30+ year veteran of the painting industry and the founder of Consulting4Contractors, a consulting firm that provides one-on-one coaching to contractors and their key personnel to achieve rapid growth and operational efficiency.

Consulting4Contractors.com

July/Aug 2024 | inPAINT

31

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