inPAINT Magazine Nov/Dec 2020 by REM Publishing Group

inPAINT T H E M AG A Z I N E FO R PR O FE SS I O N AL S

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N OV/D EC 2020

SPECIAL SECTION

How the industry is supporting the pro through products and services

Pros talk specialty coatings Wish lists: what pros are hoping for in 2021

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

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CUTTING IN

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” —Anatole France, French poet, journalist and novelist

s is the case with many businesses, the end of the year is when we at inPAINT magazine start considering and envisioning what we want to accomplish in the next year. Typically, we pull together an initial draft of our editorial calendar based on what we know readers have responded favorably to and cull any features that have outlived their original purpose. Then we sprinkle in a bit of ‘wishful planning’ … articles we know may be challenging to accomplish but, if we pull them off, will yield a great product. At this point, we run the entire thing by our Editorial Advisory Board for a sanity check. With their much-appreciated insight and ideas in hand, we revise (and revise, and revise) until we’re not just satisfied with the plan, but excited about it. Even then, we’re all too aware that at some point in the months ahead, things will derail or we’ll have a new (and better) article idea, and we’ll have to revise yet again. So goes the nature of progress. It was while we were in the midst of starting this process for 2021 that I wondered what our readers were planning and wishing for in the coming year. I was intrigued enough by the question to derail our 2020 editorial plan for this issue and go find some pros to ask. I’m glad I did. Beginning on page 20, you’ll find the 2021 Wish List, featuring the both practical and farfetched wishes and aspirations of several pros across the country. For me, their lists reveal a sense of optimism for the coming year and beyond. It’s an attitude that’s been shared by literally all of the pros I’ve been in touch with prior to and throughout the pandemic. At a time when many are despairing on a variety of fronts, it’s a pleasure to be surrounded by such positivity from those who don’t just dream but do. I thank you all for that. I’d also like to extend a special thanks to our 2020 Editorial Advisory Board members (noted below). Their behind-the-scenes reviews and input have been key to helping us deliver content that informs and inspires and, I like to think, fuels a passion for the trade. We’re truly a better publication for their efforts. I hope as you turn your own calendar page to 2021, you find yourself excited at the prospects before you. I know I am. Cheers,

Amanda Haar Amanda Haar Managing Editor, inPAINT

2020 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD LeAnn Day Executive Director, Paint & Decorating Programs, NHPA Doug Imhoff Owner, Imhoff Fine Residential Painting

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

Larry Marler Owner, The Works Remodeling and Finishing, LLC Tara Riley President, Fresh Coat Painters Dave Scaturro VP & Director of Commercial Estimating, Alpine Painting & Sandblasting Contractors

Nick Slavik Proprietor, Nick Slavik Painting & Restoration Co., and Host of Ask a Painter! Live Art Snarzyk Owner, InnerView Advisors, Inc.

PUBLISHER Edward McAdams MANAGING EDITOR Amanda Haar DESIGN Carl Bezuidenhout CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Cindy Puskar

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Brian Sodoma

EDITORIAL amanda@inPAINTmag.com ADVERTISE 602-296-5391 ed@inPAINTmag.com SUBSCRIBE inPAINTmag.com/subscribe inPAINTmag.com

This issue’s contributing experts Graham Audenart Painters Enterprise Steve Borders Sterling Painting Cindy Howard Decorative & Faux Finishes Jennifer Ibarra Ibarra Design Co. Eric Jones Frank J. Ryan & Sons Joshua Katz Suncoast Painting and Professional Services Scott Lollar Consulting 4 Contractors Aaron Moore Precision Painting & Decorating Jason Paris Paris-Painting Dan Ross Ross Painting

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

Mike Shaffer Five Star Painting of Temecula Valley, a Neighborly Company Melissa Sorenson Professional Background Screen Association Mark Vickers HR.com

©2020 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. Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

CUTTING IN

inPAINT® Nov/Dec 2020

CONTENTS FEATURES

Pro Picks

From grand to humble and pragmatic to generous, 4 pros’ wishes for the new year

Pros talk specialty coatings: epoxy, direct to metal, anti-rust and more

18 DEPARTMENTS 8 The News Industry ins and outs

Special Section

What the industry is doing to support the pro

10 Trends A fast look at the forces at work in our industry 11 Trend in Focus Who’s getting screened, what for, and employer obligations

This Page's Background Photo Courtesy of Werner.

COVER: Photo courtesy of Base Group Archives. Suspended 300' above home plate in Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Jay Cox of Base Painters in Arvada, CO repaints the roof using Sherwin-Williams Corothane l Mio-Aluminum in Miller Park Green. 6

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

2021 Wish List

12 5 Good Questions Serial entrepreneur on what his varied experiences have taught him 38 Upcoming Events The what, where and when of the industry’s leading events 39 Bottom Line Building a pipeline of leaders-in-training through mentoring

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THE NEWS

Once upon a time … there was a crazy a** project T A quick peek at ANY of the themed accommodations at The Roxbury, situated in the Catskills of NY, is all it takes to understand why HGTV’s America’s Best Kept Secrets called it “one of the most amazing hotels in the country.” And, without question, Frank J. Ryan & Sons of Troy, NY had a big hand in earning it that praise. The Ryan Company was brought on in March 2019 to transform 8 newly constructed 2-story cottages, a 7-unit mansion, a bar and check-in area, and a luxury spa. Working over an 8-month period, the company’s crew tackled 45 wall coverings, 28 different paint colors, specialty finishes including metallics and lacquers, and stuccos ranging from stipple to a 3" stalactite design. With some walls reaching 35' in the main rooms, staircases and balconies—plus numerous imported decorative finishes—the project presented some challenges. According to Eric Jones, foreman on the project, “It was more than reading a blueprint and applying a finish to a wall. It required coordination and communication to make the owners’ vision come to fruition.” That vision included a bathroom constructed and decorated to look like Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage. Jones also notes that, “Working with materials from other countries does not happen too often in the commercial construction industry. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all involved, and to see the finished product is its own reward.” RyanCommercialPainting.com

Farrow & Ball launches durable interior matte paint T If high-traffic areas such as kitchens, hallways, playrooms and entryways are a common component of your work orders, you’ll be happy to learn about a new durable paint with a matte finish from Farrow & Ball. Formulated with a high-performance binder and hydrophobic properties, Modern Emulsion creates a smooth, yet durable, surface that’s scrub-proof, wipe-proof, smudge-proof and even mold-resistant. Available in all 148 colors in the Farrow & Ball palette. Farrow-Ball.com

Courtesy of The Roxbury, Contemporary Catskill Lodging

Paperless, bubble-free drywall tape T FibaFuse MAX Reinforced Paperless Drywall Tape features a porous design that allows compound to flow through the tape for a strong bond and eliminating bubbles and blisters. A reinforcement layer features a tri-directional construction that provides crack resistance in multiple directions and prevents accidental tears when used on inside corners. Available in 500' rolls, FibaFuse MAX is mold resistant, GREENGUARD Gold certified, and is 62% lighter than an equivalent roll of paper tape. Available in major home centers, select paint stores, and independent hardware stores. 8

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

Safe and sound Bluetooth headphones T Sanders, sprayers, pressure washers, or that one guy on your crew … blocking out sound just got a little easier and more comfortable. ISOtunes LINK, the new over-ear Bluetooth hearing protectors, were designed for pros who prefer earmuff-style protection but still want a high-quality listening experience. OSHA-compliant and featuring memory foam cushions, they reduce damaging noise by 24 dB while still making it possible to clearly take and participate in calls, thanks to a noise-isolating microphone. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides 14+ hours of run time while a Bluetooth 4.2 wireless connection provides a 30' range from your device. And don’t worry about the weather; LINK’s IPX4 rating provides resistance against water—and even sweat. Bit.ly/36sKYN5

Press patch firmly over damaged area

Paint immediately with a roller; let dry

Pull pop-up tab to remove the clear protective layer

Finish with two additional coats of paint

New adjustable work platform performs acrobatics T Werner recently introduced a compact, heightadjustable work platform designed for uneven surfaces. Providing up to a 9' reach, the Adjustable Pro Work Platform (AP-2030) can be configured to 10 height positions with one-handed adjustment and locking. The platform provides a spacious 46" x 14" work surface with a 300 lb load capacity, and protective bumpers to prevent damage on contact surfaces. The dual self-locking legs can be adjusted and folded to provide an even surface when working along stairs: one leg can fold in, while the other can be adjusted to the desired height. The overall platform height can be adjusted from 20" to 30" in 1" increments, and the wide-stance, non-marring feet provide a sturdy foundation that minimizes side-to-side movement. Made from aluminum and weighing just 21.5 lbs, the platform also features easy-grab handles for safe maneuvering on the jobsite and in and out of vehicles. WernerCo.com

A no-sand, no-spackle drywall repair solution T DAP recently introduced its fastest, strongest and thinnest drywall repair solution to date, Eclipse Rapid Wall Repair Patches. These specially formulated self-adhesive discs require no additional tools and provide a permanent patch that’s stronger than drywall. Ideal for areas that see recurring impact (think doorknob dents), it can be used on both smooth and textured interior walls and ceilings, and can be painted immediately. The 2," 4" and 6" circular discs can be cut and customized for application in corners, along trim and molding, and for outlet applications. DAP.com

A new flat paint with the scuff resistance of a gloss T Behr recently launched BEHR ULTRA SCUFF DEFENSE, an extra-durable interior paint & primer in one. Featuring a rich, flat finish with advanced scuff- and mar-resistant technology, the washable coating is ideal for high-traffic areas such as hallways, entryways and shared residential and commercial living environments. For surfaces in need of a quick touch-up, it applies with excellent flow and leveling, and provides great coverage and ease of application. Available exclusively at The Home Depot. Behr.com/ScuffDefense Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

TRENDS

2021 colors of the year

Homeowners finding comfort amid COVID-19

It’s ‘color of the year’ time for many paint manufacturers. While some chose a single defining color, others opted for broader palettes (one features 60 hues). Here’s a peek at just a few of the colors you’ll be seeing more of in 2021:

Here’s how a recent survey found homeowners finding comfort in dealing with contractors during the pandemic: Making contact: 50% of homeowners surveyed rank using the phone their top choice. For the other half who prefer newer communication technologies, text is ranked first by 18%, followed by video chat and email with 12% each, and social media with 8%. Hiring: 89% of homeowners surveyed are comfortable executing key parts of the hiring process online and 40% indicated they are comfortable getting a quote via video chat. Safety: When hiring a home pro, homeowners surveyed are looking for core safety measures with 71% looking for social distancing, 69% extra sanitation, and 61% for PPE use.

Benjamin Moore (1 of 1 color)

Farrow & Ball (6 of 12 colors)

Aegean Teal 2136-40

Green Smoke No.47

PPG Paints (3 of 3 colors) Transcend PPG1079-4

Preference Red No.297

Big Cypress PPG1062-5

Tanner’s Brown No.255

SOURCE: ANGI Homeservices Survey, June 2020

Are you above average? According to Porch.com, the national average materials cost for painting the exterior of a house is $0.32 per s.f., with a range of $0.27 to $0.37. The average for labor & materials per s.f. comes in at $1.84, with a range of $1.19 to $2.49. When applied to a typical 2,500-s.f. project, the average total cost comes in at $4,605.

Misty Aqua PPG1147-3

Your past (and present) matters now more than ever According to HR.com, 90% of employers conduct background checks. Here’s who’s getting screened: 2020

2018

90% 86%

of employers say they screen all full-time individuals

Ultra Marine Blue No.W29

Sherwin-Williams (1 of 1 color) Urbane Bronze SW 7048

Behr (5 of 21 colors)

Diamond Vogel (1 of 1 color) Dreaming of the Day 0470

Almond Wisp PPU5-12

Dunn-Edwards (5 of 60 colors)

Broadway PPU18-20

Burnt Almond DE5258

Cellini Gold HDC-CL-18

Flower Stem DE5605

Jojoba N390-3

Marigold DE5291

Smoky White BWC-13

Rustique DE5149

2018

83% 68%

of employers say they screen all part-time individuals

Best at being the worst? According to the 2019 Consumer Complaint Survey Report, home improvement/construction businesses topped the list for ‘worst complaints.’ Filed complaints most frequently cited shoddy work, failure to start or complete the job, and failure to have required licensing or registration. inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

Treron No.292

Wild Blue Yonder DE5855

2020

Jitney No.293

Hiring and firing in COVID Since March 2020, roughly half (47%) of established small businesses have let go of employees in some capacity, but 50% hope to hire in a year: ■ 37% have furloughed or temporarily laid off employees ■ 34% have made no change ■ 31% have reduced employee hours or pay ■ 10% have fired employees ■ 9% have hired new employees SOURCE: SCORE.org

TREND IN FOCUS

Employee background screenings on the rise But a peek into others’ pasts comes with responsibility

ccording to HR.com, employee background screenings are growing in popularity. Not only has the number of employers conducting screenings increased, so has the type of potential employees being screened. “In the past, companies pretty much stuck to screening full-time employees,” says Mark Vickers, chief research analyst and data wrangler at HR.com. “But today, screenings are also being conducted for part-time employees and contingent or contract employees.” Melissa Sorenson, executive director of the Professional Background Screening Association, agrees. “Ten years ago, background checks for contract employees were not the norm,” she says, “But with the gig economy, it’s completely flipped. Companies have come to recognize that relationship of the individual to the organization doesn’t matter. But the fact that the individual represents your company and brand to the customer does.” Scope creep In addition to who’s being checked, Vickers and Sorenson note that what’s being checked is also changing. “Checks used to be fairly limited to criminal records,” says Vickers, “but now they often include employment verification, education verification, and even identity verification.” While the notion of identity theft is often tied to credit card fraud, Vickers notes, “Sometimes job candidates impersonate other people. And, because employers have a responsibility to pay employees accurately and pay taxes to the appropriate agencies, it’s important to have a process for verifying workers are who they say they are, and that they’re eligible to work in a particular jurisdiction. Identity verification adds another layer of safety to the hiring process.” Your obligations as an employer As an employer, having access to a candidate’s past has appeal; but it’s not without obligation. “The Fair Credit Reporting Act is the primary federal law that regulates everything related to background checks,” says Sorenson. “It requires employers to inform

candidates and employees that the company will run a background check on the individual, and get their authorization to do so. If something comes up that leads you to consider not hiring a candidate or promoting an existing employee, you must, a) provide them with notice that you’re considering not hiring/promoting/retaining them; b) provide them a copy of the report and; c) give them opportunity to dispute the completeness or accuracy of the report.” The screening company that ran the check has a duty to reinvestigate any disputed information in the background check at no cost to the individual. Sorenson adds, “If, after providing the preliminary notice along with a copy of the report and an opportunity to dispute, you decide to not hire the individual, you are federally required to give them a final notice of your decision. However, if you decide not to hire them for reasons unrelated to what’s revealed in the screening—say, a more qualified candidate emerges—you are under no federal obligation to provide notice. It’s also important to keep in mind that, depending upon where you live, there may be state or local requirements that guide this process further, including what you need to communicate.” Those state and local requirements are one of the biggest reasons to consider working with a local professional screening organization.

“ [checks] often include employment verification, education verification, and even identity verification.” —MARK VICKERS, HR.COM

Choosing a screening partner When choosing a background screening partner, Sorenson recommends looking at the PBSA resource directory for a reputable firm. “For me, being a member of the only association in this space is table stakes. From there, you need to look at how your specific needs pair with a potential partner. Specifically: what kinds of checks are your must-haves; what technology does the background screening company utilize—including integrations and user interfaces; what is the screening experience like for the applicant; how important location is; plus, all the components you look for in any business partner to ensure they align with your own organization.” Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

5 QUESTIONS

5 1 GRAHAM AUDENART is a serial entrepreneur and owner and founder of Painters Enterprise, which provides residential and commercial painting services. He also owns both PE Coating Systems and PE Quality Student Painters. Learn more about his businesses on Jobber’s podcast Built By You. PaintersEnterprise.com

Good

QUESTIONS WITH GRAHAM AUDENART

What are your top three priorities for the next six months? ■ Become more of a marketing expert ■ Become a better coach for my team ■ Analyze and learn from past setbacks

What technology has had a meaningful impact on your business? I originally ran Painters Enterprise using pen and paper. We’d constantly lose our notes, and clients would lose estimates and invoices. It was inefficient, time-consuming and frustrating. I needed software to stay organized but didn’t want to use multiple programs. I told a software engineer friend of mine, Forrest Zeisler, about the challenges I was having keeping up with the day-to-day operations of my business, hoping he knew of a technology that could help, but none existed. A couple of months later, Forrest came back with a new business partner, Sam Pillar, and told me they were working on building software that could work for me. I was super excited and gave them as much insight as I could. The end product was the first iteration of Jobber, launched in 2011, an easy-to-use platform that combined invoicing, client records, and team scheduling. I was their first customer and am still a customer today. Now, Jobber looks radically different and features client portals, online scheduling, GPS tracking, online payments, dispatching and more. It’s everything I need to stay organized and get paid.

What’s a big challenge you’ve faced as a business owner? Knowing when to move on from an employee can be difficult. I learned with one of my managers

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

INSIGHT FROM A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR

that money doesn’t fix everything. He wasn’t meeting the growth targets we’d set and seemed disinterested. I offered a bigger cut of the pie to motivate him, but it didn’t work. Letting him go was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made but, once it was done, I was grateful for what the experience taught me.

What efforts have been most beneficial to scaling your business? As my business grew, I started to remove myself from day-to-day operations and focused more on coaching the other managers. I quickly realized how lacking my leadership skills were; how much I micromanaged everything. When you start a business, you feel as if you can do every task better than anybody else, but we neglect to realize that helping others grow is key to growing a company. Entrusting others allowed me to open branches in two other cities and focus on marketing. I realized how important it is to build a brand that stands out. Much of Painters Enterprise’s messaging now focuses on how our commercial clients can create better workplaces that motivate staff and attract more clients.

What advice would you give other businesses that are early in their journey? I wish I had paid more attention to finances in the early years. Jobber has really helped me and my team get a real-time snapshot into booking trends, invoicing, expenses, team efficiency and more. When you deal solely with pen-and-paper to track your finances, your information is always two steps behind. It’s not sustainable to grow a business and make decisions without knowing how it is performing in real time.

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

2021

WISH LIST 4 pros on what would help their businesses thrive in 2021 and beyond

he end of the year is a time when many pros start thinking aboutâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and wishing forâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ways to improve their business in the coming year. We asked four pros representing businesses across the country and different areas of specialty what their 2021 wish lists include. While not every item on their lists is likely to materialize (or even exist), they do offer some insight into the challenges pros are facing, as well as insight into the solutions they think hold the key to success.

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

Dan R oss

Ross Painting, San Rafael, CA Residential and Commercial Painting

A new management/salesperson The reason for this wish is twofold. First, right now we have a couple of people tasked with too much, and I need to move some things off their plate so that they don’t burn out. Second, I want to rebuild our repaint business, which has sort of ebbed away in recent years. Last year, we did $400,000 in repaint, but I want to be closer to $1–1.5 million. To do that, I need a person focused on the effort. Revamp our in-house training program for new hires At the most recent PCA Expo, I was really struck by the training system used by Brick City Painting & Drywall in Mexico, MO. They do a really nice job of education through videos and hands-on training in their shop. I’m actually sending my operations manager to visit with them and observe their program. Already, I know that whatever we do has to be different simply based on where we’re located. Real estate here is limited and very expensive. As much as I’d like a shop with different surfaces to train on, it’s not going to happen. Right now, I’m working on trying to find some community partners where we can provide pre-field training for new hires and meet a need. It may be with schools, nonprofits, or even homes where the owner can’t afford a repaint at full price. We’re considering doing the work either at a reduced rate or for free. Once we get it in place, I think it will help with hiring, retention, and the overall quality of work we deliver. More government investment in the country as a whole When COVID first hit, I read an article by an economics professor from Harvard. He was commenting that, from an economic standpoint, the U.S. was doing the worst job of all industrialized countries in terms of supporting businesses. That was when the U.S. was talking about investing two trillion dollars. That particular writer said we’d need six. As I thought about it, I realized he was right. Six trillion seems like an exorbitant amount of money, but when you amortize it over 50-100 years, it’s really insignificant. But the cost of not supporting businesses now will be felt well past the 50-100-year mark by many, many people. Including painters. If you think of 25% of all restaurants or gyms or whatever going out of business, everything will shrink. There won’t be as many clients for us to pursue for painting. All the trades—HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, even cleaning services—we’ll all take a hit. And not all of those businesses will survive that hit. It will just be like dominos taking down business after business. My wish is that the government would take the bold step and make the investment that’s needed to ensure our economy remains on stable footing for generations to come.

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“ For all the obvious reasons, a vaccine or cure [for COVID-19] would be great.”

Jennifer Ibarra

—AARON MOORE, PRECISION PAINTING & DECORATING

Ibarra Design Co., Spring Hill, TN Residential Painting

Aaron Moore

To continue to add staff and expand my services I initially started out just doing residential painting. But this past year, due to customer demand, we added flooring, tile and countertop installation services. It has served us really well and is inspiring me to add more services and more crew members. Ultimately, I’d like to be a major player in the Nashville market and start tackling commercial projects. Adding services and crew is an important first step toward that. A Festool sander and dust extraction system We do a lot of kitchen cabinet work, which creates a lot of dust. I would love a Festool sander and dust extractor. Some other painters I know have one and I just love how quiet they are, how they keep the site so clean, and how much less time it takes to get a job done versus hand-sanding. A cargo van Right now, I have a passenger van with the seats out. It’s wrapped and looks nice, but it isn’t ideal. I can get ladders in and out (not easily) but it doesn’t fit scaffolding. When we need scaffolding on a job, I have to get it delivered. A cargo van would solve that and would make loading ladders and everything else a lot easier.

Jason Paris

Paris-Painting, Brooklyn Center, MN Residential and Commercial Painting

Hidden cameras for field employees The motivation behind this idea isn’t to spy on employees but, rather, to get deep data so we can analyze trends related to client interactions. We actually kind of dabbled in this a while back with pen recorders. We used them for training so that we could hear how a prospect call went. We were able to assess how the employee handled objections, how good they 16

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

Precision Painting & Decorating, Bellwood, IL Commercial, HOA, Warehouse Painting

A recruiter to find great new hires Finding good employees is always a challenge and especially so for field employees. Honestly, it’s a full-time job. I would love to have a dedicated person who sifted through all the candidates, ran the background checks, etc. I’m always in need of more talent. The challenge is finding the time to give it the attention it requires and deserves.

were at probing, and how good they were at listening and responding to clients’ needs. With cameras, we could start to bring visual cues into the mix. So, let’s say we learn that when a prospect puts his hand on his left hip, you want to guide the conversation this way. I think it would be really awesome to become better at recognizing and responding to a prospect or client’s nonverbal cues. Every issue of inPAINT from 1, 3 and 5 years out! It would be really awesome to know what trends are going to be unfolding in the future and when. inPAINT offers a good snapshot of a lot of what’s happening in the industry, and it would be like a superpower to have that insight in advance. I mean, we’re pretty nimble and adapt quickly, but a little heads up would allow us to feel confident we’re steering in the right direction—especially now when things are changing so rapidly. A daycare facility at our office We have a lot of employees with young kids. Watching people trying to navigate school closings and distance learning really makes me think this would be an awesome idea. And, personally, I love when my kids visit the office. If I could start every morning bringing them here and then popping in every hour or so, well, that would be amazing.

An outbound lead generator (a.k.a. cold caller) While we do some marketing and get some unsolicited calls to do bids, it would be really nice to have someone who could deliver warm leads to our sales team. Because of COVID-19, it’s been really hard to get meetings. Every company seems to have a different protocol related to how—and even if—meetings can happen. And, unlike a year ago, nobody wants you walking in off the street without an appointment. I’d love to have someone who could go after targeted prospects. We know what type of prospects are a good fit, it’s just finding the time to pursue them. A vaccine or cure for COVID-19 For all the obvious reasons, a vaccine or cure would be great. I really want things to go back to something close to normal; a world without masks and elbow bumps. I really miss meeting clients face to face and shaking hands. Virtual meetings are kind of bridging the gap but, for me, it lacks the connection that meeting in person provides. -

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PRO PICKS

Four pros talk specialty coatings Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an epoxy, direct-to-metal, marine anti-rust or a brilliant, glossy metallic, sometimes jobs require working with coatings that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your standard residential interior or exterior paints. Here, four pros talk about some of the unique job types they take on and the go-to specialty coatings they use to achieve the desired look and performance. BY BRIAN SODOMA

OUR PROS

1 18

JOSHUA KATZ Suncoast Painting and Professional Services SuncoastPros.com

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

CINDY HOWARD Decorative & Faux Finishes DecorativeAndFauxFinishes.com

MIKE SHAFFER Five Star Painting of Temecula Valley FiveStarPainting.com/temecula-valley

STEVE BORDERS Sterling Painting (316) 993-5072

Courtesy of Suncoast Painting and Professional Services

1 JOSHUA KATZ

This long-time pro handles a lot of South Florida’s metal and fiberglass structures exposed to harsh saltwater air. For repainting fiberglass lifeguard towers, steel handrailings near the ocean, and metal finishes on luxury condos, the pro often uses PPG Paints AmerLock 2 as a primer and the company’s PSX 700 topcoat, both specifically formulated for maritime conditions. He also works with glass and furniture that require a product with considerable adherence properties. For that, he looks to PPG Paints BREAK-THROUGH!, a water-based acrylic that can adhere to plastics, tile, laminates and other ultra-smooth surfaces. “It has incredible grip and will adhere to almost anything. Plus, it’s cost-effective and easy to use,” he added. Katz sometimes receives requests for electrostatic paint jobs where, with the help of an electrostatic sprayer, positive and negative charges combine with the coating so that it goes on smooth, and it even wraps around rounded surfaces like railings. He turns to Perfection Electrostatic Paint from Accessa for this work. “It’s a very expensive process, but you get a super-clean finish with less overspray … but 99% of the time you also have to remove all of the existing coating so it doesn’t interfere with the process, which is sometimes not feasible,” he explained. Katz also prefers Benjamin Moore Ultra-Spec SCUFF-X for walls in hotels, schools and high-traffic commercial environments. For warehouse floors, garage floors and polished concrete, he uses Seal-Krete Dura-Shell, which handles high moisture and humidity well in industrial settings.

2 CINDY HOWARD

When customers call Houston-based Decorative & Faux Finishes, they’re not looking for a standard repaint. They’re usually hoping Cynthia Howard and her business partner Dana DeBuck can reenvision a space. Howard says metallic colors on interior walls are one of her common specialty coating requests today. “We like to ramp it up a little bit with metallics and mica (silicate minerals). It helps give an extra-luscious quality,” she said. Golden Paintworks Metallic Paint offers a wide range of pre-mixed colors and does well with textured washes, weathered granite looks, and other unique requests. And Modern Masters Metallic Paint is another go-to option for intricate designs with glitter, mica or other embellishments to liven up a dining room, living room, or even a small powder room. Called upon to bring character and beauty to commercial environments as well as homes, Howard recently needed a ‘serious but sensitive’ look and feel for rooms in a counseling office. She turned to Novacolor Animamundi, a metallic texture product that trowels easily and is both subtle and eye-catching. She’ll also blend mica into Diamond Coat Epoxy to add flair to tabletops in conference rooms and offices. “It’s a great way to upgrade a commercial or residential setting,” she added.

3 MIKE SHAFFER

The franchise owner of Five Star Painting, a Neighborly company in Temecula Valley, CA likes to keep his eyes open for specialty paints he can be first to market with in his region. Operating in the Golden State, he also contends with stringent EPA restrictions. So, ideal products for his team perform well on the durability side, but also have minimal fumes and VOCs. For cabinets and doors, Gemini Waterborne Clear Lacquer is an upgrade product his customers appreciate. It has a high solid count for added durability and resistance to yellowing, but low VOCs as well. “It offers a nice, smooth finish and won’t orange peel. It’s a high-end, pro-grade finish,” Shaffer said. Another Gemini product Shaffer likes for cabinets is EVO HYDRO-PURE Water-Based Lacquer. It’s at a higher price point, but brings even more durability than the other Gemini lacquers—and no odor at all.

▼ Decorative & Faux Finishes used Modern Masters Metallic Paint to create this aweinspiring ceiling design.

▲ Single-component Ultra-Spec SCUFF-X from Benjamin Moore withstands repeated abuse and washing.

STEVE BORDERS

This Kansas-based pro sees his share of metal building work, including pre-fabricated Morton buildings, barns, aircraft storage and machine shop structures. Often, pros in his region like to turn to direct-to-metal (DTM) offerings, but Borders says those are better for bare metal and not the repaints he usually sees. “That’s not to say you can’t use DTM,” he clarified, “but I just think there are better options.” Borders is partial to Sherwin-Williams Bond-Plex, a waterbased coating whose low sheen is preferred by many of his customers. For those wanting more sheen, their SHER-CRYL HPA, a high-performance acrylic semi-gloss coating, is an upgraded semi-gloss he suggests. He also coats metal roofs for some area roofing contractors. For this work, he turns to the company’s Uniflex Industrial Elastomeric Roof Coating. “Even though I like the Sherwin-Williams products, I do also use Benjamin Moore and PPG products. Both of those companies have quality coatings for these types of jobs as well,” he added. -

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This project was completed by Suncoast Painting and Professional Services using PPG Paints PSX 700, which provides long-term retention of color and gloss even in coastal Florida. Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

o matter where you are in your professional journey, you depend on products and services that save time and money, and also help you maintain your reputation for quality craftsmanship.

For this SPECIAL SECTION, we invited industry leaders to showcase their products and services that go the extra mile to keep you on the road to success and make your journey smoother. Here, they present innovative products and tools that incorporate the latest advances in technology to meet todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance needs, and offer up new professional service offerings and educational opportunities developed to keep your business nimble in these challenging times. Just ahead, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the support you need to keep your business moving forward.

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

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REACH Your Potential With Quality Extension Poles from Mr. LongArm SUPER TAB-LOK® EXTENSION POLES Super Tab-Lok extension poles are designed with the professional in mind. Smooth fiberglass handle and tri-oval slider prevents twisting. Push button locking device provides the most secure lock making this an excellent pole for nearly any application. Geometrically designed aluminum slider tube prevents twisting and a lok-thread prevents tools from loosening during use.

SMART-LOK® ADAPTORS Smart-Lok® adaptors convert any standard threaded tool to our quick-on/quick-off system when used with Smart-Lok extension poles. The quick-on/quick-off system allows the fastest and cleanest way to change or remove paint rollers or other threaded tools. The Smart-lok® adaptor with Lok-Thread® also prevents tools from loosening as you work. Available in a 3-pack.

SMART-LOK® EXTENSION POLES The SMART-LOK extension pole is our top of the line Contractor pole with time-saving features. Our exclusive quick-on/quick-off system allows the user to quickly change tools with the push of a button. Geometrically designed aluminum slider tube prevents twisting and a Smart-lok adaptor with lok-thread prevents tools from loosening during use. Push button locking device provides the most secure lock making this an excellent pole for nearly any application.

BRUSH & TOOL HOLDER Great for attaching non-threaded tools such as paint brushes, dusters, scrapers and more, to an extension pole. Adjusts up to 270°; set and lock angle in 13 different working positions. Universal threaded end fits any standard extension pole. PROUDLY SERVING PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS SINCE 1958.

Visit the Mr. LongArm Store on Amazon.

Discover FrogTape Brand’s Full Line of Products ®

It started with one product. An unexpected color. And unbeatable results.

he original FrogTape® Multi-Surface painter’s tape was the innovation that changed painting, delivering super sharp paint lines and professional results with patented PaintBlock® Technology. This dedication to improving painting with innovative thinking has built the FrogTape® Brand from a single tape to a variety of solutions for DIYers and pros alike.

USE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB From prepping to cleaning up, we help pros navigate the painting process with high-quality products that ensure professional results. Prep – Drop Cloth Pads ■ Sized to fit easily on bathroom floors or on a counter, these slip-resistant drop cloths are the perfect companion for painting in small spaces.

Paint – Painter’s Tapes ■ FrogTape ® brand painter’s tapes that are treated with patented PaintBlock® Technology, have a super-absorbent polymer that reacts with the water in latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, preventing paint bleed and creating clean, crisp paint lines. These FrogTape® products include Multi-Surface, Delicate Surface and Pro Grade, which are perfect for any painting project. ■ For production painting, FrogTape ® Pro Grade Orange Painter’s Tape™ offers high adhesion and quick stick to a variety of surfaces even in hot and humid conditions. Clean – Touch Up Cup ■ The patented touch up cup eliminates the need to store old paint cans and the clear cup makes finding the right color for touch-ups easy. Includes a stainless-steel blending sphere for quick and mess-free mixing.

For more information, visit FrogTape.com/Contractors

SPECIAL SECTION

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

Supporting Our Professional Community For more than 150 years, Sherwin-Williams has supported painting professionals and contractors with exceptional products and resources to help them work smarter. This year, as contractors had to shift how they worked, Sherwin-Williams was there from the start. As a go-to resource for professionals, we provide contractors with tools and information — from online pro-hubs, pro-podcasts, and custom content in Sherwin-Williams PPC — to help keep their businesses moving. SIMPLIFYING YOUR BUSINESS WITH PRODUCT INNOVATION Sherwin-Williams is committed to investing in the research and development of advanced technologies that create more opportunities for your business. Over the years, we’ve developed innovative coatings and proprietary services to maximize aesthetics and efficiencies including paint qualities such as washability, paint-and-primer-in-one solutions and technologies that help reduce odors and moisture. For example, Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Rain Refresh Exterior Acrylic Latex, formulated with Self-Cleaning Technology™, gives professionals a convenient solution to maintaining exteriors all year long. The new technology in Rain Refresh washes away dirt on contact with rain or water, helping professionals achieve a fresh look with minimal maintenance. In addition, the development of the new FlexTemp™ Exterior Latex Paint gives professionals more flexibility in their schedules, allowing them to apply the coating to substrates with temperatures of the air, surface and material ranging from 35° F to 120° F. With enhanced application properties,

ONGOING PRO SUPPORT Professionals can connect with a rep to receive unmatched personalized service. From on-site support to product advice, Sherwin-Williams can help you grow your business and exceed your customers’ expectations by leveraging our leading color trends expertise, coatings and business tools that help you succeed and get the job done. Find out more about time-saving products, offers and tools with Sherwin-Williams PRO e-mails and by following Sherwin-Williams on Twitter @SWPaintPros and at Facebook.com/SWPaintPros.

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

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the ExtremeTemp Technology® in FlexTemp™ provides excellent adhesion and long-term resistance to flaking, peeling and weathering during both hot and cold months.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN TODAY’S WORLD In addition to innovative coatings, digital resources such as Sherwin-Williams PRO App allow professionals to simplify their business, saving them time and money. Contractors can log in with a mySW profile for personalized service, including fast and easy online ordering for delivery and in-store pickup, checking product inventory, pricing and other features that help you work more efficiently. Through mySW, contractors can also develop customizable sales and marketing materials, and explore tools that help promote their business to new and existing customers. Now, as more contractors look for ways to support their business offerings in a safe and effective way, Sherwin-Williams Project Bids Tool – available via the PRO App – can help PROs deliver an easy-toread, professional bid that captures job details and project information, right from a mobile device, from which bids can be easily sent anywhere, any time to customers. With this new and free tool for PROs, contractors can create new project bids for jobs and can also edit existing bids or duplicate these to provide a template for new projects. Project Bids features a price calculating tool that is customizable to fit your pricing methods based on hours or flat rates. The guided workflow design helps capture customer information and project details quickly and easily in addition to autopopulating customer email addresses, PRO email addresses, subject lines and custom body messaging from a PRO’s preferred email app. The bids produced by the tool allow contractors to add products from the Sherwin-Williams catalog to project details, and capture products proposed for specific area usage that can be sent directly to customers in a contactless and easy way. The Project Bids Tool is available for all PROs via the Sherwin-Williams PRO App when you sign into your PRO account.

Learn more at sherwin-williams.com/pro.

Cutting In: The Right Brush Will Give You the Edge Whether you are new to professional painting or are a seasoned veteran, “cutting in” can be a challenging part of your job. For beginners, painter’s tape can be a helpful tool to ensure a clean edge around moldings, baseboards and ceilings, but over time you’ll realize that it will cost you valuable time and resources.

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ere are ways to get a clean line without taping from experts at Purdy® Professional Painting Tools: Never start in the valley between surfaces – Always start applying paint about an inch away from the adjacent surface so you don’t put too much paint into this area. Spreading the paint up to the adjacent surface will ensure you only apply paint where it’s needed. For corners – Position the brush tips parallel to the edge of the wall, remembering to start about an inch away from the adjacent wall and press filaments into the edge like a fan, leaving a semioval line of paint along the corner. This process is called “blooming.” Use quick, long strokes whenever possible to get straight lines and consistent coverage with fewer brush marks. Slow usually equals shaky, regardless of skill level or experience. For trim – Use a similar technique, leaving a bloom across long strokes. If you notice “fingering,” or large groups of separate filaments in the brush, get a fresh load of paint before continuing. This means you’re spreading the paint too thin and won’t get “one coat coverage.”

FOR CRAFTSPEOPLE FROM CRAFTSPEOPLE As a painter, you take pride in your work, down to the last detail. Our professional painting tools are handcrafted individually in the U.S. for maximum painting performance. We use only the finest raw materials, from responsibly harvested alder wood for handles that are lightweight and provide a moisture-free grip down to a variety of filaments, including natural, synthetics and blends. From formulation to production, each step in our production process represents a standard for hand craftsmanship and quality unmatched in the industry. Each Purdy brush is “signed” by the brushmaker as a mark of pride in a job well done and as a sign that the tool you are using was crafted with the highest level of quality.

SPECIAL SECTION

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For ceilings – Depending on your height, position your brush tips with a good viewing angle of the ceiling edge and don’t press as hard to leave a narrower bloom in this touchy spot. To avoid unevenness or breaks in the line because of jerks or hand movements, consider exhaling as you move the brush along the edge or holding your breath. For uneven surfaces – Move slowly and shake the brush lightly to work paint into uneven spots.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to trim techniques. Ultimately, it comes down to practice and personal preference. Different professional painters will have their own ways of creating clean lines when cutting in, but all can agree that the brush can make all the difference. Purdy can help guide that decision based on three factors: 1. The type of material you are painting on, such as wood, drywall or plaster. 2. The type of paint you are using, such as the sheen level, oil-based and more. 3. Where you are painting, such as interior, exterior, trim, siding, etc. For cutting in, Purdy recommends stiff brushes such as the Chinex® Elite™ series for around exterior doors, windows and rough surfaces, as well as for interior ceilings and floors; Clearcut® Elite™ brushes for low-VOC and latex paints and primers; and XL™ for latex and oil-based paints, primers, and stains. These brushes provide even coverage, fast application —and come in various sizes for all jobs.

For more information and help in finding the right paint applicator, visit Purdy.com.

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

Scotch Painter’s Tapes The best paint jobs start with Scotch® Painter’s Tape. Every job is unique, but they all start with the right preparation. Prepping with a painter’s tape from Scotch® Brand means you have a family of tapes specifically designed for your surfaces. By choosing to use the right tape, you’re choosing to create a better result.

3M™ surface-specific tapes are designed to help you on any job. Scotch® Exterior Surface Painter’s Tape is a weatherproof tape for smooth and semi-smooth exterior surfaces. This tape can be used in humid conditions and is perfect for use on glass, metal, painted wood and vinyl. This innovative poly tape removes easily without tearing, slivering or leaving a sticky residue. Scotch Exterior has a 10-day clean removal time and a very strong adhesive.

Scotch® Delicate Surface Painter’s Tape is great for wood floors, wallpaper, cabinets and freshly painted walls (at least 24 hours old). This tape has a gentle adhesive, and a 60-day clean removal time. n

Scotch® Rough Surface Painter’s Tape is ideal for brick, concrete, stucco and rough wood. Also recommended for use on lacquer coating. This tape has a 5-day clean removal time, and very strong adhesive that removes easily without leaving sticky residue behind. n

SBLU-20-1286

production R1-1 10-12-20

Find the right tape for your project at ScotchBlue.com

Spt — half page Ad client: Emily Browing ae: Ng pm: ss ad: sj cw: MB pa: sj pub: inpaint magazine issue date: Nov/dec 2020 trim size: 7.458" x 4.979" ink: 4c l l l l

The best paint jobs start with No two surfaces are alike — that’s why starting with the right prep can make all the difference. With a family of tapes designed specifically for your surface, Scotch® Painter’s Tape helps you prep right for professional-looking results.

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

SPECIAL SECTION

Benjamin Moore’s SCUFF-X — The Industry’s First True Scuff-Resistant Paint ®

Revolutionary Formula Provides Long-Lasting Durability in High-Traffic Spaces

aunched in 2017, SCUFF-X®—the first-of-its-kind, is a revolutionary, high-performance, one-component latex paint engineered with patent-pending scuff-resistant technology. The Semi-gloss offers a unique blend of toughness and flexibility that features a proprietary CHIP-TECH® technology engineered to withstand glancing blows and irregular hits received daily. SCUFF-X provides superior scuff-resistance to two-component coatings, without the strong odor, pre-mixing, short pot-life and application difficulties associated with similar products. SCUFF-X provides long-term durability with unmatched scuffresistance in a latex formula that can be applied to occupied areas for a quick return to service and reduced downtime. SCUFF-X will retain its high-quality appearance much longer with minimal maintenance. SCUFF-X is the trusted paint solution for professional painters that will dramatically improve how they maintain the busiest and highly abused spaces.

This innovative product was designed to exceed the performance demands of the most challenging high-traffic spaces and facilities such as hallways, stairwells, lobbies, common areas, offices, gymnasiums, locker rooms, public restrooms, retail fitting rooms and much more. The cutting-edge formulation enables the coating to be low-VOC, eligible for LEED® v4 credit, and qualifies for CHPS low emitting credit. The professional marketplace has responded positively to SCUFF-X with three high-profile industry awards shortly after the product launch in 2017: 1. Grand Award (1st place) in the Product Innovations program, BUILDINGS magazine 2. Product of the Year, 2017 Editor’s Choice, Architectural Record 3. 2017 Best of Product Award, Architect’s Newspaper SCUFF-X is available in more than 3,500 Benjamin Moore colors in four finishes: Matte, Eggshell, Satin and Semi-gloss.

For more information, go to www.benjaminmoore.com/contractors

CONTRACTOR REWARDS™ Benjamin Moore® products will help your business and earn rewards for you.

GIFTS • ELECTRONICS • EQUIPMENT • EXPERIENCES

Enroll for free through ContractorRewards.com or your Benjamin Moore® retailer.

BI Worldwide is responsible for the operation and fulfillment of the Contractor Rewards program and website. Visit ContractorRewards.com for all rules, terms and conditions. ©2020 Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore, the triangle “M” symbol, Ultra Spec and SCUFF-X are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. All other marks are the property of their respective owner. 11/20 SPECIAL SECTION

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

Tower Sealants Launches a New Innovative Product Since 2006, Tower Sealants has been supplying high-performance caulks and sealants to the professional paint segment. Tower’s ability to formulate products to meet the changing needs of pro contractors has been its key to success.

ower is using its experience with professionals to expand in commercial construction and is introducing an innovative new product named AU-1 Commercial Construction Sealant. AU-1 is a highly elastic and extremely non-ageing, non-sagging, high-performance construction sealant. It requires no mixing or priming to bond at the molecular level to most construction materials. AU-1 is paintable and will never bleed through the paint finish or create tacky surfaces, making it resistant to dirt pickup. Once cured, it has exceptional mold and mildew resistance. AU-1 has outstanding UV resistance and maintains high elasticity and adhesion in all climates, even after

years of exposure. It is VOC compliant nationwide including all CARB and SCAQMD requirements. AU-1 can be used in all weather conditions and will not lose elasticity or elongation under constant, varying mechanical stress. AU-1 can outperform many single-component polyurethanes and silicone sealants. Tower Sealant’s AU-1 is easier, safer and extends the life of commercial buildings, saving contractors and building owners time and money. Dedicated to producing reliable, high-quality products, Tower uses the latest mixing and packaging technology to provide consistent deaerated sealants with air-free filling. Today, professional contractors across North America and Canada use Tower products. Tower Sealants is a subsidiary of M-D Building Products.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Ray Heck at (405) 557-3557, or email tech@towersealants.com.

Invest in the Right Equipment Mi-T-M Corporation manufactures several models of cold water pressure washers specific to the paint market. Many of these washers feature a heavy duty triplex plunger pump giving contractors more working hours for pressure washing.

he Mi-T-M CBA Series belt driven pressure washer is built with longevity in mind. According to Don Holdridge, National Paint Division Manager, “This machine can run 6 to 7 hours a day, 5 days a week with no problems.” That’s because belt-drive pressure washers run with less RPM load on the pump which makes them ideal for contractors who use pressure washers for heavy cleaning and to prep surfaces for restoration projects. One of the biggest mistakes a contractor can make when deciding which pressure washer to invest in, is purchasing equipment that is designed

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

SPECIAL SECTION

for much smaller jobs. “We tell our customers to make sure they consider how many hours a day they need to use their pressure washer,” says Holdridge, “otherwise they could be buying a machine that is not built for the type of work they need it to do.” Having the right equipment for a job is important and at Mi-T-M all equipment comes with a guarantee of unbeatable customer service and technical support. “Customer support is one of the most important aspects of our company,” says Jeff Schlichte, Paint Division Manager. “We believe you deserve that benefit when you buy from Mi-T-M. It’s been an important part of our business from day-one and I don’t see that ever changing.”

For more information on Mi-T-M Corporation and their complete line of products, visit mitm.com or call (800) 553-9053.

ADVANCED URETHANE HYBRID EXCEEDS ASTM C-920 & TCBSAT-30* AU-1 Advanced Urethane Hybrid is a premium, one-component, highperformance, non-ageing, elastomeric hybrid sealant. It has exceptional UV resistance and maintains high elasticity in all climates. AU-1 requires no mixing or priming reducing labor and application time. This innovative formula bonds at the molecular level creating superior adhesion. Unaffected by years of exterior exposure, AU-1 will not lose its bond or elasticity under varying mechanical stress guaranteeing long-term building integrity. FEATURES : • 5-year labor and material warranty • Reduces labor 20% - 30% • Long term UV resistance • Below freezing applications • Paintable • 24-month shelf life

APPLICABLE STANDARDS : Meets or exceeds the requirements of: • ASTM C-920 • Fed Spec. TTS-00230C • AAMA 808.3 • AAMA 714-19 • TCBSAT-30*

BENEFITS :

USES:

• No primer required

• Exterior & interior

• No mixing reducing prep time

• Expansion & control joints

• Seals joints up to 2” wide

• Window & door perimeters

• 800% elongation & 50% joint movement

• Store front assemblies

• Low stress relaxation & 99% recovery

• Dissimilar substrates

• Tilt-wall panel joints • Precast units

* TCBSAT-30 or Tower Common Building Substrate Adhesion Test. AU-1 is appliedto 30 common building substrates and tested in accordance with a modified version ofASTM C-794. The minimum adhesion values used in TCBSAT-30 are significantly higher than those required by ASTM C-920.

For product information or samples call: 866.897.7568 For tech support email: tech@towersealants.com SPECIAL SECTION Online at: www.towersealants.com

• EIFS

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

We’re NOT CANCELLING the 5th Annual Painting Profits Summit! 2020 has been a chaotic year for painting contractors like you. Lockdowns, civil unrest and uncertainty about taxes and regulations have caused many owners to adopt new strategies for facing what may be a weaker economy. If you don’t have a solid plan for 2021, we can help you develop one... AT THE 5TH ANNUAL PAINTING PROFITS SUMMIT, OUR THEME IS “ACTION OVER FEAR.” During three action-packed days, hundreds of painting contractors will gather from all over the nation — in-person and virtually — to share ideas, strategies and tools for building a bullet-proof painting business.

POWERFUL TRAINING FROM THE NATION’S MOST SUCCESSFUL PAINTING CONTRACTORS Owners will present peer-to-peer on marketing, sales, estimating, hiring, management and operations. Topics include the following, but speakers are still being added: ■ The 4-Phase Blueprint for Landing Large Commercial Repaint Clients: Brandon Lewis, APPC ■ How to Profitably Lead 120+ Painters to Excellence: Roger Carrol, Southern Touch Painting ■ Secrets for Closing the Sale — Even When Your Price is High: Tonya & Ray Orist, R&J Painting ■ 8 Easy Steps for Dealing with Difficult Clients: Jason Finney & Jason Humrichous, Heritage Custom Painting ■ Finally Find the Time to FOCUS on Your Future: Dan Woodford, Two Brothers Painting ■ The $1,500,000 Dollar Painter Panel: Various Large, Successful Contractors ■ Increase Personal Income By 15% to 25% Though Better Purchasing Processes: Brandon Lewis, Painters Academy

INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION DURING “HOT SEAT” SESSIONS While owners will be presenting during the general session, a lot of the heavy lifting happens during the “Hot Seat Sessions.” During “Hot Seats,” owners are broken into different peer groups based on sales volume ranges. During your session, you’ll have a specific amount of time to address the ENTIRE GROUP to do two things that could transform your business forever... #1 SHARE Your Best Kept Painting Secret – This is the one single strategy, tactic, or tool that has been responsible for breakout success in your painting business. Don’t be stingy... every attendee will be sharing their secrets and bringing an example to leave with each member of the peer-group. 28

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

#2 SHARE Your Greatest Obstacle In Reaching Your Goals – Everyone struggles with a specific, recurring problem in their painting business. It could be recruitment, management, operations, sales, marketing, winter work, breaking into commercial, lead generation... you name it. What if you could finally solve your biggest painting problem by tapping into the wisdom and knowledge of high-achieving painting contractors? You can! Owners report remarkable changes in their painting business when they directly access the “GROUP MASTERMIND” at the Painting Profits Summit. What will you learn?

FOCUSING ON COMMERCIAL REPAINTS This year, our optional 4-hour pre-day event will be The 4-Phase Blueprint for Landing Large Commercial Repaint Clients. Most painters want more commercial repaint work, but they simply don’t know how to get it. Over the past six years, Brandon Lewis has helped scores of “commercial novices” turn into professional prospectors and CLOSERS of large commercial repaint clients. Will you be next? You can be... You’ll leave this workshop equipped with the fully-complete and done-for-you systems, tools, templates, and manuals you need to succeed in any commercial market — guaranteed!

FUN, FELLOWSHIP AND RECOGNITION It’s not just “all work” at this leading industry event. It all kicks off with a welcome reception where attendees get to know one another and exchange ideas. Food, drinks and live entertainment at Westin’s Alchemy Skybar will offer a scenic backdrop of downtown Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. The following evening, contractors will be formally recognized for business achievements during our annual Academy Awards Ceremony.

ROOMS ARE LIMITED, REGISTER NOW! 5TH ANNUAL PAINTING PROFITS SUMMIT Chattanooga, TN | JANUARY 28-30, 2021 Live & Virtual Tickets Available Book Tickets: www.PaintersAcademy.com/Summit Questions? Call 423-800-0520!

SPECIAL SECTION

Build a Bullet-Proof Painting Business In Any Economy!

the 5th Annual Painting Profits Summit, we are choosing “Action Over Fear.” When you attend this this action-packed event, you’ll discover the industry secrets you need to increase your personal income while reducing the stress of day-to-day business management. Learn littleknown sales, marketing, hiring and management methods from the nation’s most successful painting contractors. Your peers will solve your toughest business problems in our unique “Hot Seat Sessions” where your company is the center of attention.

Event Details:

5th Annual Painting Profits Summit Chattanooga, TN JANUARY 28-30, 2021

Optional Commercial Repaints Bootcamp PRE-DAY! The 4-Phase Blueprint for Landing Large Commercial Repaint Clients

Thursday, January 28th, 2021 1pm-5pm EST

LIVE and VIRTUAL TICKETS AVAILABLE For more Information Visit: www.PaintersAcademy.com/Summit or call 423-800-0520

BlueLink™ Provides the Critical Information You Need Every Day Stay in control of your business with BlueLink from Graco. BlueLink combines the power of a mobile app with Bluetooth-enabled Graco sprayers to provide real-time jobsite and sprayer information to improve the way you manage your business.

lueLink connects the people and equipment that drive your business in a completely new way. Whether you’re on a jobsite, at the office, or anywhere in between, BlueLink gives you the powerful data you need – on-demand, every day. Track job progress and monitor hourly productivity with real-time jobsite access.

Maximize uptime with the ability to monitor preventative maintenance schedules, receive maintenance alerts and check complete historical maintenance records on every sprayer. If needed, you can easily look up service parts on your sprayer with Graco PartsBook. BlueLink is free to use with no monthly fees. It’s available on most Graco electric sprayers, can support 1-500 sprayers and is available in 9 languages.

To learn more and download the app, visit graco.com/BlueLink.

Painting Contractors | Remodelers | General Contractors Property Managers | Architects | Designers

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POWERFUL DATA TO DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS BlueLink™ connects the people and equipment that drive your business in a completely new way. Whether on the jobsite, at the office, or somewhere in between, BlueLink provides the critical information you need every day — including real-time jobsite access, instant maintenance alerts, on-demand productivity reports. Anytime, anywhere, and free to use!

KNOW JOB PROGRESS

GET BLUELINK WORKING FOR YOUR BUSINESS TODAY: graco.com/BlueLink

graco.com/BlueLink

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

BEHR PRO Offers Personalized Paint Services for Pros ®

Serving the needs of professional painters, contractors, remodelers and property owners/managers is the foundation of the BEHR PRO Professional Products and Services Program, and the core of our mission.

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ince our inception, we have been dedicated to delivering personalized services and highquality products to meet the needs of our customers nationwide. When you work with the BEHR PRO Professional Products and Services Program, you will have access to a dedicated BEHR PRO Rep who will help you get the most out of the many professional painter services we provide, including: ■ Call, text, or email your orders ■ Arrange will call and schedule deliveries* ■ Custom color matching ■ Project and order record management

Job walks Project submittal packages Specification services Digital color renderings Full-size drawdown samples

Together with The Home Depot®, we offer volume discounts, so you can ensure you’re getting the lowest possible price. Plus save up to 20% on BEHR® Paints, Stains, and Primers and get exclusive money-saving offers when you join the The Home Depot PRO XTRA Loyalty Program.

Visit behrpro.com to find a local BEHR PRO Rep near you. *Where available. Some limitations apply.

A Full Line of Primers 40 Years in the Making For over 40 years KILZ® Primers have been an essential product on professional jobsites both large and small — with a full line of primers pros can count on.

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ur longstanding relationship with the pros has helped us understand the qualities and product innovations that matter most. We also know that different painting jobs present different substrates with unique needs, and that there is not a one size fits all primer solution. That is why KILZ makes a specially formulated primer for almost every situation.

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KILZ® Restoration: a water-based formula with the stain and odor blocking performance of an oil or shellac-based primer. KILZ® Mold & Mildew: an interior/exterior primer for high-moisture, high-humidity areas. KILZ® Original: an oil-based primer to seal porous surfaces, block stains, and seal odors. KILZ® PVA: a fast-drying primer for new, uncoated drywall with no underlying substrate issues. KILZ® 2 All-Purpose: a multi-surface sealer for interior/exterior applications in a waterbased formula. KILZ® 3 Premium: a heavier duty multisurface primer good for tougher stains.

We know that our reputation is only as good as your reputation. We’ve had your back for over 40 years, and we’re going to continue working just as hard as you do for another 40 to come. 32

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The Road to FREEDOM! There can be freedom in a painting business.

unning a painting business is hard, and for most of us, we are over worked, underappreciated, and have anything but freedom. I started my business, like most, to have more freedom…not less. I wanted the ability to make my own schedule and work when I wanted. To take time off. To have vacations again. But most of all, I did not want to be told what to do or how to do it. I WANTED FREEDOM Over the last three years I have connected with hundreds of painting contractors across the country and around the world, and I realize my desire for freedom is not uncommon. The truth of the matter is that most painting contractors feel anything but freedom. They are overworked, underappreciated, underpaid, and the only freedom they have is the flexibility to work whatever 80 hours a week they want. Painting contractors are stressed out which can often lead to burnout, marital problems, alcohol abuse, and a lack of personal and professional enjoyment. Early in my painting career I wondered how I would ever build a business that did not require my attention 100% of the time, let alone the ability to take more than two days off. I FOUND FREEDOM After starting my business, I found Michael Gerber’s book—The E-Myth, and I fell in love with the idea of putting systems into my business to create a franchise model. There would be one way to do everything.

Nick May is the owner of Walls by Design, and the founder of the Pro Painter Network and has a passion for helping painting contractors Elevate the Trade. Feel free to reach out to Nick at nick@propainternetwork.com

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But try and try as I might, I could not figure out how to get the systems written down and implemented. It took hiring someone to come into my business to accomplish what I needed. We finished that first manual about 8 years ago. It has been a HUGE investment of time and money, but now my business almost runs itself. Thanks to the systems and processes we implemented, I have grown my business, increased profitability, and have removed myself completely from the day-today. I just returned from an almost four-week road trip that did not include me returning to a bunch of fires or problems. Jobs were estimated, projects were booked, money was collected, projects were completed, and problems (because we still have problems that pop up) were solved. My business continued to operate and not skip a beat without me. LIVE THE LIFE YOU LOVE Everyone wants freedom in their business, but few are willing to put the energy and effort into getting there, but if you don’t do something radical, you will continue to struggle in the same ways that most painters struggle: putting out fires, competing on price, and dealing with the feast-or-famine cycle our industry is so well known for. You want to have a good marriage, great kids, and plenty of disposable income; but all these areas in your life require the same type of discipline and consistency as your business. So why would you work so hard and methodically on one and not the other? I can’t promise you paradise, but if you implement the right systems into all areas of your business, you will be able to control your life a little more...maybe a LOT more! If you are interested in finding your freedom, I welcome you to join me in Roadmap to Profit. R2P is an online course that helps painting contractors put systems into their business, understand their numbers, effectively market and find the perfect customers, and build a business that you own, and that doesn’t own you.

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

High Quality Meets Easy to Use Oil-based wood stains that are long lasting, easy to apply, and a breeze to maintain.

here is a lot of talk that oil based stains are no longer available in many states. Consumers still want a good old fashioned high quality traditional oil. Not only are ArmstrongClark oil based stains legal in every city, in every state, but they bridge the gap between high quality and easy to use exterior stains. Furthermore, Armstrong-Clark has not had a formula change since 2011, nor do they anticipate ever having to reformulate. Their easy to use high quality oil provides two layers of protection with a single brush stroke. Non-drying oils condition and rejuvenate interior wood fiber while drying oils remain at the surface to protect against Mother Nature. There are no shiners or peeling, it can be applied in direct sun in the heat of the day (even

when it is over 100 degrees outside), and it can be applied to wood with 20% moisture content. Jake Clark will tell you anyone can put stain in a can, but what makes a company successful is “Service! Service! Service! ” Contractors are encouraged to pick up the phone and call with questions. President Brian Carter is often heard ending a phone call “Please call us back if you have any more questions, we are here to help.” Armstrong-Clark is a family owned business and recognizes the importance of having a personal relationship with all customers. To help beyond the phone call Armstrong-Clark provides free sample cans to stocking dealers. For customers that do not have local dealers they can reach out to a couple of online dealers that can be found on the Armstrong-Clark website armclark.com.

1-800-916-8211 or armclark.com

Don’t Let Paint Color Indecision Hold Up the Job Paint color indecision can be a major obstacle to getting your job done — it can delay your workflow or worse – derail the job entirely if a client can’t decide on a color.

ecent surveys show that over 56% of people take several months to decide on a paint color, which is why a tool like the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio™ app + ColorReader device is a game changer. This powerful color tool combo lets you help your clients match, visualize and select color instantly, taking the stress and guesswork out of picking paint color, saving you and your customer precious time – and maybe even saving the job! Forget about cutting out drywall to bring to the paint store to color match. With the Benjamin Moore ColorReader, simply place the Bluetooth-enabled

inPAINT | Nov/Dec 2020

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device on the flat surface of any color you want to match, press the button on the ColorReader or your phone app and match to any of Benjamin Moore’s 3500+ paint colors as well as the color palettes of other paint brands. The powerful Color Portfolio app includes useful visualizer tools to help your customers envision what the color will look like in their space, which you can also save and share. This valuable tool simplifies the paint color decision process for enhanced color confidence for your customers and a more seamless workflow and faster job turnaround times for you.

Find out all ColorReader can do for you at datacolor.com/inpaint or contact Susan Mack at smack@datacolor.com or 609.528.1307 to learn about reseller opportunities.

Set Your Company Apart With These Door Painting Tools Mr. Speed’s Painting Tools offers paint tools designed and manufactured BY painters and our team is here to help.

e are the original creators of the Door Decker Finishing System which allows anyone who paints doors to save time and space and produce a higher quality of finish on the door. It’s like having an extra set of skilled crew members! The Door Decker approach allows for both sides of the door to be painted horizontally and in rapid succession. Our system also helps keep runs and sags in the paint from forming. The Door Deckers unique design allows doors to be stacked up and out of the way for drying – perfect for saving space on a job site.

With more than 35 years working in the painting and construction industry, we understand the need for high quality, durable tools. We designed our door and cabinet door finishing and drying systems to help you achieve a high quality finish and a competitive edge every time! You can purchase Mr. Speed’s Painting Tools by visiting www.SpeedPaintingTools.com or by inquiring at your local paint store. Please explore our website to read about our entire line of products (Cabinet Door Deckers, On-Edge Drying Adapters and Speed Drying Racks) and contact us if we can be of any service guiding you through which products you might need and how they can best serve your painting and staining needs.

15% OFF All Orders 11/15/20 — 1/15/21 Use Discount Code INPAINT15

Elite in Any Setting The Titan Elite™ 3000 Airless Sprayer — unlike any sprayer the jobsite has ever seen.

itan’s Elite 3000 electric sealed hydraulic airless sprayer is packed with proven technologies that deliver a consistent finish with minimal maintenance and easy cleanup. Outfitted with Titan’s PermaStroke Technology™, the Elite 3000 delivers top performance at all pressures from 0 to 3,300 PSI, even when using smaller tips or spraying coatings prone to shearing. There is no piston, packings, cylinder or clutch to wear or replace — ever, and the fluid pump and electric motor are backed by a lifetime warranty. Priming the Elite 3000 is easy with the Sureflo™ Pusher Valve which allows you to release a stuck valve without the use of a hammer. Maintenance is minimal for this one-gun electric sprayer with

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only two cartridge-style wear parts, which are field serviceable and can be changed with common tools in as little as five minutes. A multi-position cart allows switching from high rider to low rider and roll cage style bars protect the sprayer from wear and tear during transport and at the jobsite. The low rider configuration can also be outfitted with a hopper accessory for spraying lacquers. Performance, quality, and ROI have been at the core of everything Titan has done since we first hit the market in 1974. Every product we build is designed to deliver superior results and make paint contractors’ jobs easier. Leveraging Titan’s industry-leading expertise in sealed hydraulic sprayers, the Elite 3000 has become another “go to” sprayer for hundreds of paint contractors.

For more information, visit titantool.com/elite3000

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

Your Success Is Our Priority!

rofessionals like you are our business. In addition to superior paint and supplies, we offer a wide range of services to help you complete your jobs successfully, serve your clients effectively, and continue to grow your business.

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Once you create your free Dunn-Edwards web account, you can perform a variety of tasks: Download and print customizable marketing tools, find accurate pricing and more! Manage your purchasing account more efficiently by assigning approved purchasers and viewing invoices, statements, payment history and real-time balances. Online Ordering is easily accessed on a desktop computer or mobile device through dunnedwards.com. You can order paint and some of the most commonly ordered supplies with the click of a mouse. Monthly discounts and promotions exclusively for Under the Lid email subscribers.

IN-STORE If you need some guidance regarding solutions for any painting project, you can rely upon any of our field sales reps and in-store associates for expert paint advice. ■ Need some assistance helping your client pick out the perfect hue? Let your clients know about our FREE color consultation service. ■ Take advantage of our Early-Bird service, which allows you to pick up your order 30 minutes before stores open on weekdays. Just make sure you place the order before 3 p.m. the previous day. ■ We make financing your business easy with an array of credit services, as well as providing you with a dedicated Dunn-Edwards sales and credit account manager who will guide you in the right direction. ■

WHEN OUR PARTNERS SUCCEED, EVERYONE SUCCEEDS.

To view more of our services, visit: dunnedwards.com/professional/painting-contractors/services

Achieve the Longest Runs With the Smoothest Finish! At Zibra, we re-engineered the paintbrush from the handle to the filament. Never before has one brand of brushes provided you, the PRO, with the tools you finally deserve and need.

e started by designing rounded hour-glass handles designed to fit the hand for longterm use. We constructed our brushes for the professional painter to withstand all-day use, job after job. Aluminum and wood inserts embedded with 100% epoxy glue and secured with threaded nail pins. Our brushes are finished off with propriety, high performance, engineered, poly-monofilament blend with a reduction in strand size making our pack-out unmatched in the industry. Each brush is packed with 25% more filaments than the standard brush. This leaves you with incredible paint pick up, controlled release, unmatched smoothness, and effortless clean-up.

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Our paintbrush line consists of applicationspecific paintbrushes from our Detail program of Round, Square, Fan, and Triangle brushes to our heavy-duty brushes like the 2" Chiseled Wedge, 2.5" AS Trim, and soon, a 3" AS Trim. In Spring 2021, we will be launching a full line of synthetic natural filament Top Coat brushes. To accommodate our PRO customers, we designed a new website that houses a PRO Program - providing discounts to professional painters who purchase in bulk. Simply sign up at: enjoyzibra.com/pages/service

We invite you to give our Zibra paintbrushes a try. Through the end of December 2020, you can go to our website enjoyzibra.com and use the discount code ZIBRAPRO15 to get 15% off your first order. We stand behind every brush we manufacture; if you aren’t fully satisfied you will receive a full refund.

Log Home Staining Specialists Wanted Breaking into the niche market of log home refinishing often happens by accident.

t goes something like this: You were referred to a log home project by your last customer, whose neighbor happened to need the exterior of his log cabin in the nearby mountains restained. You quickly learned that the process of finishing a log home, while appearing similar to a paint job, requires more extensive prep and vastly different product application techniques, not to mention specialty products that cost more than paint and way more caulking than you were prepared to do. The result? A visit to the School of Hard Knocks, lost profit, and a promise to never finish a log home again. But if log homeowners are willing to pay two, sometimes three times the cost of a paint job for a specialist, maybe this niche market is worth a second look.

That’s where Sashco comes in. We know log homes. We’ve been providing products for them and teaching about them since 1982. ■ We have a network of established log home specialists willing to provide guidance to the paint pro looking to break into the log home finishing market. ■ We provide dedicated territory managers to help educate you on the process and products required for this specialty application. ■ We pre-qualify project leads to help jump start your way into the market. ■

Reach out to our team today to connect with one of our Territory Managers and see where the log home market can take you. Call 877-547-7148 or email logexperts@sashco.com

If You Think OSHA Is a Small Town in Wisconsin, You’re in Trouble Nine years in a row, the number one cited OSHA violation has been lack of fall protection. Workers who are six feet or more off the ground are at risk of serious injury or death. Stop putting yourself and your employees at risk.

orkSafe Company has been committed to making working at heights a safer job. Compatible with both ladder jack and pump jack systems, our fall protection safety systems are revolutionizing the painting industry. Work with confidence knowing you have the flexibility you want and the protection you need to get any job done.

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Along with our fall protection safety systems, our line of ladder and gutter brackets make any job site safer. Simply use our brackets to secure your ladder to the fascia boards or rain gutters. Securing your ladder has never been simpler and more affordable.

Give your team the protection they deserve. Visit worksafecompany.com or call (610) 941-4333 for more information on our line of fall protection safety systems!

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT

UPCOMING EVENTS

ADVERTISER INDEX

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Behr Behr.com Pages 2 & 13 Benjamin Moore BenjaminMoore.com Page 25 Graco Graco.com Page 31

What, Where & When

Kilz Kilz.com Back Cover

Tower Sealants TowerSealants.com Page 27

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JANUARY

12–14: Crank.O propainternetwork.com/crank-0

10–14: AWCI Convention, New Orleans, LA awci.org

28–30: 5th Annual Painting Profits Summit, Chattanooga, TN paintersacademy.com/summit

14–16: International Roofing Expo, Las Vegas, NV theroofingexpo.com

M AY

9–12: Design & Construction Week (formerly IBS and KBIS) designandconstructionweek.com

M AR CH 2

24–27: JLC LIVE New England, Providence, RI ne.jlclive.com

29–31: AGC Convention, Orlando, FL convention.agc.org

Work Safe WorkSafeCompany.com Page 3

February 9–12, 2021

11–13: National Hardware Show, Las Vegas, NV nationalhardwareshow.com

JUNE 7

16–18: Apartmentalize, Chicago, IL naahq.org/2021-Apartmentalize

Due to health and safety concerns and ongoing travel restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, Design & Construction Week (DCW) will be transitioning to an all-virtual event. DCW attendees will have online access to both IBS and KBIS exhibitors, where they can see the latest product launches and cutting-edge innovations in housing and design. As part of the event, the NKBA will be offering 60 educational programs including CEUs and workshops, and the NAHB will offer more than 100 educational sessions and a series of semilive demonstrations via video and chat. Registration for DCW is free for all NKBA and NAHB members and, as with the in-person shows, attendees will have access to IBS and KBIS exhibitors and programming. Non-member pricing is available as well as options to add on educational access.

designandconstructionweek.com 38

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FE B R UARY

Pro Painter Network ProPainterNetwork.com Page 7 & 17 Scotch Brand ScotchBrand.com Page 24

Due to COVID-19 regulations regarding gatherings, many events have been cancelled or rescheduled. Visit the event websites listed below for the latest information.

Mi-T-M MiTM.com Page 15 Painters Academy PaintersAcademy.com Page 29

BOTTOM LINE

Mastering mentoring Tips for effective coaching that creates paths for advancement

e’ve all been there. We spend hours carefully crafting ads to entice prospective employees to join a team like no other. They take the bait and we do all the right things to ensure they’re the right person with the right talent for the team. They show up and on day one we toss them in the field with Oscar the Grouch or the resident drill sergeant who promptly reports back, “This hire is slow,” “I can’t use him,” or the oh so helpful, “Get rid of him.” Over and over again I hear the stories. The problem exists because we’re not doing a good job of mentoring our leadership team on how to be both great painters and great leaders. Commit to leadership training Once you understand that your leaders must have both great painting skills and great leadership skills in order for your company to reach its full potential, it’s time to implement leadership training. Conduct management and leadership training consistently in a regular setting just like you train on technical skills. To jump-start the process, I recommend having your leadership team read QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller. There is also an audio version and an accompanying workbook. Another book that will help them recognize and deal with dysfunction when it presents itself is The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, which is written as an easy-to-follow fable. Don’t solve problems; ask great questions The first book mentioned above explores the role of personal accountability in one’s work and personal life. The author proposes that in situations when there is a problem or conflict, instead of asking who is to blame, leaders should ask questions of themselves such as: ■ Have I tried to help the team member perform better? ■ Should I try a different communication style? ■ Have I cast a vision and received buy-in? ■ Have I shown appreciation? ■ Did I give clear direction with time lines and benchmarks? The second book explores the complex world of teams, and offers tools for overcoming challenges that might be plaguing yours.

A great mentor is a priceless asset to your organization ... but it’s up to you to make sure they’re ready for the role. Setting expectations We also need to make clear what we expect from our leaders. We tend to be clear when we see what we don’t want, but are we coaching them around what we do want? One way to accomplish that is to develop ‘Leadership Values’ for your leaders. Some examples might be: ■ Add value to every team member daily ■ Deliver honest feedback in an appropriate way ■ Show appreciation regularly ■ Develop ownership and buy-in for our team ■ Create benchmarks and targets ■ Use feedback loops for positive feedback ■ Be humble and own mistakes or behavior Value statements like these can be useful in measuring whether they were a great leader today or simply a great painter, and they should be reflected on daily as a reminder of the goals set for them. A great mentor is a priceless asset to your organization. They can inspire other employees to invest and stay in an organization, and even create a pipeline of capable leaders-in-training. But it’s up to you to make sure they’re ready for the role. The future success of your company depends upon their success today.

SCOTT LOLLAR works to identify and guide business owners in areas of current weakness or deficiency, and specializes in helping companies break the $1M barrier and beyond. Consulting4Contractors.com

Nov/Dec 2020 | inPAINT