Sharper Impressions Painting is thrilled to make the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing private companies for the fourth consecutive year. The company’s continued growth over the past several years has positively affected their placement on the list, and this year is no different, resulting in a closer spot to the top.

The Sharper Impressions team has worked diligently to provide top customer service and quality workmanship for all their customers. These qualities have played a roll in the company’s continued success and climb in the Inc 5000 list. Companies nationwide vie for an opportunity to be included in this list, and it is an incredible feat to be honored four years in a row.

Founder Geoff Sharp describes the secret to the company’s success; “good management that focuses on customer satisfaction, which results in bottom-line profitability and continued growth.”

Sharper Impressions Painting is a residential and commercial paint contractor with over 19 years experience in exterior and interior painting. Founded by Geoff Sharp, the company focuses on sustainable work practices and charitable outreach within the local, national and global community. For more information, call 1-877-665-5566 or go to: www.sharperimpressionspainting.com.

Sharper Impressions Painting announces FREE in-home color consultations for any customer who needs the added color selection assistance. This free color consultation includes free sample cans of paint in different colors and small paint brushes. These samples allow the homeowner to try the paint color on small areas of their home to determine which color they like best.

This service is available to any homeowner looking to make a change of paint color on the interior or exterior of their home. For those who are looking to merely spruce up their current paint job, we have another free service which offers custom color matching services by professional color specialists. We will make sure the new paint matches the current color guaranteed.

As soon as the homeowner chooses Sharper Impressions Painting as their residential painting professional, a manager is able to set up an appointment for a local color specialist to visit the home and aid the homeowner in choosing the perfect color(s) for his or her project. The appointment times are flexible around work schedules (evenings and weekends appointments are available) and are completely free of charge. This is just one of the several free services Sharper Impressions Painting offers to ensure the beauty of their customer’s homes.

We here at Sharper Impressions Painting are busy painting homes this summer. But, we like to work hard and play hard.

Making copies is not one of the chores around the office that we love. So, in honor of the summer season, we BEACHED UP our beloved copy machine.

Now, every time we make a copy, we go on a little vacation…in our mind.

Summer is the best time to get your home painted, so give us a call!

What is the most important thing to look/ask for from a painting contractor?

REFERENCES, REFERENCES, REFERENCES! Ask for both old and new references to ensure the current quality of work and confirm that the painter has jobs that have lasted a long time.

It is critical to make sure the contractor has:

• Liability insurance,
• a BBB membership (Better Business Bureau)
• a material and labor warranty provided in writing, and
• have been in business for several years

Before the painters start painting, be sure to confirm:

• whether they are going to apply 2 coats or 1,
• what brand and level of paint will they apply (you can buy good paint brands that have cheap paints or top quality paints, you get what you pay for in paint, so make sure your painter buys a top level product)
• your home should be power washed (pressure washed) prior to painting,
• preparation work should be detailed on your quote/contract,
• exact price of the work should be clear and discuss any additional charges that may be added to a paint job like yours

How often should exterior paint be refreshed?

There are different general guidelines for renewing exterior paint

• Decks 1-2 years
• Fences 1-4 years
• Trim on homes 5-10 years
• Wood siding on home 5-10 years
• Stucco 10+ years
• Hardie plank or aluminum siding 10+ years

Why was it important for you to run a “green” company?

We are only renting this big blue planet and it is imperative we leave it as clean as we can for the next generation. Often, damages to the environment can be permanent; fortunately, painting your home does not have to cause any damage to you or the environment. Latex paints, (hardly any oil based paints are used anymore) are waterborne and the norm now for the residential repainting industry. Low VOC paints, which dry without harmful emissions, protect the home, the occupants and the air.

In the past year, my company has erased our server carbon footprint, gone nearly paperless in our office, operated temperature control units that turn off heating and cooling during down office times, installed energy efficient insulation and new skylights to reduce the amount of energy used for lighting and heating the office and warehouse.  Hopefully your painting contractor is doing his best to protect our environment also.

Why is prep work (preparation) so important?

90% of any good paint job is prep work; it makes the final paint job look good and last a long time

• Power-washing – to ensure the surface is clean and the paint will stick. Click Here for more information.
• Tape and tarp – to protect surfaces and create nice clean cut lines
• Caulking – seals gaps and joints from weathering, bugs and makes the surface look solid and universal
• Scrape – removes old paint so it doesn’t cause the new paint to flake/peel/blister
• Prime – protects and seals the exposed wood grains, then has a nice smooth surface for the top coat to stick
• Paint – always 2 coats, any color, will last twice as long, looks thick and rich

What are common reasons your interior needs repainted?

The most popular reason for painting an interior is to update/change the color of the walls.

Another reason is for upkeep. Some common reasons to freshen up are:

• dents, scuffs, dirt, dust, animal hair, moisture stains, and faded walls from sunlight

The third biggest reason to repaint is to upgrade the quality of paint. When you repaint the walls with a top quality, deep, rich paint, the colors are deeper and the final result will look beautiful for a long time.

Ceilings usually last twice as long as the walls.  So often customers paint the ceilings every other time they get their walls painted.

• Over time they yellow out from sunlight, and smoke/moisture/oils.
• When you properly paint a ceiling, it can add an amazing amount of brightness to any room

Often a room’s trim, windows and doors will need painted as well. There are generally two reasons people choose to repaint these areas:

• To freshen up the area that gets a lot of abuse from foot traffic, vacuum cleaners and everyday wear and tear.
• To change an old, dated and dark wood trim color to an updated, fresh, bright glossy paint

We’re counting the days!

This February, the Sharper Impressions Painting team will gather in the great city of New Orleans for our annual meeting, affectionately known as “Paint-the-Brain.”

We’re all very excited to spend almost a full week there, enjoying the sites, music and great food. We’ve also made it a priority to show our concern for the city’s rebuilding efforts by taking a tour of the devastated areas. And, thanks to our strong connections with area paint suppliers, we’re able to make a substantial donation of Sharper time, money and Paint to support the Rebuilding Effort.

If there’s one thing the Sharper Impressions Painting team knows about, it’s the value of a home – a safe home that you can share with your family and be proud of. We hope our donation will help some families continue to heal as they rebuild their homes and their lives.

It’s always a valuable time for us to get together to review the past year and plan for the future. This year is especially exciting for us as we celebrate continued growth in sales and quality with some amazing advances in technology.

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The next six weeks are an ideal time to give your entertaining spaces an affordable makeover – to update your home in anticipation of a joyous holiday season. A professional paint job is one of the easiest ways to freshen up your home for family and friends and, you are guaranteed to get the best price of the year from your paint contractor.

Often, if you find the right painting contractor, December pricing can save you 20-30% on all types of interior paint jobs. Late November through mid-December is a transitional time for most painters who find themselves booking only interior painting projects. As they finish up exterior jobs, this is a perfect time for you to take advantage of their schedule and get some much needed sprucing up done in time for the holidays.

Here are some important tips:

1. Have you ever considered giving a fresh paint job to a spouse or loved one for the Holidays? Most paint contractors can give you a quote secretly, you can sign the painting agreement and then either have the area painted before or after the holiday. A fun and unique gift. And you don’t have to spend your winter weekends painting rooms!

2. For paint contractors who are busy finishing exteriors, they have open spaces to fill on rainy days. If you can be flexible and allow your contractor to work with you on bad-weather days, you’ll probably see an even greater discount. We have seen HALF OFF when customers are flexible.

3. Allow at least a week for the color selection process. Good paint contractors can help you select colors and will allow FREE color try-ons to make your decision easier. Remember, once the color is selected it will be there for a long time, so enjoy your color selection process.

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Fall Is the Season to Save on Exterior House Painting!
Did you know that planning a professional exterior paint job in the Fall can actually save you more money than any other season? Fall offers unique opportunities to save BIG:

• Keeping heat IN and cold air OUT is a challenge for every homeowner. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, small gaps in joints around windows, doors, and trim are one of the biggest sources of heat loss. Great paint contractors include extensive caulking in their preparation process – sealing cracks, gaps and joints. Professional caulking prevents wood rot and keeps drafts – and heat-seeking critters – OUT of your home. A professional paint job with solid prep work prevents heat loss and saves you money.
• Because most paint contractors are busiest in the Spring and Summer months, you’re more likely to get a price discount on exterior painting during the Fall. Also, due to a lighter schedule, many contractors are able to provide better customer service and a little extra attention to your job during the Fall.
• In some cases, that extra attention translates into even more cost-savings. Since the ladders are already out, good painters will offer to clean gutters, wash windows, or perform wood replacement or repairs for a small additional fee. All of these are usually a huge savings over hiring another company to take a trip out and do the work. Cross another few items off your Fall “To-Do” list!

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