Exterior Painting Contractor-  by Donald Thomas What's the difference between an exterior painting contractor and an interior painting contractor, and besides I thought a painting contractor is suppose to paint whether it be interior or exterior? If you have asked yourself or someone else this question it is a very good question and quite relevant especially in today's society where specialties are the norm and it's no different when it comes to painting contractors.  For the sake of clarity I would like to define a few terms that will appear throughout this article. The word interior simply means inside or within; inside of your home; inside of a building; inside of some structure. When a painting contractor paints inside of a home or building it is referred to as "interior painting". There are some painting contractors that specialize in interior painting; meaning, their focus or workload mainly involves painting inside; there are some painting contractors that does interior painting exclusively and nothing else.  The term exterior means outside; outside of your home; outside of a building; the exact opposite of interior. Exterior painting contractors focus mainly on painting exteriors. Whether it's a home, building, or some other kind of structure it is the outside that an exterior painting contractor paints. Most exterior painting contractors work on structures both residential and commercial that often exceeds one story; some even work on skyscrapers. Whether it's a one story single dwelling or a multi story commercial building exterior painting contractors usually have the experience as well as the tools and equipment specific to handling this particular type of painting. Interior and exterior painting contractors are painting contractors that paint both inside and outside. Many painting contractors actually paint inside and outside; however, as mentioned above there are a significant number that specialize in one or the other. Most painting contractors across America are considered by the SBA (small business association) as being a small business; meaning, they have less than fifty or twenty-five employees. In all honesty a large parcentage of painting contracting companies usually have far less than twenty-five full time employees. The number is more like ten and in many situations less than five, and with the economy being in a slump those numbers are steadily decreasing with each passing day. When choosing an exterior painting contractor to paint the outside of your home there are a few pointers that I really think every homeowner should be aware of and hopefully implement as part of their contractor's screening exam. I refer to interviewing possible candidates as "examining" because in a manner of speaking it is a test; a test to see how your candidates line up with the questions and answers you need to ask them to intelligently ascertain if they are possibly the best choice for you and your project. For instance, it's imperative that you obtain as much background information on each contractor as you possibly can. It is wise to follow up on all references that he/she submits and if at all possible try to take the time to go and speak with them (references) as well as view his/her work (contractor)--if a picture is worth a thousand words than a live viewing should prove to be twice as telling.  In today's time it is so important to know who you are dealing with; meaning, you should take a moment to do a background check on every serious candidate that you are considering to paint the exterior of your home and of course that goes for the interior as well. It just make good sense to know that your contractor has no criminal background whatsoever, and if you can, see if you can find any and all information about his/her character.  As I have often stated, for the most part most painting contractors in particular and home improvement contractors in general are clean and above reproach; however, there are some that are not worth hiring and you should try to avoid them at all cost. Sometimes the BBB (Better Business Bureau) can be of benefit when searching for information and business history on some businesses, but in many cases if the contractor is not a member of the BBB they will not have any information available to share with you about the contractor in question. The best approach of all when it comes to hiring an exterior painting contractor is to use good old common sense or "mother wit" but do take advantage of all the information that has been made available about the contractors you are considering hiring to paint the exterior of your home. Keeping you and your family safe is paramount to all else and getting your house painted by the best possible contractor is second. Always make listening a top priority when it comes to interviewing candidates and don't just hear them out but listen carefully to what he/she is saying and don't hesitate to take notes so that you can view them later. With their permission you can even tape the conversation if you need to so that you can listen more intently and if need be over and over again.  In closing, choosing a quality exterior painting contractor can and should be a very special time for you and your family. You are about to give your home a new and exciting look even if you choose to stay with your existing color scheme. A fresh new paint job has a way of giving a home or building an appealing new facade that can captivate the heart. With the correct approach to selecting an exterior painting contractor your end results shouldn't be anything less than splendid. Here's wishing you the best kid. Good luck. American Painting and Pressure Cleaning, Inc. American Painting and Pressure Cleaning, Inc. (318) 746-1810 or (318) 677-9055 for all your drywall/sheetrock repair projects. We also offer carpentry repairs; kitchen cabinets staining and varnishing; kitchen cabinets painting; exterior (doors and shutters) staining and varnishing; deck restoration and rejuvenation; drywall (sheetrock) finishing; drywall (sheetrock) installation; drywall (sheetrock) texturing; drywall (sheetrock) repairs; popcorn ceiling removal; plaster restoration and plaster repairs; historic home restoration and repairs plus flooring. We are also interior residential (house) painters as well as exterior residential (house) painters and so much more. For almost thirty years we have been providing homeowners and commercial property owners with quality craftsmanship along with down home friendly service.Serving Shreveport, Bossier City, Minden, and surrounding areas. And in Minden you can contact us at (318) 371-1005. Thanks, Donald Thomas/owner

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American Painting and Pressure Cleaning, Inc. also provides quality craftsmanship along with friendly down home service to the following areas:  Benton Louisiana, Haughton Louisiana, Plain Dealing Louisiana, Bossier Parish, Cotton Valley Louisiana, Sarepta Louisiana, Sprighill Louisiana, Shongaloo Louisiana, Heflin Louisiana, Dubberly Louisiana, Sibley Louisiana, Webster Parish, Homer Louisiana, Haynesville Louisiana, Claiborne Parish, Lisbon Louisiana, Athens Louisiana, Ringold Louisiana, Gibsland Louisiana, Beinville Parish, Arcadia Louisiana, Grambling Louisiana, Ruston Louisiana, and Lincoln Parish.