Painter's Handbook

By William McElroy and Smith & Ten Holt (Eds.)

Book Overview

Loaded with "how-to" information you'll use everyday to get professional results on any job: the best way to prepare a surface for painting or repainting; selecting and using the right materials and tools (including airless spray); tips for repainting kitchens, bathrooms, cabinets, eaves and porches; how to match and blend colors; why coatings fail and what to do about it. Lists 30 profitable specialties in the painting business.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0934041288
• ISBN13: 9780934041287
• Release Date: November 1987
• Publisher: Craftsman Book Company
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.4" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Lot of info

This book is packed full of info for someone that has been painting for more then six months. Yes, some of the info is outdated by 20 years but if you know about painting you know what you still pertains to today. I wish it had more charts, graphs, and things that would help with estimating and bidding.

Every single thing you'd need to know

Honestly, this book has every single thing you would need to know. Job quoting, how to manage funds, how to paint, how to hire out, how to advertise, how to do pretty much everything. The only thing that is outdated in this book is the prices. Prices rise, and so should your quotes. But this book is an absolutely invaluable resource if you are starting your painting business or are looking to grow your biz and make it more efficient.

ResidentialPainter

Very good book with many helpful hints for starting up a painting business. As other reviewers have mentioned, though, the book could use an updating--the pictures are black & white and not very clear, and some of the facts/numbers were current back in the '80s.

The first review is my honor.

I have had my copy since 2001 when I first went out on my own and it has become a bible for my business and my painting. My friends who are painters also own and swear to this book. This book covers the business from structure to employees and then from estimates, proposals, promotions, and sales. The author doesn't assume you'll be starting off with an office, two crews of eight painters, two pressure washers, and sprayers, a fleet of white vans, and a reserve account of thousands of dollars but he tells you how to get there if that is what you want. The book also offers insights into specialty area's were one might focus exclusively from old house restoration to sign painting to textured ceilings to murals. The second part of the book is about the craft of painting and covers all the basics from prep to clean up, special equipment, recipes for removing every stain imaginable, and tackling tricky problems. This book doesn't have a lot of glossy pictures but it is well organized and packed with info. This part of the book is an excellent reference and I use it when I am not a hundred percent sure that my way is the absolute best way. The only problem with this book is that it was written in 1988 and prospective users will have to refigure the financial examples used in this book to fit the present day. The craft section of this book is still practical although there have been a few new trends since 1988 such as faux finishes. But all in all this is the only great book available for the professional and while we could use an updated and expanded version this is the most complete and single source out there as of today.