About Sound Painting Solutions

Times are changing, and so are we. In light of COVID-19, we introduced a virtual quote service. While a site visit is still the most effective way for us to provide an accurate quote, there are many projects that can take advantage of this service. Keep in mind that there are many factors that influence a quote beyond the overall surface area, including the condition of the surfaces, extent of prep work needed, etc. This is especially true of exterior painting projects in Seattle, where homes tend to be older, of varying condition, contain lead-based paint, etc.

Sound Painting Solutions is a painting company dedicated to the highest level of work and customer service available in the industry, and as such, we rarely find ourselves among the lower price points in the region.

We strive to provide our clients with coating applications that not only look great, but will stand the test of time. We do this by using premium-quality paints and thoroughly preparing surfaces. We have also made it our mission to provide constant, open lines of communication and friendly, attentive customer service, and as such we employ a team of office staff in addition to our painters and carpenters.

Our painters and carpenters are background-screened employees of our company who are covered by workers' compensation insurance, which protects you from being liable in the event of an accident at your home or business (you can check a contractor's insurance status at lni.wa.gov). We value our employees and their career development and pay a fair wage alongside benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, employer-matched retirement, and more.

Sticking to these principles is not the inexpensive way to do business, but we do believe it's the right way. We firmly believe it allows us to deliver the best possible customer experience while building an organization that we can be proud of, but it does come at a cost. And while there may always be variations in bids from different contractors, quotes that are significantly low likely fall quite short of these standards. We advise prospective customers to be leery of such quotes, and we strongly recommend comparing similar painting companies that focus on the aspects you value most in order to make your decision.

Painting companies can range greatly in terms of the quality of work and level of service provided. When comparing estimates, there are other factors to consider besides the bottom line. These include:

• Per state requirements and for your protection as a consumer, have you verified that the company is bonded, insured, and licensed to perform the work?
• How much preparation will the contractor perform on the surfaces?
• What kind of products will they use?
• Have they prepared a written contract that covers the items above, as well as the general scope of work?
• How long has the company been in business?
• Does the company utilize subcontractors, or their own employees? If they have employees, do they have a paid-to-date and active Labor & Industries account?
• How will they compensate their employees?
• What is the skill level of the painting staff? Are they career craftspeople, or temporary help?
• Approximately how long will it take the painting crew to complete your project?
• What do past customers say about the company and their work?
• Do they offer a warranty and/or guarantee on their work?
• How has the customer service been thus far, in the bidding process?

To make things even more complex, the spectrum of painters for hire ranges from unlicensed contractors, to sole proprietors, to mid-sized and larger companies of 20+ employees -- and all may offer varying levels of quality or different specializations. The sheer differences in business structure alone can mean huge discrepancies in pricing that make it all the more important for potential customers to seek out quotes from similar companies and compare "apples to apples". Considering all of these items and determining which factors are most important to you will help you achieve clarity in the contractor selection process. More tips on what to look for in a painting contractor can be found at our blog.

Our quotes cover all necessary materials and labor to complete the job to your specifications, unless explicitly stated otherwise. This includes the thorough preparation we perform on your surfaces for the best-looking and longest-lasting paint job possible. In addition, our estimates include a three-year warranty should your paint job fail within the warranty period.

Nearly all of our proposals are quoted at a flat rate. We will also specify the prep work to be performed and paint specifications so you will know exactly what to expect from us.

Our proposals contain all of our contract terms, so there are no surprises for you when you decide to hire us as your painting contractor. When you decide you would like to work with us, simply e-sign your proposal that is sent via email. After we receive your signature, we will send you an invoice for a 10% deposit (30% for projects that are $10,000 or more) and will reach out to you to coordinate scheduling and color selection. All of this may be done online for an easy, seamless experience.

At the beginning of the job, we will walk through the space with you in order to confirm the scope of work and discuss any important items.

During the job, we keep you in the loop on our progress and are always receptive to any questions or concerns you may have.

Finally, when our work is complete, we conduct a final walkthrough with you to confirm that you are satisfied with our work. If any touch-ups are needed, we remedy these areas as promptly as possible. The walkthrough does not negate our warranty, and we are happy to come back at any time during the warranty period as needed. After this inspection and any necessary touch-ups, we collect final payment.

This depends on the size and type of your project, as well as the time of year. Our summers tend to book up the quickest with exterior painting. In general, due to the short window of time that exterior painting can be optimally performed in Seattle, we recommend you plan as far in advance as possible when it comes to your exterior project. Many painters book up early!

We typically have a shorter wait when it comes to interior painting in the rainier months, and we can often squeeze in smaller projects like our Painter for a Day Special on shorter notice. We will always give you a good idea of our lead time when you contact us as to ensure we are able to meet your needs before moving forward.

The answer is generally yes, when it comes to interior painting.

When it comes to exterior painting, we can provide a target date range, but please keep in mind that we are at the constantly at the mercy of the weather, which is the most common reason that the start date of your project may be delayed.

In the event of any delays, we strive to let our customers know as promptly as possible.

We strive to provide the highest level of quality in our work. If you are not satisfied, our job is not truly complete, and there is nothing we value more than creating happy customers. We are always willing to return to the worksite to ensure we have provided the level of quality we promised. In fact, we guarantee it! In the rare event of an issue that cannot be readily fixed due to underlying conditions or any other factors, we are committed to working with you toward a fair solution. For your peace of mind, Sound Painting Solutions also offers a four-year warranty on all standard interior and exterior projects. Should any workmanship-related issues arise in that period, we will provide both labor and materials to fix it at no cost to you.

While most of our business is for residential customers, we also perform small to medium-sized commercial projects! This includes both interior and exterior commercial painting jobs. We've worked with many recognizable companies in the area, including Costco, REI, and more. Check out our Commercial Painting page for more information.

We recognize that trust is paramount in the process of hiring a contractor. Upon request, we are more than happy to provide references for painting projects we have done that are the are similar to yours.

You may also find it helpful to browse photos and details of our past projects on our gallery (check "Services" in the menu above), our blog, Houzz, Facebook, or Porch. Over 200 reviews of our business can be found on Yelp, Google, Houzz, Facebook, Porch and more. Sound Painting Solutions has also been recognized for "Best of Houzz" (2014-2018) and "People Love Us on Yelp” (2017-2018). We are also a member of the 2018 "Yelp Biz All-Stars", demonstrating our commitment to providing top-rated service!

Finally, you can also check out our Reviews page where we have collected over 1,000 internal ratings and reviews of our service.

In the interest of our mission to provide consistently high-quality work, we seldomly work with painting-specialized subcontractors. When we utilize subcontractors, it is most often to complete trade work that is complementary to painting, including but not limited to design, drywall, and pressure washing. All subcontractors we employ are thoroughly vetted and must be licensed, bonded, and insured. In the rare event that we intend to hire a subcontractor for painting, you will be notified.

We caution our customers that some contractors will incorrectly classify their workers as 1099 subcontractors rather than employees, therefore evading workers' compensation laws, putting their workers and customers at risk, and creating an uneven playing field in the industry. Our philosophy is to hire full-time employees that are paid a fair wage with benefits including healthcare and paid time off.