Auditing the Final Paint Project
PART 10
Congratulations! The hard work is done. It’s almost time to enjoy the fruits of that labor.
As the work draws to a close, there’s usually a temptation to sit back and let things coast to the finish line – especially if you haven’t had any delays or other hang-ups so far.
Remember, it’s vital to see things through to the end, both for you and your contractor!
In the last few days of painting, these three steps will safeguard your investment:
1. Keep Up With Daily Reports
If communication with your contractor has been strong, the end of the project is a terrible time to let it lapse. Maintaining the flow of daily reports will help make sure nobody is tempted to overlook those all-important last steps. It’s not over ‘til it’s over.
2. Perform Visual Inspections
Spend a few hours checking work in detail. If quality is uneven – some areas look shabby compared to others, say – it’s better to find that out now. Once the team has wrapped things up and moved equipment out, it could take weeks to get them back on-site. Visual inspections can be performed during the work as well, not just after. A surprise “spot inspection” helps establish that contractors are using the high-quality materials they promised in their proposal, not the cheap stuff.
3. Test and Verify the Work
If you haven’t seen problems throughout the project, testing every inch is probably overkill. Still, it’s a good idea to use a MIL gauge to check the last few pieces of work. MIL gauges measure the thickness of coatings once they’ve been applied to a surface. A MIL gauge is cheap and easy to use, requiring no special training. The only catch is that you must take measurements soon after a coat is applied, before it has the chance to start drying. Timing is crucial, so use what you learn in those daily reports to your advantage. A MIL gauge is an incredible tool for keeping everyone honest, since it uncovers one of the most common ways to cut corners: Applying just one coat of paint instead of two. This is much more likely as the end of a project approaches.
As the project winds down, the contractor should ask you to sign for final approval.
Use our Paint Project Audit Checklist to double-check everything before you consider it done.
Auditing A Project: Right Way, Wrong Way
Jim sees the final week of the painting project coming up on his calendar (after pushing it back three times) and figures it must be smooth sailing from here. By the time he realizes the work isn’t up to expectations, the contractor is gone – and it takes months to get a new one in to fix it.
Rob keeps up with daily reports from his contractor and even drops in sometimes to see how things are going. Using his trusty MIL gauge, he notices one area where only one coat of paint has been applied. It turns out to be a simple mistake that is quickly corrected.
Remember:
- The last week of your project is just as important as the first in overall success.
- Keep up the communication, including daily progress reports from contractors.
- Now’s the best time to drop in unannounced and test work with a MIL gauge.
