Jack Pauhl
2013
Jack Pauhl OCTOBER 2013 | VOL 1 NO 1
Painthacker Painting, evolved.
MAGAZINE
The ROLLING Edition 11 EASY TIPS
More!
YOU WON’T BELIEVE IT! 100 ft² per/min THAT’S HOW WE ROLL Get the most out of each load with our step-by-step guide
PLUS
Bucket Rolling vs. Pan Rolling Drywall Primers: Do They Work? The Hard Truth About Efficiency
www.painthacker.com | October 2013 of | Painthacker + Is it time to put that old nine down? The afterlife a nine. MAGAZINE
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Welcome. ⎯Brian Havanas
By subscribing to Painthacker, you have walked the first step; taking the initiative to learn something new about painting. I learn something new every day. Painthacker saves paint contractors money by showing you how to perform common painting tasks more efficiently. It seems simple, but don’t let the apparent simplicity fool you. Considering all of the systems found in the magazine, painting is the most complex.
cases, systems have even changed ways in which the industry tests products today. The opinions of some experts might not provide the best options after all. We work to uncover what the experts miss, and provide solutions for some of the industry’s greatest and long-standing challenges, some of which were present when I began painting thirty years ago. Painthacker is, painting evolved.
You might not agree with everything in the magazine. Systems will challenge what you believe to be best practices. The mind is a powerful thing, but my purpose is to build a solid case so you can decide. In fact, some of the systems will go against everything you've learned about painting. Yes, even if you've been painting for over thirty years--especially you.
Many of the systems that will be discussed in this magazine are derived from my own work with hundreds of painting contractors like yourself. Other systems stem from my own journey mastering the painting trade. Above all, we have much in common; we share similar paths, and we all want to make good money doing what we do best.
Please understand that the systems are designed to push the boundaries far beyond where the industry stands today. At every level, some of them challenge how paint products are made. In some
The information provided in the magazine is collectively part of an ongoing project in which I have paid attention to every detail. I studied paint contractors such as yourself, and worked to improve
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countless methods over the past thirty years. I paid attention to painters whose projects failed, my own included, looked at why they failed, and learned what to avoid moving forward. Please try to avoid allowing your prior experiences to interfere with your interpretation or perception of a new system. Do your best to understand an objective first, and then collect any information necessary to understand the bigger picture. What I'd like to ask personally is that you keep an open mind and allow yourself to acknowledge that there is not a right way or a wrong way, but rather that the articles outlined throughout the magazine discuss a specific way to achieve a specific result in the name of efficiency. The magazine is an extension of Jack Pauhl Maximum Painting, from field notes, and from my ongoing research I call “The Epitome Project”. The project focuses on the differences between stereotypical painting methods and lessons outlined in the magazine. Please know that some painters have accused
me of making a mockery of our industry. But any similarity to perceived mockery is simply the reality that has evolved with painting. Learning from our own mistakes can be uncomfortable. After all, we all know that the truth sometimes hurts our egos in a big way. Stop scratching your head wondering why you lost the bid. Maybe your competition can do better work -- in a fraction of the time. Avoid being left behind, or your competition could eat you up! I promise that you may feel awkward, and sometimes won’t make sense. So ask questions. And ask more questions if you need more information. We are here to help you become highly profitable -- and to move product in unimaginable ways. Quoting a paint contractor with whom I've worked closely, "The systems have a residual effect where the true value is ongoing and unimaginable." Thinking differently leads to painting differently. Painters do not like change. Change is difficult, and painters resent change, but change might just be the best thing you can do right now. Getting all the parts you'll find
scattered throughout the magazines to fit your jobs might get tricky. You might decide to change one thing to better fit your needs, or you might decide to change everything. Consider too that things might not be as great as you thought. People don't like to be wrong, but making something right can be extremely rewarding. Even over time, one step at a time. One more thing... I am not pretending to say I've mastered everything, I've mastered painting for today. I work on systems every day and improve on them with drive and ambition to better myself, to better my business, and to better those in my boots. I practice, tweak, analyze and fine-tune systems regularly. Systems evolve constantly. Remember that your efforts are works in progress. There are no magic words you can read to instantly turn you into the most awesome painter you want to be, but there are many things you can do now to work toward becoming better. For those of you already there, I congratulate your success. Because in the end, I know you make all the difference in this business. The trade can use more great people like you.
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For those of you who are learning the trade and expanding your systems, I'm glad to have you aboard. For painters just starting out, you will take away the most--as you do not have to struggle with what you've done for thirty years. You will learn as if there is no other way, and that's best. And last, but certainly not least, for paint representatives, you will learn from an independent outside source. This includes how the products you sell perform in the real world beyond textbooks, company training, meetings, and memos. You'll discover new ways to sell your products to paint contractors by having a better understanding of product limitation challenges painters face on the job. Understanding product advantages will help you provide more assistance to paint contractors. Above all, for our painters, be patient. Be persistent. Be pleasantly surprised when everything comes together in the end. The fact that you stay on course will pay off. It might not feel like it at times, but we assure you it will. Regardless of your role, welcome to Painthacker; it's great to have you on board!
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12. Rolling Pleasure
08. Bucket Rolling vs. Pan Rolling “We demand the most out in-the-field to be profitable, and we will hunt down the best products possible to accomplish that goal.” ⎯ Troy McNeely
28. Drywall Primers The “B” Test 4 Painthacker MAGAZINE |
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20. Variables
Painting at the Speed of Life
Change isn’t a preference, it’s a necessity!
ver the years, I’ve made many changes in the way I paint, with the most current changes always kept a secret. Hell, the words “I use BEHR paint,” when that leaked out, earned me a few haters. But now that Painthacker magazine is out, you should know my best kept secret yet, because the content of the magazine evolves around it. I am addicted to creating systems that evolve into lean, mean efficient machines. I can’t help it. It’s like being addicted to the lottery; you keep going back for more because there is a sense of mystery to see if you’ll win. Changing how you paint is a gamble too, but it can be extremely rewarding, and often is. Besides, you have control over how much money you save. It’s always interesting what changing a little here, a little there will do; sometimes you win, sometimes not. If you followed Jack Pauhl over the years, you know we
O
Brian Havanas
don't make changes unless there are good reasons to, and those reasons typically involve producing higher quality work, faster. Nothing in our workflow evolves without change. Painters don't like change because it jacks with their mojo a bit, but experience is one sure way painters will change. You are not likely to keep buying the same product if you are unable to accomplish what you quoted, right? Great product alone has very little impact on saving labor compared with great systems behind it. That would be like trying to win the Daytona 500 with a fast car and a pit-crew with no system in place to change your tires. Of course you would finish, eventually. Products are what drive systems to change. It’s like upgrading the engine in your car to get to the finish line in the quickest way possible. Change opens up new opportunities for increasing profits by finishing jobs better ⎯ and faster.
Oops. Spot a mistake? Join our Devotion to Accuracy Department by contacting us about where we went wrong.
The BIG FAT DISCLAIMER in small print Due to the nature of a solutions magazine and for the protection of our advertisers, Painthacker does not disclose or confirm paint or product issues until a full investigation has occurred, and until any necessary fix or workaround is available and agreeable by both parties. Only then will the information be published as a courtesy. Some articles reflect the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of Painthacker as a publication. Painthacker does not necessarily endorse any suggestions, solutions, or products that may be mentioned. You are encouraged to first seek a solution from the manufacturer or your local paint representative. Any information or links are provided “as is”, with no guarantee of the effectiveness, reliability, or results. Even though many of the products and systems found in Painthacker are deemed reliable solutions on our jobs, you may experience different results on yours. Should you choose to try a product or system found in the magazine, use the information you find in Painthacker at your own discretion -- and always first test new systems and products before introducing them to a customer’s job. Articles are accurate and current at the date of publication. However, information contained in them may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility. The change log can be found at www.painthacker.com/changelog .
accuracy@painthacker.com www.painthacker.com
| October 2013 | Painthacker MAGAZINE 5
table of
CONTENTS
Painthacker Mag Cleveland, Ohio info@painthacker.com SENIOR STRATEGIST Brian Havanas SUPPORT ROCKSTAR Troy McNeely
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
CONTRIBUTORS Hally Davis John Frymier Denando Dante Linda Webb Sydney Kosnan
25. Is Nothing Something? Beginning
Production
Systems
01. Welcome
08. Buckets vs. Pans
20. Efficiency Lesson No. 15
Thank you for subscribing
The 9 merits of pan rolling
05. Change Isn’t a Preference... It’s a necessity
09. 9-inch Rolling in Perspective The afterlife of a nine
12. Big Rollin’
They are bigger, efficient, and way, way faster
16. Roll First, Cut Last Paint 5 Colors at Once 6 Painthacker MAGAZINE |
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Product positions painters into less efficient systems.
23. Full Scope About Job Site Variables The small stuff
25. Is Nothing The New Something?
Sanding nothing is faster than sanding something
Show Sanding Who’s Boss
Change your layer, change your tool, change your ways! Designed to complement the Radius 360°, the FlexEdge system handles a variety of sanding challenges with everything you need to take on corners, tight angles, outlets, bumps, and more. Swap out the abrasives on your FlexEdge for the right tool for any job – the FlexEdge leaves a perfect finish every time! Comes with: Pressure Pad – The patent pending design is our secret weapon! Added core pressure eliminates bumps and prevents binding and stuttering to ensure a faster, higher quality finish. 1/4" Foam Pad – For use with our economical Flex Paper, this pad helps the paper hug the wall for a flawless finish. Flex Paper – A durable, economical abrasive for fine finishes at an excellent price. Flex Foam – Designed for conditions when paper just won’t do, this durable foam pad handles bumpy surfaces like outlets, nails and pocks without tearing or causing unwanted surface scuffing.
INNOVATION AT WORK The FlexEdge is designed to conform beautifully to any surface, while its low center of gravity lets you maneuver with ease. The hook-and-loop attachment system allows for ultra-easy abrasive changing, and prevents slack to increase durability and give you a better return on your abrasive investment. The hook-and-loop attachment system also prevents dust and foreign objects from lodging behind the abrasive, for an impeccable, scratch-free finish. Lightweight FX4 pole also available.
FLEX EDGE SHEET ABRASIVES SYSTEM » Use for ultra-fine finishing
Field Tested. Painthacker APPROVED!
» Provides complete wall contact at all times for great overall sanding » Durable aluminum oxide abrasive paper comes at an economical price » Unique low-profile, hook-and-loop attachment eliminates paper slack and movement so abrasive lasts longer
“Don’t let products position you into less efficient systems. Show who’s boss with The Flex Edge System!”
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| October 2013 | Painthacker MAGAZINE 7
9 Merits of Pan Rolling
P IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
aint contractors often ask, “Which areas can I target to save the most labor?” The correct answer is, "there is no single area." To be efficient, consider everything suspect in a labor intensive business.
01. Easier, Faster to Load, Re-Load Covers load faster on ramps full of paint and provide a significant increase in loading the roller.
02. Tray Liners Change Colors Fast Pans allow transitioning through multiple colors significantly faster.
03. Easy Access Front Loading
Buckets vs. Pans The 9 merits of pan rolling you don’t want to hear!
I
t does not take much more than a glance to spot production killers on the job. They are everywhere, and if you are unable to identify them, they will eat your profits alive. At Jack Pauhl, we’re firm believers in a DO NOT list outlining a growing group of important general rules and guidelines spanning products, systems and techniques to maximize productivity. Bucket rolling lands the number one spot on our list of the Top 100 Production Killers, and for good reason.
As painters, we constantly paint walls and ceilings, amounting to the largest portion of surfaces we paint. So it only makes sense to focus on the single area in which we spend the majority of our time, rollin’ rollin’ rollin’. We know change can be difficult for painters, so let’s look at change from a different perspective. Change is not a preference; it’s a business decision. Tomorrow, say to yourself, “I am going to focus on one area that impacts my pocketbook the most”, and begin there.
Pans provide easier access to load from a distance. Buckets require you to walk back to the bucket.
04. Cleaner Loading Less Mess
Pan loading minimizes paint build-up around the end-caps preventing sling-off on the walls.
05. Load Easy with Extended Poles Pans allow loading from across the room when rolling high walls.
06. Drag a Pan. Pick up a Bucket
Pans are easier to maneuver around the room.
07. Not Limited to 9” Rollers
5 gallon buckets are limited to a 9.
08. Grids vs. Ramps
Grids allow paint to pass through preventing heavy loading.
09. Always Fresh Fluid Paint
Buckets allow a majority of your paint to become thick from sitting out. “Product selection can position painters into less efficient systems.”
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Production / Systems
9-inch Rolling in Perspective
by Brian Havanas
The Afterlife of The Nine
A
t the most basic level, 18-inch rollers are twice as fast as 9-inch rollers. From there, production can be increased by frame design, technique, surface type, paint viscosity, and fabric blend. For every load rolled with an 18-inch roller, a 9-inch requires two loads to roll the same area. Therefore, for every motion your body makes to load a 9-inch roller and place it on the wall, an 18 covers twice the wall space with just the same effort. In other words,
for every 1,000 loads made with an 18, a 9 requires 2,000. And there are more ways to maximize the efficiency of the 18-inch rollers. The 18 is simply twice the size, super-efficient, and a major moneymaker. This is about a role shift. What you did in the past with a nine, now you can do with an 18 and instantly double your production for many areas on the job.
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Imagine this; stand in front of a pan of paint and load a roller cover 2,000 times. How long does it take to load a roller cover? Loading a roller can be as quick as three seconds for some. For others, it can be twice as long, or more. Let’s look at this another way. If 100 square feet of wall can be rolled in 60 seconds, how many square feet can be rolled in the same time it takes to load a roller 2,000 times? Based on
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Production / Systems
Increase Your Production with an 18-Inch Roller Are you ready... to put that old nine down?
a 3 second load-time, it would take 100 minutes. 100 square feet multiplied by 100 minutes equals 10,000 additional square feet of wall space. That's a lot of footage! When we target variables such as how much our bodies move to accomplish tasks more quickly, we open ourselves to a whole new world of efficiency and profitability in a big way. To move this along a step further, here is a real-world example. I was working with two paint contractors on a job. One painter began painting hundreds of wall
patches throughout a house using seven colors. From a lack of communication on my part, a problem emerged when I assumed that he too practices telepathy and can read my mind. But really, painting over wall patches, how hard can it be, right? Well... it's not hard. It's time consuming, but it doesn't have to be. Don’t let a prehistoric method become a trap that prevents you from changing.
To recap, today you're painting patches with a roller, and we're asking you to use 18’s
Figure 1
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Production/Systems
for as many colors as possible. Paint an entire wall top to bottom if it has patches throughout the entire wall (Figure 1). But if the next wall only has two patches, then paint the two patches. Basically, use your best judgment ⎯ and work quickly.
whatsoever between our early years of production and how we work today, but I couldn't part ways entirely with the old friend. The nine still serves a purpose in its afterlife, albeit a small one.
Maybe I need to work on my telepathy, but I was clearly thinking in my head, “be efficient”. But my guy was thinking, “I need to get my 8 hours in.” It was bad enough discovering a couple hundred wall patches in the first place. Surprise! Right? Now I was faced with someone who wanted to make a day of it.
cutting-in to maximize the efficiency of an 18 by keeping it in the horizontal position. We use the nine for areas less than 18 inches. It also works great for rolling tight above doors horizontally, and of course for small baths.
Backing up a bit, the entire house was primed in 4 hours, so it better not take more than 4 hours to paint patches. If that were the case, then it would be faster to reprime the entire house ⎯ and bill it accordingly.
Avoid the trap. I’ve seen many painters get stuck priming patches all day with a nine, when an 18-inch roller would have them fishing in the back pond by noon. Looking back at my early years, I have to laugh about a nine. Really, it’s almost comical. There is no comparison in production
Today… the nine is used for
This entire page represents the overall square feet of drywall in a 3,000 square foot house if you were to lay all of it flat on the ground. The tiny orange dot represents a single load of paint applied from a 9-inch roller.
Wherever we have an 18-inch in production, there is a nine not far out of reach sitting in a Kovrd bag. There is no need to whine about cleaning two covers for one color. Just remember the smile on your face from the time you saved.
Why This Job Requires a System Walking into a house with hundreds of unexpected wall patches across seven colors requires a solid system, including recoat times to get the patches primed, walls sanded, and the house finished on the same day. .
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Production / Systems
“ bigger for your rolling pleasure”
Big rolling! When it comes to producing quality fast, there are certain products you'll need, and certain techniques from which you'll want to steer far away. As with everything we do here in the Jack Pauhl lab, we’re working up countless time studies under close scrutiny in order to isolate production killers ⎯ and squash them dead in their tracks. By the time we finally nail down a system, it’s usually a big deal. For some painters, "High production
They are bigger, efficient, and way, way faster 8 tips for rolling 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nap for wall height Re-bevel roller covers Pre-wet roller cover Marinate for 5 minutes Load placement is key Must have locking pole Avoid 50/50 lapping Keep frame in position
painting" when rolling walls means 60 seconds to cover 8-10 square feet using an 18-inch roller with two loads of paint from the big
bucket. Trust me, we timed a bunch of painters. The system outlined over the next few pages allows 100 square feet to be covered in 60 seconds using two loads of paint from a pan. Do the math on that... that’s a big deal! What if you could do what you do today ⎯ in a fraction of the time tomorrow? By avoiding a few common bad habits, you can be on your way to eliminating variables eating away at your profits. Here are 8 rolling tips to get you started.
Production Tip: 01
fig.1 various roller naps 3/8 to 3/4
Consider wall height for determining roller nap thickness. Say what!? IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
In addition to surface texture, consider the next size thicker nap for taller walls to maximize load distribution throughout the run. This helps prevent running the roller dry and allows you to work with paint on the outside of the cover rather than inside.
“Work with the paint on the surface of the roller cover, not what’s inside the nap.” 12 Painthacker MAGAZINE |
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Production/Systems 02. Stop roller marks dead in their tracks! “Roller marks are production killers.” You can easily spend double the time on the wall without noticing it’s killing your profits. Prevent them from happening in the first place by re-beveling both ends of the roller cover with scissors. This 5 minute TIP can save countless hours by providing efficient load distribution, because four passes on a wall will always be twice as fast as 8. The fewer roller marks need feathered, the less time spent on the wall.
03. Pre-Wet Roller Covers Dunking roller covers in water and spinning them out allows paint to penetrate to the core of the cover faster. Pre-wetting covers also helps with faster clean-up on short runs.
TIP Extend Cover Life Extend the life and performance of roller covers by not allowing them to dry. Transport and store covers in a 5 gallon bucket of water. www.painthacker.com
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04. Lock it down Locking the roller frame to the extension pole is essential to prevent twist-off when rolling with 18-inch rollers. Time will be lost if the extension pole requires constant tightening. Avoid the annoyance by locking it down.
05. Marinate for 5 Minutes Ensure you’re off rolling fast by allowing the roller cover to become fully loaded. In addition to preparing other things before rolling, load it, let it absorb, and repeat the process until paint stays on the surface of the cover.
06. Load Placement is Key STOP
Load placement is key to maximize efficiency and control fast even film distribution. The single load seen here by an 18-inch roller is 3 feet wide by 8 feet tall. Only 4 loads are needed to complete a wall 12’ wide. This technique allows us to roll up to 100 sq. ft./m
START
fig. 2
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Avoid running the initial load straight to the ceiling line. Instead, stop about 10 inches away. Next, move towards the base and stop about 10 inches away. From there, head back up to the ceiling line. The roller cover will not be as full of paint by the time the 3rd motion ends. Finalize the area in reverse and pick up the heavy load of paint from the start point.
07. Avoid 50/50 lapping Instantly double production by
fig. 3
placing one load next to the last load vs overlapping each pass. This method also assists with controlling uneven wet film over large areas. Each section seen below is 3 feet wide from a single load.
Full Circle International
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
fig. 4
08. Maintain Frame Position With the exception of rolling tight to corners, avoid flipping the roller frame over when rolling. Alternating the position of the frames elbow reverses the roller nap texture on the wall. The result may appear to be a striping effect most noticeable on smooth drywall surfaces.
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Weight 13 oz.
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Roll First Cut Last Take production to the next level
Paint 5 Colors At Once! Roll first, and cut last. This can be used to your advantage. Scenario #1.
Paint Multiple Colors at One Time Often painters work one color at a time, clean up and start the next color. The following sequence recommends painting wall colors on two-coat scenarios across multiple colors. For example; you’ll paint five rooms and five colors, twice. The sequence begins by rolling all five colors at once, beginning with taping baseboards. This trick essentially has the same workflow as if the house was one color, and takes advantage of dry-times and timing using Kovrd bags. Simply bag colors as you go. Begin cutting-in the first color when the last color is rolled. Next, cut-in the second color,
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third, and so forth. After all five colors are cut-in, you should be able to re-cut the first color again. Continue cutting-in the remaining four colors. Finally, roll the second coat in sequence.
Scenario #2.
Roll New Drywall Before Cutting In Cutting-in over pure drywall mud and large porous surfaces are production killers. Consider rolling new drywall before cutting-in. Everything is rolled tight in both scenarios. Rolling first and tight will allow longer, faster, continuous runs when cutting-in. This is a big time-saver!
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Production / Systems
by Brian Havanas
Roll with Metronome-like Consistency
Roll Like a Boss!
Imagine this... you pull into the gas
station to fill up the tank, park by the pump, turn off the car, pop the fuel lid, get out of the car, remove the gas cap, and swipe your card. The steps you follow may be different, but nonetheless you perform the same ritual every time you pump gas. You created a natural system for pumping gas, but if we timed various systems, only one would be the most efficient. Rolling walls also became a natural system, but by using a systematic and consistent approach of repetitive motions, rolling like a boss demands elimination of any possible wasted time. Think robotic or machinelike and keep motions to a minimum, keep paint in front of you to your right or left depending on which direction you roll. My personal preference is rolling to the left with the pan on the right. My hand was on the pole when I snapped this photo. My feet are positioned in a way that require no forward or back movement to go from pan to wall.
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For every freedom and convenience we enjoy being in business for ourselves, there are countless variables persistently chipping away at our profits.
ef·fi·cient iˈfiSHənt/ adjective 1.
1. (esp. of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
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Production / Systems
No.15
Product positions painters into less efficient systems.
by Brian Havanas
UNDERSTANDING Efficiency
Don’t Be Chained To The Environment
I begin... with a
To be clear, being chained to your environment is not about painting apartments, repaints, or painting new construction projects.
lesson that might strike you as a bit unconventional. Stay with me. It’s one where I tend to see the most misunderstanding about what it truly means to be efficient. Many believe they are. Not so. I’m not talking about using an 18-inch roller versus a 9inch roller. Here’s what being efficient is all about:
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It’s about product restraints and the impact products have on efficiency. When it comes to producing quality fast, that business model is not common. Some would argue it’s impossible. Products can weigh production down like a twoton heavy thing without you noticing it’s happening. One example is: the level of difficulty sanding certain primers vs. others. Some
| www.painthacker.com
primers can be sanded easily in a few hours; other primers might consume the day, or longer. Some primers do not sand well at all. Some need all day to dry. The most important lesson to learn is one I want to discuss first, so before we go any further, lets take a look at the tag line which doubles in part as a mission statement on www.jackpauhl.com . “The Right Products, The Right Systems, The Right Place, The Right Time” = The Right Solution for the environment. Think of it this way: In order to truly be efficient, all the stars need to align properly. What is good for
EFFICIENCY LESSONS
one job may not be good for another. Being chained to any particular brand of product has a direct impact on efficiency, period. Great painters understand that efficiency derives from merits of products, rather than by the name on the can ⎯ or where you can get free coffee. Great painters understand efficiency, then use it to their advantage. They know that even if a product doesn't produce right now, they know when and where it eventually will. They never let their guard down by compromising projects ⎯ big or small, immediate or ongoing ⎯ because they know efficiency depends on great product.
That’s why they get ahead, that’s why they are in and out fast. That’s why they are efficient, doing every thing Right. While it would be nice to purchase all our products from one location, understand that is not The Right Solution. That is the convenient solution. The impact a single brand of product can have on your profits is unimaginable. Let’s take a look at a real example. Figure 1 As you can see, the $18.00 wage produced a great loss, and the products were more expensive than alternatives better suited for the job, allowing the project to be completed in under 165
Figure 1
Example... A paint contractor I’ve worked closely with over the years wasted over 165 man-hours painting a new home using certain products versus the same house with different products. Let’s take a look at that loss in more detail. 165 unexpected extra hours x 18.00 = $2970 www.painthacker.com
hours total. An additional $900.00 in materials for extra coats of paint increases the overall loss to $3,870. This is a substantial unnecessary loss for such a small scale project.
Today... Efficient painters know that each step they take, each decision they make ⎯ all contribute to the big picture in a dynamic environment. They systematically strategize, act aggressively, and always keep plans in motion. They adapt quickly. They think beyond the next step. They know exactly where they’ve been, where they’re going and what they need to get there. They are prepared. They seek for opportunities to make improvements, always. They execute tasks, precisely. They terminate faulty systems, immediately. They adapt and change, frequently.
Remember this... It’s true. The best painters systems in the world are only as good as the products behind them. | October 2013 | Painthacker MAGAZINE 21
@painthacker @jackpauhl
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Production / Systems
Focus On The Small Stuff
The Full Scope About Job Site Variables
Next up... Another lesson that might strike you as a bit unconventional. See a pattern here? Stay with me. One of the things you can always count on from job to job is variables, even those that are unseen. Really, variables are everywhere. They never, ever go away. No matter which task you perform, no matter if you perform it countless times, no matter which method, trick or whatever used to perform it, variables consume time, always Why do they exist? They exist because we allow them... Variables happen. We get screwed. We get all sorts of variables thrown our way. As it turns out, the small things are the underlying variables chipping away at our profits; fifteen minutes here, fifteen minutes there…poof! And countless hours gone. We think it won’t matter, but it never ends, and wasted time adds up quickly. It’s like a big black hole, sucking us in.
Many variables are unpredictable, and so is the time required to work through them, but we make our best guess and forge ahead with little notice to the impact on our profits. Unfortunately, with hundreds of variables on each job, sometimes things don’t go as planned. So why bother guessing? Minimizing the small stuff takes a bit of work and a pinch of creativity to reap any rewards. When we focus on the small stuff, a whole new platform for maximizing efficiency presents itself, along with a substantial increase in profits.
Did you know... An entire room can be rolled in the time it takes to clean a roller cover? More on that later, but if you look around, you will discover variables everywhere.
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Tip: Create systems in a way they work the same on a repaint, a cookie-cutter house, or a multi-million dollar home.
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Production / Systems
Repetition is a Good Thing Think about something you do over and over and how good you’ve become performing the task. Repetitiveness is key, and maximum efficiency is obtained through timing and consistency. The more variables we eliminate, the easier and more consistent jobs become. Each variable presents opportunity to maximize efficiency, and timing tasks keep systems in sync with other tasks.
The trick, of course, is figuring out which small stuff to focus on ⎯ and which stuff you should pass. Ask yourself this question: Will I encounter this variable again? How often? If you answer “Yes”, and “often”, do something about it. Change your approach to eliminate the variable altogether. Or at a minimum, reduce the amount of time spent. The power is in your hands. Many people “don’t sweat the small stuff”, but you can start focusing right now.
A brief example... I share this lesson as a result of understanding what leads to maximum efficiency on my jobs. At first it appeared that efficiency came from the way in which tasks were performed. That’s true, sort of.
Later... It was determined maximum efficiency comes from not
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performing certain tasks at all. For example, think about cutting-in before rolling new drywall, applying unnecessary coats of paint, priming trim off the wall, and cutting-in around outlets. Eliminating only four tasks currently taking 15 minutes each will shave one hour off the day. Remember, there are literally hundreds of variables, and we can instantly see the impact by eliminating only four of them.
Today... Pay attention to the small stuff. Know they are opportunities to increase production. Watch for common variables, and put a plan together to eliminate the variable ⎯ or reduce time spent on it. Whether or not the plan is good or bad right now is not as important as uncovering an area for improvement. Work the details out later. Make it your focus to become aware of certain variables in each job, and attack them as you would a horde of zombies. Go for the head!
EXPOSED Doing Nothing Is Quicker Than Doing Something
Is Nothing The New Something? Get in, get out, and get on with your life. ith the right selection of paint products and tools, you can tackle any job like a boss -- with utmost efficiency. Forget about everything your old bosses told you about painting. These aren't old times, are they? We’re going to new school. Look, let me get straight to the point. In some markets, competition can be high. You know you should get paid more for the quality of work you provide your customers. Unfortunately, lowball hacks tend to dominate certain
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markets and set pricing so low, making it simply hard to compete. You have a few options; A) Move to Vermont where everything in the paint world is awesome, or B) Position yourself in a way that sets you apart. So rather than turning nothing into something, we’re going to turn something into nothing in this month’s EXPOSED.
BY BRIAN HAVANAS AND TROY MCNEELY
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SMOOTH SANDING Sanding nothing is faster than sanding something The words “fine finishing” and “quality” go handin-hand like peanut butter and chocolate, although “fast” is usually not part of that equation. But, it can be. The secret to producing “high-quality” fast is to eliminate tedious tasks by replacing them with easy tasks or the extreme opposite, no tasks at all. With “fine finishing” comes sanding. There is no way around sanding; regardless whether the coating is sprayed or brushed, sanding can go south really quickly. Compare sanding trim...
Hold a 12-inch piece of trim full of brushmarks in your left hand, and another 12-inch piece in the other hand without any brushmarks. We don’t want to sound like Captain Obvious, but the piece without brushmarks will sand faster. Now, take for example a 12,000 square foot house with miles of trim. Imagine the laborhours saved by performing a quick light sanding versus aggressive sanding that never turns to a powdery smooth surface. This exact result is the key to producing quality finishes ⎯ fast. When selecting products for use on your jobs, the quality of product is as important as its application to maintain maximum efficiency. Taking production a step further, the type of sandpaper also affects how easily and quickly the task can be accomplished. Spending five times more for quality sandpaper can save countless hours on the job.
The choice to leave brushmarks in a base coat finish knowing it will need to be sanded-out is deliberately creating more work for yourself. Brushmarks are production killers when achieving quality quickly. Avoid brushmarks at all costs.
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PRODUCT PREVIEW
Picasso PIC3-2.5 Are you pickin up what we're laying down? Three years ago, Proform premiered revolutionary angular oval “Picasso PICx” series brushes, (September 2010). The launch premiered a line of poly brushes, the only ones of its kind that shipped with proprietary Advantage PBT filaments. Since then, several other angular oval brushes were spun off by other brush makers, but it seems that the Picasso series still resigns supreme for its unique, high-load, sharp narrow chiseled tipping that achieves long, sharp cuts fast. How fast? How about seven feet freehand cuts in seven seconds flat⎯just as sharp as if were taped? That’s simply faster than tape can be laid and knifed across the same seven feet. The advantages of an all poly, nonflagged brush goes beyond speed. In addition to speed and sharpness of cut, the Picasso has outstanding
bend recovery. Say goodbye to production killing bent brushes that never snap back into shape and soft bent tips. Feel free to rest the Picasso in a can of paint in 110 degree heat with confidence. The tips will not bend, distort, separate, or fray. The non-flagged needle-like tipping provides the ultimate in fine finishing with acrylics in order to ensure the best chance of leveling. The advantages of the chiseled tipping don’t stop there; you’ll be able to achieve solid cuts, making some of the worst paint products cover better ⎯ or at least cover with less streaks. You won’t need a time machine to see into the future of brush making; it’s already here. Visit www.jackpauhl.com to see what other painters are saying.
VERDICT
Proform Picasso PIC3-2.5 $12, www.proformtech.com
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The bottom line: While the Picasso seems to be the brush to beat, in our tests, it does wear faster due to all poly filaments. You might not mind once you experience what the Picasso can do for production for a price that’s hard to beat. We liked them well enough that we purchase them by the box ⎯ and treat them like throwaways once they lose responsiveness. The brush performs almost as if it were on auto pilot ⎯ and could benefit the most shaky hands. But who knows what else is – or will be out there in this ever-changing painting technology market? www.painthacker.com | October 2013 | Painthacker MAGAZINE 27
Field Notes
Drywall Primers: Do They Work? HOW THE “B” TEST IS PERFORMED
The “B” Test by Brian Havanas
No doubt... a picture is worth a thousand words, but as shown on the right ⎯ far more than that. And, no doubt you’ve applied drywall primers before. This simple test sheds new light on some of the industry’s oldest and most common issues: poor touch-ups, joint photographing, surface irregularities, and sheen uniformity over new smooth drywall. Drywall primers are used to equalize the porosity between various joint compounds, toppings and drywall surfaces to establish a solid foundation for the finish coats. But, do they work? It’s the same old story: apply one coat of drywall primer and two coats of paint. Easy enough, right? Many products do just that, but we’re talking about sealing the drywall surface. So we decided to perform a test; we call it the “B” test.
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Figure 1 Step 1: A letter B was hand painted over bare drywall with selfpriming paint using a 2.5” synthetic brush, and allowed to dry. Step 2: A coat of primer was applied over the entire wall, and was also allowed to dry. Step 3: A second coat of the same primer was applied to the entire wall. Notice the differences between the “B” ⎯ and the area around the B. Notes: • The B test was repeated 30 times, each with a different primer. • In each test, the letter B remained wet longer, up to 27 minutes, compared to the primer, which dried in less than 10 minutes.
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FIELD TESTED
Success... or failure finishing Level 4 often depends upon the porosity factor. How effectively did the prime coat equalize porosity between various drywall compounds and the paper surface of the drywall? How many coats of paint are required to achieve a solid uniform finish? How much of the second coat will absorb into the first? How well will touch-ups blend?
Anatomy of Level 4 Drywall Don’t let a highly inconsistent dry look fool you; a properly sealed surface means much more than meets the eye. Penetration is crucial. ABOUT LEVEL 4 BACKGROUND AND ILLUSTRATIONS “In critical lighting areas, flat paints applied over light textures tend to reduce joint photographing. Gloss, semi-gloss and enamel paints are not recommended over this level of finish.” (USG Construction Handbook, Chapter 5, “Finishing Drywall Systems”)
JOINT COMPOUND 2nd coat of joint compound.
DRYWALL SURFACE Made up of tiny waffle-knit like pockets, this paper surface changes depending on what you roll over it.
What if producing a solid uniform finish over Level 4 means using a paint instead of primer? Wouldn't that go against everything we know about painting new surfaces? Today, new technologies promise to make this seemingly impossible dream a reality. It enables painters to apply a paint directly to bare drywall, resulting in unmatched sealing properties not found in our primer tests. By successfully converting unknown complexities of multiple mud compounds and drywall surfaces into one surface, much like you expect the primer to do, finish coats of paint are absorbed less into the prime coat. Rather, the finish coat dries on the surface, resulting in higher wet film retention, or “dryfilm build.”
Figure 2
JOINT COMPOUND 3rd topping coat of joint compound.
JOINT COMPOUND Tape embedded in first coat of joint compound.
In a perfect world, painters applying flat enamels, lo-egs, eggshell and satin finishes would have LEVEL 5 available, but that’s not reality. More often, painters are asked to produce near LEVEL 5 over LEVEL 4. That task is much easier to accomplish today with certain paints ⎯ instead of drywall primer/ sealers. www.painthacker.com
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FIELD TESTED
Some experts... believe the solution for a uniform finish over Level 4 is to mask the differences between mud and board with a heavy layer of “high-build” primer. But masking the surface with primer is at best a costly Band-Aid approach. It does not attack the root of the problem, and leaves you as the painter wide open for all sorts of other costly exposures. More on that in a bit.
Drywall Primer Autopsy Poor equalization between drywall paper and mud leads to irreversible surface damage, and a long list of other costly issues. SURFACE IRREGULARITIES Unfortunately, once drywall paper develops a heavier roller nap texture compared to patched areas, the only way to fix the problem is to apply topping to the entire surface. If you were to pole sand this area, the patches and mud joints would become very smooth, while the drywall paper would remain textured. JOINT COMPOUND PATCH Absorbs roller nap texture that is noticeably different from the surface around the patch
Believe it or not, many of the thirty primers tested against the “B” test failed in such a way that we questioned their purpose. It’s vital that the primer equalizes the surface. Once that’s accomplished and sanded, walls are ready for a finish sheen of your choice. In a three-coat scenario, the first coat should be doing all the hard work for you. By taking sheen levels into account, higher sheens such as satin, semi-gloss, and gloss can be successfully finished on Level 4 drywall. When the surface is not sealed properly, touch-ups appear shinier with each coat. So achieving the true full sheen of the product is easier when the prime coat does not absorb the finish.
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DRYWALL PAPER SURFACE Tiny waffle-knit like surface captures then holds and accentuates roller nap texture
Figure 3
TAPED JOINT Typically finished with topping compounds, this area absorbs anything applied over it, reducing roller nap texture as a result
SURFACE IRREGULARITIES Distinct differences between paper surfaces and mud surfaces
Each coat of paint applied over a poorly primed surface accentuates surface irregularities. When the surface is sealed properly, as one surface, the paint behaves the same over drywall mud ⎯ and board. | www.painthacker.com
FIELD TESTED
Power of Two: Straight Up Side-by-side comparison of four primers vs. two coats of self-priming paint HOW WE PERFORMED THE TESTS Over bare drywall, we applied five stripes down the wall; four different primers and one coat of the same paint, with equal bare space between each stripe. Once dry, a coat of paint was applied to the entire wall. The photo below was taken minutes later; now two coats of paint compared to 1 primer coat and 1 paint coat over the other four stripes. See the results below. PRIMER #24 Advertised as a primer you can count on to seal new drywall for a solid uniform and consistent finish. Failed.
DRYWALL PATCH Topping compound over screws not visible.
You will pay... Rethinking the products you select for your jobs can mean finishing jobs much more efficiently. No matter which way you look at it, two coats are always quicker than three, and require less materials. Drywall primers are typically priced much lower than paints, and saving money for materials is understandable. But, if the job ultimately takes four, five or six coats, what are we saving? At some point you may reach a crossroad where effort will be needed to resolve persistent issues with your jobs. If you quote two coats, you want to make sure the products are capable of meeting your expectations, and are consistent with your bid.
Take my advice...
Figure 4
PRIMER #23 Sold as a primer sealer specifically for drywall. Its finish is similar to eggshell. Failed.
ONE SURFACE Distinct porosity differences between drywall paper and mud around the tapered joint is sealed as one, providing a solid uniform finish using paint.
The wet stripe seen in Figure 4 took 30 minutes to dry compared to primer #23 and #24, which dried in mere minutes after application, failing to seal the mud and paper. www.painthacker.com
You don't want to add any aggravation. So whether you’re painting a 1,500 square foot cookie-cutter, a mansion of 12,000 square feet, or a gigantic shopping mall, you have to be sure you know what you are applying, or someone will pay the price. From personal experience, I can say that fingers will be pointing at you, the painter.
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FIELD TESTED
Been there... done that.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy When product fails on the job, it can be devastating to your profits.
If you’ve been painting any length of time, it’s likely you’ve experienced some jobs that didn’t go as planned. Most likely you learned through mistakes, but hopefully sometimes you second guessed what you did ⎯ and how you did it ⎯ even though your gut tells you the problem was product-related.
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE Unfortunately, sometimes the only way we change our ways is when things go wrong, as one paint contractor experienced painting ceilings on a 12,000 square foot house. Even though not required, a second primer coat was applied as a failsafe, plus two coats of flat paint before this photo was taken. LEVEL 4 Finished with multiple types of mud.
DRYWALL MUD Various mixes of muds flash through 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of finish.
Painting 12,000 square feet of ceiling ⎯ or ceilings in a shopping mall ⎯ are not the time when you want products failing. Damages can be substantial on jobs of that scale. Do you remember landing that big job, thinking that it would lead to more work later? Well, you don't want to risk missing a deadline and damaging your reputation at the same time. It’s far better to be informed and educated about the products you apply. For instance, in a room with a cathedral ceiling and critical lighting, surface irregularities would stick out like a sore thumb if the prime coat looked like the result in Figure 3, often misdiagnosed as uneven paint distribution from a distance, or as a “striping effect” shown in Figure 5.
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Figure 5
BUTT JOINT The ceiling was sanded between coats, leaving smooth joints compared to the areas around it.
SURFACE IRREGULARITIES As seen in Figure 3, the paper surface has a rougher texture than the mud areas.
Each coat of primer and paint applied to the ceiling embedded heavier roller nap texture, while the taped joints remained smooth. Had the primer sealed the surface, the paint would behave the same, resulting in a uniform finish.
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FIELD NOTES
Primer vs. Paint What matters...
Why it failed...
Today...
Is the surface sealed, or not?
The primary difference between the dried surface of the “B” vs. the primers tested is film formation or “film tightness,” the optimized pigment spacing (film tightness) between the polymer, in this case, 100% acrylic polymer and pigments (e.g., Titanium Dioxide). Equally important is the quality of the raw materials. In some cases, the primers applied over the dry film of the “B” took up to thirty minutes to dry, testament to a properly sealed surface.
Performing a Level 5 finish after Level 4 prep is much easier to achieve with the product technology available today. The “B” test allowed us to witness how 30 primers behave over various drywall muds and drywall for a direct side-by-side comparison.
The effectiveness of a primer coat has a direct effect on how subsequent coats of paint will behave. The prime coat is the most important coat. If the new surface is not sealed properly, any or all of the following may occur: Uneven sheen uniformity/ holdout, inaccurate depth of color, flashing wall patches, shiny or pronounced touchups, poor scrub ability and durability, poor adhesion, mold and mildew, excessive material usage, slow production rates, and additional coats of paint. At the time of this writing, we performed the “B” Test using 30 randomly selected drywall primers, all of which failed to seal the surface porosity in comparison to the paint used.
For curiosity‘s sake, we applied four coats of a primer over new drywall; the surface was nowhere near as sealed as the “B” example. Each successive coat of primer made the unevenness of the surface worse. The roller texture over mud areas was visibly smoother compared with the heavier texture over paper areas. Can you afford this type of problem with even one coat of primer?
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Unfortunately, in our tests, we have not been able to achieve the overall level of job quality we’re after by using one of many drywall primers.
Remember this... Understanding the capabilities of each product is the most valuable knowledge for painters. By making informed product choices, you benefit in many ways; rewards of less labor, fewer materials, higher quality, and, importantly, more profits!
The Fine Print: It should not be assumed any paint will perform equally to the product used for the “B” test. Always test products before applying on a customers job.
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PROS KNOW JACK With this, our initial magazine edition, we’d like to thank all of you in the industry for your support, both in the past – and going forward. Jack Pauhl has been a trusted Internet resource with millions of readers. It provides painters with valuable content, smart products, and solid painting solutions that address everyday work challenges. Each month Jack Pauhl serves over 100,000 and growing; we have a 36% visitor return rate. Readers want to know what we’re up to! We’re also approaching 2,000,000 views on YouTube, and of those, 30,474 occurred in the last 30 days. We’re enrolling new subscribers daily. Painthacker Magazine will be tracked in many ways for web analytics. We will have statistics down to the number of readers, hot articles, and how long readers spend on each page. So if you’re an advertiser with us, rest assured that we can provide you with this information so you know that your advertising dollars are well spent.
November
ISSUE
PROFITABILITY IS VULNERABLE
Are you waiting for your employees to enlighten you?
BRUSH PERFORMANCE Blunt cut vs. chiseled. Which one you need and why.
BUILD YOUR OWN NO-COMPROMISE $1500 TOOL BAG The top tools no painter should be without.
YouTube Views 1,922,184 Channel #1 Views: 1,784,980
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AND SO MUCH MORE!
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Contact Brian Havanas at info@painthacker.com
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