View from Bergen County
Welcome to Skip's Painting. I started painting houses in 1982, while I was living in a small town in northwestern Connecticut. I am originally from Rochelle Park, and after I moved back to New Jersey in 1998, I became a member of the Bergen County Mastercraftsman Paint and Paper Association, now known as the Bergen County Mastercraftsman Network, and have a long list of local referrals.
I do interior painting, paper hanging, and small exterior jobs, and have some artistic experience which is helpful when trying to coordinate colors.
Schedule and Pricing
When I am working in a family situation, 9am to 4pm seems to be the most convenient time, for both my customers and myself, but I am also available to work nights, weekends, and part-time when necessary, and have painted a number of vacation homes for people I've worked for here in Bergen County, in places like Vermont, Cape Cod, and the Jersey shore.
My estimates are usually based on an hourly rate of $30.00, plus paint. If I can purchase the paint myself at a discount, I pass that on to my customers, but I am required to collect 7% sales tax on my labor.
Interior House Painting
I like to use the best paints and brushes available. There are two companies whose paints I prefer: Benjamin Moore, and Muralo. Muralo was one of the first to develop the technology behind acrylic house paint, which is more durable, and resistant to fading than latex or oil.
Acrylic paints are now the standard for almost all interior and exterior work. Muralo has a line of semi-gloss and glossy paint for woodwork, that rivals the old oil-based trim paints, and has the same smooth look when it dries. For wall paint, I prefer Benjamin Moore, because it has the widest selection of colors. If you are considering having your house painted, or painting it yourself, there are a number of dealers in Bergen County where you can find Benjamin Moore charts and products. Any one of them would be a good place to start when trying to find the right color, or a combination of colors, to choose from.
Artwork and Portraits
22x30 Oil on Canvas
in progress...
In my spare time, I enjoy doing portraits and other art projects, as well as writing, and music. The sites listed below contain samples of my artwork, photos, and short stories on the web.