Rain in October?

    As a place to live, the Los Angeles area is the crème de la crème - proof that life can be a bowl of cherries.  Our gentle climate nurtures us all, from the “peaches and cream” complexion of a Hollywood Starlet to the golden raisin tan of a Malibu Surfer.

    Last week I had to turn away an association that wanted to have Ferris Painting do their paint job before the rains start in October.  I thought to myself…“rain in October?”  Hmmm.  While I guess that is possible, statistically it’s not likely here in Southern California.

    That got me thinking…“just how much did rain effect us last year?”  So I looked it up and found out it rained a mere 6 inches in the past year.  The statistics always tell the truth!  We were actually delayed more due to wind than rain but none to fire, flood, famine or locust…as the famous saying goes.

    When one of those rare rain days leaves the stucco or wood too wet to paint, our desert climate is so wonderful that the wet surfaces dry out quickly and we can usually resume painting a day later and finish the job on schedule.

    Is painting seasonal?  Sure is, all the seasons!  We paint in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  At least we have been every year for the past 38 years.

    Material costs do go up the beginning of each year, so now is an excellent time to plan for painting this fall or winter!  We would be happy to send our estimator, George, out to your building and give you an estimate.  He’s been in the business for over 30 years and I know you’ll really like him  Give us a call at 818-951-3207 or fax it to 818-951-5279.  Or you can email me at greg@ferrispainting.com or log on to our website at www.ferrispainting.com and email us from there.

TO PAINT NOW, OR TO PAINT LATER

    Here is a question we have been asked throughout our 38 years in the painting business. To alter Shakespeare’s famous phrase just a bit:

TO PAINT NOW, OR TO PAINT LATER

    Here is a general timeline that works well.  Wood and wrought iron should be painted every 5-6 years.  Stucco is a different story.  It should be painted every 10-12 years, since it doesn’t deteriorate as fast as wood or metal.

    The topic that we are asked about the most is wood.  Wood is a naturally strong, long-lasting and beautiful building material, when it’s protected.  We generally use paint to protect wood.  This is where I come in.  If you wait too long after the last time your wood was painted, it begins to enter into a downward spiral that ends with your wood turning into dirt.  Long before that, your wood will look like it needs to be painted.  It starts peeling, flaking and cracking.  This means it has entered the dirt spiral.  It is safer to paint by the book (every 5 or 6 years on average) than it is to take the following risk.

    We recently painted an HOA that waited too long to protect their wood.  The paint job cost $18,000 and the cost to repair/replace the bad wood that was found throughout the building was an additional $38,000, yikes!  The majority of this carpentry work could have been avoided if they had painted on a regular schedule.

    The lesson learned:  Don’t let your wood slide down that dirt spiral!  Paint on the outside of a building is not merely adornment.  It preserves your property value and your largest investment which can save you money in the long-run.

    If your wood or any other surfaces look like they need to be painted or better yet, if  per the timeline above it is time to paint, give us a call. Estimates are free!  

    I‘m Greg Lewis, the President of Ferris Painting.  If you would like a free painting estimate, Click here to contact us today!.

How I became a small business owner...

    Los Angeles is known as the entrepreneurial capital of the world.  We have about 200,000 small businesses, which is twice as many as can be found in any other region of the United States.  

    My name is Greg Lewis, I’m the owner of Ferris Painting and this is my story on how I became a small business owner.

    I’m a native Californian, born and raised.  We lived on “The Westside” of Los Angeles, right across the street from Roxbury Park.  Growing up, I would play Little League Baseball, AYSO Soccer, Team Tennis and Basketball.  I spent darn near every weekday afternoon and weekend at Roxbury Park. My mother was an actress and she helped me land a small part as a bad-boy “cub” in a 1976 movie called ‘Logan’s Run’ with Michael York and Jenny Agutter. I decided that acting was not for me, I much preferred sports.

    As a teenager I continued to play sports and really excelled at golf.  So after high school I went to the University of Houston for the sole reason that they were the #1 ranked golf team in the nation.  We won NCAA’s my freshman year and after school I turned pro.  That turned out not to be as easy as I thought.  So while playing on various mini-tours, I got a job at a local country club.  One day in 1986, the head pro at that club asked me to paint the outside of his house.  Right there my painting career started.  I could actually do pretty well supporting myself while I was playing on mini-tours.

    In 2005, I met Steve Ferris, the founder of Ferris Painting.  Steve was looking to retire and I was looking to take the next step up in the business world.  So we came to a mutual agreement and I have been running things here at Ferris Painting ever since.  

    We paint all over Los Angeles County and Ventura County.  One of the HOAs we are currently painting is Carefree Living in Port Hueneme.  If you would like to see our work, give us a call and we’ll give you some references for your area.

    If you would like a free painting estimate, Click here to contact us today!

The Top 10 Reasons to Hire Ferris Painting for Your Paint Job

Why should you hire Ferris Painting to paint your property?  There are several reasons!  
Here are a few:

1.  We are well-known as one of the area’s most trusted and experienced painting companies.

2.  With 38 years of experience in the painting business, we are completely dedicated to quality workmanship and customer satisfaction.

3.  We are fully licensed, bonded and insured and would be happy to provide you with documentation.  This protects the customer (YOU!).

4. We are a lead-safe EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) certified company.

5.  We only use the highest quality materials to make sure your project comes out looking the best it possibly can.

6.  Along with your paint job we can repair damaged stucco, wood and wrought iron.

7.  Photo renderings are available at no cost with most jobs we do.  This way you can SEE the different color options for your building.

8.  We have some of the best guarantees in the industry, including our free BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM (call for details).

9.  Thousands of satisfied customers have chosen us for their painting needs and come away with an incredible looking paint job.  We can provide references!

10. Estimates and consultations are free, give us a call at 818-951-3207 or Click here to contact us today!!

Dare to be an optimist!

    At Ferris Painting we like to start the year off with a positive outlook.  Here is a wonderful saying that keeps me focused on the good things in life…
    
”Always have something you are looking forward to doing”

Here are just some of the many good things that happened in 2012:
Property values are up!
Interest rates are at fantastic low rates!
The stock market is up!
New car sales increased 13% in the US.  The biggest jump since 1984!
The US economy is increasing it’s growth!
Our unemployment rate has dropped to it’s lowest level since 2009!
New construction forecast is positive for 2013!

Here are some useful tips to keep that positive outlook going all year long:
Stop watching or reading the news.
Stop reading the newspaper.
Don’t take part in gossip or listen to rumors.
Take a walk, just 30 minutes a day to clear your head and get some fresh air.

These actions are proven to improve a person’s outlook on life.  Try them and see what happens.

Since property values are up, now is a great time to consider painting your property.  Painting not only improves the appearance, but also protects your property against the elements of sun, wind and rain.

Click here to contact us today!

When should you paint?

    When should you paint?
    Isn’t asking a painter that question just like asking Colonel Sanders how often you should eat chicken?  I guess it could be.  But who else can you ask?       
    I just got off the phone with a very nice property manager with an association that was looking at painting their perimeter wrought iron fence.  Wrought iron needs painting every three to five years.  They had gotten their painting bids.  And they were NOT happy.  
    They have a very big fence.  Some of the bids were in the 6 figure neighborhood.  The idea of spending that much money every four or five years just went against their grain.  With 400 homeowners it adds up to $4.65 a month per home.  They researched other options that don’t require maintenance.  Vinyl came up, along with the 7 figure number.  If they spread the expense of a vinyl fence over 4 years it’s $46.29 per month per door.  
    But they will never have to paint again.  
    So they haven’t made a decision.  
    A few years ago another condo property manager called and asked, “How much to paint 145 doors?  Two or three of them need to be replaced.”  I answered and wished him good day.  The next three years he called me each Spring and asked a price for 145 doors.  Each year more doors needed replacement.   The final May I got the call.  “How much to paint 145 doors?  Twenty five to thirty to be replaced now.”  The price of procrastination had reached 15 to 20 thousand dollars.  I asked him why they hadn’t just painted the doors before.  “The board couldn‘t make up their mind.” he responded ruefully.   
    Napoleon said, “Not making a decision, is a decision.”  Actually, not making a decision is just not making a decision.  But in the real world, not making a decision often has the EFFECT of making a decision. Maybe that’s what Monsieur Bonaparte meant.  If a general can’t decide whether to attack, the enemy won’t wait for him to make up his mind.  Exterior paint deterioration is just like that.  It doesn’t wait for you to make up your mind.  
    Folks, paint on the outside of a building is not merely adornment.  It preserves your building.  In the case of things which rot and rust like wood and steel, it saves you money.  Just like changing your oil protects your car’s engine, a paint job protects wood and steel.  And just like “saving money” by putting off your oil change for a year or two can cost you your engine, “saving money” by putting off your paint job can cost you the exterior of your building.  Deterioration happens inexorably, sunny day after rainy day.  (Luckily, there is scant paint breakdown on clear nights, so your poor hardworking paint gets a little time off!)  
    When should you paint?  Wood and steel?  Every five years.  Sooner, if it looks bad.  If it looks bad, you have damage.  Paint the damaged areas NOW.  
    Stucco?  A different story.  Paint it every 10-12 years.  Stucco doesn’t deteriorate as fast as wood or metal.
    There you are:  exterior painting in a nutshell.  
    By the way, the Colonel just called me back.  He told me, “Every day, boy.  Every day.”

 If you need a paint job done right, click here to contact us today!

Our BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM

Since the dawn of humankind, our species has grappled with a great many problems, but perhaps none is as frustrating as the problem of IMPERMANENCE.

You know how it goes:  Your brand new, shiny car eventually turns faded, dented and scratched.  The wonderful, well-ironed, brand new white shirt you picked up becomes a lasagna-stained disgrace.  The smiling infant to whom you gave birth turns into an eye-rolling teenager...

Scholars have attempted to deal with the human challenge of impermanence, but none of them have arrived at a flawless answer.  That's where Ferris Painting comes in.  We've not only solved this issue - which, we'd like to remind you, has existed since ancient times - but we've done so with style, grace and a resilient smile.

Since we've been in business, we've made good use of our FOUR TO TEN-YEAR WARRANTY.  We're known for wanting the paint we put on to stay where it goes, rather than sneaking away in the dark of night.

But what just happened?  You're slapping your palm against your forehead and thinking, "By golly!  Someone just scratched our recently painted beautiful walls when they were moving their stuff."

Now what do you do???  Don't panic!  Just call us and we'll be there to make the job look good as new.  The is where our innovative new BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM becomes relevant...

When you hire us to do a job of a specific minimum size (which we'll be pleased to explain in greater detail when you contact us), we will devote one day a year (at NO EXTRA COST) to showing up and re-painting any spots that got damaged, scratched, faded or otherwise removed from perfection since the original job was completed.

That means when you say goodbye to our painters, you don't have to get all teary-eyed and full of regret, depressed in the knowledge that you'll never, ever see them again.  Heck, no!  They'll be back once a year to keep that paint job good and fresh.

If you would like to take advantage of our BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM, please click here.

Choosing Paint Colors

I'm here to discuss an important subject....Choosing Paint Colors. 

I know, I know, why such a controversial topic for our monthly letter?  Well, recently we had three large properties delay the start of their job because they assumed it would be easy for everyone to come together and choose new colors.  Well, it clearly wasn't and sometimes it takes a while.

Color choice is a very personal matter.  What one homeowner loves, another wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.  I was once at a dinner party where a fellow guest complimented the new yellow walls.  Several of us agreed, however one couple at the end of the table threw down their napkins and said they thought yellow should only be for school buses and taxis.

The good news is, here at Ferris Painting, we are well-prepared to deal with such a crisis.  We have the patience, the knowledge and experience to ensure that our clients get a color they can all live with for years to come.

We have the ability to take a picture of your building and with a computer, provide you with pictures of various alternate color schemes.  Then, when you see it, you'll know whether or not you like it. 

We won't let you settle for "Hi Ho Silver", when "Dangerous Robot" is available.  Come on....who wouldn't want "Dangerous Robot" on their building?!?!  There are over 1,000 colors to choose from.  So, if you are getting ready to paint, get your colors chosen soon.  Don't let it delay the start of your paint job.

If you need a paint estimate and want to have a frank discussion about color, click here.

Wood

The following story is true.

I'm Greg Lewis.  I'm a painter.  And this is one painter's story.

I felt bad for our customers at an HOA in Woodland Hills.  They have a beautiful complex in a park-like setting.  Much of the complex is shaded by eucalyptus and redwood trees, the local landscaper's favorites.  But much of it is beaten upon by our Southern California sun.

Both environments have their own challenge for painters.  Shady areas need good paint, otherwise moisture enters and dry rot follows.  Sunny aread breakdown the paint, eventually causing cracking.  Then the rain comes and the wood underneath the paint gets wet and swells.  When it dries, it cracks.  This continues each time it rains until we first have driftwood, then dry rot, then dirt.

Wood is a naturally strong, long-lasting and beautiful building materia, when it's protected.

I'm in the wood protecting business.  Wood protection lasts about 5 or 6 years on the south and west sides, 6 to 8 on the east sides and 10 to 15 years on the north side.  We generally use paint to protect wood.  This is where I come in.  If you wait too long after the last time your wood was painted, it begins to enter into that downward spiral that ends with dirt.  Long before that, your wood looks like it needs paint.  Here's a secret that only painter know:  If wood looks like needs painting--cracked, peeling paint and/or wood--it has entered the dirt spiral.  It's safer to paint by the book (every 5 or 6 years) than it is to take that risk.

The Woodland Hills HOA called us before the dirt stage.  Which is good, because we can do nothing with dirt.  But they were well within the spiral.  $30,000.00 worth of carpentry repairs into it.  Which is sad, because, though they might have thought they were saving money by waiting to paint, I think we can all agree that no money was saved.  In fact, they didn't even save money on the wood that they replaced.  Because it still needed to be painted after it was installed!

My old mentor used to say, "Pay me now or pay me later--but if you pay me later, plan on paying the carpenter too."  So if it's been 5 years since you painted your wood, call me.  Or if the paint is peeling and the wood is cracked, call me.

Don't let it slide down the dirt spiral!

I'm Greg Lewis, President of Ferris Painting.  If you need a paint job, click here.