Question 1

How is your pricing compared to your competitors?

Accepted Answer

I’ll admit that we aren’t typically the cheapest painting company in town. But we are certainly competitively priced when compared to other reliable companies in the area. Please remember we are artists, not commercial painters. We only specialize in painting and staining brick & stone, we do nothing else! Our focus is to deliver a top-quality job and unbeatable customer service at a reasonable price.

Here are some factors we consider when quoting your project:

Material Cost:
This can vary based on the brand and quantity needed.

Labor Cost:
Labor costs will depend on the complexity of the project and the time required for surface preparation, application, and any additional steps. Skilled professionals charge higher rates, but their expertise can ensure a quality finish.

Size of the Area:
The size of the area to be stained is a significant factor. Larger surfaces will require more product, more labor, and potentially more time to complete the project.

Accessibility:
The accessibility of the area can also affect costs. Hard-to-reach or intricate areas may require additional effort and time, impacting the overall expense.

Additional Costs:
Depending on the project, there may be additional costs for safety equipment and any customization or special requests.

Question 2

What products do you use for exterior masonry projects and what is their warranty & longevity?

Accepted Answer

Staining or painting brick and stone outdoors is a relatively permanent decision. However, we prefer to use a mineral stain on all exterior projects where applicable. Our team is certified as installers of products by PermaTint. Their mineral stain is of the highest quality and allows the brick to remain porous. Mineral-based stains function differently than acrylic or latex paint. Rather than sticking to the surface and forming a film (like paint), stain soaks into the surface, crystallizes within it, and becomes a permanent part of the wall. PermaTint provides a 30-year warranty against chipping, fading, peeling, algae & mold resistant, water repellent and it’s organic for a cleaner environment. If your surface has been previously sealed or painted, we must use paint.   Please click the link to check out their website for more information and see us listed as a certified installer www.permatint.com.

If we use paint, we use the highest quality Benjamin Moore product, which also provides a lifetime warranty.  Their durable finish resists fading, cracking, peeling and the formation of mildew on the surface of the film. Please see below the attached warranty for Benjamin Moore and feel free to download it here:

Question 3

How can I tell if the masonry surface that I want to stain is suitable for your stains?

Accepted Answer

The most important thing is that the substrate that you want to stain needs to be absorbent. The simplest test is to put water onto the surface of the brick that you want to stain to see if the water is absorbed.  If it does, you should not have any difficulty in staining it. If the water pools on the surface this would indicate poor or no absorption and could be a problem. Sending a picture of the substrate would allow us to advise you on this.

Question 4

Are there temperature requirements when working with your products? What about rain?

Accepted Answer

As all of our products are water based, they must be used at temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Attention should also be paid to low temperatures that may occur overnight. Even if the temperature is 45 degrees, if it was minus another 10 degrees overnight, the brick may be too cold to stain. Care should be given to ensure that the temperature will stay above 40 degrees after we have completed the work so as to not interfere with the curing process of the product. Work cannot be done if it is raining. Care must also be taken to make sure that the brick or stone is not wet due to recent rain.

Question 5

Can I stain over top of existing latex or oil-based paint or previously installed sealers?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, the answer is no. The same would apply to a sealer. Mineral stains, unlike latex/acrylic paints, are designed to be absorbed into and crystalize in the substrate. Latex paints and sealers will prevent this absorption and would make our products less effective. If your surface is previously painted, we would use Benjamin Moore paint.

Question 6

How environmentally safe are your stains?

Accepted Answer

Our stains are about as environmentally friendly as a product could possibly be. They are made solely from readily available earthen raw materials and by German Industrial Standard are prevented from having any more than 5% acrylic. You are literally staining with liquid rock. They have Zero VOC’s and are completely non-hazardous.

Question 7

Can I use your products on pavers or other materials on the ground?

Accepted Answer

Our stains are more designed for use on vertical surfaces. However, We have had much success in the past with staining horizontal surfaces like concrete, steps and pavers. Horizontal areas are impacted differently to all types of traffic and wear and tear and may need maintenance over time.  It is also important to keep in mind that Horizontal surfaces have extreme water penetration, de-icing agents and abrasion issues, which can severely impact the survivability of any product applied to them. Having said that,  We cannot give a warranty on such applications under any circumstances. However, we do offer maintenance services at a minimal cost.

Question 8

How do I choose my colors?

Accepted Answer

As a good start, we suggest scrolling through our social media pages to see hundreds of before & after photos and videos to get ideas.  Feel free to screenshot any pics on our page and send them to us as an inspiration picture. We will discuss colors in much more detail the morning we arrive before we start painting to achieve your vision!

Question 9

Who will you be sending to do my project?

Accepted Answer

The project will be completed by our in-house artists, who are all experienced and professionally trained (and not subcontractors).

Question 10

Do you perform masonry repairs and tuckpointing?

Accepted Answer

Tuckpointing is the process of removing and replacing the mortar joints in between brickwork.  We only specialize in painting and staining brick & stone and do not perform any masonry repairs.  However, if you have a few nail holes here and there, we would be happy to do a quick patch for you.

Question 11

How soon after I contact you will I get a quote?

Accepted Answer

We are open seven days a week and usually offer same-day quotes if you provide all the necessary pictures and information we need.  There are occasions during the spring/summer season it may take longer as we work longer days during the warmer weather.

Question 12

How soon can you schedule my project once I decide I want you to complete it?

Accepted Answer

How quickly we can get started depends on the type of project and the time of year. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, just let us know when you contact us for a quote and we will see if we can accommodate you faster.

Question 13

Do you offer financing:

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do.  Please click on the financing tab on our home page for more information.

Question 14

Do you take credit cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We accept most major credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Discover).  If paying with credit cards, the following fees will be added for each transaction.
*Visa/MC/Discover - 2.9% of transaction amount +0.30 cents
*American Express - 3.7% of transaction amount +0.30 cents
*Tap to Pay on mobile - 2.6% of the transaction amount +0.20 cents

Brick and Stone
Faux Painting & Staining

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS