Care vs Cost

• When members of a painting crew make mistakes, sometimes its just par for the course. After all, to err is human. When someone in your painting crew takes his eye off the ball in certain situations, however, the consequences could be severe. For instance, a ladder carelessly punched through a closed window, or a few drops of paint dripped onto an expensive brand of carpeting, can considerably reduce the profit margin on a contract job. In some cases, damage to valuable items can either completely eradicate any potential earnings or send insurance premiums through the roof. Remember that you will always be held responsible for any damage your crew causes. So, make sure to stress the importance of concentration, and try to provide plenty of breaks and fluids to prevent errors due to fatigue.
  
  

Conduct

• Let's face it--members of a paint crew aren't exactly choirboys. Often, they're a group of fun-loving guys who like to talk sports and tell an off-color joke or two. When they're on the job, however, they must act like professionals. Many painting contractors garner most of their business through word of mouth. If you want a referral from the homeowner you're working for, you don't want her to overhear one of your crew members making a crude joke or a sexist remark. So, be sure to set standards for conduct for each member of your paint crew. Be clear about your expectations or else you may find that their poor behavior costs you future business.
  
  

Dress Code

• It's common knowledge that painters tend to get paint on their work clothes. Many painting contractors require that members of their crews wear traditional white to promote an appearance of cleanliness and professionalism. Others are more lenient in their dress code, allowing their workers to wear almost anything as long as it's reasonably tasteful. Whatever your dress-code requirements, the one thing you do want your painters to do is wash their clothes. It may sound strange, but the reality is that it's sometimes difficult for a painter to see the rationale of washing garments that are saturated in 15 different colors of paint. For obvious reasons, however, you'll want your paint crew to be clean and well kept.