How to hire a painter: putty, painting, wall finishing
What a painter really does
On a renovation a painter does more than paint. Most of the time goes on preparation: applying putty, sanding, priming. That is what decides whether the wall looks flat in the light. Some craftsmen are excellent at putty but slow at painting, and the other way round. So in the vacancy say what you need more: preparation for painting, the finishing coat or decorative coatings.
What to include in the request
- Type of work — putty, painting walls and ceilings, exterior painting, decorative coatings.
- Pay — per square foot, per day or per site, for example ₹14 per sq ft.
- Work location — city and area; one site or several.
- Schedule — six days a week, 9 am to 6 pm, or as agreed.
- Type of employment — permanently in a crew or for one site, for example two weeks.
- Experience — in years and in what kind of work.
- Tools — their own (rollers, putty knives, sander) or the company's.
Example request
“In Pune, Wakad, a painter is needed to renovate three flats in a new building. Putty for painting and painting walls and ceilings. Pay ₹14 per sq ft, paid for each flat handed over. At least 2 years' experience, own tools, about a month of work.”
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You write your request once, without choosing a category. It is checked for ads and contact details, and you get hints to add details. Then painters in your area reply in the chat: who they are, what experience they have, at what price and when they can start. BlaBlaPrice shows the strongest replies first, and reviews of the craftsman are visible next to each. Your phone number stays hidden, and you pay nothing for the search. More on the page “How it works”.
How to choose among the replies
Ask whether the craftsman works with a roller, a brush or an airless sprayer: for large areas in a new building, airless spraying noticeably speeds up the work.
Asking for photos of past work is normal. Look at corners, window reveals and the line where the wall meets the ceiling: the quality shows there. Ask how many coats of putty the craftsman applies and whether they sand between them. Agree that you will inspect the prepared wall under side light before painting, not after.
Find out in advance whose paint and putty will be used: if you buy the materials yourself, the price per square foot will be different. Before painting you may need a plasterer, and for building walls from board an installer.
If you are looking for work
Register as a service provider on BlaBlaPrice, choose the category and your area, and you will receive vacancies for painters that you can reply to. For other building trades see the section “Construction / finishing works”.
