Feature -- by Mark Sproxton

Walking into the dilapidated, well-worn 1960s bungalow, the painter knows a ton of work lies ahead. The living room gives him a taste of what's in store. There are holes in the drywall, nicks and scrapes on every wall, dark colours where the owners want light colours. At the back of his mind he knows the old house will soon look like it's brand new.

"What I liked most, as a painter, would be seeing the end result, having participated in making a difference in someone's home," Rick Lang, owner/operator of Connoisseur Painters Ltd. told nextSteps. "We do primarily residential re-paints but you can also get involved with new home construction, ceiling texturing and repair, cabinetry work... the possibilities are quite vast."

Those opportunities were fully realized for Lang about eight years ago, when he started the company as a one-man operation. "I knew that I wanted to get out of having to work for another company, where I feel I'd be limited," he explained. "I also thought it would be a good way to pay for college, as I was attending at the time. I started as a painter, and then realized the potential of being an (owner) operator."

The company now boasts several painters and office staff. The painters come from a variety of backgrounds. Take Lang, for example, who has a degree in marketing and a diploma in business administration. There are several different types of painters. Some are journeyman who have completed an apprenticeship at trade school for three years, while others learned on the job. "The key to this is getting employed with a good company that's willing to teach," Lang said. "Chances are they'll start you out doing prep work, scraping, assisting etc." As the painter gains more skill, more demanding tasks will be presented.

Regardless of training, a painter's day will be more or less the same. Arriving on the job site about 7 a.m. the painter will prepare whatever has to be painted which could including sanding, or scraping or filling holes. Once that's done, the painting products will be applied and brushes, rollers, sprayers etc. will be cleaned as required. Typically the day will end at 5 p.m. but sometimes longer days and/or weekend work is required. The work can be messy and there is a risk of being exposed to harmful materials, such as lead paint. As an owner, Lang says his schedule varies greatly depending on how busy things are, the stage of the project, the season etc.

From his experience, those who are hardworking, reliable, self-motivated and interested, responsible and proud of a job well done make the best painters. While many people believe they have those traits, the painting company owner said those type of people can be hard to find. "From an ownership perspective, I find the most difficult challenge to be relying on others to live up to your expectations when it comes to quality of workmanship," Lang said. "What I like most about owning the company, is the relative freedom when it comes to deciding on contracts and scheduling."

Those just getting into the painting trade will earn $10 to $12 per hour while an experienced painter will earn between $16 and $20 an hour or more. And by all accounts, there are job opportunities out there. "Homes will always need to be re-painted," Lang said. "The outlook for painters is good, once they're able to get a foot in the door and prove themselves."

His words of wisdom for someone considering this line of work: "Work hard, don't grow beyond your means too quickly. Take a step at a time. Do the best job that you can do, as referrals are what will truly drive your business for later. Be reliable, show up on time, and learn how to talk with people."