Hiring painters question

[Anonymous]

Our painter unfortunately retired and we’re hiring a new one. We had a reasonable quote, but they won’t remove sconces (we have a lot) or light fixtures. Our retired contractor did that.

What’s the norm?

[Anonymous]

The norm is to paint around light fixtures and switchplates, not to remove them.

This is a terrible, lazy norm, and I stand with you in your fight to have the job done right.

I've found that if I tell the painter to do it, they will, but ONLY if I tell them. In once case, I did it myself, because nothing makes a house look like a cheap rental more than paint slopped around the fixtures.

[Anonymous]

Over the past three years I had my vacation home and my DMV home painted. No removal of fixtures of any kind. We did it ourselves.

And our painter here moves furniture but not everyone who gave us estimates did.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Mine did remove switch plates. But painted around picture hangers and anything left in the walls. Make sure to keep your extra paint.

[Anonymous]

Mine didn't completely remove the fixtures - they were hanging down (all the recess lights) and the pendant lights. He removed all the switch plates.

He is good but never responds since he gets all these big contracts. I waited for months until he caught a break, since I liked him.