Question for painters

9/14/04, 2:08 AM #1

Roger Bell, Oregon
Guest

Question for painters

Roger Bell, Oregon

>When a piece of millwork, such a door, is spec'd out in a contract as "paint grade", does that imply that the door is pre-primed and "ready for paint". Is it necessary for the door to be primed in order to "qualify" as paint grade?

Or is it a generic term for wood that, because of various factors, such as: its general appearance (such as sapwood or other defects), it's species (such as alder or poplar) or its construction (such as finger jointed pine) makes it suitable only for "painting" and not for staining or clear finishing?

I am having some difficulty with a contractor over the interpretation of "paint grade" in a set of plans. He wants to charge me extra to prime doors that are unprimed. I contend that priming is part of the painting bid. Priming walls and millwork prior to painting is included in the specifications. He contends that the term "paint grade" requires that the doors be already primed.

Naturally, I think I am right, but it more important to be fair.

Which interpretation is most generally accepted in the industry?

Re: Question for painters

9/14/04, 2:22 AM #2

Mike G.
Guest

Re: Question for painters

Mike G.

>"Paint grade" trim is fingerjointed and/or has appearance defects such as knots or filled voids. Most doors are manufactured as "stain grade", although the filler under the veneer skin can be fingerjointed material.

I don't know about where you live, but around here, priming is considered part of the paint job. When the painter bid the job, he should have been aware that priming was part of the job and bid it accordingly. Our painting contractor puts a primer coat, then a base coat, then at least one top coat on every door and piece of trim. He also makes sure to paint the bottom and top edges of the door, too. HTH's

Mike G.

Re: Question for painters

9/14/04, 2:32 AM #3

Matt Prusik
Guest

Re: Question for painters

Matt Prusik

>I have a lot of experience in lumber, millwork and construction. And I think you are mixing your metaphors here .

Paint Grade as applied to LUMBER means that the wood is NOT intended to be stained or finished clear likely because of surface defect. For example, blue stain or mineral stain on poplar, sticker stain on maple and so on. Also, believe it or not, curly and birdseye maple would be acceptable as far as the �paint grade� designation is concerned because of the figure in the wood.

Painting and priming are terms in the specification (scope of the work) for a construction job and mean what they mean. If the scope (or spec) calls for all woodwork surfaces to be "primed and painted", that's what it means and the contractor is obligated to prime and paint the topcoat according to the customer�s choice (implied in the scope) or what is specified in the scope.

Re: Question for painters

9/14/04, 2:14 PM #4

Sam Simpson
Guest

You are correct

Sam Simpson

>Hi Y'all,

Roger, you are correct.

Paint grade = wood spec. [as in cosmetic appearance of wood]

Paint ready = surface spec. [as in what sanding grit]

Primed = a sealed condition. [as in protected from moisture for on site delivery]

These specifications are common and rarely confused. Some millwork companies will not warrantee their finished work without it being delivered as primed. [therefore all of their orders of paint grade are delivered, and costed, as primed] It is possible that your contractor has only been exposed to these practices and therefore assumed that it is normal for all paint grade specs to include priming.

My recommendation is for you to have this discussion and split the difference this time round. You can bet your bippy that if swelling or deformity occurs in your doors he will claim it to be a manufacturing defect. [you have no control over site storage condition] Next time make him aware that you offer no warrantee unless he pays the extra for priming.

Regards Sam Simpson.

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