Painter

Field & Trades

Applies the finish coat that's the most visible part of almost every building, and, on older buildings, has to know exactly what's under that old paint before touching it.

What is a Painter?

A Painter prepares surfaces and applies paint, stain, and coatings on new construction and renovation projects, both interior and exterior. No personal painting license is legally required in most states. One federal requirement does apply to a specific, common scope of work: the EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule legally requires firm certification and individual "certified renovator" training for anyone paid to perform work, including painting, that disturbs paint in housing or child-occupied facilities built before 1978, since that paint may contain lead.

What they do

• Prepare surfaces, scraping, sanding, patching, and priming, before painting
• Apply paint, stain, and specialty coatings by brush, roller, or sprayer
• Match colors and finishes to specifications or existing conditions
• Test for and safely manage lead-based paint on pre-1978 buildings per EPA RRP requirements
• Protect finished surfaces, flooring, and fixtures from overspray and drips
• Estimate paint and material quantities needed for a job

A typical day

• 7:00 AMSet up drop cloths and protect surfaces not being painted
• 7:30 AMPrepare surfaces, sanding, patching, and priming as needed
• 9:30 AMApply the first coat of paint to prepared surfaces
• 12:00 PMAllow the first coat to dry while prepping the next area
• 2:00 PMApply a second coat and do detail/trim work with a brush

Skills

Software

Education

Required:

High school diploma or equivalent, since no personal painting license is legally required in most states. Anyone paid to perform painting or renovation work that disturbs paint in housing or child-occupied facilities built before 1978 is legally required, under the EPA's RRP Rule, to work for an EPA-certified firm and have completed the certified renovator training for that specific scope of work

Preferred:

On-the-job training or a formal painting apprenticeship

Helpful:

Manufacturer-specific coating certifications, spray finishing experience

Not necessary:

A college degree, since this trade is learned almost entirely on the job

Career progression

1. 1.Painter's Helper
2. 2.Painter
3. 3.Lead Painter or Foreman
4. 4.Painting Superintendent or own a painting contracting business

Who hires for this role