College Painters and Metro Paint?

[Chromaflage]

Two different, but closely related questions.

1. Tis the season in which all the yard and handyman signs start popping up like dandelions. Every year I see some from "College Painters." I know what the organization is and does, but has anyone used them? Any feedback on the quality of work and materials?

2. Yeah, I know....trying to save a buck, but I have to ask. The Metro Household Hazardous waste service collects unwanted and unused paint. They mix it and resell it as either interior or exterior paint. The price is great, but I'm not sure about the quality. What say those in the know?

Thanks

CrF

[fishgirl]

We are planning on using the Metro paint on our house this year. My husband has friends that have used it and they had nothing bad to say about it. The only drawback I can see is a very limited choice of colors (you can see them on their website, just google metro portland paint or something like that).

But I would like to hear what others have to say about it as well.... :lurk:

[Scott Riggen]

I didn't have a good experience with the college paint folks. I tried them because the neighbor 2 houses down used them and he was pleased (and it looked great)
I think a lot has to do with who they hire in that year.

The wife and I only wanted to get trim painted and siding caulked. I can't recall the quote but I want to say 1500. (It's a pretty big 2 story house)


My wife and I were really busy over that summer and couldn't call them regularly to try and find out why they weren't in contact with us. The 3-4 times they did call we kept getting pushed back on the schedule. Finally after a long time of not getting an update we called the main office and they told us our regional person was no longer at the company. They couldn't give me a good reason that we didn't get notified. By the time they even tried to work us into the schedule it was Sept. and already raining. We called and canceled and lost 10 percent of our deposit. They didn't even care to try and get / keep my business even though I told them I would never recommend them to anyone. I guess they were happy to keep a portion of my deposit

Maybe if we had called and complained more or just ridden them harder it would have worked out. Unfortunately with Cub Scouts, a 4 year old, work, etc we just could not do that. (nor do I feel I should have to do that)

Scott Riggen

[northriver1]

We used them and it worked out better than planned. They did a great job.

[sandman]

Do not buy metro paint,you will be sorry.I have a bunch of rental houses and have used metro paint on the inside and outside.The paint only lasts for 2 years.The best paint for the money is Colorguard from wal*$65 a 5 gallon bucket.Still have homes that look great

My names Matt Waite and i approve this post

[urban4x4]

I painted the interior of my house two years ago with Metro Paint and it's held up great.

[Hayden]

tried metro before painted interior of my garage think it was $25.00 for 5 gallons had a hard time getting it in white. i wont' use it for exterior .

[Meskel]

I have been pleasantly surprised with the paint we got from Metro Paint. Did both the interior and exterior. You can not beat the price but color selection is limited. (make sure to get enough out of the same “batch” as it will vary over time.)

Having said that I must also say that it has been just less then a year since our house was built and painted. Still with the sever winter we had in Welches the paint shows no sign of ware.

Oh as far as the painters go I have no idea – see to save on the new construction I both sided and painted the house myself(not to mention flooring, trim work, tiling…. The list goes on) . Let me tell you that the 3 level scaffolding with a 30 foot extension ladder on top just to reach the peak at 56 feet was no fun. It took a couple hours for you know what to un-pucker once I got back down on solid footing.

Meskel

[Plong_77]

A good friend used the college painters and it was a complete disaster. Broken plants, smashed flowers, barkdust throughout the yard, etc. She specifically told them not to open the gate because if the dog got out, he would run away. So instead of opening the gate, they jumped the fence and lifted their equipment over it, during the process they bent the chain link gate. She requested that they brush the house instead of rolling it. It looked as if they put one coat on in places as the previous color was bleeding through. THere was also some issues with the contract she signed (none of my business so i didnt ask) but i know she wasnt happy over the outcome.

Like the previous poster mentioned, it probably has alot to do with the help they hire.

I'm Phillip Long and i approve this message.

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by fishgirl

We are planning on using the Metro paint on our house this year. My husband has friends that have used it and they had nothing bad to say about it. The only drawback I can see is a very limited choice of colors (you can see them on their website, just google metro portland paint or something like that).

But I would like to hear what others have to say about it as well.... :lurk:

We used metro paint on the exterior of our house, it's held up for about 4 years now, still looks good. As far as the color selection goes, when we went to pick ours up, they had a folder full of different colors you can mix from the standard colors they sell. They give you the formulas for each, like "2 parts red, to 1 part blue to 3 parts green" or whatever. People buy different colors and mix them in a new plastic garbage can, and just use it from there. I've heard it works great. (we just did a standard color on our house)

On the other end of it, I've got a family member who (was) a professional painter, he said he doesn't use metro paint only because it itsn't filtered very well, so it can be quite gritty, which screws up his airless sprayers. He did spray our beach house for us with metro paint, but he was sure to put in old pistons in his sprayer and he filtered it first. He didn't have anything bad to say about the quality. Although there are definately higher quality paints out there.

Another word of advice...if you want white, get there EARLY! like before they open. When we were wanted white, we had to try twice, because it was sold out by the time we got there. Contractors buy up the white like crazy. We got there and waited in line before they opened the next time, and the trucks ahead of us where buying buckets of white at a time....

Anyway, that's all I know. Good luck!

- Joseph

[Don Becker]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

. . . . .
Another word of advice...if you want white, get there EARLY! like before they open. When we were wanted white, we had to try twice, because it was sold out by the time we got there. Contractors buy up the white like crazy. We got there and waited in line before they opened the next time, and the trucks ahead of us where buying buckets of white at a time....

Anyway, that's all I know. Good luck!

- Joseph

Another thing that helps deplete Metro's supply of white paint is Real Estate Brokers sending-over their seller clients with instructions/pleadings for them to paint-over their gawdy-colored walls, for buyer appeal. "How I know" is in my profile. We've used their paint ourselves qith good success and good durability. Don

[Space]

We put Metro Paint on our house with a brush and roller and it looked like new after 5 yrs. The Bear paint we painted over only lasted 1yr with the same method of install. Metro has the better paint in my opinion.

Space

[spottedhawk36]

my father in law is a painter by trade he does exterior/interior, has his own small business. He has done million dollar homes down to the average family homes as well as commercial.