About Tony Richardson
Tony Richardson - plus growing family.
Hi I'm Tony Richardson, the Tidy Painter.
(Quick personal life - Married 32 years and counting, 2 adult daughters, 1 sister, dozens of nieces, nephews and in laws. They all still speak to me - sometimes too much.)
Thats nice, but why on earth would a person hire me to paint the inside of their home?
I mean there's a million other painters to choose from.
In an industry where speed equals profit, corners are often cut.
I hate to cut corners.
A lot of the reviews from clients use the word meticulous, but I think I’m just a person who takes my time.
How to get an interior painting expert to paint YOUR interior walls, ceilings and trim.
I was the kid who spent the weekend drawing or making things or fixing things.
I did as much art at school as they would allow.
At uni I studied Industrial Design and then worked in design and advertising industries.
But as exciting as that might sound, I was still pretty much using a computer all day.
I would rather use my hands for a living.
I’d been using my hands a lot improving the houses I lived in. Early on as a renter, I’d get my landlord to pay for the paint and I’d supply free labour. A friend couldn’t believe I could paint the walls and not get paint on the carpet. Losing my bond was a big incentive.
Then my wife and I started owning and renovating homes, and we discovered that I was better at painting than most of the real painters we hired.
When it was time to make a career change the new direction was pretty easy.
Which brings us back to the 'taking my time' thing. I don’t mean standing there holding my chin, thinking. I’m busy. Honestly!
I’m busy protecting your stuff. And I’m busy preparing the surfaces to take the paint.
Where an average painter might chuck a drop sheet on the floor and that’s the floor protected, I get a bit fussy. I put masking tape along the edge of the floor, then a wide green sticky plastic sheet along that, then a drop sheet over that, then plastic over your furniture, taped up like a giant parcel. (If you can see any floor or any furniture uncovered then it’s not safe to paint yet.) Then I put my roller tray or paint can IN a sort of plastic tray that catches any drips, drops or spills.
Another painting team I watched (spied on) put plaster in some wall cracks before painting. It was a two-step, messy, super-fast process. The area of wall I worked on next door involved a 9-step process before paint went on. Both had the same two top coats of paint. But I wouldn’t be surprised if my wall lasted decades and the theirs months. We’ll see.
My Dad used to say, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.” I’m the same. I can’t see how anyone can get any satisfaction from rushing through a half-arsed job knowing it could (and should) be so much better.
That’s why I take my time.
The people who like that I take my time, and actually hire me, share most of the following qualities.
1. They only work with people they trust.
2. They want a friendly, equal, communicative relationship.
They want to talk about the job progress each day, ask any questions, and otherwise generally let me get on with things.
3. They do their research.
They search websites, read online reviews and phone past clients. They realise that there will be a best painter and they want him.
4. They get that painting is a craft with skills and knowledge.
It may not be rocket science but it’s still harder than it looks. Most people who try painting themselves are surprised at how tricky and messy it can become.
5. They have learnt that you generally get what you pay for.
(I have too, it just took me decades.) The cheapest quote will be terrible, the middle quote will be average, and the highest quote will be high quality.
So that’s me - Tony Richardson - The Tidy Painter.
If that’s the sort of painter you want, let’s talk.
(If not, and you want a quick, cheap and cheerful paint job, that’s cool too. There are thousands of guys who do that sort of work. I’m just not one of them.)
Cheers Tony
(Quick personal life - Married 32 years and counting, 2 adult daughters, 1 sister, dozens of nieces, nephews and in laws. They all still speak to me - sometimes too much.)
Thats nice, but why on earth would a person hire me to paint the inside of their home?
I mean there's a million other painters to choose from.
In an industry where speed equals profit, corners are often cut.
I hate to cut corners.
A lot of the reviews from clients use the word meticulous, but I think I’m just a person who takes my time.
How to get an interior painting expert to paint YOUR interior walls, ceilings and trim.
I was the kid who spent the weekend drawing or making things or fixing things.
I did as much art at school as they would allow.
At uni I studied Industrial Design and then worked in design and advertising industries.
But as exciting as that might sound, I was still pretty much using a computer all day.
I would rather use my hands for a living.
I’d been using my hands a lot improving the houses I lived in. Early on as a renter, I’d get my landlord to pay for the paint and I’d supply free labour. A friend couldn’t believe I could paint the walls and not get paint on the carpet. Losing my bond was a big incentive.
Then my wife and I started owning and renovating homes, and we discovered that I was better at painting than most of the real painters we hired.
When it was time to make a career change the new direction was pretty easy.
Which brings us back to the 'taking my time' thing. I don’t mean standing there holding my chin, thinking. I’m busy. Honestly!
I’m busy protecting your stuff. And I’m busy preparing the surfaces to take the paint.
Where an average painter might chuck a drop sheet on the floor and that’s the floor protected, I get a bit fussy. I put masking tape along the edge of the floor, then a wide green sticky plastic sheet along that, then a drop sheet over that, then plastic over your furniture, taped up like a giant parcel. (If you can see any floor or any furniture uncovered then it’s not safe to paint yet.) Then I put my roller tray or paint can IN a sort of plastic tray that catches any drips, drops or spills.
Another painting team I watched (spied on) put plaster in some wall cracks before painting. It was a two-step, messy, super-fast process. The area of wall I worked on next door involved a 9-step process before paint went on. Both had the same two top coats of paint. But I wouldn’t be surprised if my wall lasted decades and the theirs months. We’ll see.
My Dad used to say, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.” I’m the same. I can’t see how anyone can get any satisfaction from rushing through a half-arsed job knowing it could (and should) be so much better.
That’s why I take my time.
The people who like that I take my time, and actually hire me, share most of the following qualities.
1. They only work with people they trust.
2. They want a friendly, equal, communicative relationship.
They want to talk about the job progress each day, ask any questions, and otherwise generally let me get on with things.
3. They do their research.
They search websites, read online reviews and phone past clients. They realise that there will be a best painter and they want him.
4. They get that painting is a craft with skills and knowledge.
It may not be rocket science but it’s still harder than it looks. Most people who try painting themselves are surprised at how tricky and messy it can become.
5. They have learnt that you generally get what you pay for.
(I have too, it just took me decades.) The cheapest quote will be terrible, the middle quote will be average, and the highest quote will be high quality.
So that’s me - Tony Richardson - The Tidy Painter.
If that’s the sort of painter you want, let’s talk.
(If not, and you want a quick, cheap and cheerful paint job, that’s cool too. There are thousands of guys who do that sort of work. I’m just not one of them.)
Cheers Tony
