Carrigan Painting FAQ's

We try to get all of our bids together with in 7 days. With each bid, you will receive a copy of our contract and cover page. Contracts are custom to your project. If you do not receive your bid, please contact us!

Yes! We carry $2,000,000 in General Liability insurance (in case we break something - haven't yet!), and Workmans Compensation insurance - in case an employee gets hurt, theyre covered with medical and disability insurance. If you'd like we can send you a copy of both policies.

Plaster is mixed on site. The process is, you mix lime, (we mix up pails of lime at our shop) and plaster of paris - a powder, that must be applied with in 40 minutes or it goes hard. We prefer to use real plaster to fix plaster repairs. It makes for a better finish, and is often completed in one day. The downside however is depending upon the repair, you must wait 7 days to paint. And the use of an oil based primer is required.

Drywall compound however comes in two forms. In a bucket, (premix) or in a bag. Drywall compound can be applied to plaster or drywall, where as plaster is limited to plaster. The main differences between the two, is that with drywall compound you typically do not need an oil primer. Drywall 'mud' often takes multiple coats, which depending on the job can span multiple days. You have to sand drywall compound, where as with plaster there is no sanding, no more dust.

Drywall came into mass production after WWII as a way to speed up the building of homes. It can take mere months to learn how to finish drywall, whereas it takes YEARS to learn how to finish plaster. Given this gap in expertise, drywall is faster, cheaper, and easier on a mass scale.

If your home has real plaster, we will use real plaster to repair any damage if we can.

Interior and exterior house paints are formulated differently to suit their specific purposes and the environmental conditions they will be exposed to. Here are the key differences between the two:

Interior Paints

Typically use acrylic, vinyl, or latex-based resins. These resins offer good adhesion to interior surfaces, such as drywall, plaster and wood, and are designed for low levels of exposure to the elements.

Exterior Paints

Use resins that are more durable and can withstand exposure to weather, UV rays, and Buffalo winters. Common exterior paint resins include 100% acrylic, alkyd (oil-based), and elastomeric.

Interior Paints

Often have a wider range of pigments and colors, including delicate pastels and vibrant shades, as they are primarily for aesthetic purposes.

Exterior Paints

Focus more on earth-toned and neutral colors because they need to withstand the harsh effects of sunlight, weather and Buffalo winters. These paints have pigments that resist fading and UV damage.

Interior Paints

Are not designed to withstand outdoor elements, so they are less durable and not weather-resistant. They are mainly formulated to be washable and stain-resistant for interior surfaces.

Exterior Paints

Are formulated to withstand the elements, including rain, snow, wind, and UV rays. They have additives to resist peeling, cracking, and fading, making them more durable and weather-resistant.

Exterior Paints

Often include mildewcides and algae-resistant additives to prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and algae on the exterior surfaces of a house.

Interior Paints

Typically have lower VOC levels or no VOC levels, since they are used in enclosed spaces, where air quality is a concern.

Exterior Paints

May have slightly higher VOC levels due to the need for increased durability and outdoor performance. You can not use exterior paint indoors! You will get sick

Exterior Paints

Exterior surfaces usually require more extensive preparation, such as pressure washing, scraping, sanding, priming (we use dedicated exterior oil primers), and caulking to ensure excellent adhesion and longevity of the paint job.

Interior Paints

Come in various sheen levels, such as flat, matte, velvet, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss, to cater to different aesthetic and functional preferences. Ceilings typically go flat white. Walls; satin or eggshell. Trim; satin

Exterior Paints

typically come in gloss, semi-gloss or satin finishes, as these sheens offer better protection against the elements and are easier to clean.

In summary, interior and exterior paints are tailored to their respective applications, with interior paints prioritizing aesthetics and washability.

Exterior paints prioritize durability, weather resistance, and long-term performance in outdoor conditions. It's crucial to choose the right type of paint as well as a good quaility paint for each specific project to ensure the best results and longevity.

We typically start between 8:30 and 9:00am. The reason for this is many people we work for are super busy in the mornings getting their kids off to school or getting ready for work. So that we dont get in the way, we will often start a little later. However if you would prefer us to start at 8am we can certainly do that as well.

We will typically end our day between 4pm and 6pm. It actually does vary, and depends on numerous factors.

Not at this time. We simply do not have enough demand for our services in the City of Buffalo to justify the high costs associated with legally working in the City.

It costs money (yearly) to become accredited by the Better Business Bureau. With the age of online reviews, the BBB is a relic from the past and feel its not worth the investment.

At this time we do not accept credit cards or offer financing options.