How we work
What happens from the day you accept the quote.
Accepting the quote is where our job really starts. From that point, there’s a clear process and a person responsible for keeping it moving. Caleb, our Operations Manager, oversees your project from planning through to handover, working with your leading hand and painting crew to make sure everyone knows what needs to happen and when.
1. Your project moves into planning
What happens after I accept the quote?
Once your quote is accepted, Caleb takes over the operational side of your project. He reviews the scope, works through the requirements of the job and starts coordinating everything needed to get you ready for commencement. You’ll know who is looking after your project and who to contact if you have a question along the way.
2. Colours are confirmed
Can you help us choose colours?
Absolutely. Where colour consultation is included or required, Caleb will coordinate it with you before work begins. We want colours and finishes confirmed early so the correct products can be ordered and there are no unnecessary decisions or delays once your painters arrive.
3. We agree on the schedule
How do you schedule the work?
Caleb will work with you to agree on a suitable start date and discuss access, timing and anything we need to know before arriving. He then coordinates the crew and materials and confirms the details with you as the start date approaches.
4. Preparation is where the finish starts
What preparation do you actually do?
This is the part of a painting job you won't notice when it's done properly — but you'll notice when it isn't. Before we open the finish coat, we make sure the surface is ready to receive it. Depending on what we're painting and its condition, that can mean washing, scraping, sanding, filling, patching, sealing or priming. We also protect the areas around our work before we begin. We don't use one preparation process for every surface. Different substrates, existing coatings and conditions need different treatment, and that's where having experienced painters matters. It’s also where our name comes from: Start 2 Finish — a good preparation is the start 2 a perfect finish. The finish you see at the end is only as good as the work underneath it.
5. Then we build the finish
What happens once preparation is complete?
Once the surface is properly prepared, the painting system specified for your project is applied. That means using the right products for the surface and environment, applying the required coats and allowing the system to perform as it was designed to — rather than treating every job as simply putting two coats of paint on a wall. Your leading hand manages the crew and day-to-day work on site, while Caleb remains responsible for the project operationally. Together, they keep an eye on progress, workmanship and the finished result as the job moves through each stage. If something isn't meeting the standard, we'd rather identify it while we're still there than have you find it after we've left.
6. We keep your property respected
What is my home or property like while you're working?
A painting project is still happening in your home, workplace or property, and we don't forget that. We work to keep the site organised, protect areas that aren't being painted and tidy our work areas as the project progresses. At the end of the job, coverings and equipment are removed and the areas we've worked in are left clean and ready for you to enjoy.
7. If something unexpected comes up, we tell you
What happens if you find additional work?
Sometimes preparation exposes something that couldn't reasonably be seen beforehand — deterioration, damage or a surface that needs more work than originally expected. If that happens, we don't simply continue and surprise you with a bill. We'll show you what we've found, explain what we recommend and discuss any change to the scope or cost with you before additional work proceeds.
8. Quality is checked before handover
How do you know the job is finished properly?
Quality isn't something we want to discover at the final walkthrough. The crew and leading hand monitor the work throughout the project, with Caleb overseeing the overall delivery and checking that the job is progressing to the expected S2F standard. At completion, we carry out a final walkthrough and address anything requiring attention before handover.
9. We don't disappear when the painters leave
What happens after the job is finished?
Once everything is complete, we'll close out your project and provide the applicable documentation, including our written 5-year workmanship warranty on residential painting projects. And if something doesn't look right after we've left, contact us. We'll assess it and, where it's covered by our workmanship warranty, we'll put it right.
Ready to get started?
From the first day of planning to the final walkthrough, our aim is simple: you should always know what's happening, who's responsible and what comes next.
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