Ask just about any painting pro, and he'll tell you that his trade has a real image problem. After all, everyone thinks they can paint—just watch how fast the color goes up on those done-in-a-day home-makeover shows. Grab a brush, a roller, and a couple gallons of latex, and you're all set, right?
Not quite. "The truth is, it is easy to do things poorly," says Rich O'Neil, who chairs a craftsmanship committee within the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association. There's no substitute for learning the proper steps, taking time to do the job right, and improving your technique as you go.
