Hiring a good painting helper without screwing up subcontracting

DrainDiverDan

·1d·20 replies·19 participants

DrainDiverDan⭐ ExpertOP1d

Been running my own painting outfit for 10 years now, mostly residential interiors with Benjamin Moore Aura, and subcontracting out the big jobs to keep things moving. We're in Texas so the heat means we gotta wrap exteriors quick before the sun bakes everything, but finding reliable subs who don't flake is a nightmare. Last month I lined up this crew for a $8k trim and ceiling job, they show up late twice and leave overspray everywhere, had to eat $1.2k in cleanup myself. Now I'm thinking of hiring a full-time helper instead, someone to handle the prep work with the Wagner sprayer so I can focus on bidding. Anyone else deal with sub headaches like this? How do you vet them without wasting time on site visits?

PipeLord4203⚒️ Journeyman1d

subs flaking out like that? my last one showed up with a ladder that was basically a suggestion, left me hanging mid-spray and i almost ate the whole damn job myself lol.

NailGunNed2⚒️ Journeyman1d

start with a simple sub agreement from jobber, they've got free templates that cover payment schedules and scope so you don't get burned on cleanup again. vet 'em by checking references from your local painting groups first, then do a small test job like a single room to see if they show up on time. i've had luck hiring helpers through ziprecruiter by specifying wagner sprayer experience in the ad, pays off in less training time. saves you from the flake-outs i dealt with last summer.

LadderLad⭐ Expert1d

man, sub headaches are the worst part of this gig, had a crew ghost me mid-job on a $6k exterior last summer and i was stuck scrambling in the texas heat. feels like every time i think i've found a solid one they turn into flakes who cant even clean up their own mess. ate a couple grand in fixes myself more times than i can count, its bullshit how unreliable some of these guys are. switched to hiring a full-time helper a couple years back and its made bidding way less stressful, no more chasing down no-shows. you got the right idea ditching the subs for someone you can actually count on. still sucks we gotta deal with this crap just to keep the business running tho.

RatRacer⚒️ Journeyman10h

try posting in local painting groups on facebook first, i found my last helper through one who knew the drill and stuck around for two years without a hitch.

PipeLord4208⚒️ Journeyman1d

subcontractors are the WORST, man, always flaking out or half-assing jobs just to chase the next gig. i've lost count of how many times i've had to fire crews mid-project and eat the cleanup costs myself.

BrushStrokeBoss9⚒️ Journeyman1d

man, subs are like my ex, promise the world then ghost you mid-job with a mess to clean up, maybe just hire a helper who won't leave you holding the spray can alone 😂

PipeLord42017🔧 Apprentice21h

subs are the WORST, had one ghost me mid-job on a $6k exterior last summer and i ended up scrubbing overspray for days myself. hiring a helper sounds smart but good luck finding someone who shows up on time around here.

TarheelTiler6⚒️ Journeyman20h

don't hire subs without running a full background check and calling every reference, i lost 2k last year on a crew that turned out to be uninsured and bailed mid-job. vetting on paper only aint enough, always do a test run on a small gig first.

PipeLord420🔧 Apprentice19h

those damn subs in texas are the WORST, half of em show up hungover or not at all and leave you holdin the bag on cleanup bills like its your fault, FML.

V2119🌱 Newcomer6h

man, i hired a sub once who showed up with a sprayer that looked like it was dug up from a junkyard, sprayed the whole room like abstract art and called it done. had to redo the trim myself while cussin the whole time. now i just stick to helpers i can babysit, saves the headache and maybe a few sanity points. 😂 whats the worst flake story you got?

WattTheHeck4⚒️ Journeyman1d

Subs are a scam, just hire in-house and train em on your Sherwin-Williams process from day one.

AmpedUpJoe⚒️ Journeyman1d

Training takes forever though, and good luck finding anyone who sticks around past the first hot Texas job.

LaminateLarry⚒️ Journeyman1d

Nah, my subs have been solid for years, but I make em sign NDAs and carry their own insurance.

BrushStrokeBoss4🔧 Apprentice1d

Don't sub out anything over two stories, had a guy drop a ladder on a customer's Acura last year and it cost me my whole margin.

PeakPitcher⭐ Expert1d

Heat in Texas makes it worse, but good subs are worth the vetting time.

ShingleSlinger3⚒️ Journeyman1d

FML, same crap here, subs always underbid then cut corners on the taping.

DuctTapeKing⚒️ Journeyman1d

This is why every painting company in the state is pissed, subs ruin your rep with sloppy Benjamin Moore jobs and you foot the bill.

V6145🔧 Apprentice1d

Man, I feel you on that, been burned twice this season alone.

PeakPitcher⭐ Expert1d

Finally got a solid helper crew together, paying them $22/hr plus bonuses for clean finishes, no more sub drama.

V6145🔧 Apprentice1d

Yeah, the overspray issues suck, especially on those trim jobs.