Who is Hamburg Painting?
Hamburg Painting is owned and operated by Rainer Johnk and has been a painter in the area for fifteen years. Rainer has had the fortune to learn the craft from some of the best local painters in the business. He still personally supervises all work and still paints every day in addition to the demands of running the company.

What do I have to do to get you to paint for me?
Call us or contact us through e-mail and we will set up an appointment to discuss your paint project. We will provide you with a free estimate usually within 24 hours. If you want to go ahead with the work we will set a schedule for start and completion.

What if I don't know everything I want to do?
No problem. We can itemize any part of the project. If you don't know the colors yet, we will provide you with the difference of a one coat application or a two coat application. You don't know if you want to stain your front door or paint? No problem, we will gladly discuss your options with you and provide you with a detailed estimate to any question you might have.

What if I need help with colors?
We will gladly provide you with color charts, expert advise and color samples to guarantee your complete satisfaction.

The last time I hired a contractor was a mess. How are you different?
Your complete satisfaction is our only goal. No matter how good the paint looks, we don't consider the job well done unless you are happy with every aspect of the work. All jobs will be owner supervised and he will be available to answer any questions. We generally don't require a deposit and on smaller jobs we will not invoice you until you are completely happy with the completed work.

Are you insured?
Yes. We are bonded and insured and carry full workers compensation for every employee.

Questions and Answers Regarding Paint

Do you do faux finishes?
There are thousands of different faux finishes and we can do quite a few of them. Let us know what you want and we will provide you with sample boards if we feel confident that we can achieve the effect you are looking for.

In addition to faux finishes, quite a few new specialty paints have entered the market, Suede finishes and lime washes, for example. Again, if you let me know what you are looking for I will be glad to provide you with the answers you are looking for, even if that means I will send you to another painter. There are simply too many bad faux finishes in this world.

What is better oil or latex?
The simple answer used to be that oil paint is better. But with improved technology for water based paints and increasing limitations of ingredients in oil paints, both paints provide a suitable alternative for painting trim. Both have advantages and disadvantages:

The advantages of latex are:

• Fast dry
• Better fade resistance
• More chalk resistant
• Retains flexibility longer
• Tolerant on alkaline surfaces like concrete
• Will not yellow
• Higher mildew resistance
• Good on galvanized metal
• Cleans with water

• Less shrinkage
• Lower temperature sensitivity
• More durable
• Seals stains better
• Rust preventative
• Better adhesion
• Usually leaves less brushmarks (dependent on the painter)

The samples I put on the wall look nothing like the swatches in the store ?
My general experience with customers is that lighter swatches are darker than they appear from the swatch and darker colors are lighter than originally thought. Usually this is the result of looking at colors in color sample books or color decks and subconsciously relating them to colors that are next to them in the brochures. The whispy mint that looked so serene next to the Hunter Green all of a sudden gives an eerie green glow to the room. And what looked just white in the colordeck all of a sudden has a pink glow to it. Reversely, the Burgundy red you thought was too dark for the dining room looks warm and rich and complements your dark furniture perfectly.

How do you manage to paint a straight line without tape?
I get this questions asked a lot and in addition to practice it has a lot to do with the brushes I use. I always see homeowners in the store buying paint and cheap brushes. Do yourself a favor and avoid the aggravation of painting with cheap brushes. Nobody can paint straight with them. A well maintained Purdy brush will last the average homeowner a lifetime.

What paints do you use?
Generally, I prefer to use Benjamin Moore and Kelley Moore paints. They provide excellent quality for the price and have a wide range of products to meet most painting needs.

What do you do to not pollute the environment?
Paints are supposed to withstand the elements and are thus designed to be incompatible with nature. It is therefore mandatory that all necessary care is taken to minimize the environmental impact of our work. We strongly believe that every little bit helps on an increasingly cramped planet. In order to ensure this goal, we use the most environmentally paints possible for the job and substitute latex for alkyd paints whenever possible as well. In addition, we recycle all our thinners and reuse them.

We are also registered with the California EPA, in order to ensure proper disposal of all environmentally hazardous materials generated by our business.

Do you dispose of old paints ?
Yes, we would be glad to dispose of old unused marked paint for you. Our disposal fee is $ 5 per gallon, as this is what the state charges us for disposal But every County also has drop-off sites that usually accept limited amounts for free from residents. In San Mateo call 363-4718 or www.smhealth.org/hhw.