"We love our fence-- it's beautiful! Yet, while the final outcome was"A" worthy, a few bumps along the way unfortunately weigh down my overall rating. When I reached out to Artistic Fence through Angie's List, I got a timely response and an estimate soon followed. I liked the samples of their work, the price seemed fair and reviews on Angie's List were strong so we signed the work agreement and made our deposit without delay. The bumps were essentially the result of some inconsistencies in the way of customer service. Namely, we were not impressed with the crew that did the tear-out of the old fence and placed the posts because of their general lack of professionalism and regard for our property. I feel pretty strongly that every crew working residential jobs needs at least one person who has the soft skills needed to, at the very least, introduce themselves to the homeowner and say what they are there to do. If there was such a person in this crew, he did not introduce himself, which caused some unease. Plus, they did not space two of the posts correctly so one needed to be dug up and moved by the builder. I believe with more proactive and detailed communication from a project manager, my expectations could have been managed more effectively. For instance, I was expecting the crew in the morning of the first day so I stayed home from work to get them set-up with power and water. After a couple hours I inquired about their whereabouts. Turned out they didn't arrive until the afternoon and then worked for only an hour and while I understand the weather's heat was likely disruptive, I felt out of the loop. Or, perhaps that was part of the project plan all along, but based on my expectations they were late, left early and threw the job off schedule. Things turned around after I expressed my frustration over having a torn-up, exposed yard and being told the job would not be finished by the agreed date or two days after that when we were slatted to host an event in our backyard or two days after that. They responded with great service recovery?moving things around to send out their ?best builder? (perhaps owner too) to get things very close to finished allowing us to get our yard cleaned up in time for our party. He was great?friendly, understanding, and detail-focused. He was very apologetic about our experience with the earlier crews. He communicated how he was going to approach the build. When he finished, he gave his recommendations on care, including staining. He let me grab some scrap pieces to test stains. He even offered to haul away some old concrete footings from a separate project, which was very helpful. And, like I said at the beginning, the finished product is really lovely and has helped us enjoy our backyard so much more. Based on the final product, I think it?s a shame this project didn?t earn an A because the fence is truly excellent. The process in total was good, just falling short of great. I would certainly recommend Artistic Fence and I would use them again in the future.
"Everything was done better and faster than I expected! They were very knowledgeable about paints and the process. They even took on a few extra projects I needed painted such as some exterior cement wall and our porch swing. Very kind and professional!"
"Tom came out to bid on our project on May 22, 2014. He was very thorough in explaining how much and what type of paint would be needed. He was reasonable and fair with his estimate. He came to our home on June 20th and prepped the entire area first. He asked us to come into the home to see the prep work. Once we approved, he then started spraying all the ceilings. As he was working, he asked us to come back in to see the difference between the newly painted area and the old. Remarkable difference. He sprayed the textured ceilings twice with primer/paint. He did a nice job cleaning up. Very personable and nice to work with. I would recommend him. "
"We had a great experience with Justin and his crew. Initially we contacted him to replace some 65yr old windows, and he was the only contractor to bring to our attention that we had hail damage on the window wraps, siding, gutters, and roof. His experience really helped us thru the insurance claim process and it ended up being a huge cost savings for us. We were so impressed with his customer service, we decided to have him convert our 1-season porch into a 3-season porch, install tile flooring, replace some doors, and paint the interior and exterior of our home. He listened to our ideas, gave us options and suggestions, and helped create solutions for all of the projects. He's like a fiduciary for home improvement and we relied on his expertise to make some great choices to improve our home."
"TM painting group was working on my very old deck cleaned it, power washed it and sand and paint it exceptionally and my deck looks amazing!! Worked on my Garage door and siding as well as my front door and window painting was so professional and amazed in the way they did all the job within the time frame I have them !!!"
"They came early in the day while I was at work. When I arrived home the driveway was beautiful! Very pleased with the job they did and would use them again. The driveway still looks as good as the day they did it! "
Provided conditions are ideal, staining an entire deck should take as little as a couple of hours and up to a couple of days to apply and cure. Additional procedures, like sealing a deck or using additional treatments, may extend the project by a few additional days.
100% acrylic latex lasts the longest for most siding. Premium 100% acrylic products carry lifetime warranties against peeling, blistering, and fading. Match the grade to your surface and climate for the best lifespan.
Ultimately, overapplication of stain can compromise the deck's appearance, durability, and longevity. It may result in an uneven finish, with excess stain pooling, dripping, or drying into thick patches. It can also obscure the wood's natural grain and texture, detracting from the desired aesthetic. Moreover, excessive staining may not fully penetrate the wood, leading to poor adhesion and premature wear. Additionally, thick layers of stain are prone to peeling, cracking, and blistering as they struggle to bond with the surface.
Essential tools include brushes or rollers, drop cloths, sandpaper or power sanders, and appropriate cleaning supplies. Quality materials ensure long-lasting results.
Yes, it's a good idea to sand the wall with fine-grit sandpaper after spackling, especially if you plan on painting. You can do this by hand or using a sander, but the idea is to ensure the spackle is flush with the wall. Sanding will give your wall a smooth, uniform finish and help your paint and wallpaper stay put.
The Gaylord, MN homeowners’ guide to deck staining services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Cedar is a popular decking material, best known for its natural wooden look and resistance to rot. So, how much does a cedar deck cost? Find out in this guide.
Planning a deck staining or painting project? Learn about finish options, average costs to expect, and how to hire the right local pro for your backyard.