Painters are no strangers to ladders, and since safe ladder usage protects your crews and your bottom line, it’s imperative that everyone on the job site is well-trained in ladder safety.    March, recognized as National Ladder Safety Month by the American Ladder Institute* (ALI), is the perfect time to renew your commitment to a safe job site.   Treat Ladder Safety Month as a reminder to prioritize ladder safety every day and continuously improve a safe work environment,” says Joe Zgrabik**, account executive for ALI.       ALI is not alone in this initiative. In 2025, nearly 25 organizations have committed to sponsoring Ladder Safety Month including longtime sponsor and leader in the climbing industry, Werner Ladder.   Ladder Safety Month is an ideal time to revisit ladder safety practices, encourage communication and behaviors on job sites, and provide education to ensure the job is finished safely. While Werner Ladder focuses on safety year-round, we also offer unique national training events, webinars, and programs during March and May,” says Michael Cameron**, QSSP, technical service – fall protection at Werner Ladder. “During March, the Werner Jobsite Safety and Security (JSS) team conducts onsite safety training and hosts free webinars. Safety topics include ‘Ladder Safety and Setup’ and ‘Fall Protection Best Practices’.”   With more than 15 years of experience in the use, design, manufacture, testing, and qualification of fall protection products and systems, Cameron is well-versed in ladder safety. He shared some of the most common mistakes along with some important safety tips to keep yourself and your crew safe on the job.      Ladder Safety Tips    The first step in ladder selection is choosing the right style of ladder for the job,” says Cameron. “Secondly, it’s important to choose the appropriate ladder based on the maximum height of the project. For example, the ladder should extend three feet beyond the top of the property when painting soffits or eaves.”   After selecting the appropriate ladder, inspect the ladder to ensure that it’s safe to use. Some things to look for include:      Ladder rungs are secure and free from damage.  There are no bends or cracks in the side rails.   Ladder feet are intact and provide proper grab.  Ladder safety labels and load capacity are visible and intact.    Ladder load capacity supports the user’s weight, plus any tools or materials needed.      Note: If you do find yourself with an unsafe ladder, be a good friend to your community and properly dispose of it.   One idea is to cut it vertically down the middle so it can’t be used by someone else,” says Zgrabik.   Once you’ve selected and inspected your ladder, proper use is critical to safety. Cameron noted these important safety precautions:    Maintain 3 points of contact. That’s two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot.  Keep from overreaching: Stay centered on the ladder. Leaning too far in any direction can cause falls.   Take tools and paint safely up and down the ladder: Remember three points of contact. Werner offers a LOCK-IN Ladder Top with LOCK-IN Accessories that allows painters to safely and conveniently hold tools, painting supplies, and of course BEHR Paint on the top of the ladder.   Stay level: If you must put a ladder on an uneven surface, there are multiple tools available to ensure the ladder is level. Werner recently released the Werner LevelSafe Pro which automatically levels your ladder on uneven terrain up to 8 1/2”.      In addition to these important tips, certified training in ladder safety is the best way to be prepared. Here are some ideas to get the most out of Ladder Safety Month this year:    Ladder Safety Certification: ALI offers a free online ladder safety course and one-year certification. ALI’s Ladder Safety Training Program consists of four modules: Stepladder Safety, Single and Extension Ladder Safety, Articulated Ladder Safety, and Mobile Ladder Safety,” says Zgrabik.   Recertify annually: If your job involves frequent ladder use, it’s tempting to think you already know all there is to know about safety. However, don’t let complacency set in. Taking an annual refresher course is a great way to renew your safety IQ.   Consider in-person training: In addition to online courses, there are plenty of options for on-site training. Werner Ladder offers a variety of on-site opportunities that are tailored to specific job and application needs.   Foster a culture of safety: Participating in training events and enforcement of safe practices keeps everyone safer on the job site. It’s important to raise safety awareness and encourage others to report any safety concerns.    We can all have a hand in making sure that job sites are safe and efficient.       For more ladder safety tips, visit laddersafetymonth.com/safety-resources/flyers.  For more information on Werner Ladder, visit wernerco.com.      *The American Ladder Institute does not approve or endorse any product. **There is no affiliation/partnership between Behr Paint Company and the individuals quoted. 

Skilled, proficient painters are critical to your business’s reputation and success; however, training new painters to master the art and science of painting can be a challenge.   Even though you likely have a lot on your plate as a business owner, creating and implementing a strategy to properly train your painters is a sound business decision.   So how do you efficiently train a new or seasoned painter to perform the jobs to your liking and on time? Since every business is unique, every training program should be a bit different. Let’s hear from three painting business owners who share their most successful training tips to retain talent and build your business.   Have a Plan One thing Stacey Spear*, owner of SS Painting in Virginia, learned in her early years of owning a painting business was that a training plan is a must. When I started my painting business, I didn’t do much training. I assumed new painters could pick it up by following along and watching me. I noticed when I would correct someone’s technique or process, they would often say ‘You never taught me that.’”   Spear quickly got to work on a plan. The goal was to thoroughly communicate and teach each painting process and create accountability for following and implementing the processes.   Spear created a three-month training program, complete with detailed instructions for each process, checklists and safety protocols.   Month one – Orientation on company values, principles, tools/materials, etc. Month two – Precision and quality Month three – Gaining speed and hitting production goals   Once the three-month training is over, each painter is tested on quality and production requirements. In our training plan, everything is laid out, so employees know what’s expected of them on day one,” says Spear.     Technique First; Speed Second We know that in month one, their production time will be the slowest, but by month two we begin to see improvement, and by month three, we expect them to meet our regular production times,” says Spear.   Kevin Wooten*, owner of Carolina Painting and Pressure Cleaning, Inc. in South Carolina, agrees that precision is first, and speed is second. He says that repetition of the same movements over and over is the first strategy to getting faster. We start by teaching technique. We teach a specific technique like painting a door, and we repeat that process many times making sure that it happens the same way each time. As they practice the process, the speed increases,” says Wooten.   He says the second strategy is keeping tools nearby and organized. The biggest time killer in my 40ish years of having employees is them walking back and forth looking for their duster, rag, caulk gun, etc. If you want to speed them up, require a painter’s tool pouch/belt.”     Use Production Rates Chad Jeffries*, owner of Brick City Painting & Drywall in Missouri, says that training not only helps his company deliver quality and perform predictably on the job, but it also keeps their retention rate high. The company has a team of 40 people, and they are extremely proud of the little turnover they experience. One of the reasons our retention is so good is because we put time and effort into our painters’ success,” says Jeffries.   Production rates are a documented measurement of the average time a task or job takes, and this company has been tracking and recording them for years. They’ve found that recorded production rates can help set expectations for new team members to ensure no one is falling behind. If you need tips for collecting your production rates, check out this article on Determining Your Production Rates.   At Brick City, production rates are monitored both on the job and in a specially built training room. We have a training room with cameras and a timer. A binder outlines specific tasks the employee will run through so we can get a production time on doors, walls, etc. We collect times so we can see if someone is struggling with a specific task. Then we can go back and review the video to see where the problem is.”   This strategy creates a coaching environment where objective data is given to employees to help them identify how to improve and perform their best. We are careful that this is never used to ‘shame’ someone about their job performance but instead ensures that they receive all the training and help that the company offers,” says Jeffries.     Though training can be daunting, it’s a critical building block for developing successful painters and scaling your business. Remember to include required safety training and meetings in your plan.   If you want to create or improve your current training program, check out these industry resources for ideas and advice. Don’t forget, Behr has some great resources too!   Painting Contractor’s Association – Founded in 1884, this industry association offers a plethora of training, events and content focused on training, business-building tactics and the painting craft. American Painting Contractor – Publishing since 1924, American Painting Contractor is a free media resource for painting contractors covering training, business topics, industry stories, and product and application tips. Commercial Painting Industry Association – CPIA is a trade association serving commercial painting contractors with peer groups, events and content focused on building successful painting businesses. InPaint magazine – InPaint is an industry print publication discussing business solutions and the painting craft. Path to Pro – In partnership with The Home Depot, Behr Pro created an 11-course training video series in English and Spanish that covers basic skills and business tips for newer professional painters. Register today and learn tips from professional painters as well as subject matter experts from Behr, Graco, and 3M to hone your skills on the job. Paint Problem Solver – Check out these common interior and exterior paint failures and how to avoid them. Southern California Painting and Decorating Contractors of America Unilateral Apprenticeship Program (SCPDCA UAP) – This program trains painters over a three-year period.   To learn more about Behr’s training resources, contact your BEHR Pro Rep.   *There is no affiliation/partnership between Behr Paint Company and the individuals quoted.  

Are you looking to create accurate estimates, add precision to labor forecasts, and even level up your training and retention? Production rates represent the hours needed to complete a task or job, multiplied by your hourly rate, and they can be an extremely effective tool for building more predictability into your business.   Seasoned painters and estimators are typically comfortable eyeballing a job and projecting the labor hours. However, this process can be risky, requires years of experience and is difficult to hand off when you add a new estimator to your team. Production rates take experience and guesswork out of the equation by leveraging data collected from the field.   Here are some strategies for collecting, documenting and using production rates.     Where to Start Estimating software company Estimate Rocket* suggests starting by thinking about how you estimate. Calculate the production rates in the same units you’ll use on your estimates. For example, you may quote walls and ceilings per square foot; baseboards and other trim per linear foot; and windows, frames and doors by count.”   Next, consider whether you will group regular tasks under a single time (i.e., prep and paint a 100 square-foot room) or time each task separately (cut and roll a single coat in a 100 square-foot room). We like to create a standard prep and paint process and create a single time for that. For example, an interior project may include job site prep, spackling nail holes, primer, and two coats of paint. We time how long it takes to do that entire process and add additional tasks on a case-by-case basis,” says Chris Moore, owner of Elite Business Advisors.   Others take a more granular approach, timing each individual task so they can pick and choose the appropriate tasks for each unique job. This decision comes down to what works best for you.     Getting an Accurate Number Regardless of how you decide to group your tasks, there are some strategies to improve accuracy:   Test many people many times. Different people produce at different rates, and your averages should reflect that. “Repeat this procedure of timing your crew multiple times. A single run-through won’t suffice for obtaining accurate data to rely on,” says estimating software company Paint Scout*. It’s about accuracy, not speed. Brandon Lewis**, founder of the Academy for Professional Painting Contractors, suggests reminding everyone being timed that this is not a race. “What we are looking for here is repeatable accuracy. Too fast means that your feet are held to the fire on all future jobs. Too slow and you’ll be overpriced, potentially losing jobs.” Give yourself wiggle room. Whether you add in a buffer for each task or add in additional time when you estimate, don’t forget to account for breaks, setup/cleanup, potential substrate problems and unknowns. Consider details. Factor in the type of surface, color selected, number of coats, and other relevant aspects. By capturing these details, you can reuse the data for more accurate production rate calculations in the future.     Tracking and Documentation Now it’s time to be diligent about timing activities. When you’ve collected enough times, calculate your average to get your “standard production time.” Do this for each task or group of tasks until you establish a standard and repeatable picture of the time requirement of each job.   Keep this information in the format that best fits your needs. Some companies prefer keeping it in an Excel spreadsheet; others enter the data in their estimating and scheduling software. Note: Some estimating software comes with pre-loaded production rates. It is recommended that you test these numbers with your own crew before using them in an estimate.     Use The Data for Better Bids and Superb Scheduling Now that you have average tested standard production times, it’s time to put those numbers to work. Use your production rates to:   Create more detailed bids with better accuracy. Check out this article on “Detailed Estimates and Bids to Boost Profitability” for more tips on estimating. Schedule jobs with confidence. Set attainable production goals for staff. Ensure new team members are trained properly and ready to perform tasks within standard production times.     Remember, determining your production rates can help standardize your estimating, though certain factors, like prep, will still need to be evaluated on a project-by-project basis. While it may feel like a time-consuming task, production rates are an ideal starting point for building predictability and efficiency so you can grow and scale your business.     *This is being cited for reference purposes only. Behr Paint Company has no affiliation with and is not endorsing these tools. **There is no affiliation/partnership between Behr Paint Company and the individuals quoted.

Pro painters are experts in substrate, process and product, but they’re not the only ones committed to delivering a lasting and beautiful paint job. There’s another group just as committed to product performance, and it’s the paint chemists creating the product in the can.     The chemist’s job requires spending countless hours formulating and testing paint products in a combination of scenarios. Chemists work tirelessly to arm you with the right products and information that ultimately lead to a paint job that gets referrals and return business.   So, what do years of diligent work in the lab teach? And what can pro painters learn from chemists? Hint: A lot!   Research Fellow and Formulator Hai Nguyen has been innovating at Behr Paint Company for 17 years. Much of his time is spent researching raw materials and developing products. But when he isn’t in the lab, he’s working directly with pro painters onsite to tackle challenges and provide solutions. Nguyen shared some advice that can help contractors choose the right products, avoid coating failures and become an important resource for customers.   Hai Nguyen   Know what you are buying and why. Varying substrates and conditions require specific coating solutions for the best results. While many products are versatile and can be used on a range of surfaces, they may not always be the best choice for every application.”   As a pro, you need a deep bench of products and a strong understanding of where those products perform best so you can educate your customer and avoid coating failures.        Glossy surfaces need to be sanded, even when using a bonding primer. Painting or repainting a glossy surface is one of the more advanced jobs painters are tasked with. It’s the project most often botched by homeowners, and proper prep and product choice are crucial to success. While bonding primers are designed to bond to tough-to-paint surfaces, sanding creates a rougher surface that allows the primer to grip better, improving overall adhesion,” says Nguyen.   Alkalinity in new substrates is high. This means a primer for a new substrate is a must. A primer seals that substrate so that the final coating doesn’t blister or suffer from color burnout. Of course, you can use paint and primer in one, but you should apply two coats on a new substrate to avoid a coating failure.     When choosing premium paint, don’t just look at volume solids. Pro painters frequently talk about volume solids; however, the type of solids added is even more important. More solids don’t mean more premium pigments. Ask yourself what would happen if you were to put in extender, which is a low-grade pigment, versus titanium dioxide, which is a high-grade pigment. If you put in more extender, then you drive up volume solids, but that doesn’t mean that the product is more premium. Actually, it’s now the opposite because you’ve reduced the overall amount of titanium, which gives the wet and dry hide, and substituted it with a low-grade pigment that doesn’t hide well at all,” Nguyen explains.   Refer to a product’s technical data sheet (TDS) and safety data sheet (SDS) for additional details about the materials used in the can of paint.   BEHR® products aren’t just for the DIY customer. Behr has a long history of creating highly rated DIY products, which are often recognized as one of the best value products in the industry. The team has leveraged that expertise to create outstanding products for paint professionals as well. My job specifically focuses on paints designed for pro painters. We have a whole team of experienced pro formulators tasked with creating high-performing paint products for pros,” says Nguyen.     Chemists not only formulate paints that solve a host of challenges, but they also possess an abundance of information that can help pros achieve successful paint jobs and solve difficult coatings challenges.   If you have paint questions or want to learn more, contact your local BEHR Pro Rep.  

When you get color questions during the estimate, you may be tempted to say, “That’s not my area of expertise.” But before you do, consider that color is one of the most important decisions of any project and a motivating factor for homeowners wanting a new paint job. A painter who can help a homeowner with paint color selection may get the estimate signed and the job scheduled faster versus one who is lost in uncertainty.   So, what do pro painters need to know about color? Here are some color questions homeowners typically ask and some strategies to help you answer so you can close the paint job. Dining Room | Wall: Aerial View S530-3; Side Wall: Blank Canvas DC-003   What paint colors are trending? Erika Woelfel, VP of Color and Creative Services at Behr Paint Company, notes some exciting trends that we’re seeing in the industry.   Biophilic movement: Woelfel notes that blues and greens are color families that have been trending for several years, saying, “We’ve seen a biophilic movement (bringing nature into the built environment) in both residential and commercial spaces that plays a big part in this. These natural hues bring a relaxing aesthetic and often coordinate well with other colors, materials and finishes.” Behr offers a BioNature Collection which includes 50 colors to infuse harmony and wellbeing into built environments to elevate the human experience. Neutrals: For homeowners looking to keep their space cozy, she says to look for colors that are warm and enveloping. “You’re looking for some of those golden beiges and taupes.” Greige: Grays have been classic sellers for many years, however, Woelfel noted that the hues have been trending lighter. “They are more like light taupe than a gray. Grays have been evolving into some of those warmer, neutral colors.” Dramatic: Many are looking to add something bold to their space. “People have been using darker colors on their walls, including soft blacks like Cracked Pepper and deeper jewel tones like Rumors – our 2025 Color of the Year – as an accent color or a pop of color on doors and cabinets.”   Kitchen | Base Cabinets: Rumors MQ1-15; Walls and Upper Cabinets: Blank Canvas DC-003; Island: Oxford Street N270-4   To keep yourself up to date on trends, check out our annual 2025 Color Trends to awaken your clients’ spaces with endless expression. And be sure to regularly browse curated colors and trends with the ColorSmart by BEHR® tool, which includes a color wheel to explore color combinations and find the closest BEHR matched color. A little time studying can make you a treasure trove of knowledge for your clients.   What colors pair with the existing materials and finishes in my space? Finding complementary colors to existing items in a home can sometimes lead to indecision. Color tools can empower your client to make informed color choices.   Fan decks give the client a full range of choices to hold up next to materials and finishes in their space. Color cards at The Home Depot also provide inspiration for color and furniture pairings so your client can choose color with confidence. If you’re working on an exterior project and want to show your client before and after photos with their chosen color scheme, your local BEHR Pro Rep can upload images of the project to the BEHR Pro Visualizer. You’ll then be able to download the images and review the options with your client.   Will the colors look the same in different settings? Color is complex. As a painter, you know you can apply the same color in different settings, and it may look slightly different depending on the lighting and surroundings.   Remind your clients of this, and then use fan decks and drawdowns under different lighting conditions to illustrate how it will look at different times of the day. Sampling the color in different areas can also give a preview of the final result. Whether you provide those color samples or give your client instructions on what to pick up at The Home Depot, discussing and testing how light, sheen and surroundings play with color is smart business.   Do you remember what colors I’ve used in the past? Maintaining records of paint colors from previous projects in an organized system demonstrates your professionalism and dedication to your clients. Plus, it’s an effective way to encourage repeat business.   Behr offers color books that include every product and color used in a project. It’s an excellent option to keep accurate information in an attractive format. What color do you recommend? Many pro painters wonder what to do when homeowners want a color recommendation. No one wants to be on the hook if the color doesn’t turn out to their liking. The final color choice should be made by the homeowner, and you want them to sign off on that choice. But you can still provide inspiration and be a helpful guide. Consider these strategies to get the creative juices flowing:   Questions: Ask thoughtful and detailed questions to find out more about the purpose and desire for the space. Your portfolio: Don’t be bashful about using past paint projects and testimonials to inspire ideas. This demonstrates your knowledge of color and gives the client a peek at your past happy clientele, building further trust. BEHR® DESIGNER COLLECTION: “The DESIGNER COLLECTION palette has 30 colors that are tried-and-true best sellers. This is a great starting point for thinking about color,” says Woelfel.   Kitchen | Cabinets: White 52; Wall: First Snow DC-006; Island: N480-5 Adirondack Blue   Once your client has narrowed down the color scheme, help them use the tools and techniques above to make final selections and visualize their newly painted space.   In the end, color is just one more tool to help you close more estimates and build a reputable painting business.   If you have additional questions or want to learn more, contact your local BEHR Pro Rep.  

Color plays a pivotal role in your projects, whether you’re a professional painter, property manager, or designer. It’s often the final touch to attracting residents, enticing building occupants, or enhancing curb appeal. Behr Paint offers a variety of color services to help you and your clients see the potential of every color and combination for their project. Our services are designed to empower you, providing the support necessary to bring any job from vision to reality, no matter how big or small. From custom color matching to color renderings to full-size drawdowns, discover the many color services Behr has to offer.     Custom Color Matching Whether you need to match a corporate color scheme or a shade of carpet, we’ve got you covered. Our cutting-edge color matching technology will convert any sample into a digital color representation. We can also confidently match any competitive color for your job, including popular Kelly-Moore colors like Swiss Coffee 23, Bone 27, and San Francisco Fog 5822*. Simply bring a sample to your local The Home Depot store and we’ll match it.     BEHR® Pro Visualizer & Digital Color Renderings Visualize BEHR® Paint color schemes for your exterior projects in real-time with the BEHR® Pro Visualizer, an online color rendering tool to help speed up the color selection process. Your BEHR® Pro Rep will upload an image of your project, allowing you to select colors and schemes and see a “before and after” preview. Once ready, you can download a shareable document for you and your client to determine final details. Ask your local Rep about the tool here.     We also offer digital color renderings. Make your client’s color vision come to life with a digital mapping of their project. They’ll see digital renderings of different paint color combinations to help them make an informed color decision with confidence.     Full-Size Drawdown Samples If you need to show color to your clients in a larger size than a paint chip, we offer full-size drawdowns to help visualize colors on any given project. Whether your client is debating between shades or finalizing their color scheme, full-size drawdowns offer a more accurate representation of how the color will appear on a larger scale so you can better envision color on a larger surface area.     Color Books & Boards Our color books offer a complete archive of every color and every product used on every surface on your project, including coatings, specifications, and warranties to help streamline future maintenance. We also offer color boards, perfect for showcasing color schemes and palettes. These 20″ x 30″ boards are an impactful way to share the color story of a project so every stakeholder can understand the vision and align on the project direction.     Color Services for Your Every Need At Behr, we believe that color has the power to transform spaces and elevate experiences. With our comprehensive color services, we’re dedicated to helping you and your client’s vision come to life for any project. Contact your local BEHR Pro Rep to learn more.     *Kelly-Moore Swiss Coffee 23, Bone 27, and San Francisco Fog 5822 are names of Kelly-Moore, which is being used for identification purposes only. Behr has created a comparable color using industry standard technology.