Frequently Asked Questions

Click on any question or scroll down. Need more advice? We’re happy to answer anything — whether you use us to do the work or not! Call 913.735.7505.

Q: How can I get a price quote?

A: Because this is one of the most important steps in our process, we made it incredibly simple. Click here to schedule an estimate today. There’s absolutely no pressure to choose us, just some great advice from a professional painter. As always, our estimate is completely free of charge!

Q: When should I pay?

A: You pay absolutely nothing until the work is completed and you’re totally satisfied with the job we’ve done. We’re hassle-free and welcome your input throughout the project. We conduct a final inspection with you to ensure you’re satisfied before giving you the invoice, and will collect payment from you at that time, unless previous financing terms were agreed upon.

Q: Who can I expect on-site to discuss the project and complete the job?

A: Once approves, you are assigned a specific Project Manager who will be your point of contact moving forward. They will coordinate your schedule, color consultation and final inspection and treat your house like it’s Mom’s house.

Q: Who will be responsible for answering my questions during the process?

A: Your Project Manager is on standby to answer all questions, and will visit your home everyday during the project.

Q: Can I expect my job to be done on time?

A: Absolutely. Despite unpredictable Kansas with weather, your Project Manager will communicate with you to adhere to your timeline. Our experienced crews are extremely knowledgeable and work quickly and efficiently to complete your job on time. At the end of each day, we clean up our space to provide you with the least amount of inconvenience possible.

Q: Can you tell me what “hassle-free” means?

A: At Mission Painting, hassle-free means zero confusion, no excuses, and absolutely no bad surprises. In order to achieve our promise of hassle-free to our customers, we stick to four unbreakable rules:

We eliminate uncertainty by keeping you fully informed of every aspect of the job.
We cultivate integrity by keeping our promises and starting with an honest and comprehensive estimate that sets the stage for the entire project.
We respect you, the client, including your property, schedule, and lifestyle. We give you the personalized attention and proper communication you deserve.
We never compromise on the quality of our work. We use only the best materials with no shortcuts in our processes.

Q: All contractors are about the same, right?

A: Picking a painting company isn’t as easy as it seems. Before deciding, consider three things:

Communication. From estimate scheduling to finishing a job, our communication is clear and transparent from start to finish. We care about forming a relationship with the customer, and letting that drive our process.
Not a Commodity. Our proven process is centered on job oversight and professionalism. We get in and get the job done, and honor the integrity of your home along the way.
5-Year Proactive Warranty. You can learn more about our warranty on the homepage. In short, you aren’t done hearing from us once the job is done. We will circle back every year for five years to ensure everything still looks great with your paint job.

Q: So what should I look for in a painting contractor?

A: In our digital age, one of the best things you can look at is testimonials from those who have experienced the process. The more reviews, the more you can rest assure – Mission Painting takes our paint jobs and customers seriously.

In addition, you should never work with anyone who asks for money before any work is performed. Always check that the contractor is licensed and insured with both liability and workman’s comp insurance.

Q: What are the top questions to ask the contractor?

A: Discussing a project with your contractor can help you determine how professional and experienced the person or company is. Asking a few questions can help the process, such as:

How many years have you been in business?
Are you licensed and fully insured?
What are your current ratings on Google, Angie’s List, and Yelp?
Do you provide financing?
Do you provide written guarantees to back up your work?
What type of products do you use?
When do you usually get paid and what is your rate?
How long will the job take?
What are your steps for prepping and clean-up?
What steps do you take to protect my home and property?

Q: Speaking of which, how will you protect my personal property while painting?

A: Mission goes the extra mile to protect your home and your personal property while painting. For your interior, we ask that you remove any breakables or decorations including pictures from the painting space. We then move your furniture away from our work area and cover it with plastic to fully protect it. Afterwards, we move everything back to where it was before we started. Aside from your new beautiful paint job, you’ll never know we were there.

For your exterior, we take extra care to never trample your grass, always protect your landscaping, and even prevent your patio, sidewalks, and driveway from being affected by our paint. We don’t miss details—we take the utmost care when conducting our business around your home, from the inside out!

Q: Can you provide references?

A: We’ve done hundreds of jobs in the area, making most of our business referral business. Check out our reviews made by actual clients on Angie’s List. We have a 99% approval rating with them! Get a subscription and compare for yourself—this is a site where reviews can’t be faked.

Q: Why do prices vary so much?

A: There are a few things that determine the pricing of our high-quality work.

We pay for more for the top products from our industry.
Specifically, we pay premium pricing for the highest-quality caulk we trust for your home.
We are fully licensed and insured which reflects in our offering.
Whenever we see cheaper prices for labor,

Q: How cold is too cold to paint outside?

A: Painting outside is not meant for weather below 45 degrees. Some people think otherwise because paint cans suggest a temperature rating of 35 degrees and above. However, moisture and wind cause surface temperature to drop below air temperature. Stay on the safe side and complete exterior painting tasks – full home or detailed touch-ups – in our favorite (and busiest!) season: summertime.

Q: How can I prepare for the paint crew?

A: For interior painting projects, we ask our customers to remove valuables and breakables from the room we’ll be working in. It’s also important to note that dust will inevitable accumulate in the room. To that end, if you have larger furniture items you wish to remove from the room before a paint job, our crew would be more than happy to help.

For exterior projects, you’ll want to solidify your color choices through our personal color consultation. Other than that, we only ask for your presence during an onsite inspection to start the project and for a walk-through once we’re finished with your paint job. You’ll also want to cut vegetation back 1-2 feet from your home’s exterior, provide an electrical outlet for our crew and front door access if we’re painting your door. Lastly, any oil-based paint project will require you to be outside of your home for at least 5-7 days.

Q: Can I do anything to help the process go more smoothly?

A: The only thing you need to do is relax! The painting process, when done right, is exciting for the future of your family and home life. Part of the fun is accomplished through our FREE color consultation prior to painting. Please refer to our “Good, Better, Best” PDF which is attached to your estimate proposal email for options on your paint possibilities.

Q: Can you tell me about your surface prep work?

A: We’re pretty obsessive about our prep work because we know the best paint jobs require the right prepping. We spackle and sand any cracks, chips, or holes in your walls. Then, we inspect the joints and seams around your windows and doors to see if new caulk is needed. We carefully prepare crown molding and chair rails. If you have drywall with nail pops, we find these and fix them. We seal water stains and crayon scribbles. We clean grease, fingerprints, and dirt to ensure a beautiful coat of paint inside and out.

Q: How long will the job take?

A: Our painting professionals are detailed yet swift. We never allow your job to drag on. During our comprehensive estimate, we give you a better idea of how long the job will take. For “whole home” projects – interior or exterior – we typically ballpark two weeks or so from start to finish. Smaller jobs of one to two rooms are done in around a day or two’s time.

Q: What hours do your painting crews work?

A: Our crews typically work normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m business hours. If that timeframe doesn’t work for you or you’d like more time, we’re flexible. We work six days a week to accommodate each family’s busy schedule.

Q: Exactly how messy will my house be afterwards?

A: We know that your home is your castle. That’s why we cover all furniture and fixtures before we begin any work. We don’t use old and dirty drop cloths on your hardwood floors or carpets in our area of work as well as any spaces we use to access it. If we need to do work that creates dust, we seal off the room we’re working in to prevent dust from traveling. Although some dust is inevitable, we pride ourselves on being the cleanest painters around. We recommend a couple additional HVAC filters on hand.

Q: Will you also protect my lawn and landscaping?

A: Absolutely. We never trample your grass. We even cover up concrete, pavers, and decks with sturdy drop cloths to protect every surface. Our careful approach is unmatched—we’re even popular with your hard-to-please garden gnomes!

Q: How disruptive will the painting process be to our lives?

A: It depends. Our exterior painting aims for as little disruption as possible. For interior paint jobs, we aim for extremely minimal disruption. Our crews get in, work quietly, and clean up to minimize mess. We even do repairs to walls, ceilings, and woodwork. We get you back to your normal routine as quickly as possible with zero hassle. Our painters are careful, considerate, and neat. We also use environmentally-safe paints on all your interior surfaces. As previously stated, if we’re working with an oil-based paint, we recommend you leave your home for at least a week.

Q: What can I expect during my painting job?

A: We make every aspect of our job known to you before we start. The four stages of our work generally include:

1. Preparation work. We hand-clean or power wash surfaces to remove dirt, mildew, and chalking. We scrape loose paint off and sand glossy areas so they’ll properly grip your new paint. We apply high-grade caulk to any gaps.
2. Every surface is then properly primed and painted with the most beautiful and durable finishes available.
3. Continuous clean-up. Every day, our crew keeps your yard and home tidy. We pay keen attention wood chips or other debris leftover from our job, then clean up each piece accordingly.
4. Final inspection with you, the homeowner. We want you to be totally satisfied with your job, so we make time to conduct a final inspection with you by our side.

Q: Is it possible to paint over exterior brick?

A: Painting brick requires extensive prep work for the most beautiful result and will require a professional like Mission Painting to conduct. Our pressure washing can remove everything from dirt to mildew and efflorescence to prep accordingly. But the most important process is our 100% acrylic latex paint applied in two coats which ensures the best durability!

Q: What about painting over paneling?

A: Absolutely. Painting is the most efficient way to improve the appearance of your home, especially paneling. We clean, we remove any waxes, we dry and sand, and then clean up all the dust. Afterwards, we prime with an oil-based primer to prevent any bleeding. We then paint with a oil or oil-hybrid paint for your color coat. Kitchen cabinets, ceramic tile, bricks—you name it, we can paint it!

Q: And wallpaper?

A: Yes! We simply remove the wallpaper using stripping tools. We don’t recommend a professional steamer, because it releases unnecessary moisture into your drywall. Then, we scrape off loose and peeling paint and wash the walls to ensure no glue residue is present. If the drywall is damaged, we repair! We then apply a primer to seal any tears or rips. Once we have this base, we apply spot primer and a color topcoat to create the perfect finish. We apply a coat of oil primer where the glued walls are, leftover from wallpaper, before we continue the painting process. Any company that doesn’t oil prime after wallpaper removal is ensuring paint failure.

Q: What brand of paints do you use?

A: Our professional recommendation is Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. We never cut corners and use generic or discount brand paints and primers. You truly can tell the difference.

Q: What type of paint do you use—enamel, oil-based, or latex?

A: Whatever the job requires, that’s what we use. The term enamel used to refer to oil base, but now latex could also be referred to as enamel paint. Oil-based and latex products are an emulsion suspended in water. Oil-based is usually used when a more robust finish is required, but today’s latex products can fit nearly any job that used to require only oil-based.

Q: What type of paint sheen should I choose—flat, satin, or semi-gloss?

A: Each level of shine is designed for a different space. Historically, flat paints hid imperfections but weren’t durable when it came to washing (this made them ideal for spaces like living rooms or bedrooms). Newer technology in higher-end paints, recommended by Mission Painting, allow for a matte finish (one step above flat) to be both wipeable and scrubbable, while yet still hiding imperfections. Satin and semi-gloss tend to be more washable but also show some surface imperfections (best for bathrooms and kitchens). We can make recommendations when we come out for your estimate!

Q: Do you use a specific paint for bathrooms?

A: Yes, we use paints that are specifically formulated to be mildew-resistant and hold up well in humid spaces such as bathrooms.

As for the paint itself, we use Aura Bath & Spa. To give you an idea of its quality, check out the Mi Amo Spa in Sedona – a worthy getaway – which uses the same paint for its facilities. In other words, we’ll help turn your home bathroom into luxury.

Q: Is application by brush or spray better?

A: For metal, we conduct spray application. On wood surfaces, both are needed. At Mission, we carefully brush and roll the entire initial coat of acrylic paint. We ensure the paint is worked deep into the wood. After this, we apply the second coat with a sprayer for your perfect finished look. The durability and flawless appearance just isn’t possible without this two-step process.

Q: How do I choose the best color for my home?

A: Picking the right color can certainly be a challenge. Fortunately, Mission’s technology makes it easier than ever to choose the best color. Simply send us photos of your home, and we can show you any color combination before painting! Using actual photos combined with our software, we virtually paint your space and email you the options, whether you want your interior or exterior updated with a fresh coat of paint.

This is also a process we’ll help you complete through a comprehensive color consultation.

Q: How can I be sure I’ll like the color?

A: We go the extra mile to ensure you’ll love your color. As proud members of the Houzz contracting community, we’re connected with some of the top paint designers in the world. Houzz suggests painting a piece of foam-board with a color you’re considering and walking it around your house. You can see it on different walls in different types of lighting. This is a lot easier and cheaper than repainting a room!

As mentioned in the previous question, we’ll send you actual photos of your home in the color you’re considering to help you visualize your new paint job.

Q: Can you match paint colors?

A: We can perfectly match any color, from your neighbor’s house to the frosting on your cupcake! Once you find your perfect color, we can computer match it. However, we can’t guarantee it will look the same on every wall. We always suggest a test run. A foam-board would be a good option to look at the paint color in different lighting. Things such as lighting, flooring, furniture, and outside landscaping will affect the color’s appearance on your home!

Q: Why do the cracks I patch always come back?

A: Unless you have a professional fix your cracks, cracks can be really stubborn. The temperature variations in Kansas affect houses when they expand and contract. Some homes will always have spots that crack just because of the design of the home. We know the tricks for successfully taming a crack, from digging it out to carefully filling it to taping it over with fiberglass mesh tape. We sand your lines smooth, prime, then sand some more. Your patched area will be invisible!

Q: What should I do about my drywall problems?

A: Mission’s professional crews are trained in experienced in fixing any drywall problems you may have. From minor touchups to major repairs and replacement, we make sure your surface is well-prepared before we paint. Of course, smaller fixes are routinely done when we’re doing prep work before painting. Any necessary drywall work will be included in your detailed estimate with us.

Q: How often should the exterior of my home be painted?

A: In short, it depends on who conducts the paint job. Our Mission Painting standard is that when we paint an exterior, the answer is typically 7-10 years. This is double the amount of time for most of the painting industry. We recommend every four to six years. Paint that doesn’t look that bad can quickly become unsightly. Being proactive about your paint can keep your home looking fresh. Preventative maintenance such as painting can protect your investment. Weather, trees, and prolonged moisture (think rainy climates or sprinkler systems) can cause your wood to rot. Add on some peeling paint and you’ve got a costly fix on your hands!

Q: What are the consequences if I don’t paint?

A: There are numerous things that can happen to your home if you put off a painting job.

Exposed wood will rot around doors and windows. You can easily test this with a screwdriver—if you can poke a hole in it, it’s a problem! Mission replaces the bad wood, caulks around it, and paints.
Stucco homes can be damaged by water and sun. Protecting your stucco with fresh paint can help keep away cracks and prevent you from having to replace entire sections later.
Caulk doesn’t last forever. It can dry out and lose its flexibility, therefore letting moisture in places where there shouldn’t be moisture. The caulk you have on your home might not last much longer, but the caulk we use is best in the business. It will last you a long time without worrying about replacement.
Moisture from greenery such as vines or ivy can create an ideal place for mold and mildew to grow. We kill the dangerous spores before perfecting your paint.

You can protect the structure of your home from the elements and increase the value and curb appeal of your house. Call us!

Q: What if I don’t replace the rotting wood?

A: Moisture easily accumulates around air conditioners, gutters, and window frames. It begins attacking the wood and eventually leaves your trim boards and soffit a mushy mess. Mission’s professionals locate any damage during our inspection, but some problems can’t be seen on the surface. If we find any issues while doing our extensive prep work, our skilled carpenters remove and replace damage as efficiently as possible.