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Apartment painting and house painting are both forms of residential painting. However, there are some differences between painting an apartment and a house in New York City. These differences mostly center around the rules for painting according to the city code.

So whether you are living in a house or an apartment, this article will discuss these rules and some tips to make your painting project a success.

Differences in Rules for Painting Your Apartment vs House in NYC

Below are some of the key differences in the rules for painting your New York City apartment or house in compliance with the city code:

  • You can paint your house any color you want. However, if you paint your apartment in any color other than white, you will need to repaint them before you move out. Your landlord may withhold your security deposit if you fail to do this.
  • If you reside in a multiple-dwelling building or a building with three or more apartments, your landlord has the obligation to paint or update your wall coverings at least once every three years. However, it is important to note that this isn’t an extremely strict requirement and you and your landlord can come to an agreement to postpone the repainting of your apartment walls. On the other hand, if you live in a house in New York, it is totally up to you when you want it to be repainted.
  • If, while staying in an apartment, the walls have become unsanitary, you may be required to have them repainted. You will only be free from this liability if you can prove to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development that the damage is due to the neglect of your landlord and not your doing. This requirement is not applicable if you’re living in a house.
  • Although modern paints no longer contain lead, it is highly likely that paint applied before 1978 contains this harmful chemical. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a warning that paint jobs involving lead paint can form lead dust or chips that can pose health risks.

Tips for a Successful Apartment or House Painting in New York

Whether or not this is your first time to have your apartment or house painted in New York, these tips will ensure that you will have an overall pleasant experience in working with a contractor:

  • Don’t sign a contract unless you get detailed estimates from the painting contractor. The estimate should be broken down by materials, description of the prep work, number of coats of paint and primer, and other vital information.
  • Be careful of hiring painting contractors who promise to give you a bargain price after taking a quick look around your house or apartment. It is better to request for a proposal that contains details of the costs and inclusions.
  • Buy the paint yourself if possible to ensure that the contractor won’t substitute the paint with a cheaper contractor grade paint that has your preferred brand name. When you hire a trustworthy painting company, you wouldn’t have to worry about this.
  • Choose flat paint to hide imperfections on your ceilings, especially if you’re not skim coating it. Meanwhile, use semigloss paint for your kitchen and bathroom because they can withstand water and scrubbing.
  • Only work with licensed and insured painting companies. By ensuring that the painting contractor has insurance and workers’ compensation insurance, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are protected from being held liable in case someone gets injured on the job. If you live in a condo or co-op, the co-op board or condo association, the apartment owner, and the managing agent must be added as additional insured on the policy.
  • If you live in an apartment, make sure to inform your landlord before hiring a painting contractor. It is also likely that your landlord has a trusted painting company that you might want to consider.
  • The professional painter must be lead certified if the building has been put up before 1978. Even if lead paints are no longer sold in the market, this hazardous chemical might still be present and released when sanded before the actual paint job starts.

Hiring the Best Painting Company in NYC

Looking for a good residential painting contractor can be time-consuming. It can be difficult to filter the reliable ones from those who try to cut corners and get the job done as quickly as possible to the point that the quality gets compromised.

If you are looking for the most trustworthy painting company in New York City, consider Soho Painters. Aside from residential painting, they can also work on your commercial painting project, drywall installation, custom murals, wallpapering, and Venetian plastering.

Instantly transform your living space by having it repainted. Get in touch with Soho Painters today!

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