Painting Contractors 101: The 3 “P’s” Approach

By: Kent Kuehl, Induron Sales Representative

Make a change? Are you kidding . . . that might cost me money!

It is said that the only constant in life is change. So, why is it so difficult to get anyone to change their way of thinking or do something different?  Each day brings us new challenges and opportunities.

It’s easy to come up with a number of reasons why we avoid change.  A favorite of mine is “Well, that’s the way we’ve always done it.”  Simple enough, but can you imagine still doing a task the way you did it 50+ years ago? Think back to when a contractor would have to pick up his alkyd resins, linseed oil, solvents, lead paste, colorants and other additives, and mix them at the job site.  The typical application method would be by brush or the use of a hand-held mitt.

The change in technology and application of coatings has clearly made our lives much easier. Coatings products are delivered ready-for-use and the spray application of paint makes for quick work, which allows more projects to be completed in a timely manner.

A recent discussion with a painting contractor who has been in the tank painting business for more than 40 years expressed it the following manner: “We like to keep it simple for our painters in the field.  Not being familiar with a new product can slow us down.”  The contractor continued by saying, “The simpler we can make it for our guys in the field, the more efficient they are, which ultimately results in fewer mistakes.”

This week the same contractor took the opportunity to “change” and used Induron’s TL-70 Ceramic Epoxy, a 70% volume solids NSF epoxy, on the interior of a water tank.  The painters’ comments were all positive, including responses such as “thumbs up,” “easy to mix,” “no clumps,” “liked the viscosity of both the A and B components,” and “it had excellent film building properties.”  We also heard: “Our crew didn’t have a run nor a sag and they were able to complete the job one day early.”

These are clearly WINS for everyone!  Induron’s TL 70 Ceramic Epoxy has been used to coat and protect the interior of potable water tanks for decades. Its unique combination of ceramic pigment and state-of-the-art epoxy resin combines to provide a dense, relatively impermeable protective coating that mitigates corrosion and has unmatched abrasion and impact resistance.  Its high-film build provides more protection in fewer coats, which saves time, money, and adds years of service life.

This brings me to the 3 “P’s”:

  1. Passion – to believe in your product.
  2. Patience – to believe in your customer.
  3. Persistence – to stay positive.

Change your approach, change your attitude, and possibly change the outcome for the better.  Look Beneath the Surface of your next project, as change is on the horizon!

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