When working on exterior projects, what do the rest of you do when it rains. We try to have smaller interior jobs with flexibility on timing, so that we can move the crews when it rains.

That said, we are now only a two crew company. However, we are recruiting for a third crew. We have the work for the third crew, but I worry about the days that it rains.

Do the rest of you just send your painters home? Make up time on the weekends?

Just curious.

Thank you.

Bob,

I'm about the size of your business(2 crews).
I attempt to plan to have flexible interior work lined up to have painters go to, if it's a known of rain forth coming. I mention to customer when interior work is sold, if it's okay for a call night before, or early am to get painters into interior work. Most times it works.
If rain developes during day, it typically turns out to be a "short day" for employees.
Rarely weekend or holiday work is planned, unless absolutely necessary. Sometimes a partial Saturday, if painters want to get make up hours, and work available.
Over 40 hours, or holidays and then it's premium time per federal mandates, for employees. I usually don't plan in bids for premium work, unless known and required for project.

Thank you Ken.

Yes, we are similar. Do not work over 40 hours, unless the premium is in the bid.

I too try to call the night before or early am, when moving into a small interior for rain days.

Have you had many days when you did not have the small interiors? My concern is going to the 3rd crew and not having enough rain day work.

Thank you.

Bob,
We employ about 25 people and only do residential repaints and remodeling. In Maryland this time of year we get a lot of rain. We schedule our jobs so we have interiors and exteriors on the same days. We never schedule all exteriors. We use rain days to powerwash future exterior paint jobs and decks, we also spread our workers to the other present interior jobs. Keep lots of rain suits and power washers avalible, and always have a sale on power washing in the spring.

Joe

Bob,
We schedule interiors and exteriors simutaniously. We give a scheduled start date (currently 7 weeks out) if they want it sooner than that we tell the customer if it looks like it will rain, we will call the night before and ask them if we can do the job. We assure them that we will finish the job before we move back outside. If they say no they go back on the call list. Otherwise we stick to the scheduled date.
I hope this makes sense.
All the best, Kevin

Great question for the message board. Especially since the weather in many parts of the country is so variable.
We always have at least 1 or 2 large interior jobs going, usually a major remodel for a general contractor. We work for about 5 different remodeling contractors. So, if we need to shift men we can usually find a place for them. We also try to have a backlog of small interior repaints or commercial TI work on the books. We call it the great chess match or shuffle. We try to keep current with the latest long range weather projections as well. Our shop is right next to the National Weather Service, (also one of our clients), so we keep right up with the most accurate forcasts. We are at about our limit right now for taking on exterior paint work, due to our short exterior paint season (only till about Oct 10th or so). So, plan early, project and fill in the gaps the best you can.
Wishing everyone a great painting season.
Joel