What Do Construction and Maintenance Painters Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Construction and Maintenance Painters paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency. They also fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.

Other tasks include:

• Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
• Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
• Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
• Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
• Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
• Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.

We asked Construction and Maintenance Painters how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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62% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Construction and Maintenance Painters fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives. They cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.

A typical day for a Construction and Maintenance Painter will also include:

• Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
• Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
• Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
• Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders.
• Polish final coats to specified finishes.

We asked some Construction and Maintenance Painters a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	41% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	54% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	76% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	52% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Construction and Maintenance Painters also erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level. They may also remove old finishes by stripping, sanding, wire brushing, burning, or using water or abrasive blasting.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Construction and Maintenance Painters Mix and match colors of paint, stain, or varnish with oil or thinning and drying additives to obtain desired colors and consistencies. They might also Polish final coats to specified finishes.

In addition, they Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Select and purchase tools or finishes for surfaces to be covered, considering durability, ease of handling, methods of application, and customers’ wishes.

To some Construction and Maintenance Painters, it is also their responsibility to Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Construction and Maintenance Painter, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm

http://www.abc.org/

http://www.iupat.org/

http://www.pdca.org/