Painters and Paperhangers

THE JOB

PAINTERS are skilled workers who paint and varnish new and old buildings.  
Many kinds of surfaces are painted, including wood, metal, concrete, 
masonry, and plastic.

There are three steps to a good paint job: surface preparation, priming or 
undercoating, and the finishing coats.  There are different kinds of surface 
preparation.  Some surfaces need no special preparation, while others need 
sanding, filling of cracks and holes with spackling, and cleaning the 
surface.  Some painted surfaces need partial or complete removal of the old 
finish.  The Painter may use a scraper, wire brush, chemicals, sandpaper, or 
sandblasting equipment to take off an old finish.  When the surface is 
ready, the Painter primes the bare wood or metal with special paint, if 
needed.  If the old paint is in good condition, new paint can be put 
directly over it. 

Finished coats are put on with spray guns, rollers or brushes, depending on 
the type of surface.  Rollers are most often used on even surfaces such as 
walls and ceilings.  On surfaces that are hard to paint with a brush or 
roller, such as cinder block and metal fencing, a spray gun may be used.  
Spraying equipment can be a lot faster than painting with a brush or roller, 
although a lot of time is needed to mask areas that are not going to be 
painted.

Painters not only have to be skilled in handling painting tools, they also 
have to know which tools and materials to use.  When choosing paints and 
finishes, Painters have to consider whether they're right for the job, their 
cost, and how long they'll last.  Although finishes usually come ready-mixed 
in almost any color, Painters must know about paint composition and color 
harmony to get the texture, tint, and shade the customer wants.

PAPERHANGERS cover walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper, 
fabric, vinyl or other wall coverings to make rooms more attractive and 
soothing to the eye.  Their first job is to prepare and clean the surface.  
Rough spots must be smoothed, holes and cracks must be filled, and old paint 
in bad condition, varnish and wall paper have to be taken off.  Sometimes, 
wallpaper has to be soaked or steamed to be taken off.  Paperhangers put 
"sizing" on new surfaces to make the paper stick better.  

Paperhangers set up pasteboards, put up scaffolds if needed, measure surface 
areas to figure the amount of wallcovering needed, and cut paper strips to 
size.  They put paste on the back of the paper strip, or when the 
wallcovering is prepasted, dunk strips in water to wet the paste.  They put 
the wallpaper directly on prepared surfaces and smooth them into place with 
brushes or rollers.  In putting the paper on the wall, Paperhangers must 
make sure that they match the patterns correctly, cut overlapping ends, and 
smooth seams between strips.  


WORKING CONDITIONS

Painters and Paperhangers often work with their arms stretched over their 
heads for long periods of time.  They stand, climb and bend, working from 
ladders, scaffolds, and swing stages.  They risk injury from slips or 
falls.  The job may also take Painters into places where air circulation is 
poor, in which case respirators, air hoods, and fans are used.  Painters can 
also come into contact with poisonous chemicals when mixing paints, and 
airless spray painting can give off toxic fumes or the strong spray can cut 
a worker.  Paperhangers are exposed to chemical removers and steam machines.

Painters have to work indoors and outdoors, unlike Paperhangers who do all 
of their work indoors in fairly clean, well-lit, and ventilated areas.  When 
doing exterior painting, workers are out in nearly all kinds of weather.

Painters and Paperhangers may work alone when putting up wallpaper or 
painting in homes, or they may work with others when the job site is a big 
commercial building.  Those who work for contractors may belong to the 
International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades.  


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

The California Projections of Employment, published by the Labor Market 
Information Division of the Employment Development Department, estimates 
that the number of Painters and Paperhangers in California will reach 36,640 
by 2005, an increase in new jobs of 11,310 over the number there was in 1993.
There will also be an estimated 7,940 job openings due to people retiring or 
leaving the occupation.  Added to the 11,310 new jobs expected, this makes 
for an estimated total of 19,250 job opportunities through 2005.

(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)

Nearly all Painters work in the construction industry.  They are usually 
laid off during periods of damp or rainy weather, as are many other workers 
in construction.  In some areas of California, they may be out of work for 
three months, or longer, each year because of poor weather.  Employment is 
also depends on good economic conditions which boost construction activity.  
Employment in most of the State is highest during the spring, summer and 
early fall when construction activity is at its peak.


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Painters and Paperhangers are paid at different rates based on experience, 
training and skill level, type of employer and geographic location.  Entry 
or apprentice workers earn hourly wages of minimum wage to $15.00.  Workers 
with less than three years experience earn from $7.00 to $15.00 hourly, 
while those with at least three years experience can earn up to $26.00.

Those who belong to a union usually make a higher wage.

Most employers offer paid vacation, sick leave and medical insurance.  Many 
offer retirement plans and dental, vision and life insurance.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

The minimum education for entry into the painting or wallpapering trade is 
the ability to read, write and do simple arithmetic.  Although it is not 
required, employers reported that most recent hires were high school 
graduates.

The formal way to journey-level status is through an apprenticeship program, 
which consists of three and one half years of supervised, on-the-job 
training and 144 hours of related school instruction.  Related work 
experience can be credited to apprentices by examination and evaluation by 
the Joint Apprenticeship Committee.  Apprenticeship applicants must be at 
least 16 years old.  The work requires color and depth perception, ability 
to lift and carry 50 pounds and the temperament to work while standing on 
ladders or scaffolding.


ADVANCEMENT

Promotion for Painters and Paperhangers is usually by going through the 
regular skill levels to reach journey-level.  Some workers advance to 
supervisor, superintendent, cost estimator or sales associate.  Many become 
self-employed, but the competition for jobs is tough.  Most self-employed 
workers must obtain a painting and decorating license, issued by their local 
State Contractor's Board, by passing a three-hour trade test and a three-
hour business operation test.  Workers must have four years of journey-level 
experience in the past 10 years to qualify for the contractor test.


FINDING THE JOB

Painters and Paperhangers find work through the union local and by applying 
directly to employers or the California Employment Development Department 
Job Service.  Painters can get information on government job opportunities 
from city and county personnel offices, Federal Job Information Centers, and 
the California State Personnel Board.  Persons looking for an apprenticeship 
can contact the nearest local of the Painter's union, prospective employers, 
Division of Apprenticeship Standards, or the local Joint Apprenticeship 
Committee.


ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

California Department of Industrial Relations
Division of Apprenticeship Standards
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 703-4920

RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Plasterers and Stucco Masons               No. 249

OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1)
Painter                                840.381-010
Paperhanger                            841.381-010

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Painters and Paperhangers, Const.           874020


Source:  State of California, Employment Development Department,
         Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
         (916) 262-2162.