Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are your payment terms?
A: My terms are as follows:
- Design fee of $250 due prior to sketch process (Non-refundable)
- 20% deposit due upon signed agreement (Non-refundable)
- 40% due on the first day of the project
- 40% due on day of completion
- An interest charge of 10% will be added on if payment as not been received within 10 business days of completion.
Q: Do you have a minimum price?
A: The minimum fee is $300 per project, irregardless of size or complexity.
Q: What does the design fee include?
A: First off, the design fee is non-refundable since coming up with a design is a lot of work. This fee includes the original design and up to 2 changes to the original. Additional changes or drawings will be charged at $75/design. So be very specific about what you want. Note - this fee will be deducted from the final price of the mural if we proceed.
Q: How do you come up with a design?
A: The first step is to have a meeting to discuss what you're looking for, ideas you have, color preferences, etc. I will take what we talked about and come up with a design and email it to you for feedback. If you have an idea or pictures of what you want, please give them to me and we can use that to work from.
Q: What if I'm nervous about committing to a permanent mural on my wall?
A: If you are interested but not sure you want a permanent painting right on your wall, consider a mural painted on canvas, which is then applied to your wall with removable wallpaper paste, preferably with a liner beneath. If you move or want to redecorate the room, the canvas mural can be removed from the wall, rolled up and put up somewhere else! Please note that I don't attach canvas murals myself, but rather leave that to a professional wall paper hanger to ensure the job is done right.
Q: Is there a cost for the initial consultation with you?
A: There is no cost to our first meeting. If other meetings are requested prior to the start of painting, extra fees may be charged. However, I will charge you 60 cents per mile if we DO NOT proceed with the mural. I do this to discourage folks who really aren't serious!
Q: What does the price include?
A:
Pricing includes taxes, tolls, parking and travel within roughly 50 miles of zip code 19135 (Northeast Philadelphia). Pricing does not include paints and other materials (such as specialty paints or adhesives, painting surfaces like MDO board or canvas, etc.), transportation and installation of such extra materials, rental equipment (such as scaffolding), additional liability insurance if needed, wall preparation.
Q: What do we need to do to the room before you start painting?
A: The client's responibilities include:
- Move all furniture, wall hangings, draperies, etc., out of the way.
- Repair cracks, remove wallpaper adhesive residue, etc. if agreed upon. Otherwise this will be charged at a rate of $75 per hour.
- Make arrangements for pets and children to be safely out of the way.
- Arrange for a cleanup sink to be available and free of obstacles such as dishes, clothes, toys, etc.
- Provide a key, keypad combination, etc. if someone will not be on the premises.
- Provide instructions for alarm systems (or keep alarm off during the time I'm working) if nobody will be on the premises.
- Provide a phone number where I can reach you in case of questions or an emergency.
- Approve bid proposal and scheduling, and sign off on them.
- Pay the agreed upon monies on time.
- Renegotiate any added materials, painting or changes from the original bid and approved design.
- Ensure safe and comfortable working conditions while I'm on site working. Adequate heat/cooling, light and dust-free conditions should prevail.
- If possible, provide a safe place to store my supplies on-site overnight.
- Advise me as to a safe and secure place to park my car during the job.
Q: Are there special considerations for outdoor murals?
A: YES! Outdoor murals involve taking the necessary steps to eliminate any dirt and oxidation on the walls so the paint will stick effectively to the wall. Weather obviously plays a role, so I can't be held to a tight schedule since Mother Nature may not be cooperative. Temperature also plays a role, as paint won't properly dry and adhere in extremes of temperature (too hot is just as bad as too cold). We can discus any necessary preparations work when you contact me. I will be glad to discuss the things you can do to reduce the cost of the mural and advise you regarding which products are best to use.
Q: What kind of wall surface do you paint on?
A: I can paint on a variety of surfaces including drywall, plaster, stucco, concrete, brick, paneling, etc. The wall should be prepared for a better quality and longer lasting mural. This includes repairing cracks, gouges, nail holes, etc. (This step could be considered optional, however I can't guarantee the longevity of the mural if the surface is not in the best condition possible.) The walls should be primed and painted if necessary, using latex paint in a satin finish (note - do NOT use a flat finish paint/primer). However, if the mural will be covering the entire wall and depending on the design, I may paint over it myself so this step might not be necessary.
Q: How long does it take you to do a mural?
A: That depends on the mural design, the painting surface, any special techniques or products that might require extra time, as well as other circumstances around a particular job (height considerations, restricted working hours to coincide with business hours, interruptions from interested onlookers, etc.) Generally I like to reserve 2 weeks for most murals to have enough time to do the job right. I generally paint for about 6 hours per day because mural painting can be both physically and creatively draining.
Q: What kind of paint do you use?
A: I use only acrylic and/or latex based paint. I normally use latex paints with a satin finish. Satin finish paint usually provides the best surface to paint on and it's also easier to wash than a flat finish (I never paint on a flat finish as it sucks up any paint put over it). I also use artist's acrylic paint and sometimes specialty paints and glazes. I use exterior paints when doing an outside mural in a low-sheen finish so the sun does not reflect off the mural.
Q: What's the best way to care for our new mural?
A: If you need to clean the wall with the mural, do not scrub or use harsh chemicals since this may damage the mural. Lightly wash with a damp sponge and if necessary, simple hand soap. Murals in high traffic areas such as hallways and bathrooms may need to be protected by using a clear water-based varnish/sealer with a satin sheen. This should be done 1-2 weeks after the mural has been finished to allow the paint to cure completely. The cost for doing this is not included in the mural's price since it is optional.
Q: Do you do ceilings?
A: Yes, but I charge more due to the difficulty in ceiling work.
Q: Who owns the copyright of the mural?
A: As the artist, I retain the copyright on all artwork created, though I grant rights to the client to use the image for all marketing and advertising materials for ten (10) years. This does include the stipulation that the copyright notice: “Artwork © 2010 Colleen D. Gjefle” must be printed legibly on all print material.
Q: If I refer another customer to you, do I get anything in return?
A: Yes, I pay for referrals. Please see REFERRALS for more information.
