Just to emphasise and make a valid point when it comes to getting with the times in the decorating industry, I thought I’d put a little blog together to explain the value of dust free sanding to a decorator.
Not only is it healthier for yourself and your customers. It’s cleaner, faster and a better finish. I’d like to tell you about the job I started today.
Earlier in the year a gentleman knocked my van window when I was parked up and asked if I could give him a quote. The work was to solve another issue caused by Valspar paint smelling like cat p*ss.
My first question to the customer was, where is the decorator that had carried out the work originally?? He said they are too busy to sort it out, but they were his regular decorators and had been for years. Apparently he was always happy with his regular decorators, but they just weren’t available.
So, I did the work to his satisfaction. Following on, I got a call to go back and do more work (which I’m partway through as we speak). The reason they called me back and not their regular decorator was because him and his wife were so impressed with my dust free sanding!! They said it was just so much tidier than their regular decorators and wanted to use me from now on.
So, remember, those of you who are still “old-school” could genuinely lose out on work if you don’t get with the times. Not only is it a selling point, but you’ll get through your decorating in less time. We’re talking about high-end sanders. Since getting mine, I’ve started whipping over every single wall and ceiling.
For more information on dust free sanding, why not check out DFUK On Facebook.
Dust free, or “dustless” sanding kits can be a big outlay to begin with. If you were to buy, say a Festool ETS 400 REQ (Woodwork sander), Indasa E-Series (wall sander) and a Festool midi extractor to fit both, you would easily be looking at around £1700. As a decorator, the time saved from having the right bit of kit is invaluable so that money would be made back tenfold. Cleaner, safer jobs mean more repeat customers. It is an absolute game changer!! The modern decorator will always earn more money with the proper dust free sanding setup.
Another positive I’d like to mention is the 3-year warranty you get when purchasing either Indasa or Festool equipment. This means that even though you have a big outlay to begin with, there won’t be any repair costs for at least 3 years, and that’s with the constant daily use it’ll go through when used by a professional decorator.
We do have a full blog on the best dust free sanders on the market. Click here to view.
Blog written by Spencer Dolman – Professional Painter and Decorator
Hi Spencer, i completely agree with the dustless sanding being the way forwards, however there seems to be a push towards high end equipment here on the forum, a i get just as good extraction from a cheap screwfix vac with a vortex dust extractor inline as with something branded at 6 times the cost.
Ok my sander might not be quite as light as some but if you’re having to use it that much shouldn’t you be advising a skim beforehand ?
I get what you’re saying Ian, but if you’re advising on it being skimmed out, then unless you can skim yourself, you’re basically giving money away to another trade for something you can be getting paid for yourself. Food for thought🤷♂️
Mirka dust free excellent I started using it as working in leisure centres , they wouldn’t shut gym haven’t looked back since. 👍