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Painting my barn roof?

I

IA Leo

Member
The metal roof is rusting on this old barn, of course, especially on the near side to the road. (East facing). A painting contractor from Tennesee stopped and verbally quoted putting on some "rust buster" and painting with asphalt based aluminum paint. Sounds like a good thing for next years budget. $1000. Back side has no rust, apparently newer west facing roofing. Will coat both sides. I asked for customers of his in area, was vague, called someone to get a name, the name does not come up on White Pages. I didn't get his pickup license #.
The barn is not leaking but a few sheets appear to be lifting at a lap. The barn is a hodge podge of antique mortise and peg construction and unpealed tree log construction with some newer rough-sawed lumber and nail construction. I do not plan to restore, just make minor repairs, but the roof looks terrible.

Question: has anyone had work done by Tommy Gorman, paint contractor? Or had this type of work done satisfactorily? I checked Angie's List and didn't want to get registered, so didn't learn anything.

Leo in East Central Iowa
 
You are probably going to get flooded with DON'T DO IT responses now so I might as well be the first. Neighbor had a crew from SC spraying fence for him a few years ago so I just assumed he had done a little due diligence information gathering and agreed to have them spray mine as well. Stuff was so thin it lasted about 6 weeks.

Neighbor was not happy as well, he apparently saw them working further up the road and made the same assumption.

YMMV,

Kirk
 
Hmmm, smells a little fishy. What is a contractor from Tennessee doing working in Iowa? Unless he is with a really big painting company, I am skeptical, but maybe wrong. Didnt he give a business card to you? Maybe he could do a decent job, provided you visually see the paint he puts on and how he does it, provided not watering it down as to skimp on material. If he was interested in your job, he should have given some type of estimate and contact info. Very skeptical of him. Sounds like a gypsy type.
 
They come around every summer and I've heard both good and bad depending on the contractor. One neighbor had some roofs painted by one of the southern contractors who guaranteed that when he comes through next year he will re-do anything my neighbor wasn't happy with. Next year the contractor did come back through and told the neighbor he saw a few spots on his last year's job that weren't up to his specs so he voluntarily got out the ladders and touched them up for no charge.

A southern contractor did a couple of roofs for me but he said the one roof was rusting and his paint job would only last five years at most, maybe less. In five years some rust did start coming through but at least he was honest. When he finished the roof he painted my gasoline barrel for free with the paint that was left in the hoses. It looked good but any spilled gasoline washed it right off the barrel. Jim
 
NO, NOPE and NO WAY!

There are groups of "travellers" that live somewhere in the NC or SC area. Known for painting barns and resurfacing black top driveways. Usually washes off with a couple of good rains.

You should be able to google more info, or someone from the Carolina region could tell you more. Quite well known as scam artists. Always one or two articles a summer on them in the local papers.

Since you cannot locate other local references or the contractors name... smells fishy.

Rick
 
NO, NOPE and NO WAY!

There are groups of "travellers" that live somewhere in the NC or SC area. Known for painting barns and resurfacing black top driveways. Usually washes off with a couple of good rains.

You should be able to google more info, or someone from the Carolina region could tell you more. Quite well known as scam artists. Always one or two articles a summer on them in the local papers.

Since you cannot locate other local references or the contractors name... smells fishy.

Rick
 
Leo; This happen to us 5/6 yrs ago. A Barn painting contractor from Wi. stopped at our farm, out of the blue....and said they were doing roofs in our area. He did one 10m from us, and the next day he was doing one about 5m away from us. So to keep his crew busy, he would do ours for $500.00. He also had the 2 guys put in screws were the tin was loose. Still looks good today. Dunno, maybe we got lucky. tough call on your part! I'll see if I can find a pic. These guys were crazy!! good Luck. Bobmn
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Im a retired police officer and tractor nut. These are "travelers" that do poor work and cheat you out of your money.you will get cheated big time by these guys.don't hire em.
 
Leo they come here from So. Carolina one year the next year from Tn. where next year. Machine shed needed painting qouted me nearly the price to instsll new metal. Said he just finished a neighbors round bins. I knew they were new bins this year, Use your own judgement mine would be
call a local to at least get an estimate. No telling what kind or what grade paint. It may look good for a weeek after he is done but after that he is out of the area. Also look at his plates closely to see if they are altered.
 
Leo they come here from So. Carolina one year the next year from Tn. where next year. Machine shed needed painting qouted me nearly the price to instsll new metal. Said he just finished a neighbors round bins. I knew they were new bins this year, Use your own judgement mine would be
call a local to at least get an estimate. No telling what kind or what grade paint. It may look good for a weeek after he is done but after that he is out of the area. Also look at his plates closely to see if they are altered.
 
I think I'd ask to see a copy of their contractor license. If they can't produce one, ask them why. If they come up with a good reason, like "I just escaped from prison where I was serving a life sentence for killing someone who wouldn't let me paint their barn roof, and I haven't had time to apply for a contractor license", it's probably okay to hire them.
 
Yes, the guy did give me a business card with a 901 area code on it He was alone, courteous, of course driving a newish Ford pickup. I had, years ago, a three-four scruffy (I don't look so dandy myself)looking guys in a beater pickup pull in and offered to paint that barn roof. I said no and they left promptly, not casing the property. I wish local contractors were that aggressive at developing business leads. I have tried to get local spray foam contractors to quote the 40 x 60 quonset-type shop, but they must think I have a frail heart and couldn't take the quote! Leo
 
"I just escaped from prison where I was serving a life sentence for killing someone who wouldn't let me paint their barn roof, and I haven't had time to apply for a contractor license"

At least you would know the the guy was an ambitious self starter!!!
 
If he can't give any references or names of actual local people he's done work for, I wouldn't hire him. I know a guy that got scammed on paving his driveway to the tune of $10,000. It was partly his own fault though. Some fly-by-night guy with a small paver and roller said he had left over asphalt from doing the county road and could give him a deal doing his driveway. Another neighbor also got scammed. After the guy was paid, he packed up and couldn't be found. Some of the asphalt was only about 1 1/2 inches thick and got some good cracks in it. It wasn't that long of a driveway either. Dave
 
All of them want to get the most money for the least amountr of work & materials. They are traveling unlicenced folk....

We've had one come out of Memphis for decades. His dad did some painting for my dad, he's done some for me.

Watch them like a hawk, wait for the 3rd offer at least when negociating, and I've had ok results with ok preformance with ok quality. Stuff wouldn't get painted otherwise.

Been very rare to everget a nail pounded in tho he says they will do minor repairs.

If you watch & mention, the door frames get painted as the doors get opened.

Kinda buyer be ware, but not always a bad deal either.

--->Paul
 
A lot of these guys hit this area when its carnival time in my area. If they don't have a license I wouldn't hire them. They probably don't have worker's comp insurance either. Hal
 
The old saying,"You get what you pay for applies here". If they seem to cheap to be true follow them and see what they mix with the paint.
Usually they will be mixing a oily or tar like substance with the aluminum paint but they can extend the amount of aluminum by cutting it with paint thinner to make it cover more square feet. The aluminum will float to the surface of the mix they use and look ok but won't last because there is such a small layer of paint used.
By rights if you have a lot of rust you should use Rusty Metal Primer by Rustoleum followed by Rustoleums Aluminun paint if you want that color. I also use latex paint instead for the final coat because it is a heavier coat and it will outlast that aluminun paint. I have some paint jobs 13 years old that look great using latex topcoat
 
This barn roof here in Iowa was painted about 5 years before the picture. It was painted about 12 years before that and about 15 years before that.

Painted 3 times in the last 40 years by the same guy from Tenn.

He has painted every building on the farm built before 1975 at least once.

He was here just last week. Costello is his last name.

So some are good.

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Pete? Or the other one - I think his brother?

Pete & his dad are the ones that come here.

He just stopped by yesterday, but I'm too poor from other projects, have to skip a year.

--->Paul
 
My neighbor has a travelling painter who stops by every few years to paint his big barn roof. He does a good job, tightening up the loose sheets and keeping everything neat (No overspray). He is pleased with him and recommends him to all the neighbors.

I have a friend who hired another travelling paint crew to paint his pole barn. They showed up on a day when he was gone and oversprayed a nice 80 HP John Deere tractor that was partially in/partially out of the barn door. I thought he was gonna have a heart attack over it. I named that tractor "Frosty" just to keep his blood circulating well. I asked him if they charged any extra for painting equipment. He said NO, but not with a smile.

Looks to me like you need to be there when they do the work, and especially when they mix the paint.

When I worked in road construction, I had to get a sample of the paint that was used (a contract requirement). I always let them mix the paint and spray a mile or two, then stop them for a sample. If someone gets nervous over being asked for a sample, well, you know the answer.

Paul
 
Pat, older feable guy. He has been coming here for 40 years. Has a younger guy painting for him.
 
When i had my own business i carried 2 million in liability insurance to protect my customers. I was at each job site myself with crew, i offered background information. Estimates done in writing with my signature. I saw many people get cheated out of there money because i was told i was a little too high in price compared to the here today gone tomorrow people. Watch out, you may get just what you pay for, STUCK.
 
Leo, To answer your ?, No, Not down here in Texas!
About 12 or so yrs ago I used an Aluminum Roof Coating on 2 old barns on our place,It is by Monsey...Called Premium Aluminum Roof Coating with fibers to fill the cracks and nail holes in the old corrigated sheet iron.
It comes in 5 gal buckets. This product is black as black can be when you first open up the bucket. It takes a stirrer on a 1/2 horse drill to throughly mix the product up with the black petroleum base, after it is mixed up it is bright silver. You will need a heavy 6 or 8 in brush to paint it on the roof. Since the roofs on the 2 barns here were low pitched I attached a 5 ft broom handle to the handle so I could stand on the roof and paint it and not have to bend over.
Bottom line you will get what you pay for with the Gypsy roof painters that travel around the country painting @ roofs here and there. They have been known to thin down the paint so it will look nice till the first heavy rain or snow and you will be very disappointed,
DO The Job Yourself, or
Hire a local reputable contractor spend your $$$$ locally if at all possible. Build a rapport with him and he will take care of you in yrs to come.
I do not have any current prices on a 5 gal bucket. I would bet that 2 or 3 buckets will do your barn roof the only thing else you would bo out is your time and a few materials.
Please go over and shoot screws down to secure the roof so it will be ready for the coating and you will be much happier with the end result when done. Hope this helps!
Later,
John A.
 
There are some good ones out there and they usually offer references from neighbors. Gorman was the name of the one who painted my bins about 3 years ago and they still look like they were fresh painted.I would not hesitate to have him back. Even sprayed an old auger for me for $150.
 
NO WAY! Local contractor, and you specify the paint, even beter yet, you buy the paint. None of this fly by night stuff. They come around here, and they can't find the driveway fast enough!
 
My Grand dad hired one about like you describe. Did not paint the barn roof, but the whole barn, and the quonset shed. Grandpa was so proud-for about 4 weeks, when the paint started coming off! Dad and I were not impressed! Greg
 
Good chance it was Travelers from North Augusta, SC... Murphy Village is their home base. Tenn. tag might be stolen. Be careful, if you cross them, they have been known to get violent. Some of them are also peddling the junky shop equipment too.. The pick-up load of a cut-off saw, drill press, cherry picker, hyd press, etc..
 
Thanks everyone. I think I need to wait until next year anyway...some really big dental expenses has hit the family. If he calls back I see if he shows up next year and have a little more information about what he uses and how many workers, insurance, etc. His business card has a little horseshoe with initials T G inside. Maybe that means I'll get a "kick" out of dealing with him! Leo
 
I have never heard of that name. I would want to see their work first and watch how they prep and apply.

We have dealt with one by the name of Costello. I have to ask what his first name was. Young guy about 30 chubby, black laborer working for him. He was just here this year painted the barn and couple of roofs. The whole family is in the painting business. They of course are all from TN. They have painted sheds, roofs and grain bins at our place and done a good job. You do need to clean up your area cause they are just worried about painting and not too worried about overspray. They can do it cheaper than you can buy the paint.
 
The guys I work for have used IF I remember right a Pete Gorman. Don't know about Tommy.

A Costello stopped by once but they don't use him. There's more of these guys out there and it's buyer beware.

Now these are the boss men. When the boss isn't looking slip the guy actually painting some cash and tell him to put some real paint in there and don't cut it with so much gasoline.

I believe once you use this kind of paint you can't use anything else. Oh, and always negotiate.

My 2 cents.

RT
 
When I lived in MD, I had those guys from SC stop by also. They showed me brand new sealed buckets of red paint (although that obviously doesn't mean much). The "boss" claimed to have done my neighbor's barns more than once. I called next door and they confirmed... so I had them go ahead.
Job looked good (except for the red overspray on the trunk of my old Maaco-black BMW) and it continued to look fine for a couple years until I sold the farm.

As you see on this thread, results range from great to "scammed". Be careful but don't necessarily reject them out of hand.
 
Yeah, I was watching the thread and was a little surprised at the number of people who were at leat neutral if not positive about their experiences. As usual YMMV. Given my experience I would probably have a pretty hard time using anybody like that again.

Have a good night,

Kirk
 
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