What are Faux Finishes?
Faux finishing (also known as faux painting) is a term used to describe a decorative style of painting used to replicate textures and patterns using paint. Faux painting is a specialty sub category within construction painting whose techniques require additional training and expertise. The recent boom in faux painting's popularity is largely attributed to the decline in use of wallpaper.
Faux painting techniques generally involve mixing and layering a variety of paint glazes and plasters to create beautiful effects and textures such as sandstone, marble, wood, and even clouds. Faux finishes are applied methodically by hand and are considerably more labor intensive than conventional painting methods. Faux finishes can be subtle or striking, but they always bring a sense of elegance and refinement to their surroundings.
How to Hire a Faux Paint Contractor
Finding a qualified and experienced faux painter can take a little time and the more complex the finish the more skill will be required of the artist. Regardless of whether you are looking for a simpler finish such as faux sponging or color washing, or a more complex finish such as faux marble or graining, you’ll want to check your contractor’s credentials and references. In addition to the boilerplate tips for hiring a painting contractor laid out here, you’ll want to check the following:
- Is there a consultation fee? If so how much?
- How much experience do they have faux painting?
- Can they provide samples of textures and designs?
- Can they provide samples and references from previous faux finish projects?
After asking these questions, if you aren’t convinced that the paint contractor is an experienced professional faux painter then they probably aren’t. The goal of faux painting is to provide an impression of elegance and perfection so don’t be afraid to shop around for a contractor who you feel will be able to bring that level of expertise to the project. Also, although price shopping is always advisable, the old adage “nothing is more expensive than a cheap contractor” is especially true when it comes to faux finishes. Price can be negotiated, experience can’t.