Why do painters wear white?

If you've ever hired a house painter, you may have noticed that they often wear white clothing. But why is that? And what are the benefits of painting in white? In this post, we'll take a look at some of the reasons why painters prefer to wear white and explain why it can be advantageous for homeowners as well. Keep reading to learn more!

Let’s dive into the history of painting first. Painters were first commissioned to paint houses in the 11th century. The evidence points that house painting became a trade in the beginning of the 1200's. House painters began showing up in England during the 14th century and these individuals set specific standards for house painting; they were able to establish house painting as a respected profession. In addition, they treated mixing techniques that created colors and the skills used in painting homes as secrets. These secrets were closely guarded to help protect their livelihood. 

During the colonial era in the United States homeowners typically avoided painting the exterior of their homes because the practice was a sign of vanity and show of wealth - which could have been viewed as arrogance. However, despite the views on the exterior painting of homes, the demand for interior painting grew. The material for paint in that era was oil and water. This was combined with an array of other materials such as copper, iron, fruits, lead and other various ingredients to create different colors and types of paints. Painters would use brushes made with wooden handles and various hairs to apply the paint and the application would be determined by how thick the brushes were. 

The first company established to create ready-to-use paints was Sherwin-Williams in 1866. A few years later, in 1883, Benjamin Moore was opened. Both companies spent the 20th century refining their process by improving the development of chemicals in designing paint and paint colors. In the early 1980s, computers helped create a color matching system which is now an essential tool when it comes to paint color selections.

Now we know a little bit about the history of how paint and painting evolved - let’s tackle why painters wear white. White is the color of purity and cleanliness, which can be seen in its association with painter's attire. Painters often wear white when they're working on a project for several reasons. First, white is easy to spot in an array of colors, so it’s easier to see the painter and realize that you may be amidst wet walls; it can be seen as a warning to not touch anything that they may have been working on. In addition, it is easier to spot someone in full white on a ladder than someone in colored clothing who could easily blend in with the wall they may be painting. 

Another reason is a full, white uniform is more professional when arriving on a job site compared to mismatched clothing. White will also show dirt easily, so when a painter arrives in all white clothes the customer can tell if they are clean or dirty. A clean white outfit can leave an impression that the painter is going to do a clean, neat and tidy job without getting paint everywhere and on everything. This can also help attract new customers since it can show the painters craftsmanship.

So the next time you see a painter on your street, take a closer look - they might be sporting white for more reasons than one! And if you’re in need of a new coat of paint for your house, give us a call today. We offer free estimates so you can get started on turning your dream home into reality.