painter

A skilled craftsman who applies paint and other liquid coatings to prepared surfaces. Wears white painter's pants and a white shirt to work. Usually travels in a white cargo van with ladders mounted on a rack on top of the van. There are 3 levels of painter: House painter, Commercial painter, Industrial painter. House painter is the most common, usually an independant contractor working with a small crew. Commercial painters generally work for a large construction company where paint is applied by sprayers with a large crew. Industrial painters work with specialized coatings on large metal tanks, ships & bridges. In many parts of the country commercial and industrial painters are members of a trade union. House painters generally are not.