Ever questioned why talented painters are clad in white head-to-toe almost always? You’re not alone. “It’s one of the most commonly asked questions in the paint industry,” says Craig Bunting, Benjamin Moore’s Technical Segment Manager. Why White is mostly worn by Professional Painters?
Though there is no definitive explanation, Bunting notes, “The general consensus is that painters started to wear white because the vast majority of the materials they use are white, not only paint, but also many of the preparation materials, such as spackle, plaster, and caulk.” (It should be remembered that almost half of the 100 most famous colors of Benjamin Moore are white.) Invariably, these materials find their way onto the clothing of even the most meticulous painter, so the white backdrop provides the best opportunity to hide drips and splatter.
There’s a historic precedent, too, notes Bunting. In the 19th century, white was considered a “White was considered a ‘uniform’ for some European labor unions in the 19th century, so it’s safe to say that whites have been worn in the paint industry for at least 200 years”.
And you have it there: trade unions of the 19th century-plus caulk equals white coveralls. But what happens if you employ a painter and he or she doesn’t wear white? Do you need to be concerned? “Not necessarily,” Bunting says. “Even though whites are standard, there’s no correlation between a painter’s skills and their chosen attire. It’s a better bet to rely on referrals, reviews, and experience when hiring a painting contractor.”
