O'Neill Painting has a long standing interest in some of the techniques that are falling under the umbrella term of green painting. Familiarity with low VOC finishes, from traditional oil rubbed woods, to more technical high end paints, allow us to both advise and apply whatever is best suited for you the homeowner.
Much of the eco-sensitivity of a paint job comes through the techniques used in the preparation- sanding, cleaning, stripping, containment and applying paint to the surface. Little differences can go a long way
We are commited to doing things "green" on a deeper level. We have been using sprayers as little as possible for the last ten years, keeping VOC's out of the atmosphere. We have been taking the threat posed by lead based paints very seriously, and have completed training through the Western Lead Safety Training Center to learn how to deal with this ubiquitous material in the safest way possible.
Our employees are our most important resource. We believe that triple bottom line accounting, that includes the human element, is essential for the level of quality we bring to a jobsite. As such, all over all employees are legally employed, and are covered under workmen's comp, protecting both you and them. Additionally, our workers educated as to why our company is doing things a little differently than other painting companies, making them actively engaged in the process of developing new methods of painting that are safer and greener, for them and for you.
Most importantly, I believe that a job well done is the greenest thing that both I and a homeowner can do. Through our partnership, we can create finishes that will move through time with grace.
Kathleen George, owner and proprietor of O'Neill Painting, has been climbing ladders since she was a youngster, propping ladders against tall trees so that she could access the higher branches. The oldest of 9 children, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Penn State University, with a focus on drawing and painting. This, of course, qualified her for a career in the trades.
Kathleen has lived in all four corners of the US, exposing her to a broad range of regional differences, techniques and architectural styles. She repaired 200 year old plaster in Santa Fe, restored Ionic columns in New Orleans, and painted office complexes in Pennsylvania. In Portland, Oregon she has done everything from painting the entire inside and outside of a violin shop to gilding cement columns in the Pearl District.
She still persues her interest in artwork; making drawings and sculptures. Any given week you might find her indulging her eclectic interests, which include food, music & culture, history, sustainable building, ecstatic dance, moss, books, intellectual detritus and the provenance of strange words.
She lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner Peggy Cochran.