How Twin Falls came to be
Milner Dam, completed on November 15, 1904, raised the Snake River 38 feet to feed the canals that opened the Twin Falls tract; the Idaho State Historical Society calls it Idaho's primary Carey Act diversion structure. The project was planned by I. B. Perrine under Senator Joseph M. Carey's reclamation law of 1894, which let private irrigation companies build state-supervised projects, and the towns of the region, Twin Falls among them, grew up to serve the farmland Milner Dam and its canals made possible.
That's the town's story as the historical society tells it. NOAA's engineering weather data has no station for Twin Falls, so this page uses no weather figures and makes no claim about the local climate. It covers something that's the same in every town instead: the part of a painting job that falls to you.
Your half of the job
A painter brings the skill, the tools and the crew. The homeowner brings decisions, access and a house that's ready to work in. Jobs go faster and cost less when that half is done before the first day, and most disputes come from things nobody settled in advance.
Deciding what's included
Start by writing down what you want painted, room by room or wall by wall. Be specific:
- walls only, or ceilings, trim, doors and closets too;
- which outside surfaces: siding, trim, soffits, porch, railings, shutters, garage door;
- whether damaged trim or drywall should be repaired first;
- whether cabinets, a deck or a fence are part of this job or a separate one.
A clear scope means every painter prices the same job, which makes proposals far easier to compare.
Choosing colors and sheens
Test colors on the actual walls, in sample patches big enough to see from across the room, and look at them in morning and evening light. Choose a sheen for each surface: flatter finishes hide flaws on walls and ceilings, while glossier ones are easier to clean on trim and doors. Our paint sheens guide explains the trade-offs. Give the painter the final list in writing, with brand and color names.
Getting rooms ready
Empty shelves and closets that will be painted, take down art and curtains, and move small furniture out. Decide where large pieces will go. Put away anything fragile. If you have pets, plan where they'll stay so doors can be left open and paint stays off fur.
Getting the outside ready
Trim shrubs back from the walls, move outdoor furniture, grills and planters, and park cars away from the house. Tell the painter where the outdoor taps and power points are, and which gates must stay shut.
Agreeing in writing
Before work begins, agree on start and finish dates, working hours, which bathroom the crew may use, where materials will be kept, how changes will be priced, and what the payment schedule is. Ask for a labelled can of each color at the end for touch-ups.
Idaho's registration rule
Idaho's Contractor Registration Act requires anyone who performs construction, defined as building, altering, repairing or improving any building or other structure or any part of one, to register as a contractor; a single casual, minor or inconsequential project under $2,000 in total price is exempt. That is the Idaho Legislature's wording, quoted with its source.
Starting well
On the first morning, walk the job with the crew lead. Confirm the scope, colors and order of work, and point out anything fragile. Our interior painting and exterior painting pages show what each stage should look like.