SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Painters, Construction and Maintenance

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Facilities Painter
  • Highway Painter
  • House Painter
  • Industrial Painter
  • Maintenance Painter
  • Painter

What is a painters, construction and maintenance?

Painters, Construction and Maintenance are skilled professionals who specialize in applying paint, stain, and other finishes to a variety of surfaces in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Their work is essential for both aesthetic and protective purposes, ensuring that buildings and structures maintain their appearance and durability. These professionals prepare surfaces by cleaning, sanding, and priming as necessary before applying coatings. In addition to working with paint, they may also be involved in wall coverings, decorative finishes, and special effects. Painters often collaborate with contractors, architects, and interior designers to meet specified design visions while adhering to safety and quality standards. Their role may also extend to maintaining and repairing existing coatings, including touch-ups and restoration work, ensuring that surfaces remain in optimal condition. Overall, Painters, Construction and Maintenance play a crucial role in the construction and upkeep of various environments, blending artistic skills with technical knowledge to achieve high-quality results.

What the work actually is

  • Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
  • Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
  • Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
  • Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
  • Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Trunk Strength The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Extent Flexibility The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Gross Body Equilibrium The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Knowledge

  • Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Administration and Management Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Building and Construction Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Less than high school diploma
Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)

A normal week

  • Getting Information
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Performing General Physical Activities

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Project management software Evergreen Technology Eagle Bid Estimating · On Center Quick Bid · Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
  • Graphics or photo imaging software Corel Paint Shop Pro · Corel Painter
  • Customer relationship management CRM software Act!
  • Word processing software Microsoft Word

Tools

  • Paint sprayers Airless spray equipment · High velocity low pressure HVLP spraying equipment · Spray guns
  • Manlift or personnel lift Aerial lifts · Bosun chairs · Hydraulic lifts
  • Hand sprayers Hopper guns · Pneumatic spray texture guns · Spray texture guns
  • Pressure or steam cleaners Hydroblasters · Pressure washers · Steam cleaning equipment
  • Putty knives Drywall taping knives · Patching knives · Spackling knives

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much does a painters, construction and maintenance earn in South Africa?

Painters, Construction and Maintenance salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What is a painters, construction and maintenance?

Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives, Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting and Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.