Painter

Overview

The Detroit VA Medical Center is hiring a Painter to handle painting, wall covering, glass replacement, and sign making at a journeyman level. The position requires applying paint, wallpaper, and other finishes using brushes, rollers, sprayers, and related tools; matching and mixing paints; patching holes and cracks in plaster; and replacing window and door glass as well as glazing and sealing installations.

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient training or experience to perform the duties of this position. Employers will evaluate experience through a screen‑out element followed by rating against job elements such as interpreting instructions, blueprint reading, painting, and use of tools. Paid, unpaid, and volunteer experience are considered.

• Apply paint coatings with trade devices, ensuring finish meets match, texture, decorative, thickness, and level requirements.
• Prepare surfaces by smoothing, filling, shaping, and leveling using appropriate consolidants and pre‑coating agents.
• Use standard tools and equipment (brushes, rollers, spray guns, trowels, etc.) to achieve correct finishes.
• Select and apply coating techniques for desired surface finish, including glossy, grained, or other finishes.
• Inspect and ensure smoothness, level, and shape by tinting, toning, matching, and blending coating materials.
• Prepare surfaces for plaster application and finish new plaster as well as repair existing plaster.
• Mix and apply plastering materials suitable for metal, wood, gypsum lath, wallboard, masonry, and other backgrounds.
• Determine plaster removal depth to secure firm surfaces and decide on lath replacement when necessary.
• Apply base or scratch coats to ensure adhesion to lath or sub‑surface.
• Monitor setting of base and higher coats, scoring or sanding before additional coats.
• Mix various plaster types (base, line, bonding, finishing) and colored stucco.
• Construct molded plaster cornices, panels, and trim, attaching them to walls.
• Apply tape to jointed wallboards for even surfaces and complete finishing work.
• Perform angular, rounded, and overhead plastering as required.
• Plan and lay out work, selecting proper tools, materials, and methods per trade practices.
• Use building plans, blueprints, and work orders to guide tasks.
• Use appropriate finishing and texturing tools such as trowels, floats, screens, and brushes.
• Ensure correct materials are used for each job requirement.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Work schedule:
  
  Monday through Friday, 2:00 pm – 10:30 pm.
• Physical requirements:
  
  work from ladders, scaffolds, or platforms; stand, stoop, bend, kneel, and climb. Lift and carry materials weighing up to 5 kg (10 lb), occasionally 18 kg (40 lb), and work indoors or outdoors with exposure to dust, spray, fumes, and bad weather. Protective gear may be heavy and uncomfortable. Risks include cuts, bruises, and occasional broken bones.