Photo Karen Graham.
Terry Welch and his two sons are continuing the family tradition of painting and repairing barns.
It’s a niche business, but for Terry Welch, it’s one he learned from his father in the United Kingdom. After working in Britain and Ireland, Welch brought family and his skills to Canada about a decade ago. He now operates his business with the help of his two sons, continuing the family tradition out of Peterborough.
People hire barn painters for good reasons. It’s a tricky job performed at significant heights that is best performed with the right tools. As in all paint jobs, preparation is key. There’s no point applying new product to a flaky undercoat, so Welch and his team spend time getting the surface ready for its new coat with attention to detail. The bulk of his work comes from referrals, which speaks to the satisfaction of his clients.
With no certification available for this particular trade, Welch went for the closest trade and secured a Red Seal certification for roofing, which certifies him to install, repair and replace flat and sloped roofs, working with membrane roofing systems and installing, replacing and repairing shingles, slate, shakes, roofing tiles, sheet metal and other preformed sheeting on sloped roofs.
Like most exterior trades, barn painting is seasonal work, so during the off-season Welch spends his time performing roof and eaves trough repairs on outbuildings and watching too much television. For now, Welch and his family enjoy the independence of running their own show and working together outdoors and their reputation is providing them with plenty of work to keep them all busy. KG
