FAQ
Apprenticeship Opportunities
TreeTown Murals offers opportunities for apprentices to assist during the entire mural process. How long does a mural last?
Outdoor murals can last 10 – 15+ years without regular maintenance, 15 – 30+ with maintenance every 3-5 years. Maintenance consists of cleaning visible dirt, rain or rust runoff, tuckpointing, repainting select areas if necessary, and reapplying a UV-protective topcoat. Any additional unwelcomed additions to the mural considered vandalism should be removed immediately, examples include, but are not limited to: spray painted tags, wheat paste posters, stickers, sharpy poetry etc.)
Indoor murals, with regular maintenance, can last for many many years.
Do you apply a top coat or anti-vandal protection to the mural?
Yes! We use Sheercoat™, a sacrificial topcoat with strong UV protection and a compatible solvent. If an area of the mrual is vandalized, and action is taked immediately to remove it, the compatible soap or solvent can be sprayed on the vandaled area and can be removed WITHOUT damaging the mural. This MUST be done with care and precision to avoid removing the mural paint. Then a new coating of the Sheercoat is added over the cleaned area. And BOOM!
How long does it take to paint our mural?
Depends on the size of the mural, design complexity, physical accessibility, and weather. Approximately 2 – 6 weeks.
How much does a mural cost?
The cost is determined by many factors: location, overall size, prep considerations for the wall, panel cost and installation (if applicable), design time, overall complexity to paint, whether there is community participation, and what kind of equipment is needed.
Do you charge for a site visit?
Typically, site visits are free, but we reserve the right to charge per diem if necessary.
Do you charge for a phone or virtual consultation?
Consultations of this nature are complimentary for the first 1 or 2 calls. If we become further engaged and a site visit or a sketch is warranted, we reserve the right to take a deposit or a project retainer.
What are ways that you can involve our staff, clients or the broader community at large?
This is one of our areas of expertise! TTM is known for offering community participation for public or company projects. Please refer to our Paint By Number Concepts PBNC page on the website for examples and ideas. (insert link)
Groups can oversee the design direction and/or participate in painting the mural as part of an event, fundraiser, or community festival.
Does TreeTown Murals travel to paint murals in other states or countries?
TTM’s work is created predominantly within the State of Michigan, but yes, we do entertain projects across the broader country or abroad.
I am interested in becoming a muralist, do you hire apprentices or artists in training?
Yes, we do. Please contact us, and we will prompt you to send us your CV and examples of your work. An interview may follow.
What kind of substrates do you use if we decided we want our mural to be removable?
We strictly use aluminum panels as mural substrates. We can produce these murals in our shop and then deliver or ship them to the location.
What kind of paint do you use?
Nova Color premium acrylic paint whenever possible. For murals that need to bond with a particular surface, we consult with local paint suppliers to determine the best available product.
Can you help with fundraising or grant writing for our mural project?
Although the commissioning body typically handles this, we can assist upon request. TTM has years of grant-writing and fundraising experience.