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JOSEPH — Not many businessmen get well established in one field, drop it for another and then return to their original field. But Paul Vlietstra did.

In November, Vlietstra hung up his paintbrush with his 11-year-old Plenty of Paint business and decided to embark on a new enterprise: lawn care.

But it didn’t really work out.

“I decided to try a different venture and it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, so I decided to go back to painting,” the Joseph housepainter said. “It just wasn’t my style.”

So he returned to house painting, where he does both interior and exterior work.

“Starting Plenty of Paint in 2010, I’d been doing it for 11 years and I just thought it was time for a change,” he said. “I had such a good reputation for all of those years. It was easy to get right back into it.”

But he doesn’t regret the attempt at a new career.

“I stepped out of my comfort zone and it didn’t work,” he said. “It never hurts to try.”

Work in WallowaIn addition to jobs in Enterprise and Joseph, Vlietstra has a few lined up in Wallowa, where much construction is going on since the Aug. 11 hailstorm damaged homes, businesses and public buildings. Right now he’s in a holding pattern as construction workers and builders wait for windows and siding to arrive and be installed.

“I’m waiting on materials,” he said. “I’m waiting on windows to go in. I’m waiting on some siding to go up before I can paint, but I do have some projects in the works down there.”

He said he’s not sure how long he must wait on materials.

“They’re all waiting, what with the shortages and everything,” he said. “Plus, they’re busy doing other projects, too.”

Return to paintingAfter returning to Plenty of Paint, Vlietstra said he has no trouble getting plenty of his prime commodity.

“Not so far,” he said. “You’re better ahead to order and have it mixed as soon as possible and not wait until the last minute when you need it. You just stay ahead of it and preorder it.”

A native of Indiana, he and his mother, Alexis Gillette, moved to Joseph when he was a child. He graduated from Joseph High School. Then he did some carpentry.

“I was a cabinetmaker before (painting), but when the recession hit, I was forced to find a new career,” he said. “I did painting after high school, so I already knew how to do that.”

So he set up his own business.

His return to Plenty of Paint meant an investment in some new equipment.

“The equipment I had was pretty old, starting in 2010, so I upgraded,” he said.

He finds painting is more his style.

“I’m really good at it, I’ve been doing it for a long time and it just fits,” he said.

Prep workAnyone who has painted knows the toughest part of the job can be the prep work. It doesn’t do any good to apply fresh paint over old, peeling paint or other aging materials.

“Every house is different,” Vlietstra said. “Some houses need more prep work and some might not need as much, so you can’t charge the same. There are a lot of factors that go into it. I also do pressure washing beforehand to clean off siding.”

But that’s the critical element in a paint job.

“That’s what makes or breaks the job,” he said.

Vlietstra expects to remain a painter until he retires, which likely will be many years ahead for the young man.

“I’m pretty happy to be back in business,” he said.

What: Interior and exterior painting

Who: Paul Vlietstra

Where: 501 E. Wallowa Ave., Joseph

Phone: 541-263-1247

Email: plentyofpaint@yahoo.com