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Painting Companies in Marin County serving Almonte, Bel Marin Keys, Belvedere, Belvedere Tiburon, Black Point, Bolinas, Corte Madera, Dillon Beach, Dogtown, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Ignacio, Inverness, Kent Woodlands, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Lucas Valley, Marin City, Marinwood, Marshall, Mill Valley, Mission Rafael, Muir Beach, Muir Woods, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Marin, San Quentin, San Rafael, Santa Venetia, Sausalito, Sleepy Hollow, Stinson Beach, Strawberry Point, Tamal, Tamalpais Valley, Terra Linda, Tiburon, Tomales and Woodacre

How to Find the Best Marin County Painters & Painting Contractors

When it comes time to paint your home, you have a choice: You can paint it yourself, or you can hire a high-quality Marin County house painter. There are a number of professional painters who do everything from the prep work to the final coat in a fraction of the time it would take you. There are decorative painters who specialize in faux painting & faux finishes. The articles provided here will shed some light on how to go about hiring Marin County exterior or interior painting contractors for your house painting project.

How to Find the Best Marin County Painters & Painting Contractors 

Licensed painting contractors in Marin County are those with a C33 license from the state of California to do painting, including interior painting, exterior painting, residential painters, and commercial painters in Marin County.   The C-33 license for painting companies is a legal requirement for all projects over $500 including labor and materials. The painting contractors must be licensed to be able to submit bids.  

If the painting contractors have employees, they're required to carry workers' compensation insurance. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor doesn't have this insurance, you could be liable to pay for their injuries and your homeowner's insurance may not cover those costs. 

Painters in Marin County are not legally required to have liability insurance; however, all painting contractors bearing the Prime Buyer's Report—TOP 10 designation have general liability insurance coverage which reimburses their customers in the event of any damages, in addition to passing all other requirements for certification as Prime Buyer's Report—TOP 10 such as customer reference checks, hiring only documented workers, verified license and workers' comp insurance, clean complaint record, and more.


Things To Look For with Painters in Marin County

Preparation Work
Preparing the surface that's to be painted (prep work) is critical because a poorly prepared surface won't hold paint properly no matter how good the paint is or how well it's applied.  The best painting companies in Marin County will do thorough prep work.  Preparing the surface can include pressure washing, possibly with a product that kills fungus and mildew, hand scraping surfaces, sanding, filling holes with caulk or epoxy filler, treating rusty nails, and removing wood rot. And prep work is labor time so the cheap painters in Marin County often promote cut-rate pricing because unknown to you, they're not preparing the surface like they should, and this can mean the paint begins to flake and chip within months, or comes off the next time your home or building is power washed.  

Paint Application
Many painting companies in Marin County use only brushes and rollers, insisting that this traditional method means a longer lasting paint job because the paint adheres to the surface more completely, and allows for better detail work.  Other painting companies use airless sprayers, a modern method that can cut the time it takes to paint.  Some painting contractors might use a combination, starting with airless sprayers and then going over it with brushes and rollers.   


Paint Quality
Price quotes from painting companies in Marin County can differ and one reason might be the paint they're planning to use because paint costs can vary widely from $12 to $45 per gallon.  And it's not just about the brand. Every brand, even the best ones, have starter grades that aren't meant to last as long. In fact, the starter grade of a high quality brand will not perform as well as a higher grade paint within a less expensive brand.

The best painting companies in Marin County will specify in writing the 1) Brand 2) Grade 3) Product number.  Getting that information allows you to see why price quotes might differ. Also know that some painting contractors water down the paint in order to use less of it. It's another way that cheap painters in Marin County can appear like a bargain when they really aren't. So make sure the written bid includes the number of gallons to be used, and if it seems low compared to someone else, be sure to ask why.

The type of paint to be used also influences price quotes. Flat finish paints may be water based, where semi-gloss can be oil-based or latex-based paints. Oil-based is considered more durable so the job will last longer but latex will hold its sheen better. If you have a preference, make sure the painting company has experience with it, since some new painters have never worked with oil-based paints.    Many painting companies in Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael CA have experience working with organic paints, no-VOC and low-VOC paints (Volatile Organic Compounds). These options can cost a little more but some consumers prefer these paints as more environmentally friendly, or better for interior painting since they can have less of a smell with less off-gassing of chemical components.  Other options include elastomeric paint, which boasts increased durability and flexibility, and water repellent finishes, which last longer in outdoor environments.


Color consultation
Experienced painters in Marin County will have seen different designs and color combinations over hundreds of previous painting jobs that they can share with you. They may also know what color combinations are among the latest trends in painting in Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael CA.   Some painting companies in Marin County can use virtual computer color consultation so you can really see the potential result of your choices. These devices have virtually eliminated the guesswork involved in optimizing your new color scheme.

If you have custom colors done, ask the painting contractors to provide you with a custom color card with actual samples of the paint that was used as a record for the future, including what brand and the exact mix formula. Then if you need touch ups in the future, you'll know the exact match for your existing paint. 

Labor
The owner of the painting company is a state-licensed painting contractor and may have years of industry experience, but what about the crew who will actually be doing the painting? The best painting companies use experienced, long-term employees and journeyman painters who know how to apply paint in a way that lasts for many years. Cheap painting companies often hire day laborers off the street with dubious levels of experience and whom the painting contractor doesn't even really know.

Faux Painting  in Marin County (Including Faux Finishing / Decorative Painting in Marin County)
Faux painting or faux finishing are terms used for a wide variety of decorative painting techniques. Sometimes the intent is for the painted surface to look like some other material such as marble (faux marble) or wood grain (faux wood). Decorative painters in Marin County are also who to call if you're looking for muralists (mural painters). These faux painters in Marin County can paint scenic murals, or ones that create an optical illusion (trompe l'oeil) such as painting the illusion of three-dimensional depth on that flat wall or ceiling.

Some painting contractors do offer faux painting services or decorative painting services in addition to their house painting. A company that is decorative painting or faux finish painting only, need not be a licensed painting contractor. However, all decorative painters in Marin County recommended by The Prime Buyer's Report still needed to show our research staff proof of general liability insurance, and if they have employees, proof of worker's comp insurance as protection for you.

Faux painting is more than just faux finishes and decorative finishes. Decorative painters in Marin County can create texturing effects too. Sponge painting (or ‘sponging') is one commonly used method of adding texture to fresh paint.

The cost of faux finishing & decorative painters in Marin County varies greatly depending on the skill and experience of the faux painters, the type of faux finish desired and on the complexity of decorative painting effects. Many good decorative painters in Marin County will want to see the space to get decorative painting treatment, in order to give you a detailed estimate for the faux finishing or decorative painting you desire.

Marin County Has a Great Selection of Painters
Our editors and researchers have compiled a list of local painters who are known for both quality and fair prices. The Prime Buyer's Report lists these painters in Marin County: Ross Painting, Keech Painting Contractors Inc., Dewmak Painting & Decorative Finishes, Paul Benson Painting Inc, Stroke & Kote Quality Painting, San Francisco Renaissance Painting, Joe Moore Painting & Roofing, A-1 Top Quality Painting, Pacific Coast Painting and Waterproofing Co., Inc.. Other painting companies that might still serve Marin County include: Michael Anderson Painting, Coronado Painting, Urban Bros Painting, Jerry & Sons Painting & Decorating, Inc., James Costello & Co., Kunst Bros Painting Contractors, Louis a Toulon Painting and Decorating. Didn't find what you wanted with the TOP 10 Painting Companies in Marin County? Then click here to see additional companies in this category.

 

 

 

How to Select the Best Painters in Marin County 

When it comes to interior and exterior painting by C33 licensed painting contractors in Marin County, ask some questions about the abilities, experience, and credentials of the commercial painters or residential painters you're considering spending with.

• How long have the painting contractors been house painters or commercial painters in Marin County?

• How many clients have the painting companies serviced in Marin County?

• Can the painting companies give you names and numbers you can call as references? (All painting  contractors bearing the Prime Buyer's Report - TOP 10 symbol have already had their references checked by research staff at The Prime Buyer's Report.)

• Do the painting companies have experience in the same kind of project as yours, such as residential painting versus commercial painting in Marin County, or interior painters versus exterior painting?

• What are the hours of availability of the painting contractors in Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael CA?

• How do the painting contractors determine pricing for residential painting or commercial painting jobs?

•  Can the painters vouch that all their employees sent to your property are legal to work in the U.S.? (All painting companies bearing The Prime Buyer's Report - TOP 10 symbol have already signed an agreement to only hire documented workers.)

• Does the commercial or residential painting contractors in Marin County have active workers' compensation and liability insurance? (All painting  companies bearing the Prime Buyer's Report - TOP 10 symbol have already shown proof of insurance to research staff at The Prime Buyer's Report.)


• Will the painting contractors provide written estimates and if so, will it detail the exact brand of paint, grade of paint within that brand, number of gallons to be applied, and number of coats to be applied,  allowing you to make accurate comparisons among bids? For the same purpose, will it specify how many hours of prep work will be done, what tasks are included in that prep work, i.e. sanding, filling small holes, removing rot, etc.?


• Does the painting contractor provide written warranties for their labor beyond the 1 year warranty mandated by the state of California for C-33 licensed contractors?

• If the existing paint contains lead as is typical with paint applied many years ago, is the painting contractor EPA Lead Safe Certified for safe removal of the old paint and will they be following the required protocols to ensure your safety and avoid causing you legal liabilities from improper removal of lead paint?

• Does the painting contractor perform all phases of the work or do they hire journeymen and/or subcontractors to finish the job?

• How long should it take the painting crews to complete the work?


• Are there any measures you should take before the painters show up (moving furniture, covering valuables, patching nail holes, etc.), or will the painting contractors provide such services?

• Do the house painting specialists personally hire and train their painting crews?


• How and when do the painting contractors clean up the job site?


• Will you have access to your home while the painters are painting the interior or exterior?


• Will the best painting services in Marin County provide a written contract?

When you've selected the most suitable house painting or commercial painting contractor in Marin County, make sure they are still licensed in good standing with a C33 contractors license to perform your painting services. (All painting companies bearing the Prime Buyer's Report - TOP 10 symbol have already had their license verified by research staff at The Prime Buyer's Report.)

 

 

Tips About Painting Contractors in Marin County 

Take Time Choosing Your Painting Contractor.
Don't settle for merely any painter. The wrong painters can scar your home with poor workmanship and shoddy interior painting or exterior painting. If you take a little time up front before starting a painting project to properly outline the job and hire the right painter, you're much more likely to avoid this.

Describe Your Job to the Painting Companies.
You can get a better idea of the best painters in Marin County if you present each potential with a description of your desired work. When the painting companies hear the same details, you can be sure that resulting painting estimates have been calculated based upon the same information.

Get Several Painting Estimates from Different Painters in Marin County.
You should get a handful of estimates from different painting contractors. But price shouldn't be your only consideration. You don't want to end up with a terrible new paint job, and the qualities indicated by the painting estimates can prevent this from happening. Written paint estimates can indicate the painters' attention to detail and honesty, qualities that affect your satisfaction with the interior painting, exterior painting or commercial painting project just as much as price.

Get Painting Estimates in Writing From Professional Painters.
Any contracted painting project should be documented thoroughly. Insist that potential painting contractors in Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael can provide this service. Ask for a written description of the painting services, pricing and the proposed time frame for completion.

Do Your Homework Before You Sign an Agreement with a Painter.
For this and any contract work you may have performed, be sure to check licensing, workers' compensation and liability insurances on any painting contractors you work with.



Maintain Great Communication During the Painting Work.
If you have questions or concerns, don't let them go unheard. Good communication between you and your painter is essential to arrive at a predictably satisfactory outcome. This means that you are partially responsible for how the communication goes on the job. Especially if you aren't on the job site, you need to keep up with any progress the painting contractors are making. Don't jump to conclusions, and don't be afraid to ask your painter when you have the slightest doubt about the status of the interior painting or exterior house painting job. There may be a reasonable explanation for changes or delays. There may even be decisions that you can make that will help the painter do the best job possible.

Agree In Advance To Check the New Paint Upon Completion.
After the professional painting job is completed, pull out the detailed agreement you signed before any painting started. Scrutinize the work with the most senior painting contractor available and compare the work to the agreement. Bring up any work that is unsatisfactory.

Know Your Rights When Working with Painting Contractors in Marin County.
Depending on the area of residence, consumers are protected by certain rights. Since you're dealing with painters in Marin County, you can check out the Web site for the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Make Sure Your Painter Can Fully Honor Your Requests.
Ultimately, it comes down to a painter who will listen to your needs and do his best to accommodate them. There are those painters that would rather speed through a job to get to the next one, and their painting work suffers. If a painter carelessly glosses over factors that you find important, don't hire him. Good painting contractors in Marin County should care as much as you do. If not, don't settle for their painting services.

 

 

Resources About Painting Companies in Marin County 

Associations & Licensing for Painting Contractors and Painters in Marin County
BBB Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.com)
CSLB Contractors State Licensing Board (http://www.cslb.ca.gov/)
DCA California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov)
FCA Finishing Contractors Association (www.finishingcontractors.org)
MPDA Master Painters and Decorators Association (www.mpda.net)
MPI Master Painters Institute (http://www.mpi.net/)
NAPP National Alliance of Professional Painters (www.thenapp.com)
NPCA National Paint and Coatings Association (www.paint.org)
PDCA Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (http://www.pdca.org/)

Painting and Decorating Media & Web Resources
Better Homes & Gardens
California Home & Design
Dwell
Family Handyman
The Faux Finisher Magazine
Home
Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine
Home & Design
HOUSE Magazine
Luxury Home
Painting Magazine
PaintPRO Magazine
Painting and Wallcovering Magazine
Smart Homeowner
This Old House
Western Interiors and Design

http://www.contractormag.com/
http://www.bobvila.com/
www.doityourself.com
http://www.hometime.com/
http://www.hometips.com/
www.lowes.com
http://www.painterchatroom.com/
http://www.paintinfo.com/


The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 painters and painting contractors in Marin County within the following zip codes:

94901, 94903, 94904, 94912, 94913, 94914, 94915, 94920, 94924, 94925, 94929, 94930, 94933, 94937, 94938, 94939, 94940, 94941, 94942, 94945, 94946, 94947, 94948, 94949, 94950, 94956, 94957, 94960, 94963, 94964, 94965, 94966, 94970, 94971, 94973, 94974, 94976, 94977, 94978 and 94979

 

 

Painting Companies Corte Madera CA

Anderson Painting Corte Madera CA 94925
Dennis Burns Painting Corte Madera CA 94925
Marin Wood Restoration & Painting Corte Madera CA 94925
One of A Kind Corte Madera CA 94925
Silver Painting Corte Madera CA 94925
Steve Hoffmire Painting Corte Madera CA 94925

 

Painting Companies Fairfax CA

Custom Painting Fairfax CA 94930
Grant Painting Fairfax CA 94930
John Molloy Painting Fairfax CA 94930
Steve's Painting Fairfax CA 94930

 

Painting Companies Greenbrae CA

TLC Painting Greenbrae CA 94904
Togneri Painting Greenbrae CA 94904

 

Painting Companies Larkspur CA

James Costello & Co Larkspur CA 94977

 

Painting Companies Mill Valley CA

Bay Heritage Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Chelsey Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Gary Head & Partners Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Hamill Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Local Color Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Londoner Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
McCarthy Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Phillips Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Q P Enterprises Mill Valley CA 94942
San Francisco Renaissance Painting Mill Valley CA 94941
Sunrise Painting Mill Valley CA 94941

 

Painting Companies Novato CA

Alpha Painting Novato CA 94947
Anello Painting Novato CA 94948
Anello Painting Novato CA 94948
Biazar Enterprises Novato CA 94947
Brescia Stone Painting Novato CA 94948
Gary Migale Painting Contractor Novato CA 94948
JR Thompson Painting Novato CA 94949
Jeff De Leon Painting Novato CA 94947
Jeff De Leon Painting Novato CA 94949
Karl Denk Painting Novato CA 94949
Kerrigan Painting Novato CA 94945
Luca's Painting Novato CA 94947
Mikkelsen Painting Novato CA 94949
North Bay Painting Novato CA 94949
Perpetual Motion Painting Novato CA 94949
Rafael Painting Novato CA 94947
Rice Custom Painting Novato CA 94947
Spray Works Novato CA 94949
Steve Hammel Painting Novato CA 94945
TM Painting Novato CA 94947
True Colors Painting Novato CA 94947

 

Painting Companies San Anselmo CA

A Ball-W Scott Ball Painting San Anselmo CA 94960
Bob Desmond Painting San Anselmo CA 94960
Charles R Kunst Painting San Anselmo CA 94960
Color-Design Group San Anselmo CA 94960
Cuthbertson Painting San Anselmo CA 94960
Gold Coast Painting San Anselmo CA 94960
King Painting San Anselmo CA 94960
Milks Painters San Anselmo CA 94979

Painting Companies San Rafael CA

Accent Painting Michael Crane San Rafael CA 94901
Alonso Zambrano Painting San Rafael CA 94912
Ariel's Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Bob Kunst Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Boeck Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Caledonia Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Certa Pro Painters San Rafael CA 94903
Color By Design San Rafael CA 94901
Coronado Painting San Rafael CA 94901
De Gregory Painting & Color San Rafael CA 94901
Decorative Artist San Rafael CA 94903
Edco Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Ed's Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Fine Line Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Gaidano & Sons San Rafael CA 94901
In-Faux San Rafael CA 94901
Irwin Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Jerry Thompson & Sons Painting San Rafael CA 94901
John Seidler Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Klobas Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Kunst Bros Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Legacy Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Liberty Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Louis A Toulon Painting San Rafael CA 94901
McCarthy Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Meric Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Meyer Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Michel the Painter San Rafael CA 94903
On-Site Painting San Rafael CA 94912
Pac West Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Paul Benson Painting Inc San Rafael CA 94901
Ross Painting San Rafael CA 94903
Stroke & Kote San Rafael CA 94901
Ultimate Choice San Rafael CA 94903
Urban Brothers Painting San Rafael CA 94901
Zoran Painting San Rafael CA 94901

 

Painting Companies Woodacre CA

Vision Painting Woodacre CA 94973