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Prime Buyers Guide Painting Companies

How to Find the Best San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco exterior or interior painting contractors for your house painting project.

Updated September 9, 2009

Top 10 Painting Companies in San Francisco

Ross Painting
Send an email to this Company
(415) 453-9613
42 Woodland Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
C33 License #526659
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified NARI (National Association of The Remodeling Industry) PDCA (Painting & Decorating Contractors of America)

Areas Served: San Francisco
Services: painting contractors for house painting / house repainting, commercial painters, ...
Key Brands: Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore

Conor McClorey Painting & Decorating
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(415) 661-5554
12 Riverton Drive
San Francisco, CA 94132
Contractor's License #730874
   Prime Buyer's Certified

Areas Served: San Francisco Bay Area, including Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Pacific Heights, Sea Cliff,...
Services: San Francisco painters for all house painting and home repainting needs including ...
Key Brands: Benjamin Moore exterior paint, low VOC interior paints, Mohawk refinishing products.

Burke Painting
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(925) 933-9339
61 Manzanita Ct
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
Contractor's License #786886
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified  Better Business Bureau PDCA (Painting & Decorating Contractors of America) Western Regional Master Builders Association Build It Green

Areas Served: San Francisco & Bay Area
Services: painting contractors for interior painting, exterior painting, faux finishes, ...
Key Brands: Benjamin Moore, Kelly-Moore, Dunn Edwards, ICI

Sunrise Painting Inc
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(650) 726-9500
80-Q N. Cabrillo Hwy, #515
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Contractor's License #465702
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Better Business Bureau PDCA (Painting & Decorating Contractors of America) Build It Green Chamber of Commerce-Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce-San Mateo IFMA (International Facility Management Association)

Areas Served: San Francisco Bay Area
Services: Painting contractors, residential painters, house painters, commercial painters
Key Brands: Sherwin-Williams, Kelly-Moore, Benjamin Moore, Mythic Paint, RustOleum

Pacific Coast Painting and Waterproofing Co., Inc.
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(650) 355-7780, (800) 709-0097
520 San Pedro Ave, Suite #8
Pacifica, CA 94044
State license #434682, Lead license #20001
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified  Better Business Bureau

Areas Served: San Francisco & Bay Area
Services: painting contractors & house painters, residential painters, commercial painters, ...
Key Brands: Kelly-Moore, Benjamin Moore, Pratt & Lambert, Fuller O'Brien, Dunn Edwards, Sherwin-...

Paul Benson Painting Inc
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(415) 453-1212
710 C St # 202
San Rafael, CA 94901
State License #527083
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Better Business Bureau Green Business

Areas Served: San Francisco
Services: painting contractors, house painters, commercial painters
Key Brands: Benjamin-Moore, Sherwin-Williams

San Francisco Renaissance Painting
Send an email to this Company
(415) 381-0788, (415) 987-6329
1001 Page St, #3
San Francisco, CA 94117
C33 License #362282, Lead License 3431, General Contractor License #935100
   Prime Buyer's Certified PDCA (Painting & Decorating Contractors of America)

Areas Served: San Francisco incl. Sea Cliff, Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Sunset ...
Services: painting contractors, interior painters, exterior painters, house painters, ...
Key Brands: Top of the line paints including Sherwin-Williams, ICI, Benjamin Moore, PPG Porter

Old Time Quality Painting
Send an email to this Company
(408) 243-3335, Cell: (408) 981-6835
P.O. Box 1308
Campbell, CA 95009
Contractor's License # 401645
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Better Business Bureau Western Regional Master Builders Association

Areas Served: San Francisco, incl. Laurel Heights, The Marina, North Beach, Russian Hill
Services: Quality painting company & house painters for interior painting, exterior painting, ...
Key Brands: Kelly-Moore, Dunn Edwards, Benjamin Moore, Behr, Sherwin Williams

Updated February 24, 2010

How to Find the Best San Francisco Painters & Painting Contractors 

When you painted your bedroom taupe, you were being sensible and neutral, with an eye to future modifications. Now it's time for a change. Fortunately, you don't have to take on this daunting, messy task yourself. Painters in San Francisco can help you find a vibrant replacement color and quickly, neatly transform your interior or exterior walls from an eyesore to an eye catcher. The following suggestions can help you get started in your search for a superlative local painter and help you achieve an exciting new look for your home.

San Francisco Painting Contractors Can Handle Any Job
Painting contractors and their journeymen vary in their experience. Depending on the tools and skills required for your particular paint job, some painters may not even be equipped to complete your job. Therefore, it's essential to locate a painter that has done similar work in the past and can accommodate your design themes. Some San Francisco house painters limit themselves to residential jobs, but they may expand their services to larger industrial and commercial size jobs as well. Other painters may extend their painting services to the interiors or exteriors of homes, apartments, condominiums, offices, rentals, hotels, schools, wineries, and shopping centers.

When extensive prep work is required, good painters in San Francisco might also perform drywall repair, pressure washing or pressure cleaning, sandblasting, water blasting or mildew removal. Particularly skilled painters and painting contractors do more than lay a fresh coat of paint—they can apply faux finishes, decorative finishes, or create texturing effects too. Some painters go beyond simple trim and wall paint work and refinish, varnish, or stain furniture, cabinets, decks and railings. Select painters in San Francisco are even familiar with basic handyman services like waterproofing, sealing, dry rot repairs or even lead removal. You can even find local painters with experience in a number of restoration services, from Victorian homes to natural wood homes. Many professional painters involve themselves in other aspects of cosmetic remodeling as well. They'll assist with wallpaper removal or installation, caulking, and sealing.

When it comes to redecorating, painting can be one of the more tedious, messy parts of the project. With the help of a professional painter, you can have the prep work and painting done in a fraction of the time.

San Francisco Painting Contractors Offer Many Types of Paints and Painting Materials
Technological progress seems to be affecting everything; it's even made its way into the painting industry. You thought holding sample swatches to the wall was effective? Painters and painting contractors in San Francisco 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.

In addition to optimizing the new look, painters might utilize some of the recent technological advances that increase paint longevity too. These include elastomeric paint, which boasts increased durability and flexibility, and water repellent finishes, which last longer in outdoor environments. Eco-conscious homeowners in the midst of green building needn't worry about the negative impact of their paint. Many San Francisco painters and painting companies can use biodegradable, no VOC, or organic paints that are environmentally friendly.

But most painters in San Francisco still offer the basics as well, including primers, latex paints, transparent stains or oil preservatives. If they offer restoration services for siding painting or other types of wood painting or exterior home painting, good painting contractors might treat use treatments of wood brightener, transparent stains or biodegradable siding cleaners. Painters that serve San Francisco have access to the wide variety of paint types and technology out there, and will usually be happy to supply any particular products you request for your project.

Faux Painting  in San Francisco (Including Faux Finishing / Decorative Painting in San Francisco )
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 San Francisco are also who to call if you're looking for muralists (mural painters). These faux painters in San Francisco 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.

While some painting contractors do offer faux painting services or decorative painting services in addition to their house painting, decorative painters or faux painters do not have to be painting contractors and so don't need a contractor's license. Although San Francisco faux painters don't need to be licensed painting contractors, you should still require that they have liability insurance to cover any mishaps.

Faux painting is more than just faux finishes and decorative finishes. Decorative painters in San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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.

San Francisco 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 San Francisco : Ross Painting, Conor McClorey Painting & Decorating, Burke Painting, Sunrise Painting Inc, Pacific Coast Painting and Waterproofing Co., Inc., Paul Benson Painting Inc, San Francisco Renaissance Painting, Old Time Quality Painting. Other painting companies that might still serve San Francisco include: Ultimate Painting, Painting By Tom, Golden Hill Painting, Interior Painting Contractor. Didn't find what you wanted with the TOP 10 Painting Companies in San Francisco ? Then click here to see additional companies in this category.

There are Several Media Resources to Research Painters in San Francisco
Theoretically, any painter will do. But if you don't want to sacrifice quality, time or money on sloppy work, you need to dig a little deeper to find the best licensed painting contractors in San Francisco. Many of the cheaper painting companies hire inexperienced laborers to cut costs and some of the one-man operations produce immaculate work but take much longer and cost considerably more.

Find the happy medium by doing outside research. Look for association affiliations and verify painting contractor licensing. Do what you can to learn about specific San Francisco painting businesses on the Internet or in related publications. In The Prime Buyer's Report article "Key Resources for Painting in San Francisco ", we've listed a number of links that we have personally screened to save you time and frustration. Use these sites to supplement your personal research.

Updated September 9, 2009
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How to Select the Best Painters in San Francisco  

Step 1: Describe the Painting Job to the Painters
Before you speak with local painters or home painting services, look at colors and finishes, and make sure that your choices are acceptable for the surface you wish to be painted. Present the information to each painting contractor consistently so that they have the opportunity to bid for the same specifications.

Step 2: Answer Questions From the Painting Contractors & Take Notes
Listen carefully to the questions and concerns of the painters. The painters' level of skill and dedication will show through their questioning, and the painting contractors may even offer some useful new insight on your commercial painting or home painting job.

Step 3: Ask Questions of the Painting Companies & Take Notes
Use the following questions to assess each painting contractor. Add any additional concerns you have.

• How long have the painting contractors been in business?

• How many painting jobs have the painters and their companies completed?

• Do the painting contractors have relevant experience and similar references?

• Do the professional painters have current worker's compensation and liability insurance?

• Will the painters in San Francisco provide a written painting estimate?

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

• What type of warranty do the painters offer on interior house painting / exterior house painting?

• 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 San Francisco provide a written contract?

Step 4: Making a Preliminary Decision on the Best Painters in San Francisco

After you've interviewed several different painters, review your notes to make a list of those painting companies that are suitable for further consideration.

Step 5: Final Research on Professional Paint Companies
After you've selected the best painting contractor for you, conduct some final research. Verify the credentials necessary. These include current painting contractor licensing and insurance. For quality purposes, you might also want to check and see if the painters have earned Diamond Certification, Better Business Bureau membership or other agency endorsements.

Step 6: The Final Decision on Your Painting Contractor
You've now reached the final stage of your search for a qualified painting company in San Francisco . It's time to select and contract with your painter. Call and ask any final questions before you make an appointment and work out a written pricing, timing, quality, and warranty agreement.

Updated September 11, 2009
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Key Resources for Painting Companies in San Francisco  

Associations & Licensing for Painting Contractors and Painters in San Francisco
AGC of America Associated General Contractors of America (http://www.agc.org/)
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)
Diamond Certified (http://www.diamondcertified.org/)
FCA Finishing Contractors Association (www.finishingcontractors.org)
MBA Marin Builders Association (www.marinba.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)
NCBE North Coast Builders Exchange (http://www.ncbeonline.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 San Francisco within the following zip codes:

94101, 94102, 94103, 94104, 94105, 94107, 94108, 94109, 94110, 94111, 94112, 94114, 94115, 94116, 94117, 94118, 94119, 94120, 94121, 94122, 94123, 94124, 94125, 94126, 94127, 94129, 94130, 94131, 94132, 94133, 94134, 94140, 94141, 94142, 94146, 94147, 94157, 94158, 94159, 94164, 94165, 94166, 94167, 94168, 94169, 94170, 94172 and 94188

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 painting contractors and professional painters in San Francisco within the following cities:

Bernal Heights, Cow Hollow, Diamond Heights, Duboce Triangle, Eureka Valley, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Inner Sunset, Japantown, Laurel Heights, Marina District, Mission District, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, North Beach, Outer Sunset, Pacific Heights, Presidio, Rincon Hill, Russian Hill, San Francisco, Sea Cliff, Sunset District, Telegraph Hill, The Presidio, Treasure Island, Twin Peaks and Western Addition

 

 

Painting Companies San Francisco

City

San Francisco Painting Contractors Found

San Francisco

149

Updated November 28, 2008
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10 Tips for Finding Good Painting Contractors in San Francisco  

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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco .
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 San Francisco 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.

Choose Certified Painting Companies.
There are some local painters that have been recognized for outstanding customer satisfaction. In San Francisco , painting contractors that have earned Diamond Certification or other public praise are more likely to give you the best painting and decorating results for your money.

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 San Francisco .
Depending on the area of residence, consumers are protected by certain rights. Since you're dealing with painters in San Francisco , 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 San Francisco  should care as much as you do. If not, don't settle for their painting services.
Updated September 11, 2009
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Diamond Certified