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Prime Buyers Guide Painting Companies

How to Find the Best Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma County exterior or interior painting contractors for your house painting project.

Updated September 9, 2009

Top 10 Painting Companies in Sonoma County

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: Sonoma County incl. Santa Rosa CA, Petaluma CA, Healdsburg, Sebastopol CA, Rohnert ...
Services: painting contractors for house painting / house repainting, commercial painters, ...
Key Brands: Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore

Keech Painting Contractors Inc.
Send an email to this Company
(707) 544-2244, (415) 331-6047
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
C-33 Contractor's License #675879
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified  Better Business Bureau NCBE (North Coast Builders Exchange)

Areas Served: Sonoma CA, Healdsburg, Penngrove, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Santa Rosa CA, ...
Services: High-end residential and commercial painting specialists
Key Brands: Kelly-Moore Paint, Benjamin Moore Paint, Dunn Edwards Paint, Rust-Oleum, Zinsser

Solidarity Painting, Inc.
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(707) 544-9551, (415) 450-8075
860 Piner Rd, Suite 22
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
C-33 License #586555
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified  Better Business Bureau

Areas Served: Sonoma County incl Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Sonoma CA, Rohnert ...
Services: painting contractors, interior & exterior painters, residential painters, commercial ...
Key Brands: Benjamin Moore, Dunn Edwards, Kelly-Moore, top-of-the line paint brands & paints.

Baggenstos & Associates Inc.
Send an email to this Company
(707) 576-7774
1814 Empire Industrial Ct # B
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
State Contractor's License #726833
   Prime Buyer's Certified PDCA (Painting & Decorating Contractors of America) PDCC (Painting & Decorating Contractors of California) NCBE (North Coast Builders Exchange)

Areas Served: Sonoma County incl. Santa Rosa CA, Sonoma CA, Sebastopol CA, Healdsburg CA,Windsor, ...
Services: residential painters, house painters, commercial painters. Painting company for ...
Key Brands: Dunn-Edwards, Kelly Moore, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Cabot

Burke Painting
Send an email to this Company
(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: Sonoma County & Bay Area
Services: painting contractors for interior painting, exterior painting, faux finishes, ...
Key Brands: Benjamin Moore, Kelly-Moore, Dunn Edwards, ICI

Joe Moore Painting & Roofing
Send an email to this Company
(707) 837-0620, (707) 494-4920
PO Box 2235
Windsor, CA 95492
C33 and C39 Contractor's License #780163
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified

Areas Served: Sonoma County including Santa Rosa, CA, Petaluma, Sonoma, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, ...
Services: Painting contractors, residential and commercial painting, industrial painting, ...
Key Brands: United Coatings, Westcoast Coatings, Rustoleum, Cabots, Carlisle, Certified GAF-ELK ...

A-1 Top Quality Painting
Send an email to this Company
(707) 541-0983
5006 Grange Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
C33 License #811784
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Better Business Bureau Chamber of Commerce-Santa Rosa NCBE (North Coast Builders Exchange)

Areas Served: Santa Rosa CA area incl. Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Healdsburg CA, Sonoma
Services: Santa Rosa painting contractors for interior painting, exterior painting, faux ...
Key Brands: Dunn-Edwards, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Kelly-Moore, top-quality paint brands

Paul Benson Painting Inc
Send an email to this Company
(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: Santa Rosa, Windsor, Roseland, Fulton, Kenwood, Mark West, Larkfield, Sebastopol, ...
Services: painting contractors, house painters, commercial painters
Key Brands: Benjamin-Moore, Sherwin-Williams

Updated March 2, 2010

How to Find the Best Sonoma County 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 Sonoma County 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.

Sonoma County 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 Sonoma County 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 Sonoma County 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 Sonoma County 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.

Sonoma County 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 Sonoma 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.

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 Sonoma County painters and painting companies can use biodegradable, no VOC, or organic paints that are environmentally friendly.

But most painters in Sonoma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Petaluma and Santa Rosa 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 Sonoma County 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 Sonoma County (Including Faux Finishing / Decorative Painting in Sonoma 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 Sonoma County are also who to call if you're looking for muralists (mural painters). These faux painters in Sonoma 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.

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 Sonoma County 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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.

Great Selection of Painters in Sonoma County
There are many good painting contractors in Sonoma County, but you have to watch out for painters without an active contractors license. These might include painters that used to have one but have let it expire or had it revoked or suspended, sometimes because they're not paying to have the necessary insurance coverage required for the license. Erick Rudy, owner of Brush of Elegance, explains, "These days, homeowners have to be wary of unlicensed painters or ex-contractors who have let their license expire because of the expense of insurance and licensing costs. These guys are out there and looking for work, so they're offering cheap pricing but they're not in business for real and don't have a reason to stand behind their work. Once you've given them your money, there is nothing binding them to do the work right with quality paint.  Those cheap unlicensed painters actually cost you more compared to legitimate painters who do good work that lasts."

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 Sonoma County: Ross Painting, Solidarity Painting, Inc., Joe Moore Painting & Roofing, Keech Painting Contractors Inc., Baggenstos & Associates Inc., A-1 Top Quality Painting, Burke Painting, Paul Benson Painting Inc, Cutting Edge Painting, Advantage Painting. Other painting companies that might still serve Sonoma County include: Saundra Farnsworth Decorative Painter, Patterson Painting, JDM Painting & Striping, California Custom Painting, Northen Painting, Quality Wall Covering, Mastertouch Painting Co, North Coast Painting. Didn't find what you wanted with the TOP 10 Painting Companies in Sonoma County? Then click here to see additional companies in this category.

There are Several Media Resources to Research Painters in Sonoma County
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 Sonoma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Petaluma and Santa Rosa. 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 Sonoma Countypainting businesses on the Internet or in related publications. In The Prime Buyer's Report article "Key Resources for Painting in Sonoma County", 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 Sonoma County 

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 Sonoma County 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 Sonoma County provide a written contract?

Step 4: Making a Preliminary Decision on the Best Painters in Sonoma County

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 Sonoma County. 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 Sonoma County 

Associations & Licensing for Painting Contractors and Painters in Sonoma County
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 Sonoma County within the following zip codes:

94922, 94923, 94927, 94928, 94931, 94951, 94952, 94953, 94954, 94955, 94972, 94975, 94999, 95401, 95402, 95403, 95404, 95405, 95406, 95407, 95408, 95409, 95412, 95416, 95419, 95421, 95425, 95430, 95431, 95433, 95436, 95439, 95441, 95442, 95444, 95446, 95448, 95450, 95452, 95462, 95465, 95471, 95472, 95473, 95476, 95480, 95486, 95487, 95492 and 95497

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

Agua Caliente, Alexander Valley, Annapolis, Asti, Bloomfield, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Boyes Hot Springs, Camp Meeker, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Cotati, Duncans Mills, El Verano, Eldridge, Fallon, Fetters Hot Springs, Forestville, Fort Ross, Freestone, Fulton, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Graton, Guerneville, Guernewood, Healdsburg, Jenner, Kenwood, Lakeville, Larkfield, Lytton, Mark West, Monte Rio, Occidental, Penngrove, Petaluma, Rio Nido, Rohnert Park, Roseland, Russian River, Russian River Mdws, Salmon Creek, Santa Rosa, Schellville, Sebastopol, Sheridan, Sonoma, Stewarts Point Rancheria, Temelec, The Geysers, The Sea Ranch, Two Rock, Valley Ford, Villa Grande, Vineburg and Windsor

 

 

Painting Companies Healdsburg Area

City-Area

City

Painting Contractors Found

Healdsburg

Alexander Valley CA

* see Geyserville CA

Healdsburg

Annapolis CA

0

Healdsburg

Asti CA

0

Healdsburg

Cazadero CA

0

Healdsburg

Cloverdale CA

1

Healdsburg

Geyserville CA

0

Healdsburg

Healdsburg CA

8

Healdsburg

Lytton CA

* see Healdsburg CA

Healdsburg

Stewarts Point CA

0

Healdsburg

The Geysers CA

* see Cloverdale CA

Healdsburg

The Sea Ranch CA

0

 

 

Painting Companies Petaluma Area

City-Area

City

Painting Contractors Found

Petaluma

Fallon CA

0

Petaluma

Lakeville CA

* see Petaluma CA

Petaluma

Petaluma CA

28

 

 

Painting Companies Santa Rosa Area

City-Area

City

Painting Contractors Found

Santa Rosa

Fulton CA

1

Santa Rosa

Kenwood CA

2

Santa Rosa

Mark West CA

* see Santa Rosa CA

Santa Rosa

Roseland CA

* see Santa Rosa CA

Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa CA

63

Santa Rosa

Windsor CA

6

Santa Rosa

Larkfield CA

* see Santa Rosa CA

 

 

 

Painting Companies Rohnert Park Area

City-Area

City

Painting Contractors Found

Rohnert Park

Cotati CA

3

Rohnert Park

Rohnert Park CA

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Painting Companies Sonoma CA Area

County

City-Area

City

Painting Contractors Found

Sonoma

Sonoma

Agua Caliente CA

0

Sonoma

Sonoma

Boyes Hot Springs CA

0

Sonoma

Sonoma

El Verano CA

0

Sonoma

Sonoma

Eldridge CA

0

Sonoma

Sonoma

Fetters Hot Springs CA

0

Sonoma

Sonoma

Glen Ellen CA

2

Sonoma

Sonoma

Schellville CA

0

Sonoma

Sonoma

Sonoma CA

6

Sonoma

Sonoma

Temelec CA

* see Sonoma CA

Sonoma

Sonoma

Vineburg CA

1

 

 

Painting Companies Sebastopol Area

City-Area

City

Painting Contractors Found

Sebastopol

Bodega CA

0

Sebastopol

Bodega Bay CA

0

Sebastopol

Camp Meeker CA

0

Sebastopol

Duncans Mills CA

0

Sebastopol

Forestville CA

1

Sebastopol

Freestone CA

0

Sebastopol

Ft Ross CA

0

Sebastopol

Graton CA

0

Sebastopol

Guerneville CA

0

Sebastopol

Guernewood CA

0

Sebastopol

Jenner CA

0

Sebastopol

Monte Rio CA

0

Sebastopol

Occidental CA

1

Sebastopol

Penngrove CA

4

Sebastopol

Rio Nido CA

0

Sebastopol

Russian River CA

0

Sebastopol

Russian River Meadows CA

0

Sebastopol

Salmon Creek CA

0

Sebastopol

Sebastopol CA

8

Sebastopol

Sheridan CA

0

Sebastopol

Valley Ford CA

0

Sebastopol

Villa Grande CA

0

Updated November 28, 2008
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10 Tips for Finding Good Painting Contractors in Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Petaluma and Santa Rosa 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 Sonoma County, 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 Sonoma County.
Depending on the area of residence, consumers are protected by certain rights. Since you're dealing with painters in Sonoma 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 Sonoma County 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