Quality Painters in Marin County, CA

Finding the Best Painter in San Rafael, Novato and Mill Valley for Your House

More than most trades, painters have the widest range in quality of service delivered by the widest range of experience. It is not uncommon for uninsured, unlicensed painting companies in Marin County to use day laborers with little or even no painting experience on a job by job basis. Some people will always jump at the cheapest bid but but nearly always comes back to haunt them with low quality work that needs to be redone in under two years.

Working with a painting contractor who specializes in one type of painting can both reduce your costs lead to better quality work. Commercial painters in Marin County will have industrial airless sprayers designed to handle larger surface areas found on buildings. Commercial painting crews are also more experienced in the prep work for larger buildings and will usually get the job done within a day to reduce downtime for the office. Likewise, painters that focus on home interiors are more familiar with painting delicate areas like window frames, decorative trim and doors (not to mention preparing a home with personal belongings strewn about).

Once you have found a couple specialists, evaluating the quality of work you can expect is the most difficult part. We have found that Marin County painters who belong to associations like American Coatings Association (ACA) and PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America) typically have higher satisfaction ratings. For commercial painters in San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley and San Anselmo, membership in the SPCO or Signatory Painting Contractors Organization shows their commitment to stand by their work. Continuing education and help with California paint removal, application and handling regulations means these painters spend more of their time honing their craftsmanship.

Color selection

Selecting a color may seem like a pretty cut-and-dry task but it is easy to get overwhelmed when you see hundreds of paint swatches. When you hire a painting company in Marin County choosing the perfect color is easier as their seasoned eye for detail helps them show you only a range of colors that will work with your home style, furniture and more. Advanced color selection tools can also take a photo of your home or rooms in your home and change the colors to give you a better feel for how it will look in the end.

Prepping the house

On the day of the job make sure that the area is clear for the painters to quickly get in and get started. For exterior house painting this means making sure that painters trucks and vans have easy access to your property and that nothing will impede them from placing their large ladders around your home. For the interior of your home make sure that everything is neat and put away. We also recommend marking the walls that will be painted either with sticky notes or markers to clearly identify which need to be painted. This prep will allow the pros to quickly come in and tape off areas that will not be painted and cover up furniture and floor near the walls with plastic sheets.

Prepping the walls - Walls must be flat and even and free of cracks or bulges. Often this means caulking cracks, repairing drywall or caulking cracks. When painting on top of previous paint layers it is important to lightly sand the surface to allow the paint to grip the wall. Also be careful not to add latex based paints on top of oil based paints which can cause peeling.

Paint Selection

Most Marin County painters will supply both primer and paint for your job but you want to verify that they do not skimp on the quality. *Be sure they only use low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints as VOCs are bad for the environment and there can be health risks. Most painting companies in San Rafael and Novato prefer using alkyd or alcohol based paints as they are more versatile than latex based paints and can be used on more surfaces. Be sure to clearly explain if you are looking for a flat finish, flat finish or both depending on the room. As far as brands, you can’t go wrong with Behr Paints, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Valspar or for higher end craftsmen applications Farrow & Ball.

If you have selected the paint yourself, ask your painter what kind of additives will be used. Many mix in additives like Penetrol and Floetrol for smoother application or Zinsser add protection from mold. Painting companies in Marin County use countless other additives for everything from slowing the paint drying process to reducing uneven paint application, and even to add a pleasant scent to the paint.

Questions to Ask Your Marin County Painting Company

Asking the right questions gives you a glimpse into the type of company you are dealing with for better or worse. Any company you hire needs to take time to patiently explain their process and isn’t simply pushing for the sale.

Marin County Cities Served