Paint Contractors in the United States serve residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, healthcare, hospitality, retail, education, manufacturing, and public-sector markets. Their work protects buildings, improves appearance, supports branding, preserves surfaces, and extends the life of walls, steel, concrete, wood, floors, tanks, bridges, and façades.
Professional painting is more technical than many buyers assume. A strong contractor must understand surface preparation, primers, coatings, moisture, adhesion, curing, safety, access equipment, scheduling, ventilation, color systems, manufacturer requirements, and project documentation. Poor painting can peel, blister, fade, crack, stain, or fail early.
The industry includes residential painters, commercial painting contractors, industrial coating firms, wallcovering specialists, floor coating companies, maintenance painters, restoration contractors, and national multi-site service providers. The Painting Contractors Association says it supports the painting and decorating industry with standards, education, training, advocacy, and best practices.
This guide profiles leading Paint Contractors in the United States and explains how buyers should evaluate providers for commercial painting, industrial coatings, residential painting, restoration, and long-term maintenance.
Industry Overview: Paint Contractors in the United States
The U.S. painting contractor market is broad. Residential contractors paint homes, apartments, cabinets, decks, fences, exteriors, interiors, trim, siding, and rental properties. Commercial painting contractors serve offices, schools, hospitals, hotels, retail centers, warehouses, churches, restaurants, and multifamily buildings. Industrial coating contractors handle steel, tanks, pipelines, plants, refineries, factories, bridges, wastewater facilities, and marine environments.
Larger firms often provide estimating, project management, safety planning, lift operation, wallcovering, floor coatings, specialty finishes, maintenance programs, and national account support. Industrial firms may also provide abrasive blasting, corrosion control, fireproofing, containment, lead-safe work, and protective coating systems.
Ranking Methodology
This directory evaluates companies based on reputation, public ranking visibility, commercial painting capability, industrial coatings experience, residential relevance, geographic reach, safety culture, quality systems, project portfolio, and buyer usefulness.
ENR’s 2025 Top 600 Specialty Contractors list includes painting and wallcovering firms such as Hartman Walsh Painting Co. in its specialty rankings. Cherry Coatings also reported that it ranked No. 3 among U.S. painting contractors in ENR’s 2025 Top 600 Specialty Contractors list.
Best Paint Contractors in the United States
Hartman Walsh Painting Co.
Overview
Hartman Walsh Painting Co. is one of the best-known industrial and commercial painting contractors in the United States. The company appears in ENR’s 2025 Top 600 Specialty Contractors ranking, reflecting its visibility among major specialty contractors.
Services Offered
Industrial painting, commercial painting, protective coatings, tank coatings, surface preparation, abrasive blasting, corrosion control, floor coatings, and maintenance painting.
Industries Served
Industrial facilities, power plants, manufacturing, water and wastewater, commercial buildings, infrastructure, tanks, and institutional properties.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Competitive Advantages
Hartman Walsh is strongest where painting is tied to corrosion protection, industrial assets, and technically demanding coatings.
Headquarters
St. Louis, Missouri.
Website
hartmanwalsh.com
Why It Stands Out
Hartman Walsh stands out for industrial coatings, commercial painting, and protective systems where surface preparation and durability matter.
Cherry Coatings
Overview
Cherry Coatings is a major U.S. painting and coatings contractor serving commercial, industrial, healthcare, education, hospitality, multifamily, and public-sector clients. The company reported that it ranked No. 3 among U.S. painting contractors in ENR’s 2025 Top 600 Specialty Contractors list and No. 226 overall.
Services Offered
Commercial painting, industrial coatings, wallcoverings, specialty coatings, floor coatings, surface preparation, maintenance painting, and project management.
Industries Served
Commercial real estate, healthcare, education, hospitality, multifamily, industrial, public-sector, and retail properties.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Competitive Advantages
Cherry Coatings combines commercial painting scale with coatings expertise and minority business certification visibility.
Headquarters
Dallas, Texas.
Website
cherrycoatings.com
Why It Stands Out
Cherry Coatings stands out for commercial painting, coatings, and large multi-sector projects.
CertaPro Painters
Overview
CertaPro Painters is one of the largest painting franchise networks in the United States, serving residential and commercial customers. It is especially relevant for homeowners, property managers, small businesses, offices, HOAs, and local commercial projects.
Services Offered
Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, commercial painting, condo painting, HOA painting, drywall repair, deck staining, and color consultation.
Industries Served
Homeowners, small businesses, offices, property managers, HOAs, retail spaces, and multifamily properties.
Notable Projects
Projects vary by local franchise.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is national brand recognition combined with local franchise availability.
Headquarters
Audubon, Pennsylvania.
Website
certapro.com
Why It Stands Out
CertaPro stands out for residential painting, local commercial painting, and broad homeowner-facing service coverage.
Five Star Painting
Overview
Five Star Painting is a national residential and commercial painting brand operating through local franchise locations. It is a practical option for homeowners and small commercial clients seeking interior, exterior, and maintenance painting.
Services Offered
Residential painting, commercial painting, interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, deck staining, drywall repair, and color consultation.
Industries Served
Homeowners, landlords, small businesses, offices, retail spaces, property managers, and local commercial clients.
Notable Projects
Projects vary by franchise location.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is accessible local service under a recognized national brand.
Headquarters
Waco, Texas, through Neighborly.
Website
fivestarpainting.com
Why It Stands Out
Five Star Painting stands out for residential and small commercial painting with local franchise coverage.
Fresh Coat Painters
Overview
Fresh Coat Painters is a residential and commercial painting franchise brand serving homeowners and businesses across multiple U.S. markets. It is especially relevant for interior and exterior painting, rental properties, small offices, and local business projects.
Services Offered
Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, wallpaper removal, deck staining, drywall repair, commercial painting, and residential repainting.
Industries Served
Homeowners, property managers, small businesses, offices, restaurants, retail spaces, and landlords.
Notable Projects
Projects vary by local franchise.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is local painting service supported by a national franchise structure.
Headquarters
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Website
freshcoatpainters.com
Why It Stands Out
Fresh Coat stands out for residential repainting, small commercial work, and local property painting.
360° Painting
Overview
360° Painting is a national painting franchise brand offering residential and commercial painting services. It is relevant for homeowners and small business owners who need standardized service, local crews, and interior or exterior repainting.
Services Offered
Interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, cabinet painting, trim painting, drywall repair, deck and fence staining, and color support.
Industries Served
Homeowners, offices, small businesses, retail spaces, property managers, and local commercial properties.
Notable Projects
Projects vary by local franchise.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is national brand process with local painting contractor delivery.
Headquarters
Charlottesville, Virginia, through Premium Service Brands.
Website
360painting.com
Why It Stands Out
360° Painting stands out for residential and local commercial painting projects.
The Raymond Group
Overview
The Raymond Group is a major specialty contractor known for wall and ceiling systems, and it also has relevance in paint and wallcovering-related scopes. The company reported that ENR ranked it No. 10 in Wall & Ceiling and No. 210 overall in the 2025 Top 600 Specialty Contractors list.
Services Offered
Wall and ceiling systems, finishes, specialty construction, framing, drywall, acoustical systems, and related finish trades.
Industries Served
Commercial, hospitality, healthcare, education, entertainment, public-sector, and institutional construction.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is finish-trade integration, especially where painting, wall systems, and interior finishes must coordinate.
Headquarters
Orange, California.
Website
raymondgroup.com
Why It Stands Out
The Raymond Group stands out for large finish-trade projects where wall systems and coatings must align with construction schedules.
National Coatings
Overview
National Coatings is a U.S. coatings contractor focused on commercial and industrial coating solutions. The company announced that it secured a position on ENR’s Top 600 Specialty Contractors list, pointing to its specialty contractor credibility.
Services Offered
Industrial coatings, commercial coatings, roof coatings, waterproof coatings, surface preparation, protective coatings, and restoration coatings.
Industries Served
Commercial buildings, industrial facilities, roofs, infrastructure, property owners, and maintenance clients.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is coatings specialization rather than general repainting.
Headquarters
Camarillo, California.
Website
nationalcoatingsinc.com
Why It Stands Out
National Coatings stands out for protective coatings, commercial coatings, and restoration-related coating systems.
Allied Painting
Overview
Allied Painting is a major painting and coatings contractor known for infrastructure, bridge, commercial, and industrial painting services. It is especially relevant where projects require surface preparation, coatings, access systems, containment, and public-sector compliance.
Services Offered
Bridge painting, industrial coatings, commercial painting, surface preparation, containment, lead abatement, structural steel coatings, and maintenance painting.
Industries Served
Transportation, bridges, public agencies, industrial facilities, commercial properties, infrastructure owners, and utilities.
Notable Projects
Not publicly listed here.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is infrastructure and bridge painting experience.
Headquarters
Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Website
alliedpainting.com
Why It Stands Out
Allied Painting stands out for bridge coatings, infrastructure painting, and industrial protective systems.
Local Licensed Paint Contractors
Overview
Many of the best Paint Contractors in the United States are local firms serving homeowners, landlords, property managers, churches, schools, small businesses, and local commercial properties. For homes, apartments, small offices, repainting, trim, cabinets, fences, decks, and maintenance painting, a qualified local contractor is often the best choice.
Services Offered
Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, drywall repair, pressure washing, deck staining, fence staining, trim painting, wallpaper removal, color consultation, and small commercial painting.
Industries Served
Homeowners, rental property owners, landlords, churches, schools, restaurants, small businesses, offices, HOAs, and property managers.
Notable Projects
Most local painting projects are not publicly listed, but photos, reviews, and nearby references are important.
Competitive Advantages
Their advantage is local response, direct communication, neighborhood reputation, and practical residential or small commercial experience.
Headquarters
Varies by city and state.
Website
Varies by company.
Why It Stands Out
For residential and small commercial painting, a licensed and insured local paint contractor is often the most practical option.
Industry Trends Affecting Paint Contractors
Protective Coatings Growth
Industrial owners increasingly use coatings to protect steel, concrete, tanks, floors, pipelines, and equipment from corrosion, chemicals, water, abrasion, and weather exposure.
Low-VOC and Healthier Paints
Residential, healthcare, education, and office clients are asking for low-odor, low-VOC, and environmentally safer coating systems.
Maintenance Painting Programs
Commercial property owners increasingly prefer planned maintenance painting over emergency repainting. Regular inspections help prevent coating failure and reduce long-term costs.
Floor Coatings and Polished Surfaces
Warehouses, garages, industrial buildings, retail spaces, hospitals, and schools are using epoxy, urethane, polished concrete, and resinous floor systems for durability and easy cleaning.
Labor and Training Pressure
Painting remains labor-intensive. PCA and other industry groups provide training, standards, and education to help contractors improve quality and business practices.
Digital Estimating and Project Reporting
Larger painting contractors now use digital takeoffs, project management software, photo documentation, safety reporting, and customer portals.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Paint Contractors
Match the Contractor to the Project Type
A home repaint, hospital, hotel, bridge, refinery, warehouse floor, school, and high-rise exterior all require different painting expertise.
Check Insurance and Licensing
Licensing varies by state and locality. Always verify business licensing, liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and bonding for larger jobs.
Ask About Surface Preparation
Painting failures often begin with poor prep. Ask about cleaning, sanding, scraping, priming, moisture testing, repairs, masking, and surface profile.
Review Similar Projects
Ask for photos and references from similar work. Industrial coatings, bridge painting, and residential interior painting require very different skills.
Understand Products and Warranties
Ask which paint or coating system will be used, why it fits the surface, what warranty applies, and what maintenance is required.
Watch for Red Flags
Red flags include vague estimates, no insurance, no written scope, poor prep explanation, no references, unrealistic pricing, and pressure to pay too much upfront.
Why Paint Contractors Matter in the United States
Paint contractors protect buildings, improve interiors, preserve property value, and extend the life of surfaces. In industrial settings, coatings can protect assets from corrosion and chemical exposure. In commercial buildings, paint affects branding, cleanliness, tenant experience, and maintenance costs. In homes, painting improves comfort, appearance, resale value, and protection from weather.
Good painting can last for years when surfaces are prepared correctly and the right coating is used. Poor painting can fail quickly, creating peeling, blistering, stains, moisture problems, and expensive repainting.
Conclusion
The leading Paint Contractors in the United States include Hartman Walsh Painting Co., Cherry Coatings, CertaPro Painters, Five Star Painting, Fresh Coat Painters, 360° Painting, The Raymond Group, National Coatings, Allied Painting, and strong local licensed paint contractors. Each serves a different market. Hartman Walsh, Cherry Coatings, National Coatings, and Allied Painting are relevant for commercial, industrial, coatings, and infrastructure work. CertaPro, Five Star, Fresh Coat, and 360° Painting are useful for residential and local commercial painting. The Raymond Group is relevant where painting and finish trades intersect.
For buyers, the best paint contractor is the one with the right surface-preparation process, insurance, product knowledge, references, safety systems, and experience for the specific project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Paint Contractors in the United States?
Some of the best-known Paint Contractors in the United States include Hartman Walsh Painting Co., Cherry Coatings, CertaPro Painters, Five Star Painting, Fresh Coat Painters, 360° Painting, The Raymond Group, National Coatings, Allied Painting, and strong local licensed painting contractors. The best choice depends on whether the project is residential, commercial, industrial, bridge painting, floor coating, or maintenance repainting.
What does a paint contractor do?
A paint contractor prepares and paints surfaces. Services may include interior painting, exterior painting, commercial painting, industrial coatings, wallcoverings, drywall repair, cabinet painting, deck staining, floor coatings, surface preparation, pressure washing, priming, and specialty finishes. Industrial contractors may also provide blasting, corrosion control, and protective coating systems.
How do I choose a paint contractor?
Choose a paint contractor based on similar experience, insurance, references, written scope, surface preparation process, product knowledge, safety practices, and communication. For industrial or commercial projects, ask about coatings experience, access equipment, project management, crew capacity, and safety documentation.
Do paint contractors need a license in the United States?
Licensing varies by state and locality. Some areas require painting contractor licenses, while others regulate painting under general contractor or specialty contractor rules. Buyers should verify local requirements and request proof of insurance, workers’ compensation, and references.
What is the difference between painting and coatings?
Painting usually refers to decorative or protective finishes on homes and commercial buildings. Coatings often refers to higher-performance systems designed for corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, waterproofing, abrasion resistance, or industrial protection. Coatings usually require more technical surface preparation and product selection.
How much does professional painting cost?
Painting costs vary by project size, surface condition, paint type, access, prep work, number of coats, labor, location, and schedule. A small bedroom repaint costs far less than a full exterior, commercial building, industrial tank, bridge, or floor coating system.
Why is surface preparation important?
Surface preparation is one of the biggest factors in paint performance. Paint applied over dirt, moisture, loose material, rust, grease, chalking, or poorly repaired surfaces may fail early. Proper cleaning, sanding, priming, and repairs help paint bond correctly.
What are warning signs of a bad paint contractor?
Warning signs include no insurance, vague pricing, no written contract, poor communication, no references, weak prep explanation, unrealistic pricing, and pressure tactics. For commercial or industrial work, lack of safety documentation is also a major red flag.
Which paint contractors are best for homes?
CertaPro Painters, Five Star Painting, Fresh Coat Painters, 360° Painting, and strong local painting companies are common choices for residential projects. The best option depends on local reputation, crew quality, prep work, products, warranty, and communication.
Why are paint contractors important?
Paint contractors protect and improve buildings, equipment, and surfaces. Good painting improves appearance, durability, sanitation, branding, weather resistance, and property value. In industrial settings, coatings can prevent corrosion and extend asset life.
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