The Ranking
Our top 5 painting companies in Houston
Paint takes a beating in Houston. Summer sun fades dark colors on south and west walls within a few seasons, months of humidity feed mildew on shaded siding, and the clay soil under most of the city shifts enough to open hairline cracks in stucco, drywall and brick mortar. Wood trim, fascia and porch decking rot first, which is why a good exterior bid in the Heights, Oak Forest or Spring Branch lists carpentry repair next to painting. Newer homes in Memorial, Cypress and Katy carry more stucco and fiber cement, and cabinets in builder-grade kitchens have become some of the most requested jobs.\n\nAge matters too. A large share of Houston bungalows and ranch houses in the inner loop were built before 1978, when lead paint was still legal. Under the US EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, contractors who disturb paint in those homes must be RRP certified and follow lead-safe work practices. Ask any painter you are considering whether the firm is certified and how the crew contains dust. One company below says it is Lead-Safe Certified, and the others do not publish their practices.\n\nAll five companies here work from a Houston street address. We looked for painters who do residential interior, exterior or cabinet work, and we left out paint stores, commercial-only contractors, remodelers, lead-generation sites and companies with mailbox or home addresses. Several also serve The Woodlands, Katy and Bellaire.\n\nBefore you hire, check what licence applies. Texas does not license painters, and it has no state licence for general contractors, so a legitimate painting company can hold no licence at all. In its place, ask for a certificate of insurance, a written scope that names the paint line, the number of coats and the prep, the warranty terms and recent references from your part of town. Treat a claim of licensed and insured on a website as a claim until you see the paperwork.
