Missouri does not make it easy to check a painter, because the state does not license them. That puts more weight on insurance, a written contract and your own questions. This page explains what to look for. It is general information, not legal advice.
How do I find a good painter?
To find a good painter, ask neighbors with a house like yours, look at recent local reviews, and get written quotes from companies that came out and looked at the job. Choose a painter who explains the prep, not only the price.
For an older St. Louis home, ask about plaster repair, old oil paint on trim and lead-safe work. A painter who has no answer to those has not done many houses like yours.
How many quotes should I get?
Three written quotes is a sensible number. It shows you the range and makes an odd quote stand out. Give each painter the same list of rooms and surfaces so you can compare them fairly.
What should a painting estimate include?
A painting estimate should include everything needed to finish the job, in writing.
- The rooms or walls and the surfaces in each: walls, ceilings, trim, doors, windows.
- The prep: washing, scraping, patching, sanding, caulking and priming.
- The repairs that are included and the ones that are not.
- The paint by product line and sheen, and the number of coats.
- Lead-safe work if the home was built before 1978.
- Protection, clean-up and the final walk-through.
- The total price, the payment terms and the expected timing.
What should be in a painting contract?
A painting contract should repeat the estimate and add the terms: the names and address, the full scope, the price, the payment schedule, the start window, how changes are approved and priced, proof of insurance, and what happens if a problem shows up after the job.
Both sides should sign it. Changes should be written down before the extra work is done.
How much deposit should I give a painter?
A modest deposit that covers materials and holds your date is normal. Missouri does not license painters, and we have not found a state rule that sets a deposit limit for painting, so the amount comes down to the contract. Keep the larger share of the price until the work is done.
Pay in a way that leaves a record, and get a receipt.
A painter wants half up front in cash. Is that a red flag?
Yes. Half the price in cash before any work is a warning sign. Cash leaves no record, and a large payment up front leaves you with little hold over the job. A check or card payment for a smaller deposit is the safer way.
Should I hire a painter who wants all the money up front?
No. Do not pay all of the money up front. Once a job is fully paid, the painter has no reason left to come back and finish or fix it. Stage the payments against the work, with the final payment after the walk-through.
Does a painter need a license in Missouri?
No. A painter does not need a state license in Missouri. The state licenses some trades and professions, but it has no license for painting contractors or general contractors. Cities and counties can have their own business license rules, and the City of St. Louis licenses businesses through its License Collector's office.
There is one federal rule: a firm paid to disturb paint in a pre-1978 home must be certified by the EPA under the lead renovation rule. The St Louis Painting Company is licensed and insured.
How do I check a painter's license and insurance in Missouri?
With no state painter license to look up, the insurance is what you verify. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and call the agent named on it to confirm it is current. Ask about workers' compensation cover for the crew.
For a business license, ask the painter which city or county issued it and check with that office. For pre-1978 homes, ask to see the EPA lead-safe firm certificate. You can also look the business up on the Missouri Secretary of State's business search.
What are the red flags?
- No written quote, or a one-line quote with only a total.
- Pressure to sign today.
- A large cash deposit or full payment before work.
- No proof of insurance.
- No mention of prep, primer or the number of coats.
- No answer on lead-safe work for an old house.
- A price far below every other quote.
One red flag is a reason to ask more questions. Several together are a reason to walk away.
A painter says they can start tomorrow. Is that a red flag?
Not always. A painter who can start tomorrow may have had a job cancel or a rain delay shift the schedule. It is a flag when it comes with pressure to pay a deposit on the spot or to skip the written quote. Good painters are usually booked some way ahead in the busy season.
What should I ask a painter before hiring?
- Who will be on the job each day, and who do I talk to?
- What prep is included, and what repairs are extra?
- Which paint line and how many coats?
- Are you insured, and can I see the certificate?
- For my pre-1978 house, is your firm EPA certified for lead-safe work?
- How do you protect floors, furniture, plants and the neighbor's property?
- What is the payment schedule?
- What do you do if something fails after the job?
These are fair questions to ask a painter, and to ask us.
Do painters give a warranty, and what should it cover?
Many painters give a written warranty on their workmanship. It should say how long it runs, that it covers peeling, blistering and flaking caused by the work, and what is left out, such as leaks, rot and normal wear. The paint maker's warranty on the product is separate.
Get it in writing with the contract. Ask us about ours when we quote your job.
What if a painter damages my floors or furniture?
Tell the painter at once, take photos and put it in writing. A proper company fixes or pays for damage it causes, and its liability insurance is there for larger losses. This is the reason to check insurance before the job starts.
If a dispute with any contractor cannot be settled, Missouri consumers can file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's Office, online or through its Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222. That office enforces the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
To get a written quote from us, call or text (314) 742-3507.