Painting contractors in Colorado

Residential and commercial painting

Residential painters handle interiors, exteriors, cabinets, trim, decks and fences for homeowners. Commercial painters work on offices, stores, apartment buildings, HOA communities and warehouses, where scheduling, safety and specifications drive the job. Many Colorado companies do both, but ask for examples of work like yours. If you manage a building or an HOA, our commercial painting guide covers bids, phasing and tenant scheduling.

What affects the price of a painting job

We don't publish price ranges, because two houses of the same size can differ a lot in cost. These are the factors that move a quote up or down:

• Surface area and height. Two-story walls, tall entryways and steep lots mean more ladder or lift time.
• Prep. Scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, wood replacement and priming often take longer than painting itself.
• Color change and coats. Going from dark to light, or covering stains, usually needs primer and an extra coat.
• Product line. Premium paints cost more per gallon but may hold color and resist peeling longer on sunny walls.
• Detail work. Trim, doors, railings, shutters and cabinets are slow, careful work.
• Lead-safe work practices on older homes, which add setup, containment and cleanup.
• Access and season. Busy months book up, and mountain towns have a short exterior season.

What Colorado weather does to paint

Sun at elevation. UV intensity rises with altitude because there's less atmosphere to filter it, and much of Colorado sits a mile high or more. South- and west-facing walls fade, chalk and crack first. Ask about UV-resistant products and lighter colors on the sunniest sides.

Freeze-thaw cycles. Colorado can swing from warm afternoons to freezing nights, especially in spring and fall. Water that gets behind paint through gaps or bare wood freezes, expands and pushes coatings off. Good caulking, sealing end grain and priming bare wood are the defense.

Dry air. Low humidity makes paint dry fast, which can cause lap marks on big walls and makes wood siding shrink and open gaps. Experienced crews plan around it by working in shade and keeping a wet edge.

Temperature limits. Every paint label lists a minimum application temperature. In Colorado, overnight lows matter as much as the afternoon high, because paint needs time to cure before it freezes. Ask how the painter decides when it's too cold.

Hail. Front Range hailstorms can chip paint and dent siding. If you're filing an insurance claim, ask the painter to document the damage before work begins.

Lead-safe rules for homes built before 1978

Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978, and many older Colorado homes still have it under newer coats. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule applies to paid work that disturbs paint in homes, apartments and child-occupied facilities built before 1978. The firm must be EPA-certified, even a sole proprietor, and the work must follow lead-safe practices for containment and cleanup.

• Minor repair and maintenance is exempt when it disturbs six square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside.
• Window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces are covered regardless of size.
• Before work starts, you should receive EPA's Renovate Right pamphlet.

Ask for the firm's certification and the certified renovator's name. More detail is on the EPA RRP program page.

How to vet a painter

• Insurance. Ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation. Colorado requires workers' comp for employers with one or more employees.
• Local licensing. Colorado doesn't license painters statewide, but some cities require contractor licensing or registration. Check with your city.
• A written warranty that says what's covered (peeling, blistering, workmanship), for how long and what isn't covered.
• Prep in writing. The quote should describe washing, scraping, patching, caulking and priming, not just "paint exterior."
• Named products. The brand, product line and sheen for each surface, plus the number of coats.
• Payment tied to progress rather than a large upfront deposit.
• Recent local references and photos of jobs finished at least a year or two ago, so you can see how the paint held up.

For a deeper checklist, see how to vet a contractor in Colorado. Current painting offers are listed on our Colorado business deals page.

Painters by city

See all painters in Colorado, or compare Denver painting companies that meet our published criteria.

Common questions