Pennsylvania handles painters differently from many states. There is no state painting license. Instead, home improvement contractors register with the Attorney General. Knowing that makes it easier to check who you are hiring.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
How do I find a good painter in Pittsburgh?
To find a good painter, ask neighbors with houses like yours, read recent reviews, and then check registration and insurance before you invite anyone to quote.
Look for a painter who knows older houses if you own one. Plaster, old trim, lead-safe work and wood repair are different skills from spraying new drywall. Ask to see photos of similar jobs.
How many quotes should I get?
Get three quotes. How many quotes you need comes down to this: enough to see what a complete job costs and to spot a number that is out of line.
Give each painter the same list of rooms, surfaces and colors so the quotes can be compared.
What should a painting estimate include?
A painting estimate should include everything needed to finish the job, in writing.
- The rooms and surfaces: walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets.
- The prep: patching, sanding, caulking, priming, washing or scraping.
- The number of coats.
- The paint, by product line and sheen.
- Who moves furniture and how floors are protected.
- Start date, expected length and clean-up.
- The total price and payment terms.
What should be in a painting contract?
A painting contract should repeat the estimate and add the legal details. Under Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, a home improvement job over $500 needs a written contract, and the contractor must give you a copy free of charge.
- The contractor's name, address and state registration number.
- The full scope, materials and total price.
- Start and finish dates.
- Payment schedule.
- Proof of insurance.
- Your right to cancel. Pennsylvania gives you three business days to cancel a home improvement contract without penalty, with an exception for emergencies.
Does a painter need a license in Pennsylvania?
No. Painters do not need a state license in Pennsylvania, because the state has no license for painters or general contractors. What the law requires is registration.
Contractors who do $5,000 or more of home improvement work in a year must register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The registration number has to appear on their contracts, estimates, proposals and advertisements. Registration is not a test of skill. The Pittsburgh Painting Solutions is licensed and insured.
How do I check a painter's registration and insurance in Pennsylvania?
Verify registration on the Attorney General's website, attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling 1-888-520-6680. Search by the contractor's name or number.
To check insurance, ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you directly by the painter's insurance agent. For work on a pre-1978 home, ask to see the firm's EPA lead-safe certificate too.
How much deposit should I give a painter?
Give a modest deposit that covers materials, with the rest tied to progress and the largest part due when the job is finished. Small jobs often need no deposit at all.
Pennsylvania's home improvement law has rules on deposits for larger contracts. Ask the Attorney General's office or read the act for the current limit before you agree to a large payment up front. Pay by check or card and get a receipt.
A painter wants half up front in cash. Is that a red flag?
Yes. A demand for half the price in cash before any work is a red flag. Cash leaves no record, and a large payment up front removes the painter's reason to return.
A sound contractor accepts a check or card and can explain what the deposit pays for.
Should I hire a painter who wants all the money up front?
No. Do not pay all of the money up front. Once the full price is paid you have nothing left to hold if the work is late, poor or unfinished.
Hold the final payment until you have walked the job and the touch-up list is done.
What are the red flags when hiring a painter?
The main red flags are missing paperwork and pressure.
- No Pennsylvania registration number on the estimate or ad.
- No proof of insurance.
- No written contract.
- A price far below every other quote.
- Cash only, or most of the money up front.
- Pressure to sign today.
- No mention of lead-safe work on an old house.
A painter says they can start tomorrow. Is that a red flag?
Not always, but ask why. A painter who can start tomorrow may have had a job cancelled or delayed by rain. It can also mean nobody else is hiring them.
Check registration, insurance and reviews the same way you would for anyone. A real opening will still be there after you have checked.
What should I ask a painter before hiring?
These are the questions to ask a painter before you sign:
- What is your Pennsylvania registration number?
- Can your agent send me proof of insurance?
- Who will be on the job, and are they your employees?
- What prep is included?
- How many coats, and which paint?
- How do you handle lead paint in older homes?
- When can you start and how long will it take?
- What happens if I find a problem after you leave?
Do painters give a warranty, and what should it cover?
Many painters give a written warranty on their labor. It should cover peeling, blistering and flaking caused by poor prep or application, and it should say how long it runs and how to make a claim.
Warranties normally exclude damage from leaks, moisture in the walls, structural movement and normal wear. Get it in writing. Ask us what applies to your job.
What if a painter damages my floors or furniture?
Tell the painter straight away and take photos. A responsible contractor fixes or pays for damage they cause, and their liability insurance exists for the larger cases.
This is why proof of insurance matters before the job starts. If a contractor will not deal with it, you can file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
For a written quote from a licensed and insured painter, call or text (412) 668-1875.