Choosing a painter comes down to proof and paper: proof of insurance, proof of past work and a written quote that says exactly what will be done. This page explains what to check in Michigan.
This page is general information for Michigan property owners. It is not legal advice. Check the current rules with the agency named, or with a lawyer, before you rely on them.
How do I find a good painter?
To find a good painter, ask neighbors with houses like yours, read recent reviews, and then check each company yourself. A house painter who works on old Detroit homes should be able to talk about plaster, wood windows and lead-safe work without being prompted.
- Look at photos of finished jobs similar to yours.
- Ask for two or three recent customers you can call.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance.
- For a pre-1978 house, ask to see the EPA lead-safe firm certificate.
- Get the quote in writing.
How many quotes should I get?
Get three quotes for a job of any size. How many quotes you collect matters less than whether they are for the same scope.
Give every painter the same list: which rooms or walls, how many coats, what repairs and which grade of paint. Then the prices can be compared fairly.
What should a painting estimate include?
A painting estimate should include everything needed to finish the job, in writing.
- The rooms or exterior areas, and which surfaces in each: walls, ceilings, trim, doors.
- The prep: washing, scraping, patching, sanding, caulking and priming.
- The paint by product name, the sheen and the number of coats.
- Who moves furniture and how floors and plants are protected.
- Repairs that are included and the price for extra ones.
- The total price, the payment schedule and the expected start and length of the job.
What should be in a painting contract?
A painting contract should hold everything in the estimate plus the terms that protect both sides. The Michigan Attorney General advises not to let work start without a signed written contract that includes every promise the contractor made.
- The names, address and phone number of the company.
- The full scope, products and colors.
- The price and when each payment is due.
- Start date and expected finish.
- How changes and extra work are agreed and priced, in writing.
- Clean-up, touch-ups and a final walk-through.
- Any warranty, in writing.
How much deposit should I give a painter?
We found no Michigan law that sets a limit on a painter's deposit. The Michigan Attorney General's advice to homeowners is to pay only part up front, and says about one third of the contract price should generally be enough, with the rest due when the work is done to your satisfaction.
A deposit that covers materials is reasonable. Tie later payments to progress you can see. Paying by check or card leaves a record.
The painter wants half up front in cash. Is that a red flag?
Yes, it is a warning sign. Half up front is more than the Attorney General's general guide of one third, and cash leaves you with no record if something goes wrong.
Some honest small painters do ask for cash. Even so, insist on a written contract and a signed receipt for every payment, or pay by check. If the painter refuses both, look elsewhere.
Should I hire a painter who wants all the money up front?
No. Do not pay all of the money before the work is done. Once a painter has been paid in full, you have nothing left to hold back if the job is poor or never finished.
The normal pattern is a deposit, perhaps a progress payment on a large job, and the balance after the final walk-through.
Does a painter need a licence in Michigan?
No. A painter does not need a state licence in Michigan for painting alone. Painting and decorating was removed from the trades covered by the state's residential maintenance and alteration contractor licence by a law signed in December 2018.
Other work still needs a licence. Under the Michigan Occupational Code, a residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor licence from the state licensing department, LARA, is required for trades such as carpentry, siding, roofing and masonry when the job is $600 or more. So if your painter will also replace siding, rebuild a porch or do other carpentry, ask about that licence. Cities can have their own business registration rules too.
How do I check a painter's licence and insurance in this state?
To check a licence, use the licence search on the LARA website. It shows whether a residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor licence is current. Remember that painting alone needs no state licence in Michigan, so many honest painters will not appear there.
To verify insurance, ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you directly by the painter's insurance agent, showing general liability cover, and workers' compensation if the company has employees. The Detroit Painting Company is licensed and insured. Ask us and we will show you the paperwork.
What are the red flags?
The red flags are pressure, vagueness and missing paperwork.
- No written quote, or a one-line quote with no scope.
- A large deposit, or the whole price, wanted before work starts.
- Cash only, with no receipt.
- No proof of insurance.
- No mention of lead on a house built before 1978.
- A price far below every other quote.
- Pressure to sign today.
- No address, no reviews and no past customers to call.
The painter says they can start tomorrow. Is that a red flag?
Not by itself. A painter who can start tomorrow may simply have had a job cancel, and winter is a slow season for painters in Michigan.
It becomes a warning sign when it comes with pressure, a demand for cash up front or no written quote. Good painters are often booked weeks ahead in summer. Ask why they are free, and check everything else on this page before saying yes.
What should I ask a painter before hiring?
Ask these questions before hiring a painter, and get the answers in the written quote.
- What prep is included, and what would cost extra?
- Which paint and primer, how many coats?
- Who will be on site, employees or subcontractors?
- Are you insured, and can I have a certificate?
- Is your firm EPA lead-safe certified for pre-1978 homes?
- How do you protect floors, furniture, plants and brick?
- When can you start and how long will it take?
- What is the payment schedule?
- What happens if I find a problem after you leave?
Do painters give a warranty, and what should it cover?
Many painters give a workmanship warranty, and you should ask for it in writing. It should cover peeling, blistering and flaking caused by poor prep or application, for a stated period.
It normally does not cover damage from leaks, moisture inside walls, structural movement or normal wear. Paint makers give their own product warranties, which are separate. Ask us what cover applies to your job before you sign.
What if a painter damages my floors or furniture?
If a painter damages your floors or furniture, the painter is responsible for putting it right, and that is what liability insurance is for.
Point out the damage straight away, take photos and put it in writing. A good painter will clean, repair or pay for it. If the painter will not, you can claim on the painter's insurance, complain to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection team, or use small claims court. Complaints about a licensed builder or contractor go to LARA.
Want a written quote to compare? Call or text (313) 251-3869.