Atlanta’s painting contractor market serves one of the most diverse housing and commercial real estate environments in the Southeast, ranging from historic Victorian and Craftsman homes in Inman Park, Grant Park, and Morningside to modern high-rise developments in Midtown and large commercial office and retail properties throughout the I-285 corridor. Interior and exterior painting demand is sustained by a steady flow of Atlanta homeowners undertaking renovation projects, landlords preparing units in the city’s large rental market, and businesses refreshing commercial spaces in a competitive tenant environment. The city’s climate, with hot and humid summers that accelerate exterior paint degradation and periodic temperature swings that cause expansion and contraction in wood substrates, makes surface preparation and product selection particularly important for long-lasting results in Atlanta’s environment.
Georgia does not require a separate state painting contractor license beyond the general contractor registration, but painters working on projects above $2,500 should hold the standard Georgia contractor registration and carry general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. When evaluating Atlanta painting contractors, ask about the products they specify, how they handle surface preparation including scraping, priming, and caulking, and whether they provide a written warranty on both labor and materials. Red flags include contractors who minimize the importance of surface preparation, who cannot identify the specific paint products they plan to use, or who provide verbal quotes without a written scope of work. The quality of surface preparation is the single largest determinant of how long a paint job lasts in Atlanta’s climate.
Top Painter Companies in Atlanta
1. CertaPro Painters of Atlanta-Decatur
Phone: (404) 377-1867
Website: https://www.certapro.com/atlanta-decatur
Service Area: Atlanta and Decatur metro area
Services:
- Interior residential painting
- Exterior residential painting
- Commercial painting
- Surface preparation and repair
- Color consultation
About: CertaPro Painters of Atlanta-Decatur is a franchise of one of North America’s largest residential and commercial painting companies, combining the systems and training of a national organization with locally accountable ownership. The Atlanta-Decatur location serves both residential homeowners and commercial property owners, providing free estimates and a professionally managed project experience. CertaPro’s franchise model requires adherence to quality and customer service standards that are audited regularly, which provides an accountability layer beyond individual contractor relationships. The company’s commercial painting division handles all types of commercial buildings in the greater Atlanta and Decatur service areas with professionally managed projects designed to minimize business disruption.
2. Fillo Painting Contractors
Website: https://www.fillopainting.com
Service Area: North Metro Atlanta
Services:
- Interior residential painting
- Exterior residential painting
- Commercial painting
- Interior and exterior business painting
About: Fillo Painting Contractors has built a reputation as a quality residential and commercial painting company serving North Metro Atlanta. The company serves both residential homeowners and commercial clients, understanding the specific need to minimize operational disruption during commercial painting projects and completing jobs efficiently so clients return to their space quickly. Fillo’s North Metro Atlanta focus, spanning Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, and surrounding communities, reflects a deliberate geographic strategy that allows the company to maintain service quality without overextending its team across the full metro footprint. The company provides free estimates for both interior and exterior projects.
3. The Painting Group
Founded: 1992
Website: https://www.thepaintinggroup.com
Service Area: Metro Atlanta
Licenses & Certifications: A+ BBB Rating
Services:
- Interior and exterior residential painting
- Commercial painting
- Cabinet refinishing
- Surface preparation and repairs
About: The Painting Group has been serving the Atlanta market since 1992 and has accumulated a client base of more than 5,200 homeowners and business owners, a scale of completed work that reflects more than three decades of consistent quality and customer satisfaction. The company holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, reflecting a record of resolving client concerns professionally and maintaining ethical business practices throughout its long operating history. The Painting Group’s combination of longevity, volume of completed projects, and A+ BBB standing positions it as one of the most credentialed painting contractors in the Atlanta metro. Both full interior and exterior painting services are offered for residential and commercial clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I choose a reliable painting contractor in Atlanta?
A: Start by requesting written estimates from at least two contractors, ensuring each estimate specifies the paint brand and product line, the number of coats, the surface preparation steps included, and the warranty terms. Verify the contractor carries general liability insurance and workers’ compensation by requesting certificates of insurance. Ask for local references from projects completed within the last 12 months and take the time to contact at least one or two. Look for contractors who emphasize surface preparation, as caulking, priming, and proper filling of imperfections account for the majority of a quality paint job’s longevity in Atlanta’s climate.
Q: What does interior and exterior painting cost in Atlanta?
A: Interior painting for an average Atlanta home of 1,500 to 2,500 square feet typically ranges from $2,500 to $6,000 depending on ceiling height, the number of rooms, the extent of trim and detail work, and the quality of paint specified. Exterior painting for an average Atlanta single-family home ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 depending on square footage, the condition of existing surfaces requiring preparation, and siding material. Cabinet refinishing or painting is a popular Atlanta project ranging from $1,200 to $4,000 depending on the number of cabinets and the finish type. Commercial painting is typically priced by square footage with rates varying based on access requirements and the extent of surface preparation needed.
Q: What paint products are best suited for Atlanta’s climate?
A: For Atlanta exterior applications, exterior acrylic latex paints with high elasticity ratings perform best, as they expand and contract with Georgia’s temperature cycles without cracking. Products from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams Duration, and Behr Marquee are commonly specified by Atlanta’s better painting contractors for their durability and UV resistance in the southern sun. For Atlanta bathrooms and kitchens, moisture-resistant paints with mildewcide additives are particularly important given the humidity. Interior flat finishes show touch-up differences more readily and are less suitable for high-traffic Atlanta family homes, where eggshell and satin finishes are the practical standard for walls and semi-gloss for trim.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s painting contractor market includes several credentialed, well-established companies serving the metro area’s residential and commercial painting needs. CertaPro Painters of Atlanta-Decatur brings the systems of a national leader with local ownership accountability for both residential and commercial projects. Fillo Painting Contractors provides quality-focused residential and commercial service across North Metro Atlanta with efficient project management. The Painting Group has over three decades of Atlanta market experience, an A+ BBB rating, and a client base exceeding 5,200 completed projects. Contacting any of these companies for a free estimate is the most effective way to begin your painting project.