A house painter or decorator is a tradesperson responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings.
They improve the appearance of a building and protect it from damage by water, mold, corrosion, or insects.
Painting dates from prehistoric times, and has occurred throughout the world and in all cultures. Early paint made from red or yellow ochre, hematite, manganese oxide, and charcoal, dating back as far as 40,000 years ago, was found in cave paintings.
Modern professional painting on homes and other structures dates to at least 2,000 years ago. In the late 1800s, Sherwin-Williams opened in the United States as a large producer of paint that could be used from the container without preparation. Sherwin-Williams remains the largest paint and coatings company in the world.
Painters and coating workers work with a wide range of products, often with the use of machines. Professional painters prepare and paint interior and exterior surfaces of residential and commercial properties. When working on existing structures, they often remove old paint, prime surfaces, choose materials, select and mix colors, apply paint, and clean up job sites.
Traditionally, painters were responsible for the mixing of the paint, keeping a supply of pigments, oils, thinners, and driers. The painter would use his experience to determine an appropriate mixture based on the nature of the job. However, today, painters are primarily responsible for preparing the surface to be painted, such as patching holes in drywall, using masking tape and other protection on surfaces not to be painted, applying the paint, and then cleaning up.
Larger firms are generally capable of performing a larger variety of painting or decorating services, such as creating an accent wall, sign writing, or gilding objects.
Most painting and coating workers are employed full-time, and the job often requires long periods of standing.
Painting and decorating workers typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent, although some employers hire workers who lack a diploma. Automotive painters often attend vocational or technical schools for hands-on training and to learn the intricacies of mixing and applying different types of paint.
Most painting and decorating workers learn on the job. Although some worker training may last only a few days, most entry-level workers receive on-the-job training that may last from a month to several months. Those who operate computer-controlled equipment will require additional training.
Although there may be jurisdictional variances, typically painters do not require licensure or certification.
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) is a membership organization representing painters worldwide.
Recommended Resources
The ACA is a non-profit trade association representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, the result of several mergers that culminated in its current name in 2010. The ACA advocates on legislative and regulatory matters affecting its membership, including paint and coatings manufacturers, distributors, raw material suppliers, and other industry professionals. The ACA publishes "Coatings Tech" and the "Journal of Coatings Technology and Research."
https://www.paint.org/
C.S. Barron Painters & Decorators
Based in Bristol, also serving Thornbury, Chipping Sodbury, and Sneyd Park, in South West England, C.S. Barron Painters & Decorators is a family-run painting and decorating company offering domestic and commercial interior and exterior painting, with an emphasis on preparation, attention to detail, and site protection. In business since 1965, C.S. Barron is a member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen, and its website features testimonials attesting to its quality, reliability, and consideration.
https://www.csbarron.co.uk/
Commercial Painting Industry Association
The CPIA is a peer-driven professional trade association serving commercial painting contractors worldwide. It focuses on peer-group learning, networking, and business development for owners and key team members in the commercial painting sector. The organization facilitates confidential, role-specific peer groups, hosts in-person events such as leadership conferences and executive retreats, and provides educational activities. Contact details and announcements are posted.
https://www.thecpia.com/
DM Contracts (Painters and Decorators) is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, serving Palmerston North and Manawatu suburbs (Westbook, Takaro, Hokowhitu, Roslyn, Whakarongo, Bunnythorpe), and specializing in exterior painting, interior decorating, character home restorations, house washing, roof cleaning, water blasting, and roof spraying. Its website includes client testimonials praising professionalism, reliability, and quality workmanship. Its address, hours, and contacts are posted.
https://www.painterpalmerstonnorth.co.nz/
Emphasizing quality workmanship, personal customer commitment, and its use of Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore products, Greg the Painter is a local house painter in Parker, Colorado, offering interior and exterior residential painting with more than twenty years of experience (since 1997). Free estimates are available by email or telephone. Its primary service areas are defined on the website. Galleries of photographs highlight the company's exterior and interior painting services.
https://gregthepainter.com/
The HPA is a national professional association for residential house painters that develops voluntary standards, enforces a Code of Ethics, and administers the Certified Professional House Painter (CPHP) credential. Membership is aimed at independent painters and small residential painting businesses, and an annual membership fee is noted for certification maintenance. CPHP certification can be used by homeowners to vet painters, and painters use it to differentiate their business.
https://housepaintersassociation.org/
Michael's Painting is a licensed, insured house-painting contractor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offering interior and exterior painting, cabinet refinishing, deck painting and staining, stucco and brick painting, and pressure washing. The company's website emphasizes careful prep, premium paints (Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore), more than 25 years of local experience, and clear communication through the project. Its address, hours, contacts, service area, and credentials are highlighted.
https://michaelshousepainting.com/
The local Adelaide, South Australia, painting company offers interior, exterior, commercial, and roof painting services, along with color-matching consultations. With over ten years of experience, the family-run company's website emphasizes its protective preparation, attention to detail, use of premium paints, and free, transparent quotes. A gallery of photographs highlights the company's work, and its address, hours, telephone number, and email address are presented.
https://paintersadelaide.com.au/
Painters and Allied Trades International Union
The IUPAT is a labor union representing skilled workers in the painting and allied trades (painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, and flooring installers) across the United States and Canada. Originally established as the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America in 1887, it was renamed in 1970, and headquartered in Hanover, Maryland. Membership levels and benefits are featured on the website, along with its organizaitonal structure, advocacy, and community involvement.
https://www.iupat.org/
Painting Contractors Association
The PCA is a non-profit association established in 1884 to represent the painting and decorating industry. Founded as the Master House Painters Association of the United States and Canada, PCA has established industry standards, publishes materials, and offers a contractor accreditation program through its "Contractor College" website. The association hosts an annual convention that presents new developments in the painting industry. An online store is included.
https://www.pcapainted.org/
Located in Washington, D.C., Signature House Painters is a residential and commercial painting company offering interior and exterior painting, along with related services, including power washing for wood, brick, aluminum, and concrete; deck painting and staining; wallpaper removal and disposal; and carpentry and repair services. Its website emphasizes licensed, insured crews, color consultations, and a customer-satisfaction guarantee. A quote request form is included.
https://washingtonhousepainters.com/
