Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for painting companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Metro Painting Co., the key to achieving and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is simple: take a comprehensive, detail-oriented approach to every project, regardless of its size. “When our clients see how thorough we are with our preparation and paint application methods, they know they’ll be getting quality results,” says Project Manager Jeff Kim. “We have a reputation for being highly attentive to details, and we’re very proud of that.”

Metro Painting has been providing interior and exterior painting services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients throughout the Bay Area since 1999. The company takes on all types of painting projects, including those designated by property managers and HOAs, and it exclusively uses high-quality paint products made by top manufacturers like Kelly-Moore, Dunn-Edwards, and Sherwin-Williams.

Unlike painting companies that hire inexperienced technicians in an effort to reduce their operating costs, Metro Painting maintains a staff of highly trained professionals who are committed to providing quality work and customer service. “Our employees are industry veterans who know how to paint all types of surfaces and communicate well with our clients,” says Mr. Kim. “Also, as the project manager, I stay in contact with each customer throughout their project and make sure we’re meeting all of their expectations.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Metro Painting is the fact that it customizes its painting methods for each specific job, which Mr. Kim says is important for ensuring high-quality results. “Paint application should always depend on the situation. For example, when we paint rough stucco, we may use a sprayer because it’s hard to get to all the crevices with a roller. If we can save a client time and money by using a sprayer instead of a brush or roller, we’ll do it.”

If you’re taking on an interior painting project, consider using low- or no-VOC paints. The smell of fresh paint may signal a fresh start to many homeowners, but it can also be harmful, particularly for children, animals and those with compromised breathing. The reason is simple: just like new carpeting and many cleaning products, fresh paint can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are released into the air as a gas when paint is applied to a surface.

VOCs can be responsible for several short- and long-term health problems, including irritation of the throat, eyes, nose or respiratory system; headaches, nausea, lightheadedness and dizziness; memory impairment; and allergic reactions. People who are exposed to new paint and other VOC-heavy substances can also develop asthma, liver and kidney damage, cancer, and damage to their central nervous system.

New, wet paint has the highest percentage of VOCs. As paint dries and the scent disappears, the VOCs dissipate into the environment. “VOCs in exterior paint aren’t as much of a concern because the smell and compounds are outside, so they have a less of a chance to affect the people inside,” explains Jeff Kim, project manager at Metro Painting Co. in San Francisco. “However, interior paint can be a problem for people who are sensitive to the smell or to VOCs in general. You can avoid this by using paint products with low- or zero-VOC content. They have very little odor and they’re less toxic to people and animals.”

Due to demand, more paint manufacturers are creating low- and no-VOC products in a variety of colors, finishes, and grades. They also recommend only applying paint in well-ventilated areas, opening windows and doors until all the paint is dry, and avoiding areas with fresh paint if you have a known sensitivity to VOC-laden products or a medical condition that’s exacerbated by VOCs.

Q: When can you start my painting project?

A: That depends on the time of year and how busy we are, but generally speaking, we’ll be able to get to your project within two or three weeks of your initial call.

Q: Do you provide free estimates?

A: Yes, that’s the first thing we do on every project. We’ll come to your property, look at the scope of work that needs to be done and email you a proposal within a couple of days.

Q: Will you be able to make any necessary repairs before you apply paint?

A: Yes, we can repair wood rot, dry rot and exterior damage. If you know you want that service ahead of time, we’ll talk about it during the estimate phase and add that into your written estimate.

Q: How do you apply paint?

A: We use three application methods: brushes, rollers and spray machines. The method we use for your project will depend on what’s best for your particular situation.

Q: What type of paint will you use?

A: We use high-quality paint from manufacturers like Kelly-Moore, Dunn-Edwards and Sherwin-Williams. We’ll let you choose the type of paint we use so you can be sure it meets your needs and specifications.

Q: How long will my exterior paint job last?

A: The Bay Area’s weather is hard on exterior paint, but you can expect a good paint job to last eight to 10 years.