- Licensed and Insured
- BBB A+ Rated. Family-Owned Since 2016.
- No Deposit to Get Started
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Licensed General Contractor & Painting Company in Columbus, OH
Getting one contractor to show up in Columbus is surprisingly difficult. Getting a painter, drywall crew, flooring installer, and a carpenter to show up in order on a tight schedule is nearly impossible. That is the problem PaintWerks was built to solve. We are a licensed Ohio general contractor that handles all these trades and more with our own crews under one contract. One team. One schedule. One person accountable for your entire project.
We have been doing this across Columbus and Central Ohio since 2016. Bathroom remodels, home renovations, basement finishing, commercial buildouts, turnovers, and full gut rehabs for homeowners and businesses including Target, Kroger, Core Molding Technologies, and Easton Town Center. No deposit required to get on the schedule. 2-year workmanship warranty on every project and a reputation built on referrals and repeat clients.
Licensed & Fully Insured
Ohio general contractor license, commercial general liability, and workers compensation on every project regardless of size. We carry the coverage that property managers, HOAs, and commercial clients require before work starts. COIs delivered within 24 hours. BBB A+ rated and accredited.
One Contractor, Every Trade
Hiring separate crews for painting, drywall, framing, flooring, and tile means separate schedules, separate invoices, and nobody accountable when something goes wrong. We carry all of those trades under one contract. Your project stays with one crew from demo to final walkthrough, and one person answers the phone when you call.
Our Services
Every project includes a detailed written estimate, a dedicated point of contact, and a 2-year workmanship warranty. Select a service below for details on scope, process, and what to expect.
Ready for a change? Let's get started on your project today!
Demo to Done.
The Finish Tells on the Trades
When a drywall crew finishes and leaves, then a separate painter shows up two weeks later, nobody owns what is between those layers. Paint flashes over bad mud. Trim does not line up with tile. Flooring meets the wall with a visible gap because the framer was not there to see it. We run every trade on your project, so the crew that hangs and finishes drywall is the same crew that primes and paints it. The finish looks right because the handoff never happened.
Prep Beyond Paint
Most commercial painting projects uncover problems a paint-only company has to call someone else to fix. Damaged drywall, failed substrates, trim that needs replacing, block walls that were never sealed. We carry carpentry, framing, and drywall trades in-house so prep issues get handled on the spot without rebidding or schedule delays.
Budget Creep Starts at the Handoff
Every time work passes from one contractor to another there is a mobilization charge, a markup, and a week on the calendar you were not planning to lose. Three contractors on one commercial buildout means three separate bids, three schedules that do not talk to each other, and three invoices that add up to more than one contractor would have charged to do it all. One contract. One price. One scope built to finish.
One Walkthrough Settles It
When multiple trades touch your project, the punch list turns into a blame list. The painter says it is the drywall. The drywall crew says it is the framing. Nobody fixes it because nobody owns it. We walk every finished project with you before final payment. Commercial or residential. Touch-ups happen before we leave. You sign off or we are not done.
Results on Record.
300 Square Feet to 330,000
Smallest project: a single bathroom remodel. Largest: a two-phase industrial repaint across an active manufacturing floor at Core Molding Technologies. Nights, weekends, and holidays without a single disruption to production. The range matters because it means we have seen your project before, no matter the size.
Occupied Buildings. Zero Disruption.
The majority of our commercial painting is completed in occupied buildings. Offices, retail stores, senior living facilities, and medical offices that cannot close for a paint job. Low-VOC coatings, dust containment, phased scheduling around your operations. Your doors stay open.
Five Stars. Zero Paid Reviews.
Every review on our Google profile is from a real client on a real project. Read them. You will see the same words over and over: communication, clean, on time, came back to fix a detail we did not even notice. That consistency is not an accident. It is how we run every job.
Commercial Clients Keep Our Number
Target, Kroger, Easton Town Center, five Primrose School locations, and property managers across Central Ohio. COIs delivered within 24 hours. Commercial clients do not call back unless the first job was done right, the paperwork was clean, and the crew did not disrupt their operations.
Every Trade Under One Roof
Most contractors say full service and mean they will call someone. We have framed walls, hung and finished drywall, set tile, installed LVP flooring, built custom siding and trim, and painted everything from residential interiors to three-story commercial exteriors. These are not trades we sub out. These are trades we trained on.
Our Work Process
Every project follows the same framework regardless of size or scope. Clear estimate, coordinated trades, quality execution, and a final walkthrough before you pay.
Real Numbers. Not Ranges.
We walk the space, assess the conditions, and hand you a written estimate broken out by scope. Not a ballpark. Not a range that doubles once the work starts. Real line items you can compare against any other bid in Columbus. No deposit required to get on the schedule.
Prep It Right the First Time.
The work you do not see determines how long the work you do see will last. We patch, repair, sand, prime, and fix substrate problems before any finish goes on. Damaged drywall gets cut out and replaced. Rot gets removed. Failed caulk gets stripped. If we find something behind the surface that needs attention, we stop, show you, and get approval before the scope changes.
Build It. Coat It. Install It.
Framing goes up. Drywall gets hung and finished. Paint gets applied. Tile gets set. Flooring gets installed. Every trade handled by one crew in the right sequence so nothing gets rushed, skipped, or redone because someone else was not finished yet. One contract. One schedule. Clean work, protected spaces, and no surprises on the invoice.
Before We Wrap Up.
We walk the finished project with you before final payment. Every surface checked against the original scope. Touch-ups and punch list items handled before we leave. 2-year workmanship warranty from date of completion on every project we touch.
What Our Clients Say
We've built our commercial business on referrals and repeat clients. Property managers, business owners, and GCs who've worked with us talk. Our reviews reflect how we treat people, how we run job sites, and how we finish projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a general contractor charge in Columbus, Ohio?
General contractor pricing in Columbus depends on the project type, scope, and whether the work is residential or commercial. Most general contractors charge either a percentage of the total project cost or a fixed bid based on a detailed scope of work. Hourly billing is uncommon for full-scope projects. Here are 2026 ranges based on actual project bids we have completed across Columbus and Central Ohio.
| Project Type | Typical Range (Columbus, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Single Room Interior Paint | $400 - $800 |
| Full House Interior Paint (2,000-3,000 sq ft) | $3,000 - $8,000+ |
| Bathroom Remodel (cosmetic refresh) | $8,000 - $16,000 |
| Bathroom Remodel (full gut, layout changes) | $18,000 - $40,000+ |
| Kitchen Remodel | $25,000 - $75,000+ |
| Basement Finish (800-1,200 sq ft) | $30,000 - $65,000+ |
| Commercial Office Repaint (per floor sq ft) | $5.00 - $8.00 |
| Commercial Tenant Buildout (per floor sq ft) | $50 - $150+ |
| Warehouse / Industrial Repaint (per floor sq ft) | $1.50 - $4.00 |
Columbus labor rates sit slightly below the national average, but demand for licensed contractors has increased as the metro area has grown. The biggest variable is scope. A contractor who includes drywall repair, substrate prep, and finish work in the bid will cost more upfront than one who rolls over problems and leaves you calling someone else six months later. We provide detailed written estimates broken out by trade and scope so you see exactly what is included before the work starts. Schedule a free estimate and compare our numbers against any other bid in Columbus.
How much does commercial painting cost per square foot?
Commercial painting in Columbus typically ranges from $1.50 to $10.00 per floor square foot depending on the space type, substrate condition, number of coats, ceiling height, and whether the project is new construction or a repaint. These are 2026 averages based on real project bids we have completed across Columbus and Central Ohio.
| Space Type | Avg. Cost Per Floor Sq Ft | Typical Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Office / Corporate | $5.00 – $8.00 | Walls, ceilings, trim, low-VOC products, phased around business hours |
| Retail / Restaurant | $3.00 – $6.00 | Walls, ceilings, trim, moisture-resistant coatings in kitchens and restrooms |
| Medical / Healthcare | $6.00 – $10.00 | Zero-VOC products, dust containment, phased around patient schedules |
| Warehouse / Industrial | $1.50 – $4.00 | Block filler, pre-catalyzed epoxy, high ceilings, sprayed applications |
| Exterior | $1.00 – $3.50 | Pressure wash, scrape, prime, two coats, varies by substrate and building height |
Offices cost more per floor square foot because they have more wall area relative to floor space. Small rooms, hallways, and partitions increase the total paintable surface. Open warehouses have less wall per square foot, which brings the cost down even though the coatings are more specialized. New construction costs less than repaints because surfaces are clean and primed. Repaints require more prep: cleaning, patching, priming stains, and sometimes removing failed coatings. Night and weekend scheduling in occupied buildings adds labor premiums. See our full commercial painting services or schedule a site walkthrough for a detailed bid broken out by area and coating system.
Do I need a general contractor for a bathroom remodel?
It depends on how much is changing. If you are swapping a vanity, replacing a faucet, and repainting, a handyman can handle it. But if the project involves moving plumbing, removing walls, relocating electrical, or changing the layout, you need a licensed general contractor. Ohio building code requires permits for most structural, plumbing, and electrical work, and only a licensed contractor can legally pull those permits and schedule inspections in Columbus.
The deeper reason to hire a GC is coordination. A typical full bathroom remodel touches at least five trades: demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, tile, painting, and finish carpentry. Hiring those trades individually means managing five different schedules, five different bids, and five different people who do not talk to each other. A general contractor runs the entire project under one contract so the trades show up in order, the work gets inspected at every stage, and one person is accountable for the finished product.
What is the difference between a general contractor and a handyman?
Licensing, scope, and accountability. A general contractor holds a state-issued license that allows them to manage and perform construction, renovation, and remodeling projects of any size. In Ohio, this includes pulling permits, scheduling inspections, and carrying commercial general liability insurance and workers compensation. A handyman typically works without a license on smaller tasks that do not require permits, like patching drywall, replacing a faucet, or mounting a TV.
The practical difference shows up when something goes wrong. If a handyman finds rot behind your shower tile, the job stops. They do not have the license or the insurance to open a wall, reframe, run new plumbing, and close it back up. A general contractor handles that scope change on the spot because they carry the trades to fix it. If your project involves structural work, plumbing changes, electrical modifications, or anything that requires a building permit in Columbus, Ohio, you need a licensed general contractor, not a handyman.
| Handyman | General Contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed | Usually no | Yes (Ohio GC license) |
| Pulls permits | No | Yes |
| Insurance required | Varies | GL + Workers Comp |
| Typical project size | Under $1,000 | $1,000 - $500,000+ |
| Manages multiple trades | No | Yes |
| Warranty | Rarely | Written warranty standard |
We are a licensed Ohio general contractor carrying commercial general liability, workers compensation, and a 2-year workmanship warranty on every project. COIs delivered within 24 hours for commercial clients and property managers.
What is the difference between a painting company and a general contractor who paints?
A painting company handles one trade: paint. If their crew finds damaged drywall, rotted trim, a substrate problem, or a wall that was never sealed properly, the job stops. They tell you to call someone else, which means another contractor, another bid, another schedule, and a gap in accountability between the two scopes.
A general contractor who paints carries the trades to fix what they find. When we discover water damage behind a wall, we remove the damaged material, reframe if needed, hang and finish new drywall, and then paint it under the same contract. One contractor, one schedule, one point of accountability. That is the difference commercial property managers notice on the first project and the reason they call us back for the next one.
For commercial projects this distinction matters even more. Commercial interior painting regularly uncovers substrate issues that a paint-only crew cannot address: failed block filler on CMU walls, moisture damage behind restroom tile, trim that needs full replacement, and ceilings that need drywall repair before they can be sprayed. A licensed general contractor handles every one of those issues without stopping the project to wait on another contractor's schedule.
How long does a renovation or commercial buildout take in Columbus?
Project timelines in Columbus depend on scope, permit requirements, material lead times, and whether the space is occupied during the work. Here are typical durations based on projects we have completed across Columbus and Central Ohio in 2026.
| Project Type | Typical Duration | Key Timeline Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Single Room Repaint | 1 - 2 days | Prep condition, furniture protection |
| Full Interior Repaint (2,000-3,000 sq ft) | 3 - 5 days | Number of rooms, drywall repair needed |
| Bathroom Remodel (cosmetic) | 2 - 3 weeks | Fixture lead times, tile complexity |
| Bathroom Remodel (full gut) | 4 - 6 weeks | Layout changes, plumbing relocation, permit inspections |
| Kitchen Remodel | 4 - 8 weeks | Cabinetry lead time, countertop fabrication, electrical |
| Basement Finish | 6 - 10 weeks | Egress requirements, HVAC, plumbing for bathroom |
| Commercial Office Repaint (under 5,000 sq ft) | 3 - 5 days | Occupied building phasing, nights/weekends |
| Commercial Tenant Buildout | 4 - 12 weeks | Permit timeline, MEP coordination, inspection schedule |
| Industrial Repaint (10,000+ sq ft) | 2 - 4 weeks | Production schedule, coating cure times, phased access |
The biggest timeline factors are prep work and whether the building is occupied. Peeling paint, damaged drywall, and failed coatings add time on every project. Occupied commercial buildings requiring nights, weekends, or phased work extend the schedule further. If you have a hard deadline, contact us early so we can build the schedule backward from your date. We have completed emergency commercial projects including an overnight repair at Target where the store never closed.
Do you require a deposit to start a project?
No deposit for labor. You pay for the work after it is complete and you have walked the finished project with us. On larger projects involving significant material purchases, we may ask for materials to be invoiced separately so we can get everything on site and keep the schedule tight. We go over all payment terms during the estimate before any work is scheduled.
Most contractors in Columbus require 30% to 50% upfront before they start. We do not operate that way because we believe trust is earned on the job site, not collected before it. Every project includes a final walkthrough before final payment. Every project includes a 2-year workmanship warranty. If you are comparing bids and one contractor wants a large deposit while another does not, that should tell you something about who trusts their own work.
What should I look for when hiring a general contractor in Columbus?
Start with licensing and insurance. In Ohio, a general contractor must hold a valid state license to legally perform construction, renovation, and remodeling work. Ask for a copy of their Ohio GC license, their certificate of general liability insurance, and proof of workers compensation. If they cannot produce all three before work starts, move on. For commercial projects, ask if they can deliver a Certificate of Insurance (COI) within 24 hours, which is standard for property managers, HOAs, and commercial building owners.
Beyond the paperwork, here is what separates a good contractor from a great one in Columbus.
| What to Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Ohio GC License | Legally required for permitted work. Confirms the contractor is qualified and accountable. |
| General Liability + Workers Comp | Protects you if someone gets hurt on your property. No insurance means you carry the risk. |
| Written Estimate Broken Out by Trade | Vague estimates lead to surprise invoices. Line items let you compare bids accurately. |
| Deposit Policy | Large upfront deposits shift the financial risk to you. Ask why they need your money before the work starts. |
| Workmanship Warranty | No warranty means no accountability after the final check clears. |
| Google Reviews | Read the 3-star reviews, not just the 5-star ones. Look for patterns in communication and follow-through. |
| BBB Rating | Check complaint history and resolution. An A+ rating with resolved complaints is more meaningful than no complaints at all. |
| In-House Trades vs. Subcontractors | Contractors who carry their own trades have more control over quality, schedule, and accountability. |
PaintWerks is a licensed Ohio general contractor, BBB A+ rated, fully insured, and carries a 2-year workmanship warranty on every project. No deposit required. We handle residential painting, renovations, commercial buildouts, and every trade in between with our own crews. Schedule a free estimate and see how we compare.