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 Herb Knecht Painting, the key to keeping clients happy is simple: focus on the details of their projects to ensure the best possible outcomes. “We really care about our work, so we go out of our way to make sure our customers are satisfied with every aspect of their jobs,” affirms owner Herb Knecht. “They’re our number one priority and we treat them as such.”

Herb Knecht Painting has been providing interior and exterior painting services for residential and commercial clients throughout Sacramento County since 1998. The company has the training and equipment to prepare and paint all types of surfaces, and it’s also qualified to handle specialized work like refinishing and deck sealing.

Unlike painting companies whose owners delegate project management responsibilities to less experienced employees, Herb Knecht Painting provides every job with the hands-on expertise of Mr. Knecht himself. “I’ve been painting full-time since I graduated high school and it’s something I’ve always loved to do,” he says. “It’s exciting to see a house that needs to be repainted and watch it transform over a couple of days. When the work is done, I feel good about what I’ve done and how happy I’ve made my customers.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Herb Knecht Painting is its dedication to preparing surfaces and using industry-best application techniques on every project, regardless of its size. “We take a lot of pride in our prep work, and we always use a prime coat and two coats of paint to ensure long-lasting results,” explains Mr. Knecht. “Ultimately, we want to make sure our clients don’t have to repaint their homes for another 10 to 12 years.”

When it comes to painting projects, price isn’t as important as quality.

Unfortunately, not every homeowner is savvy enough to know what to look for when comparing estimates between painting contractors. Repainting can be an expensive job, so some people think they can save money by hiring unlicensed operators or companies that offer low prices, but that often leads to inferior work that doesn’t last as long as it should.

In the Bay Area, harsh sunlight, winter storms, salty ocean breezes and fog moisture can take their toll on exterior paint, which means low-quality work simply can’t stand up to the elements. “If you don’t prepare a house properly, the paint isn’t going to last,” affirms Herb Knecht, owner of Herb Knecht Painting in Folsom. “Some contractors just want to get in and out, so they don’t take the time to remove mildew, scrape peeling areas, fill holes, caulk gaps, patch stucco, or fix rot or damage. Also, proper preparation means applying an appropriate primer layer. Some painters just spot prime, while others say they’re going to apply two coats but they just do a prime coat and a single coat of paint.”

The type of paint that a company uses also makes a difference. Oil-based paints used to be the industry standard, but new regulations are encouraging contractors to move toward less hazardous products. However, some contractors use cheap paints or those that aren’t rated for exterior use. Mr. Knecht says homeowners need to be aware of their choices and demand quality products. “Materials are getting better and better, but you still need to make sure your contractor gets the right type of paint. A good product that’s applied in the right thickness and number of coats will last a long time. The value will be better and you won’t have to worry about repainting for another decade.”

Q: How long will it take to complete my painting project?
A: It depends on a lot of factors, but once we determine the details of your project, we’ll be able to give you an accurate time estimate.

Q: How will you protect my property during the job?
A: We use drop cloths, plastic and other protective barriers while we’re painting. We also take care around landscaping, plants, and exterior surfaces like driveways and fences.

Q: What type of paint will you use and how much will you put on my home?
A: We always use high-quality paint made by Sherwin-Williams, and we apply two coats instead of one to provide better coverage and make it last longer.

Q: Can you fix peeling paint on the outside of my house?
A: Yes. Most of the time, peeling paint happens on wood. In that case, we’ll scrape it down, power sand the surface, feather in the damaged areas and prime over the raw areas before painting them.

Q: Can you paint over mildewed areas?
A: Yes. First, we’ll remove the mildew by using bleach or a mold/mildew cleaner. If the damage is outside, we’ll power wash the area before repainting.

Q: Can you fill in gaps in the trim around my doors and windows?
A: Yes. After we’ve prepped and sanded those areas, we’ll fill them in with caulk before painting. If the trim is on stucco and there are gaps, it needs to be filled so water doesn’t get in.

Q: Can you fill in cracks in stucco or drywall?
A: Yes. If there are larger cracks, we may need to make sure there aren’t foundation problems or underlying issues that are causing the cracks. Once we know that, we can fill in the cracks and go over them with patching compound so they’re no longer visible. Smaller cracks and hairline cracks are easy to handle—we’ll use patching compound to fill them in and then paint over them.