The most important questions to ask a painting contractor are whether they’re registered and insured (ask to see the certificate), exactly what the written estimate includes, which paint and how many coats, how much deposit they want, who will be in your home, and what the warranty covers in writing.
In Indiana, there’s no state painting license, but cities like Indianapolis require local registration, and state law requires a written contract for any home improvement job over $150.
We hear these on estimates for all of our painting services, so below are the 15 questions to ask a painter, what a good answer sounds like, what should worry you, and how we answer each one ourselves. There’s a free printable checklist at the end.
How We’d Check Any Painter’s Credentials
The first questions to ask a painting contractor are about who they are on paper. These take five minutes and rule out most of the trouble.
1. Are you registered where I live?
Indiana doesn’t license painters at the state level, so registration happens city by city, and the rules vary.
A good answer: they name where they’re registered and can show you.
Red flag: “We’re state-licensed.” There’s no state painting license here, so that answer tells you they’re guessing.
Our answer: We’re registered with the cities that require it where we work, including Indianapolis, Lafayette and Kokomo, and we’re an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. We’ll show you the paperwork for your city before any work starts.
2. Can I see your certificate of insurance?
Liability insurance covers damage to your home. Workers’ compensation covers a painter who gets hurt on your property.
A good answer: “Sure, our agent will send it,” showing both coverages with current dates.
Red flag: “Yeah, we’re insured,” with nothing to show.
Our answer: We carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation for our crews, and our agent will email you a current certificate showing both, with dates, before we start.
3. Are you EPA lead-safe certified?
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, and federal rules require a certified firm for work that disturbs it.
A good answer: yes, as a firm, with a clear explanation of how they contain dust and clean up.
Red flag: “We’ll just sand it down.”
Our answer: Yes. We’re an EPA lead-safe certified firm. You can get the exact details on our website.
4. Who will actually be in my home?
The person who gives the estimate isn’t always the person who paints.
A good answer: whether the crew are employees or subcontractors, and who leads the job.
Red flag: they can’t tell you who’s coming until the morning of.
Our answer: Your project is run by our own team, with Jake or Evan as your point of contact from estimate to final walkthrough. You’ll know who’s coming before day one.
How We Put the Estimate and Contract in Writing
This is where two quotes that look alike on price turn out to be very different jobs.
5. What exactly is included?
A price means nothing until you know what it buys.
A good answer: an itemized list by room or surface, with prep and repairs spelled out.
Red flag: one number for “paint the house.”
Our answer: Every Painting Group estimate is broken down by room or surface, with the prep and repairs, number of coats, paint products and timeline spelled out, so you can see exactly what each part of the price covers.
6. Which paint, which product line, and how many coats?
Brands make good and budget lines, and one coat versus two is a big difference in how long the job lasts.
A good answer: the brand, the product line, the sheen for each surface, and the number of coats, all on the estimate.
Red flag: “We use good paint.”
Our answer: We mainly use PPG paints, typically PPG Diamond for interiors and PPG Timeless for exteriors, and our standard is two coats. The brand, product line, sheen for each surface and number of coats are all written on your estimate.
7. Will I get a written contract?
In Indiana, this isn’t optional. According to the Indiana Attorney General’s office, home improvement contracts over $150 must be in writing, with the price, a description of the work and start and finish dates. Homeowners generally have three business days to cancel.
A good answer: “Yes, before you pay anything.”
Red flag: a handshake, or “we’ll write it up later.”
Our answer: Yes. Every job gets a written, signed contract with the price, scope of work and start and finish dates before you pay anything.
8. How much is the deposit, and when are payments due?
The Attorney General’s office advises against large upfront payments and suggests tying payments to finished work.
A good answer: a modest deposit, with the balance due after a final walkthrough.
Red flag: most of the money upfront, or cash only.
Our answer: We ask for a deposit of no more than a third of the price to schedule your project and order materials, with the balance due only after a final walkthrough with you confirms everything is finished.
9. How do you handle changes?
Adding a room or switching colors mid-job happens. Under Indiana law, any change needs a written, signed change order.
A good answer: the change and its price in writing before the work starts.
Red flag: “We’ll settle up at the end.”
Our answer: If you add a room or change a color mid-job, we write up the change and its price on a change order for you to sign before any of that work starts, so the final bill never holds surprises.
How We Run the Job Itself
Once the paperwork checks out, these are the questions to ask a painter about the work itself, and they’re where you’ll hear the most difference between contractors.
10. What prep will you do?
Prep is most of what makes paint last, and it’s the easiest thing to cut on a low bid.
A good answer: specific steps for your house, such as washing, scraping, patching, caulking and spot-priming.
Red flag: “We’ll just roll it on.”
Our answer: On interiors, we move and cover furniture, protect floors, fill nail holes, patch dings and cracks, sand and spot-prime every repair before painting. On exteriors, we wash every wall, scrape loose paint back to a firm edge, replace or repair damaged wood, caulk gaps around windows, doors and trim, and spot-prime bare wood before the first coat.
11. How will you protect my home?
Paint ends up where it shouldn’t when nobody plans for it.
A good answer: floors covered, furniture moved and wrapped, fixtures masked, and the site cleaned every day.
Red flag: “Just make sure everything’s moved before we get there.”
Our answer: We move and cover your furniture, lay drop cloths over every floor we work above, mask switches, fixtures and hardware, and clean up at the end of each day so your home stays livable while we work.
12. Who’s my point of contact?
Questions come up mid-job, and you need someone who answers.
A good answer: a named person, how to reach them, and how often you’ll hear from them.
Red flag: “Just call the office.”
Our answer: You’ll have one named contact for your whole project, usually Jake or Evan, with a direct cell number. They check in at the start and end of each day and answer questions while the crew is working.
13. How long will it take, and what if it rains?
You’re planning your life around this.
A good answer: a realistic range and a plan for weather days.
Red flag: a firm promise that ignores weather, or no timeline at all.
Our answer: Most single rooms take us 1 to 2 days, a whole-house interior 3 to 7, and an exterior 3 to 5, depending on size and weather. Most single rooms take us 1 to 2 days, a whole-house interior 3 to 7, and an exterior 3 to 5, depending on size and weather. If rain or high humidity is forecast, we’ll let you know the day before, move exterior work to the next dry day, and give you an updated finish date, so you’re never left guessing when the crew is coming back.
What We Stand Behind After the Job
The last two questions tell you what happens once the crew is gone.
14. What does your warranty cover, in writing?
A warranty is only as good as its wording. It also shows how long a contractor expects the work to hold up, which is worth comparing with how long exterior paint lasts in Indiana weather.
A good answer: a written warranty with a clear length, what it covers, such as peeling or blistering, and what it doesn’t.
Red flag: “We stand behind our work,” with nothing on paper.
Our answer: Every job carries our 3-year craftsmanship guarantee. It covers peeling, blistering and flaking caused by our workmanship, but not damage from things like impacts, water leaks or structural movement. If something shows up, call or email us, and we’ll come out to look and fix anything covered at no cost.
15. Can I see recent work or talk to customers near me?
Recent local jobs show how the work holds up in the same weather your house sees.
A good answer: photos or addresses of recent jobs nearby, and customers willing to talk.
Red flag: only stock photos, or nothing from the last couple of years.
Our answer: You can browse photos of our recent interior, exterior, cabinet and staining projects across the Indianapolis, Lafayette and Kokomo areas in our past work gallery, and read our 5-star reviews on Google and Facebook. Ask during your estimate, and we’ll connect you with recent customers near you who are happy to talk about their project.
Take Our Checklist to Every Estimate
Here are all 15 questions to ask a painter.
- Are you registered where I live?
- Can I see your certificate of insurance?
- Are you EPA lead-safe certified?
- Who will actually be in my home?
- What exactly is included?
- Which paint, which product line, and how many coats?
- Will I get a written contract?
- How much is the deposit, and when are payments due?
- How do you handle changes?
- What prep will you do?
- How will you protect my home?
- Who’s my point of contact?
- How long will it take, and what if it rains?
- What does your warranty cover, in writing?
- Can I see recent work or talk to customers near me?
How We’d Choose Between Quotes
Once you have the answers, how to choose a painting contractor comes down to comparing scope, not just price. Line the quotes up and check that they cover the same prep, the same paint line and the same number of coats. A cheaper quote is often a smaller job.
Then look at how they answered. The contractor who gave specific answers and put them in writing is usually the one who’ll do the job the same way. Vague answers before you sign rarely get clearer after.
Questions We Get About Hiring a Painter
Do painters need a license in Indiana?
No. Indiana has no state license for painters, but cities like Indianapolis require local registration, so ask where the contractor is registered and make sure their insurance is current.
How many painting quotes should I get?
Two or three is usually enough to see the real price range for your job. Ask for itemized quotes, so you can choose a painting contractor by what each one includes, not just the total.
Ask Us Every Question on the List
We’d rather you hire us with your eyes open. Book a free estimate, bring the checklist, and ask us all 15. You’ll get the same answers we’ve written here, in writing.
