Homeowners often ask to see a painter’s license before signing a contract. It’s a reasonable instinct, but in Texas it leads to a surprising answer: Texas does not issue a state license specifically for house painters. Some cities register contractors in various ways, so check locally, but there is no statewide credential a painting contractor is required to carry the way a licensed trade would be.
That means “licensed and insured” on a truck door tells you less than you’d think. Here is what to check instead, and how to read what you’re handed.
Proof of insurance, with your name on it
Insurance is the single most important thing to verify. Two policies matter:
- General liability, which covers damage to your property, such as overspray on a car, a ladder through a window, or a stain that ruins a floor
- Workers’ compensation, which covers injuries to the crew while they work on your property
Ask for a certificate of insurance issued directly from the contractor’s insurance agent, with you listed as the certificate holder. A photocopy of a policy can be outdated or belong to someone else. A fresh certificate with your name and address confirms the policy is active right now. If a company hesitates at this request, that tells you something.
Ask specifically what covers the crew if someone is injured on your property, and get the answer in writing.
A written scope that leaves nothing to interpretation
A good proposal reads like a checklist, not a paragraph. It should spell out:
- Every surface being painted, room by room or elevation by elevation
- Surfaces explicitly excluded
- Prep steps: washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, patching, priming
- Number of coats on each surface
- Product line and sheen for each surface
- Who moves furniture, removes hardware, and protects landscaping or floors
- Cleanup and disposal
Vague language such as “prep as needed” or “paint exterior” leaves room for disagreement on the final day. If something matters to you, make sure it appears in writing before work starts.
Warranty in writing
Ask what the warranty covers, for how long, and what voids it. A verbal promise is worth very little once the crew has moved on to the next job. The written warranty should name the company, describe what counts as a defect (peeling, blistering, and flaking versus normal wear or damage), and explain how to make a claim.
Be cautious of warranties that exclude nearly everything in fine print. A clear warranty from a company that answers the phone beats a dramatic one from a company that won’t.
Who shows up, and what they’ve done nearby
The person who sells the job is not always the person who shows up. Ask who your project manager or crew lead will be, how you can reach them during the job, and whether the crew is employed by the company or subcontracted. Subcontracting isn’t automatically bad, but you should know whose insurance covers the people on your ladder and who is accountable for the finish.
Online reviews are useful, but a short list of recent projects in your area is better. Ask for addresses of exteriors painted in the last year or two that you can drive past, and for a homeowner or two who are willing to take a call. Look at how the cut lines, caulking, and trim held up, not just the color.
Lead-safe practices on older homes
If your home was built before 1978, the existing paint may contain lead. Disturbing it through sanding or scraping can release dust that is hazardous, especially to children. Ask the contractor how they handle older homes: whether they test, how they contain dust, and how they clean up. A company that works in older Dallas and Fort Worth neighborhoods should have a ready answer and should not shrug the question off.
Payment schedule and reading the quote
A modest deposit to hold a date and order materials is normal. Paying most of the job up front is not. A reasonable structure ties payments to milestones, with the final payment due after your walkthrough and punch list are complete. Get the schedule in the contract, and don’t release the final payment until you’ve seen the work in good daylight.
Put competing quotes side by side and compare the same items: surfaces, coats, prep, products, sheens, warranty, timeline, and payment terms. A lower number with fewer line items is not a lower price; it’s a smaller job. If one estimator took measurements and asked questions while another gave a number from the driveway, you already know which quote is more likely to hold.
The short version
Skip the license question and ask for the things that actually protect you: a current insurance certificate in your name, a detailed written scope, a written warranty, a named point of contact, local references, a plan for older homes, and a sensible payment schedule.
Alliance Painting puts its Lifetime Interior Warranty and 5-Year Exterior Guarantee in writing and offers free in-home estimates across Dallas–Fort Worth. Ask any painter you’re considering for the same level of documentation.