College Works Painting
About College Works Painting
Operating throughout Wisconsin from their Madison headquarters since 1993, College Works Painting brings a distinctive approach to residential painting through their award-winning Student Professional Program. The company trains college students to manage their own painting crews, combining youthful energy with professional oversight from full-time district managers.
The fully licensed and insured team offers exterior painting, deck staining, fence painting, and interior work in select areas. They partner with Sherwin-Williams and use 100% acrylic paints from manufacturers including Kelly-Moore, Glidden, and Parker Paints. Students receive thorough training in painting techniques, safety protocols, and customer service before working on homes.
College Works backs their projects with warranty protection. Projects requiring one coat receive a one-year warranty while two-coat projects are covered by a three-year warranty on workmanship and materials. The company serves communities across Wisconsin including Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Eau Claire, and surrounding areas, with student managers from universities including UW-Madison, Marquette, and UW-Eau Claire.
Updated: 04-06-2026
Q&A Based On What Customers Are Saying About College Works Painting
Q: Why do homeowners initially hesitant about college students end up satisfied with College Works Painting?
Adam Bender admitted being "hesitant to use college students for such a serious job" but was "pleasantly surprised" by Luis and his crew's professionalism. Linda Kieliszewski shared similar concerns about "someone knocking on my door" but reported that Caden Brunell and Olivia Heroux delivered a "primo job." She wrote that she "regained my hope in young people in the workforce."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: How do College Works Painting student managers handle project leadership?
Debbie J. described George's leadership as "simply outstanding" noting that "he managed the project and his team like he's been running this business for 20 years." Anne Ferge praised Amy Nguyen's skills as "highly commendable" with "great strategic-thinking skills" for creating detailed plans. Joe Green called Seamus's "attention to detail spot on" with thorough protection of property.
-Review Snippet Sources: Yelp, Google Reviews
Q: How does College Works Painting communicate with homeowners throughout a project?
Amy Nguyen's approach stands out in reviews for providing a "thorough walk-through with us daily" to discuss completed work and address concerns. Crash Blakmor praised Jaren Alfuth as "great about communicating updates" during challenging weather conditions. Daryl McKenna described Matthias Klinkner's process of conducting "a walk through and asked for feedback at the end of each day."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: Does College Works Painting handle weather delays professionally?
Multiple reviews confirm reliable communication during weather challenges. Jake Kenny noted Reily Heiberg "kept me well informed on progress through weather delays." Crash Blakmor appreciated that Jaren and crew "worked around challenging weather (heavy rains followed by intense heat)" while maintaining quality. Scot Dymond acknowledged "a bad year for rain and yet they still found time to stay almost on schedule."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: What makes College Works Painting's surface preparation stand out?
Reviews frequently mention thorough prep work. Timothy Quinn praised Bryce, noting the "prep job which is super important. Scraping and power washing was very thorough." Linda Kieliszewski described her crew doing "power washing, scraping, 6 tubes of caulk on the many cracks and nail holes they filled, then did the primer." Dennis Murphy appreciated that Gavin's team ensured surfaces were "cleaned, scraped and primed appropriately."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: How thorough is College Works Painting's cleanup after completing projects?
Cleanup consistently earns praise in reviews. Lydia Gonzalez Ryan noted Jack's team "left the place spotless after they painted." Mike Esboldt described Sean Judge's crew as leaving his "place as clean as when they got there." Jane Kunze praised the crew's "communication, clean-up and attention to detail" as "stellar." Multiple reviews confirm crews protect landscaping and remove materials completely.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: How did College Works Painting respond when a homeowner reported issues with their project?
When Cori Mason reported problems including damaged plants and incomplete trim work, the owner response indicated they "power washed the concrete, cleaned up all paint, and refined the trim to your standards." The response emphasized they are "always here to deliver work you'll be happy with." This resolution-focused approach reflects the company's commitment to addressing concerns directly.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: Does College Works Painting help with color selection and matching?
Color consultation is part of the service. Krista Boston praised Kyle B for working hard to make her deck "closely matches the siding." Ruth H appreciated that Matthias was "very conscientious about helping us find the right color." Amy Nguyen impressed Anne Ferge by seeking "advice from the experts at Sherwin-Williams when appropriate to do so" for color decisions.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Updated: 04-07-2026