Founded in 1969 by Fred McCarthy, McCarthy Painting Co. has served Marin County homeowners and businesses for over five decades. Owner Gregory Owens, nephew of the founder, has guided the company since 1990 from their San Rafael headquarters at 126 Front Street. The fully licensed, bonded, and insured team maintains both general liability and workers compensation coverage.
The company handles residential and commercial painting throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, with residential services focused on Marin County. Specialties include interior and exterior painting, deck staining and refinishing, cabinet work, and wood repair. As an EPA RRP Lead-Safe Certified firm, they manage older homes requiring specialized preparation.
Husband-and-wife painting team Miguel and Griselda have worked together at McCarthy for over two decades. Other longtime crew members include Jorge and Edwin, Nelson (wood repair specialist), and Cristian and Bryan. Office coordinator Mariah manages scheduling while estimator Robbie oversees projects. The company serves San Rafael, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Corte Madera, Tiburon, Larkspur, Kentfield, Ross, Novato, and surrounding communities.
Updated: 04-06-2026
Daily cleanup is a consistent theme across reviews. Jim Cole noted that painters Jorge and Edwin "managed to leave the property incredibly neat and clean at the end of every day's painting." Cheryl Smith called her crew "super tidy" saying they "left our house in perfect condition." Laurie Pirini on Facebook observed they "covered stuff each day" and after three days, "would never know they were there."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Facebook
This husband-and-wife duo receives consistent praise. Geraldine Warner described their "impressive work ethic" noting they were "polite, focused, and respectful of our property." Kate Mailbox mentioned they "worked so quietly, at times I forgot there was someone at the house." The owner confirmed they have been married over 20 years, which helps them "work so smoothly together."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The company addresses underlying damage as part of their prep work. Lynne Smith explained that "Nelson and Moises were especially great at replacing or repairing damaged wood and shingles during the week of prep work." Bill Wilhelm confirmed Nelson "did an excellent job replacing dry rot along with anything else we needed." Anne Sparler noted her crew "removed a door and replaced a window with expert care."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Several reviewers mention value and fair pricing. Lisa Beckstead stated "the cost was totally fair and reasonable." Leah Johnson, who needed work for resale, reported "the bid was very fair" and the team "stuck to the budget and timeline." CB Bohn acknowledged McCarthy is "not the cheapest painting company" but provides "excellent value" and "you get the quality you pay for."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Deck refinishing expertise stands out in reviews. Cynthia Trader described how Cristian and Brian did "an amazing job refinishing our 2 decks, steps, railings and entryway." The crew provided four color samples after sanding and helped select the stain, resulting in a "spectacular" finish. Paul Hall called Gino and Carlos's deck work "superb" noting they were "attentive to detail" and "conscientious about top quality work."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Customers praise the proactive communication. Lisa Beckstead reported that Mariah "kept us advised of schedule changes due to weather both by phone and email" and "calls returned promptly." The Yelp review from Miko L. appreciated the owner thanking them "for your patience to wait through a couple early rain storms." Fei Chen also noted the company was "flexible with us managing your project through the weather."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Yelp
Cabinet and kitchen work appears frequently in reviews. Kate Mailbox reported her "kitchen looks brand new" after the project. Travis Foster praised the interior work including help choosing "the perfect colors" leaving walls and trim "looking flawless." Shane Dennis mentioned the team handled specialty work including "lime washing our nursery" in addition to repainting most of their interior.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
CB Bohn's review details the company's lead paint protocol. Robbie "was the only one that tested the existing paint for lead, and it tested positive." He explained how they would "thoroughly tarp all the ground around my 2-story house, and safely dispose of the lead paint chips." When a neighbor complaint caused a County work stoppage, the owner personally called to explain the situation, and work resumed quickly due to McCarthy's reputation.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
McCarthy Painting Co. operates under California State Contractors License No. 268819, which has been current and active since its original issue date of April 22, 1971. The license includes both B-General Building and C33-Painting and Decorating classifications, with an expiration date of October 31, 2026. The company is bonded through American Contractors Indemnity Company. The business is registered with the California Secretary of State as McCarthy Painting, Inc., Entity No. 2111982, a Stock Corporation initially filed on June 11, 1998. The entity shows Active status with Good standing across all categories. Gregory Owens serves as the registered agent at 126 Front St, San Rafael, CA 94901.
-Verification Sources: California CSLB (https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=268819), California Secretary of State (https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business)
Updated: 04-07-2026