When Brandon Thors started collecting quotes for his ten-year-old home, he interviewed six painting contractors before choosing Bright Side Painting of Jax. Brandon D., the estimator, "showed up exactly at 11:00 AM" and delivered a proposal by 1:30 that same afternoon. Three days into a projected four-day exterior project, Thors came home to find it complete. That speed and responsiveness traces back to how founder JT Rhodes and partner Ben Messinese have structured the company since incorporating in 2013.
Based at 2809 Mayport Rd in Atlantic Beach, the fully insured team handles residential and commercial painting across Duval and St. Johns counties. Services span interior and exterior painting, cabinet refinishing at their Jacksonville Beach shop, stucco repair, drywall work, popcorn ceiling removal, epoxy floors, wallpaper installation, and pressure washing. All painters are full-time, in-house employees with no subcontractors. The company backs every project with a one-year contractor warranty and uses Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore products. Bright Side Painting is BBB accredited and an active NEFBA and JSEB member.
Updated: 04-06-2026
Communication is the most frequently praised aspect of this company. Janet buzzell noted the company "shines best at communicating." Project managers send daily text updates with photos, and Hurley Winkler described the experience as feeling "more cared for when hiring a company to work on my home" than ever before. Amy T confirmed she "knew exactly what to expect as far as materials used, the timing of the project, and the anticipated outcome."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Trey appears in over two dozen reviews as project manager. Brad Carney called him "a true master of his trade" after watching him evaluate every detail before and after work. Hurley Winkler described him as the "project manager of any homeowner's dreams" who helped select paint shades and handled touch-ups during the final walkthrough. Sandi welch added that Trey "takes his job very seriously" and completed minor punch list items at no extra charge.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Several reviews describe the crew handling tasks outside the contract. Lindsay Waters noted they "went above and beyond by fixing a soffit issue I had, without me asking." Fred Taylor's crew "stained a bench for me as an extra courtesy." Sandi welch reported painters replaced all rusted screws in her exterior stairs and painted them, none of which was in the original scope. These patterns appear consistently across both residential and commercial projects.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Multiple reviewers mention getting competing estimates. Brandon Thors interviewed "six contractors" before selecting Bright Side. Greg Frazier found "pricing was completely reasonable" and James Wadley described the total experience as coming at "a very competitive cost." Chanell Pelham and Stephanie ONeil both called pricing "super reasonable" and "well priced for quality of work received."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Cabinet projects generate some of the most detailed praise. Matthew Gray reported the team told him his cabinets would have a "showroom finish" and said "they weren't lying." Tamara Smithson described how the company took one cabinet door to their shop to paint with the final color, ensuring she was "100% sure I liked the look before they did the entire kitchen." Laura Patterson called the results "beautiful" and praised their "old school customer service."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Facebook
The company has received a few critical reviews addressing communication breakdowns and quality concerns. When Greg Garrett posted a detailed 1-star review about roof overspray and screen damage, the owner responded point-by-point, noting they "went above and beyond on this project, including coordinating and covering the cost to have 18 window screens rebuilt." Susan's drywall complaint received an owner apology acknowledging "this is never our desire for our clients." Response quality varies, with some negative reviews getting detailed replies and others receiving brief acknowledgments.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The company's website states all painters are full-time employees with no subcontractors. Reviews support this through remarkable crew name consistency. Dan Kurschner hired them twice and found "everyone involved was great" across both interior and exterior projects. Carlos Gil, who has used them for "several jobs" spanning commercial to residential, confirmed "their painting crews are always clean and efficient." Lisa Ilano praised Christian and his team, calling the craftsmanship on repairs "outstanding."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Facebook
Florida does not require a state-level painting contractor license. Jacksonville/Duval County does require a contractor license through the Regulatory Compliance Department. The company's municipal license status has not been independently verified. Bright Side Painting of Jax Inc. is registered as a Florida Profit Corporation with the Florida Division of Corporations (SunBiz), Document No. P13000036508, filed 4/23/2013, with an Active status. The principal address is 2809 Mayport Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32233.
-Verification Sources: Florida Division of Corporations (SunBiz), Jacksonville/Duval County Regulatory Compliance Department, Painting Contractor License Lookup All 50 States reference file
Updated: 04-07-2026