With over 30 years serving the Fox Valley, American Painting Inc. has built its reputation in St. Charles through hands-on owner involvement and a deeply experienced crew. Customers regularly identify owner Gary Bens by name alongside crew leaders Gerardo, Fernando, Juan, Manny, Jose, Ramon, and Vicente, praising their precision, attention to detail, and pride in their work.
The company handles interior and exterior residential painting, wood staining, carpentry repairs (rotted boards, fascia, soffits, trim replacement), power washing, drywall installation and repair, wallpaper removal, gutter installation, and water damage repair. Commercial work spans offices, apartment complexes, hospitals, hotels, industrial facilities, government buildings, schools, and retail through 13 dedicated service pages. BBB lists the full scope as Residential Painting, Commercial Painting, Exterior Painting, Interior Painting, Carpentry, and Wallpaper Removal.
Owner Gary Bens leads a fully insured, family-owned operation that is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and a St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce member. Based at 1820 Wallace Avenue in St. Charles, the team serves 21 cities across Kane and DuPage counties, including Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Elgin, Wheaton, and Winfield.
Updated: 06-09-2026
Customers describe a meticulous multi-step exterior process. Miles Zaremski noted the crew did "power washing first, then scraping/caulking, and then doing two coats of paint, as if they were doing their own residence." Mike Lents praised the team for "going above and beyond by spraying off the vinyl siding" and doing "that little extra to make for a better outcome." Kevin Ringel highlighted that the crew completed exterior carpentry, painting, and new gutters "quickly and professionally, in a coordinated fashion."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Owner Gary Bens personally conducts estimates and stays involved. Mike Steiner was "very pleased with American Painting from the initial home visit, to constant follow up during and after the job." Abby Campbell praised "professionalism, clear communication, and exceptional service" from both Gary and office manager Dotty. However, Kara Mason's experience revealed a communication gap when a worker could not attend due to a family emergency, noting she was "strung along for an entire work day" without clear updates.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The company extends well beyond paint. Jack Rumpf hired them to build an entire basement including "a Family Room, Bedroom, Bathroom, Exercise Room and 2 Storage Rooms" starting from concrete walls. Fernando and Alejandro handled "all of the carpentry, plumbing and electrical." Kevin Ringel had them "replace cracked or rotting cedar boards, fascia, soffits and corner boards" and install oversized gutters. Mark Taylor used them to "rebuild our deck around the pool."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Resolution is mixed. When Kara Mason experienced a scheduling failure, owner Gary "did call back, the worker returned the following day, and the job was finished" but a discount request was refused. Kurt Heims reported a warranty issue where Gary came out and "said they'd come back to fix" but after months of follow-up they never returned. The owner's response attributed the issue to the customer wanting a fix rather than a replacement. Heather Holoubek's experience was positive: "when there was an issue it was quickly addressed and fixed with no issue."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Repeat business is a strong indicator. John Fischer noted this was "the fourth time we have used Gary and his services at our house" and praised "reasonable prices and top quality work." Mark Taylor has used them "for exterior and interior house painting projects over the years and they have never disappointed us." Sarah Jungenberg was "recommended to us by neighbors" and will "happily recommend them to others." Nicki Elson already referred friends and family after her porch project.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Gary personally visits homes for estimates. Mike Lents described how Gary "pointed out the rusty gas meter and the rusty basement window frames" and suggested remediation during the walkthrough. He "was able to give me a complete detailed written estimate within about 30 minutes." Andreas Sauer praised how "Gary came out and provided a very detailed quote which made the decision easy." Miles Zaremski found him "pleasant, engaging, down-to-earth, and the pricing well within reason."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
American Painting Inc. is registered as an active corporation (CORP MST) with the Illinois Secretary of State, File Number 58651001, with an effective date of December 29, 1995 and registered agent Gary Bens. Illinois does not require a state-level painting contractor license, and St. Charles is not listed among Illinois municipalities that require local painter licensing. The business is additionally verified through BBB accreditation since March 2020.
-Verification Sources: Illinois Secretary of State Business Search; IL DFPR; BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois
Updated: 06-09-2026