Hands On Painters
About Hands On Painters, Inc.
Owner Jonathan Zawacki founded Hands On Painters in 1996, building the Baltimore-area operation from their Leeds Avenue location. Project manager Derrick Conover handles estimates and maintains text communication throughout jobs. Office manager Gale coordinates scheduling and keeps customers informed during multi-week projects. Crew leader Fidel has worked with the company since the early years, while painters Antonio and Naun lead most residential projects. The team operates without subcontractors, employing painters year-round as W2 employees.
The company handles interior and exterior residential painting, with particular focus on cabinet refinishing, whole-home transformations, and resale preparation work. Projects range from single-room touch-ups using premium paints to complete exterior repainting requiring careful surface preparation. Teresa Farrell describes painters as "extremely tidy, paid attention to detail" during her two-week cabinet project. They handle drywall repair, wallpaper removal, and deck staining. The sister company Patapsco Valley Handyman covers incidental carpentry during painting projects.
The team holds Maryland Home Improvement License No. 70338 and maintains workers' compensation coverage for all employees plus general liability insurance. They serve Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Carroll County, and Harford County within Central Maryland.
Updated: 01-14-2026
Q&A Based On What Customers Are Saying About Hands On Painters, Inc.
Q: Does Hands On Painters, Inc. use in-house employees or subcontractors for painting work?
Their Angi profile states "professional full-time painters (no subcontractors)." Reviews mention consistent crew names like Fidel, Antonio, and Naun appearing across multiple customer projects. The company provides workers' compensation insurance and retirement benefits, indicating W2 employment rather than 1099 contractor relationships. This structure creates crew consistency absent in subcontractor-heavy operations.
-Review Snippet Sources: Angi, Google Reviews
Q: What pricing issue did Luke C report at Hands On Painters, Inc.?
Luke C's one-star Google review states he paid "almost TWICE as much as my original quote" and they "painted things I didn't even want painted." This represents the most detailed pricing complaint across platforms. The company didn't publicly respond to this review, contrasting with their pattern of addressing other feedback. Prospective customers should discuss written scope documentation and change order processes upfront.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: How does Hands On Painters, Inc. handle job site cleanup after painting projects?
Cleanup receives consistent praise. Barbara Foust states they "left no mess behind," while another reviewer describes work areas maintained so clean she thought her protective measures were excessive until watching the crew's process. Jennifer Oliver Martin notes teams remained "professional, genial" across varying project sizes. The cleanup attention appears across both quick touch-ups and extended whole-house jobs.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Angi
Q: Why do customers mention feeling comfortable with Hands On Painters, Inc. working while away from home?
Teresa Farrell notes being "comfortable in the fact I was not home during the two week process." Reviews mention painters maintaining professional boundaries and respecting property. The company screens all workers and employs them as W2 staff with workers' compensation and retirement benefits, creating accountability structures absent when using independent contractors.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Angi
Q: What role does Derrick play at Hands On Painters, Inc. that customers mention him frequently?
Derrick serves as primary contact from estimate through completion. Jeff Brodsky describes him as someone who "took the time to listen to our requests and give us very useful suggestions." Teresa Farrell calls him "fantastic to deal with and was quick to reply to texts." His responsibilities span estimating, field logistics, quality control, and EPA lead rules training for crews.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: How does Hands On Painters, Inc. address the spray dust concerns from ceiling work?
One Angi reviewer reported basement ceiling spray creating dust problems, noting the company "will not properly control the spray dust" and has contract language stating "the dust is your problem." The owner responded explaining their estimate indicates responsibility only for visible dust before completion, offered additional cleaning, and proposed touch-ups (customer declined). This reveals upfront contract language about spray overspray expectations.
-Review Snippet Sources: Angi
Q: Does Hands On Painters, Inc. handle small repairs alongside large whole-house painting projects?
Jennifer Oliver Martin reports using them for work "very large and very small" with consistent quality. Reviews span single-room repainting to complete interior and exterior transformations with cabinet work. The website mentions working within customer budgets, suggesting they accept varying project scales. Jill Montgomery hired them yearly for four consecutive years across different project types.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: What does office manager Gale handle at Hands On Painters, Inc. that customers notice?
Gale manages administrative coordination during extended projects. Barbara Foust notes "Dealing with Gale in the office made it so easy." Angi reviews mention she "always kept me informed on progress and answered all my questions" when customers couldn't be on-site. She connects field crews with customers, valuable for homeowners managing projects remotely.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Angi
Updated: 01-14-2026