Brushmen and Standby Brothers was formed in April 2021 through the merger of two established painting companies - Brushmen LLC (founded in 2014 by JT Delaney and Joshua Hartley) and Standby Brothers (founded by brothers Jacob and Caleb Hancock). The company has been serving the Capitol City and surrounding areas for 10 years, building on the combined experience of both predecessor companies in student housing, residential, and commercial painting projects throughout Michigan.
The company offers comprehensive painting services including residential and commercial interior and exterior painting, cabinet refacing, staining, and industrial coating services. They specialize in serving college and university student housing communities throughout Michigan, alongside their work with homeowners, property managers, and general contractors. The business maintains high professional standards, being BBB Accredited since June 22, 2024, with an A+ rating.
The four partners - Joshua Hartley, Jacob Hancock, JT Delaney, and Caleb Hancock - share family ties and a longstanding friendship dating back to their childhood. This close-knit leadership team combines their expertise from years of experience in different sectors of the painting industry, from student housing and multi-family properties to new construction and conventional residential projects.
Updated: 04-06-2026
Customers consistently praise the company's professional approach and attention to detail. Mike L from Lansing noted that "From the first initial contact for an estimate until the time they finished, everything was top notch". He specifically highlighted painter Denzel as being "super conscientious, used lots of covers for floors and furniture" and "very personable, very good with people, always on time". Teresa Sumpter echoed these sentiments, describing the team as "thorough, professional and fast" while praising their reasonable pricing and willingness to accommodate additional work requests.
The company's commitment to customer satisfaction shines through in numerous reviews. Karen Fielek was "pleasantly surprised by the immediate and polite customer service", noting that an owner arrived on time for the estimate and communicated via both email and text. When challenges arose, such as when Linda Wacyk's crew initially used the wrong paint color, "they corrected it promptly once we identified the problem" and "repainted with new paint, ending on time and leaving high-quality results".
Many customers have established lasting relationships with the company. David Hunt shared that he has "used these folks 3 times ourselves and have referred them to friends and family numerous times", emphasizing they "always do a great job! Professional all the way!" Amy, another repeat customer, stated they have "used Brushmen and Standby Brothers for years" for painting their entire house over time, including kitchen and bathroom cabinets, describing their work as "exceptional" and the painters as "helpful and fun".
Updated: 04-07-2026