What does half a century of painting Southwest Michigan homes and businesses look like in practice? Van Tuinen Painting, Inc. builds each project around a crew model where an assigned lead painter stays on-site from start to finish. Customers describe a hands-on process with daily communication and meticulous cleanup, with one reviewer noting "drop cloths were folded and ladders put away every evening." A free onsite consultation is part of the initial visit, and Van Tuinen Painting is a Proud Member of the Kalamazoo Home Builders Association.
The crew handles interior and exterior residential painting, cabinet refinishing, deck staining, wallpaper removal, and power washing. Project managers Nick Newhouse and Jason Robinson coordinate scheduling while lead painters like David Turney and Steve Peters manage on-site execution. A separate metal roof coating division services commercial and industrial buildings with Conklin and Sherwin Williams Uniflex systems carrying 10- to 20-year warranties. Nick Barber, who joined in 2004 and assumed full ownership in 2020, runs the operation from Portage.
Updated: 05-22-2026
Customer reviews describe a working relationship rather than a transaction. Elaine Boettcher wrote "David noticed things that needed attention before I even mentioned them." Tom Eldred added "Steve and Joey showed up every single day before 8:00 AM to start work." Jessica Toporek noted "David Turney was everything Nick promised and more."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Surface prep comes up in nearly every detailed review. J AND S called it "second to none...very important on these old houses." Thomas Brooks described "thorough surface prep and care was taken not to damage the 1920s vintage wood siding." Howard Tejchma pointed out that "they did some board replacement which the other companies would not quote."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The company handles roughly 25 to 30 cabinet sets annually. Kim Doherty described "the kitchen was ready to use as usual each day" during a seven-day project. Wendy Carmody wrote "we have what looks like a brand new beautiful kitchen." Laura LeClear noted her handyman "commented that Jason had done a great job" after seeing the finished cabinets.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Daily cleanup is among the most frequently mentioned patterns. Robin Novotny wrote "at the end of the day, they cleaned everything up, and made sure we could still be comfortable." Lexi Whitaker added "each afternoon when he left, our kitchen was meticulously put back together and clean, he even took out the trash."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The company reports that 75 percent of its work comes from referrals or returning clients. Bob Love wrote "this is the fourth time I have used Van Tuinen." Clark Smith noted "it's why they have been our choice for interior and exterior projects for over 30 years." Wendy Karrick hired them for "exterior (2024) and interior (2026)" and was pleased both times.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The scope extends well past walls and trim. Jane Engdahl wrote "they did a fantastic job of power washing and staining my deck." Mike Flanery described "multi-level house and deck, unattached garage power washed, painted and stained with multiple coats in 7 days." Blake Bailey had an entire commercial building in Constantine painted by VanTuinen.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
A lead painter is assigned to each job and communicates directly with the homeowner. Virginia Lammers wrote "throughout the two weeks there was always good communication with the project manager, Jason." Annie Fainsinger noted "Steve went out of his way to communicate daily while at the house and share photos."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Van Tuinen Painting, Inc. is an active Domestic Profit Corporation registered with Michigan LARA under entity number 800438235, originally filed on July 24, 1996. Nicholas M. Barber serves as president and registered agent. Michigan does not require a state-level painter license, though the company maintains full Workers Compensation and Liability Insurance coverage.
-Verification Sources: Michigan LARA Business Registry, BBB Business Profile
Updated: 05-22-2026