When Martha Curiel discovered water damage in her hallway mid-project, painter Kennon didn't request a change order. He repaired the damage and repainted the area at no additional cost, leaving Martha calling the experience "beyond our expectations." This pattern of solving problems rather than creating invoices appears throughout Five Star Painting of St. Louis reviews, revealing an operation where unexpected issues become opportunities to demonstrate integrity.
Dan and Julie Braning launched the company in 2016, operating as Braning Building Solutions, LLC from their Grover, Missouri base. The fully insured team handles interior and exterior residential painting, cabinet refinishing, deck staining, popcorn ceiling removal, and commercial projects across west St. Louis County. Color consultant Kayla Wolfe, a former Sherwin-Williams specialist, guides color selection.
Project managers Emily Lutker and Dave Smith coordinate scheduling while Dan maintains hands-on involvement, personally following up after projects. The company backs all work with a two-year warranty and partners with Sherwin-Williams and Behr for premium paint products.
Martha Curiel's hallway project revealed hidden water damage that wasn't part of the original scope. Rather than issuing a change order, Kennon "repaired the water damage in our hallway and repainted it at no extra cost." Martha described the entire experience as going "beyond our expectations." This approach of absorbing unexpected repairs appears in multiple reviews describing similar situations.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Dan maintains direct customer contact even as the company has grown. Gene specifically noted "the owner Dan followed up to see how the job was and how I, the customer felt about the job." Multiple reviews mention Dan handling estimates personally, checking in during projects, and calling after completion to ensure satisfaction. His wife Julie manages marketing operations.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Facebook
Cabinet work generates enthusiastic responses. Linda Winkler describes her refinished cabinets as looking "amazing" while Charlotte E. found the transformation "wonderful" with painters being "very professional." Customers describe dated oak cabinets becoming modern focal points. The company's detailed prep process contributes to the smooth, durable finishes customers photograph and share.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Cleanup standards appear consistently throughout reviews. Kenton found the crew left "not a spec of dirt... it was spotless." Multiple customers describe furniture protection systems, drop cloth protocols, and end-of-day tidying that leaves rooms ready for immediate use. The pattern suggests cleanup isn't an afterthought but an integrated part of the painting process.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Popcorn ceiling removal is a documented specialty. Karen Will had her ceiling "scraped and repainted" with excellent results. Kevin Priest specifically sought out Five Star for this service. Terri confirms "they did a great job" on texture removal. The process includes careful scraping, surface smoothing, priming, and fresh paint application.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Communication receives consistent praise. Diana U. notes "the communication was great and they followed up the next day to ensure everything looked good." Customers describe the team as "very responsive" and "easy to work with." Project managers Emily and Dave coordinate daily updates, arrival confirmations, and scheduling changes.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The single significant complaint involved a cancelled exterior project. Rather than becoming defensive, owner Dan Braning responded with detailed context explaining carpentry limitations and offered direct contact for resolution. The response demonstrated accountability and transparency about scope limitations rather than arguing publicly with the reviewer.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, Yelp
Missouri does not require a state-level contractor license for painting services. The company operates as Braning Building Solutions, LLC, a Missouri limited liability company formed November 10, 2016. The entity remains in Active status with the Missouri Secretary of State. Dan Braning serves as the registered agent at the company's Grover, Missouri address (Charter No. LC001514178).
-Verification Sources: Missouri Secretary of State, Project License Lookup File