Chooz Score Insights
The Details Matter Here
Over 60 Google reviews and not a single one below five stars - and when you read the reviews, it's clear why. Customers don't just praise the finished product; they describe the process that gets there. The Chooz Score's review authenticity indicators are strong: reviewers mention specific project details, crew members by name, and realistic timelines that would be difficult to fabricate:
- Multiple customers independently describe extensive prep work before any paint is applied, including scraping, sanding, caulking, and surface repair as standard practice
- Hand brushing rather than spraying is a deliberate choice that customers specifically credit for cleaner edge definition and visible quality differences
"One of the reasons we chose Empire was due to the fact that everything is done by hand brushing rather than spraying and the quality of work and attention to detail shows." - Keith W., Google Review
Years of Consistent Results
Over 12 years in business and a perfect 5.0-star rating across over 60 Google reviews don't happen by accident. Empire Painting Services earned a Chooz Score of 88.8%. The last time we conducted our Chooz Score analysis, reviews spanned a two-year window with consistent five-star ratings and detailed customer accounts:
- Registered as a Domestic LLC in New York State (DOS ID 4536289, filed 2014, status Active) and fully insured
- Recognized as the top-ranked painters in Syracuse through Quality Business Awards 2026 with a 95-plus quality score
"I have never had better service from a home improvement contractor. They were thoughtful and mindful of our schedules, kept all areas clean and tidy and communicated the whole way through so we knew what to expect each day." - Beth E., Google Review
Crews You Can Trust
Crews like Joe, Adam, Bob, and Ross get called out by name across reviews from completely unrelated customers, and that consistency is one of the strongest signals the Chooz Score's in-house crews component looks for. The same names appearing independently in different reviews at different times strongly suggests dedicated W2 employees rather than rotating subcontractors:
- Joe is praised independently by three separate customers for being meticulous, punctual, and going above and beyond on detail work
- Project manager Adam is mentioned by multiple customers for reliable on-site leadership, while owner Rob personally handles estimates, communication, and final quality checks
"Rob and Joe are very professional and meticulous with the painting details. Joe did a wonderful job on the house, no issues. These guys are really good, great customer etiquette." - Barbara M., Google Review
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Additional Questions Answered
What does the estimate process look like when homeowners first reach out to Empire Painting Services?
Rob Wengert personally visits each project site and walks the property with the homeowner. Kyle describes receiving a very detailed quote showing exactly what would be painted and what was excluded with photos. Samuel Herberg found this photo-documented approach super helpful and notes that the process from first call to final inspection was transparent throughout.
How does Empire Painting prepare surfaces before beginning the actual painting?
Surface preparation is a consistent theme across customer accounts. Kevin Neff observes that Rob spends more time prepping than painting and mentions that 60 nail pops were repaired in just the stairwell and bathroom alone. Todd Laffer describes the crew hand-scraping the entire house and collecting old paint chips to prevent lead contamination. Carolyn Bradford notes that textured stenciling was carefully sanded down and repaired before painting began.
Who are the crew members customers interact with, and how are projects managed on site?
Reviews independently name the same team members across different households. Joe is described by Barbara McConnell as doing a wonderful job and by Erin Skaradek as clean, neat, and meticulous. Project manager Adam leads exterior crews according to Sam De Ycaza and Shelley Wlodarczyk. Bob and Ross are praised by Erin Corrigan for their hard work and attention to detail. The consistent recurrence of names suggests dedicated in-house employees rather than rotating subcontractors.
What types of interior projects does Empire Painting handle beyond standard wall painting?
The team takes on a range of interior work that extends past standard wall coats. Helen Reinhardt describes a family room project involving wainscoting, bookshelves, ceiling, walls, and brick fireplace painting. Michael Maglente reports cabinet refinishing that left the kitchen better than new. Ben Hill highlights interior painting combined with crown molding installation. Christine Tolentino details a multi-room project covering bedrooms, bathrooms, hallway, foyer, plaster repair, and all trim and doors.
How do customers describe the communication and responsiveness throughout a project?
Communication is among the most frequently cited strengths. Beth Eckert notes the team communicated the whole way through so we knew what to expect each day. Matt Germain highlights frequent progress updates maintained throughout the project. JoAnna Cockram describes the crew always checking in before arriving early or adjusting the schedule. Multiple reviewers note that Rob responds quickly to calls, texts, and emails at every stage from estimate through final walkthrough.
What do repeat customers say about working with Empire Painting more than once?
Several customers have returned for additional projects after their first experience. Anthony Russo hired Empire for interior work and later for the full exterior, calling the transformation incredible. Dorcas Mahon reports a second visit that was amazing and praises the painters for completing extras. Samuel Herberg wrote an updated review after a second engagement, noting the outcome was absolutely fantastic. Chris Young returned for interior painting after an exterior project completed over a decade earlier.
What do exterior painting clients notice about the finished results and the process?
Exterior clients consistently highlight both the visual outcome and the process behind it. Sally Carmer describes a transformation from bland baby blue to a gorgeous sage with navy and white trim completed within nine days. Jacqueline Picciano was surprised the crew finished painting old aluminum siding in a single week and notes it looks like a new house. Keith Wolfe values that everything was done by hand brushing rather than spraying, praising the quality and detail that approach provides.
Is Empire Painting Services properly licensed and insured for residential work in New York?
New York State does not require a painting contractor license at the state level for residential work. Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse are not among the jurisdictions requiring municipal home improvement contractor licenses. Empire Painting Services, LLC is registered as a Domestic Limited Liability Company in New York State with DOS ID 4536289, filed 02/28/2014, entity status Active. The company is fully insured as stated on the website and Nextdoor profile.
-Verification Sources: NY DOS, NY State licensing framework
How Empire Painting Services, LLC Was Evaluated
Every painting company listed on Chooz Painters is evaluated using our multi-step quality framework. We combine structured data analysis with human review to understand how Empire Painting Services, LLC performs across the key signals that matter most to property owners.
How the Chooz Score Works
The Chooz Score is a 100-point rating based on four core pillars:
- Platform reviews & ratings from sources such as Google, Facebook, Yelp, Angi, BBB, and others
- Review quality & engagement, including depth of customer feedback, photos, and how the company responds to reviews
- Website and digital presence, which helps indicate professionalism, transparency, and communication quality
- Business authority & operations, including years in business, licensing, insurance, and other operational standards
Each contractor is evaluated using the same framework nationwide, and the score reflects Empire Painting Services, LLC’s performance within its local market.
A Chooz Score represents real-world performance, verified signals, and human-reviewed context.
Chooz Score Award Levels
Scores are determined through more than 40 evaluation factors across our four pillars.
If you want a deeper explanation of how our scoring system works, you can view the full breakdown on our Chooz Scoring page.