When Marc Lemaitre needed his home repainted ten years after his first project with College Works Painting, he returned without hesitation, praising the team for being "reasonably priced, well executed, timely execution, competent and nice people, hard workers." This pattern of returning customers speaks to the consistency the organization has maintained since launching operations in Ohio.
College Works Painting operates through a distinctive student internship model where undergraduate students from Ohio State, Ohio University, University of Cincinnati, Kent State, and other regional universities manage their own painting crews under supervision from full-time district managers. The fully licensed and insured company handles exterior painting, interior painting, deck staining, fence painting, and power washing for residential properties across Central Ohio.
Student managers like Nicole Ratka, Phil Kristoff, Luke Day, Morgan Lish, and Kane lead projects ranging from single-room refreshes to complete transformations of 4,500 square foot homes. The company offers 1-year warranties on single-coat projects and 3-year warranties on two-coat projects. Based in Columbus, they serve 37 cities throughout Ohio including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Dayton.
Updated: 04-06-2026
Communication stands out as the most frequently praised aspect in customer reviews. Dan Kamionkowski describes Nicole Ratka as "extremely professional throughout the entire process" while Laura Croniger notes Gavin "provided updates and discussed areas where things didn't go as planned." Student managers send regular updates on scheduling, weather delays, and project progress. Sandra Drager appreciated that even with rainy weather interruptions, Alex Kidwell kept her informed about "days & times when our crew would be back and they were always there."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The student crews demonstrate adaptability on complex projects. Laura Croniger hired them for her "100+ year old home" and reported "professional, timely and amazing work completed." Branden Chambers notes that Brandon Burdette tackled his cedar shake siding, their "first cedar shake siding house," and the team "went above and beyond to make sure every shake had adequate coverage." Jim Curell appreciated that Phil addressed unexpected issues, "fixing some old damaged brick or some rotten wood" as problems arose.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Customers consistently praise punctuality and efficiency. Steve mentions Luke Day "showed up on time, and got everything done in one day which was faster than I expected." Rob Brooks confirms Phil's team "showed up on time, worked hard, and by the end of the day were done... exactly as promised." When weather causes delays, student managers communicate proactively. Tim Leet appreciated that Kevin "communicated really well with us" when his project hit scheduling snags.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The company demonstrates accountability in resolving problems. Holly Leonard initially gave a 4-star review noting concerns about neatness and paint coverage. She updated her review after "Sean reached out to me after my initial review and personally apologized and came out to correct the areas that needed help." She specifically praised "his willingness to make things right and his dedication to improving." Greg Hopkins had Ayush "re-did one area when it wasn't blending as well as hoped" without complaint.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Deck staining receives strong feedback from customers. Michael Beam had his deck stained by Joseph, an OSU student who was "professional, fair, and clear throughout the process." Tracy Vaughn describes Joseph Delambo's team as "professional and hard working" on her deck project. Cordell Caley notes Jack Walker "did well at coordinating the project" for deck washing and staining, with painters staying "late to get the job done in one day."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Customer loyalty appears throughout reviews. Marc Lemaitre returned after a decade, stating he was "as happy as before" with the work. P Barrett chose College Works again after eight years, explaining "the issues I had last time I communicated to these guys, and zero issues" this time around. Jennifer Donnellan, after interior and exterior work, simply states "I support this program would hire again." The combination of fair pricing, quality work, and supporting student development creates lasting relationships.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Individual student managers receive personal recognition repeatedly. Customers describe Jim Curell's experience with Phil as working with someone "very knowledgeable about prepping and painting" who "pointed out things about which I wouldn't have known." Kathy Essman praised Ben, noting he "was there every single day, providing leadership and supervision." Charlotte Pliske describes Chris and his team as "hard workers and very polite." The combination of training and personal accountability creates professional results.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
College Works Painting has operated since 1993 and maintains BBB Accreditation for its Ohio operations. The business operates under the fictitious name "College Works Painting" (Entity No. 4363379, Active, expires 07/30/2029) registered to CWPOhio, Inc. Ohio does not require a state-level contractor license for painting contractors, and Columbus explicitly exempts painting-only work from municipal HIC licensing requirements. The company is fully licensed and insured with coverage protecting homeowners throughout projects.
-Verification Sources: Ohio Secretary of State, BBB Profile, Ohio Municipal Licensing Records
Updated: 04-07-2026