Paul Demosthenes Painting and Decorating Inc. Comparative Summary

For many Bay Area homeowners, the name Paul Demosthenes stands for workmanship and reputation, and is recognizable as the namesake of one of the area’s premier painting companies—Paul Demosthenes Painting and Decorating, according to owner Paul Demosthenes. He says the company “doesn’t lower our standards just to get a cheaply-priced paint job.”

Mr. Demosthenes isn’t merely the face of the company. Unlike owners who quote an estimate and then disappear from sight, he’s intimately involved with the details of every project. He makes himself completely accessible and available, either in person (when he makes his daily visit to the job site) or by cell phone.

Because clients don’t necessarily understand what constitutes a truly outstanding paint job, Mr. Demosthenes says he takes as much time as necessary to lay out his plans and processes. Customers know beforehand exactly what they’ve been promised; there are never any surprises or disappointments. Mr. Demosthenes says he and his crew “bend over backward” to satisfy clients’ expectations.

The company—Mr. Demosthenes, in particular—is adept at color matching and consultation. Rather than merely picking colors off a chip, which can be a deceptive task, Mr. Demosthenes actually creates colors on a tint rack. If a gray color is a bit too blue, he’ll “warm it up” by adding red tones. If a beige color is too light, he can darken it on the spot.

If Mr. Demosthenes has reservations about a customer’s chosen color, he typically paints only a small patch of wall—enough to permit a reassessment. He guides without badgering, allowing customers to “make decisions with their eyes rather than just on the contract,” he says.

When customers hire Paul Demosthenes Painting and Decorating, they get “a professional job without having to babysit the painters,” says Mr. Demosthenes. His workers are prompt, honest and “do what they say they’re going to do.” When the job is complete, he and his customers part “not just as business contacts, but most likely as friends,” he says.