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Chism Brothers Painting

Exterior Surfaces - Powerwashing, Exterior Surfaces - Sandblasting, Carpentry Framing - Install,

About us

One of San Diego's oldest family-run painting companies. Mike and Pat Chism grew up in Mission Hills and learning the trade of painting from their father, Milton Chism, who was a San Diego painting contractor. Milt began painting in San Diego during the mid 1930s. After finishing college, Mike Chism started working for a La Jolla painting contractor, named Otto Welp. His brother Pat joined him shortly after he started. With the sudden passing of Mr. Welp, Mike and Pat were forced to start their own business, which they did in 1982. Pat Chism worked in the business til he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2006. Today, Mike Chism and several members of his family still run the operations with 10 full-time painters, an estimator and a wonderful office manager. More about Chism Brothers 12 employees. Uses subs for non-painting services. Cost is determined by the job. No travel charges. No service fees. License #491884. DBA: Chism Brothers Custom Painting Inc, CBP Painting. Additional email: [email protected] may contact through email.

Business highlights

43 years of experience

Services we offer

Complete interior & exterior home painting, application of waterproof coatings, color consulting, entry door systems - new & refinishing, general remodeling., metal finishes & painting related repair & replacement services, pressure washing & cleaning, staining & finishing of natural wood surfaces, staining & finishing of woodwork

Amenities

Free Estimates

Yes

Accepted Payment Methods

  • CreditCard
Reviews
4.851 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
90%
4
6%
3
0%
2
2%
1
2%
Showing 1-25 of 51 reviews
Dani D.
Jun 2021
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
This was a wonderful company from start to finish. I needed the exterior of my home painted. Mike Chism came out for the estimate. He was on time, professional, and quick. He explained a lot about the different paints for my exterior type and offered suggestions for someone to do some repair work. That company was great. I received a fair quote from Mike and scheduled the work that would last four days. I emailed and spoke with the office manager, Carolyn, a few times and she was very polite, professional, and on the ball. She sent me Gorge as my project manager. What an incredible worker. He showed up on time and ready to work. He went over the job with me first and answered all my questions. Gorge was on time every day and let me know what he was going to be doing that day. I really liked his communication and the effort he put into his work. He checked with me regularly to make sure I was satisfied with how everything was progressing. He was very meticulous and experienced, and he managed his workers very well. They seemed to like working for him. When they were done they cleaned everything up so it was all neat. All around satisfaction! I would highly recommend to anyone and I will rehire when needed.

Michael B.
Jan 2018
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,800
Everything went fine. The worker was professional and easy to deal with. He laid out a time table for removing the old finish and installing three new coats to be accomplished over a 3 day period. The removal process was fairly involved as the wood surface had been badly damaged in some spots. The work went as planned and the results look great. The price was probably higher than some others but I wanted it done right.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"Thanks so much for this kind, honest review, [Member Name Removed]. We're so glad you appreciated (and are enjoying) our craftsmanship, and we look forward to serving you again someday."

Susan G.
Aug 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,000
Did a good job.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"Thank you! It was our pleasure to serve you once again, and I'm glad you enjoy the quality of our work. Thank for allowing us to continue to serve you all these years."

Susan G.
Jul 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"Thank you, [Member Name Removed]! We look forward to serving you again someday."

Deborah H.
Jul 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
All of the projects were excellent. Each painter arrived on time, got right to work, asked good questions, cleaned up efficiently. Approximate cost: April '17 Zach: entire master bdrm & ceiling, ceiling of another bedroom = $550.00 May '17 Kurt: prep, repaint eaves all around our large house. Labor intensive. $400.00 July '17 Raul: interior touchups $136.00 We've lived in this house for 37 years, and we learned the hard way that some painters give lowball estimates, then take longer and jack up the bill or end up with just the owner painting the entire house, taking 3 weeks -- unacceptable. We return to Chism repeatedly because they're honest, accurate and provide only high quality. You get what you pay for.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"[Member Name Removed], we can't thank you enough for this detailed, kind review! It's always a pleasure serving you."

Susan E.
Jun 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
.

Donald F.
May 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown

CM S.
Dec 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,000
The guys were great.  They were very polite and easy to work with.  They always cleaned up after themselves.  On time every day.


Bill A.
Sep 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Things went okay. It was good. We would use them again.

Grant W.
Jul 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,000
well

Susan T.
Apr 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,000
I used Chism Bros. to refinish a custom set of mahogany double doors that were badly deteriorated from the sun and lack of maintenance. They sent Raul out over a number of days and he did a great job, bringing back the beauty of my doors & once more making them a centerpiece of my home's driveup appeal. Chism Bros. isn't the low cost option, but they will do a first rate job and they are extremely well run and responsive to customer requests.

Catherine D.
Jan 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,800
.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"Thank you very much for reviewing our company! It was a pleasure to serve you."

Jennifer H.
Jan 2014
1.0
$3,500
James quoted the job, and indicated he was giving me a discount due to it being a slow time of year.  After one of the walls paint started peeling off before they were even finished, he said he only quoted "minimal prep" and then charged me $900 dollars more to prep correctly.  I argued that they should have prepped correctly in the first place and was told "they didn't know".  I had no choice but to sign a document to have it repaired properly.  BAIT AND SWITCH.
I also had problems with them breaking sprinkler heads, pulling out landscape lighting wires, breaking parts of my BBQ when moved, etc, the list goes on.
Paint quality was fine when done for the second time.  Job was shecedule for 3 days, started December 16th and finally finished in January (granted I was gone over the holidays, but still...)
Cost way too much especially considering all the repairs I had to do after they left.  I will never use them again.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"As a business owner, one of the core values I strive to accomplish is to reach out to customers who are not satisfied with our service. Ms. Hatch & I have had a discussion and I concurred with many of her concerns. We have made some financial adjustments to address & resolve them. I am talking to my painter who worked on your home and estimator about how they could have approached your project differently and avoided some of the issues you mentioned. I am sorry the experience was not exceptional."

Carolyn S.
Dec 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$525
He knew what he was doing and why, and worked efficiently and quickly.  I plan to have them back for some cabinetry in the Spring.

Vera E.
Nov 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,200
From the beginning the tone was set.....like soothing music that brings peace to the soul. I knew immediatly that I chose the right company for the job. From the first day to the last, from James to John to Marty, all  went above and beyond making sure "I" was taken care of by providing me with excellent service, outstanding workmanship, friendly attitudes and good character. Chism Brothers should be proud to have such fine men. 
The whole project went very smooth and all work was done in a timely manner as James had promised. Truly, they stand behind their word.
The whole experience was awsome and much praise is due for James, John and Marty at Chism Brothers Paining.
Oh, did I mention....my house looks beautiful.


Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"Vera, your review of us was truly music to my ears! Thank you! We are privileged to employ some great painters. Many of them have been with us more than a decade. That is rare in the painting industry. Marty has been with us for 26 years now. We love our staff, and I am glad you had a pleasant experience. I will make sure my staff sees your review!"

Jason K.
Oct 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$10,000
Everything with Chism Brothers was very smooth and very professional. From the estimate to the actual work, they did a great job. Not by an unreasonable amount but they were the highest estimate we received. The quality of the work and the helpfulness of the workers made the whole process though very pleasant.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"[member name removed] to get feedback, and I love sharing it with my staff. Thank you for using our company, and I do hope you enjoy your new home. By no means do we want to be the highest price painters in town. We price the jobs to do it right and avoid change orders. So we try to be extra thorough and catch everything that needs to be done the first time. We also do guarantee our work for 5 full years. So keep contact us anytime."

Deborah H.
Aug 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,400
I first called another painter who had done a little work for us many years ago; he came to our house and discussed the project and gave us an estimate.  We were concerned about a solo painter handling this big project within a reasonable time frame, and so after extensive research about painters on Angie's List, I called Chism Brothers Painting and one other painting company.  Chism's estimator, James Becker, answered immediately and scheduled a time to come to the house.  I left a message at another painting company from Angie's List and received a call back the next day informing me that the earliest appointment would be two weeks later.  I made that appointment but after our detailed meeting with James, I cancelled the estimate appointment with the second firm since we then had a good idea of the scope and cost of the projects.
James was incredibly knowledgeable and offered many suggestions.  He walked around the house exterior to evaluate the condition of the wood and the scope of the project,.  He noted some significant termite or dry rot on fascia and rafter tails -- some of which we had not been aware of -- and suggested that we contact Mike Spencer of Best-Rate Wood Repairs to handle the repair and/or replacement of the affected pieces. He said that his crew could repair and fill small areas but Best-Rate has the expertise for the more significant problems.  The solo painter (above) figured he could do all the repairs himself with Bondo but by then we knew that Chism had more experience and so we followed James' suggestion: before Chism painters arrived, we had Best-Rate complete this work (see separate review).  
Regarding the interior: I explained that various areas throughout the house needed touch-ups (scuffed, damaged, dented walls, bannisters, railings and doors, and perhaps some repair of 1-2 areas that might require repainting one wall.  This required different paint colors and finishes.  We did not want complete rooms repainted nor did we want to move any major furniture (e.g. a grand piano, two large area rugs, three sofas) for the job.  Obviously I was perfectly happy to remove breakable objects, lamps and other items that would get in the way.  James suggested the "Painter for a Day" flat rate program and explained how it would work best for us, saying that all the little details and finishes take more time than painting entire walls of empty rooms.. He also suggested that the painter could probably clean off the dirt surrounding the heating vents instead of painting these areas .  (I had tried doing so but with little success, but he said they have products specifically suited for the job, and this would save time and money.)  "Painter for a Day" was perfect for the interior.  
James also explained how Chism Brothers operates, with a designated foreman for both the exterior and interior; the foreman would be in charge, communicating with me on all facets of the project. managing the crew and making sure all is done properly.  Shortly after our meeting James emailed us two estimates, one for the exterior, a separate "Painter for a Day" for the interior, plus several sheets of information regarding the projects.  These were very thorough and helpful as they delineated responsibilities, underscoring the professionalism of the company. 
 
The estimate was close to that of the solo painter, with the advantage of Chism's greater expertise and professionalism, and having a foreman and 2-3 painters on the project, all insuring that the job would get done right and would not drag on.  We faxed our acceptance on a Friday afternoon and on Monday morning the scheduler called us regarding timing.  She understood our needs and said she would call us back as crews became available, making sure to schedule us as soon as possible after Best-Rate's repairs.  She got it done: Best-Rate finished on that Friday and Chism started the following Tuesday. 
Foreman John Galella arrived promptly at 7:00 AM and walked both the exterior and interior projects with me.  He told me how he operates and what to expect, and I told him that I would move potted plants and garden furniture outdoors; breakables, lamps and other items in the interior; and provide a complete list of all paint colors and finishes for both the exterior and interior. He used my spreadsheet to order paint for the exterior.  At one point during the exterior work he asked me to show him the paints we had on hand for the interior, advising me on quantities, colors and finishes of additional paints I should buy at the store on the weekend.   Throughout the exterior and interior projects John continually communicated with me so that I could plan ahead and that he could avoid unnecessary problems.  3-4 painters completed the exterior in 4 days. It looks just wonderful. I did not need to be home the entire time as John was in charge.  I am sure that all of Chism's foremen are excellent, but John is not only a very experienced painter, but his friendliness and open communication were key to getting this job done well -- so special thanks go to him.
 
John completed the interior himself in approximately 1.5 days, working carefully and efficiently.. I stayed home both days for the interior as he needed me to show him what needed work and in which colors and finishes.  I had made two copies of my color/finish spreadsheet and had already affixed blue tape all over the place but he said that this teamwork allowed him to open a color and paint everything requiring that color/finish at one time.  He worked color by color in sequence throughout the house, completing the job more efficiently and saving us money. For example: he repaired a crack above a wide doorway and then repainted the entire wall, working carefully around the piano which could not be moved.  He put three coats (instead of the usual two coats) on our front door in the color we wanted but in a different finish which he said would not chalk up.  He was able to clean off the dirt around almost all the heat vents (just as James had predicted), repainting the areas around only two vents.  He repainted one small wall in the front entry hall, but was able to feather paint over scratches and dark marks on other walls.  The interior looks terrific, too.  The "Painter for a Day" is an excellent, cost-effective way to get this type of tedious job done.
John and the crew were very polite and respectful of our home and property. We gave them access to a restroom on the main floor. We gave them the garage so they could store the paints and other items inside, and they stacked ladders neatly on a patio.  They swept and cleaned up daily.
One of the most surprising aspects of the job was that Chism went above and beyond.  When the crew painted the fascia, eaves and wood frame around the garage door, John had them paint the gutter above in the same color.  Gutters were not in the estimate but this small detail made the front of the house sparkle.  John had to pressure wash the wood siding, fascia, eaves and patio shade cover on the pool deck.  When James was doing the estimate I had asked him to include a quick pressure wash of the pool deck itself to get rid of the mildew and dirt around the pool drains.  No problem.  When I returned one afternoon John showed me the clean pool deck -- and proudly pointed to a white resin patio lounge. I blinked -- it was BRIGHT white!  He had pressure washed it, too.  This may seem like a small thing to mention, but it is significant that Chism manag

Heather E.
Aug 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
These painters are consummate professionals.  Attention to detail and years of experience make for a beautiful outcome.  The friendly and well mannered crew do little 'extras' as part of the service. As just a single example, a sitting mother bird and her eggs were carefully treated in spite of the extra time it took. Another example is that at no extra charge they even repaired and added stucco around an external lamp that was hanging off the wall and filled some small places where termites had gotten to the wood prior to our tenting the house.
One thing we noted was that the neighbor's plants and property were treated as respectfully as our own.  Since this is not always the case, we were pleased to offer our community a better experience. Premium paint and careful application will make for years of use and therefore the price is very reasonable in terms of value received. Thank you, Chism Brothers Painting.


Pearl D.
Jul 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
Good overall experience.  The team were punctual, polite and professional and did a great job painting our home.  I would definitely recommend Chism Brothers Painting to anyone.  Very impressed with their customer service also.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"(member name removed), thank you taking the time to write your review of our company. This is helpful. It was a pleasure to serve you. I do hope the price was reasonable too. I noticed the B on price and always want to make sure you got not only great service but a great value too. Your paint job should last a long time. If you ever have a question or issue, let me know. We will take care of it."

Gabrielle H.
May 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They were outstanding! They did a great job and they were meticulous.

Charles B.
May 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Their bid was very thorough and covered every question I had! It was a nice package, timely and he is very experienced.

Sheri C.
May 2013
2.0
I thought they were overpriced.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"Hi [member name removed]. I am sorry that you thought we were overcharging for our painting services. I am also a little disappointed that we received such a low rating. The first time we did work for you was at your LJ property back in the mid 2000s. I was heavily involved with you throughout the whole project and do not remember you being unhappy as you contacted me to bid & paint on other properties you owned. You communicated to me that you were happy. You always seemed pleased with us. The last time we did work for you I believe was 2009. If we missed something back then, by all means, I want to know about it. I will say that we charge a reasonable fee for what we do. We rarely ever get complaints on our service, quality or pricing. We pay our painters a good wage for what they do, and I am not ashamed of that. I want and believe I have great people working for us. I will also be honest and say we are not getting rich and retiring anytime soon! We are a family business trying hard to provide the best possible painting experience. I know there is always room for improvement, and please let me know how best to serve you if there is that chance once again. David C."

William S.
May 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They painted out whole house seven years ago and we use them over and over at least once year.They are wonderful people to work with! They are just terrific and do a thorough and professional job!

Sallie H.
May 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They were quick, they did a good job and were very professional. I would hire them again.

Pearl D.
May 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,000
My interaction with Chism Brothers Painting was truly helpful and professional. I was happy with it. They were punctual and professional. I'm considering them.
Response from Chism Brothers Painting
"Thank you for taking the time to write this review about our company, (deleted member name). I want to provide the best possible service. That has been my companies' goal since we started in 1982. I am grateful for the painters that work with me too. You'll love them too!"
Showing 1-25 of 51

Licensing

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FAQ

Chism Brothers Painting is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.

Chism Brothers Painting accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard

Yes, Chism Brothers Painting offers free project estimates.

No, Chism Brothers Painting does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, Chism Brothers Painting does not offer a senior discount.

No, Chism Brothers Painting does not offer emergency services.

No, Chism Brothers Painting does not offer warranties.