Compare Local Pros
Egan Plumbing vs Stella Painting
San Mateo General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a plumber to a painter—these companies serve completely different trades and cannot be compared for the same project.
| Egan Plumbing | Stella Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.7 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 40 years | 19 years |
| License # | 484784 | 888268 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Carlos, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Website | www.eganplumbing.com | www.stellapainting.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Egan Plumbing
Insufficient review data available to identify customer feedback patterns for Egan Plumbing.
Stella Painting
Customers consistently praise Stella Painting for professional crew behavior, punctual arrival, meticulous site cleanliness, and owner Robert Stella's detailed project explanations during consultations.
Key Takeaway: Stella Painting has substantial documented customer feedback establishing service patterns, while Egan Plumbing has limited review history despite four decades in business.
Customer Reviews
Egan Plumbing
The Best
Stella Painting
We contracted Stella Painting to prep and paint a TV wall I constructed in our living room. They were extremely professional, showed up on time, and went to work masking off the area they were workin...
During the extensive remodel of our home, we got three bids from each trade. Robert Stella seemed the most educated on his industry out of all the painting firms we interviewed. Luckily, the team foll...
It was great. Great company to work with. The guys are respectful and do great work.
Consider Egan Plumbing if...
- ✓ You need plumbing work such as pipe repairs, water heater installation, fixture replacement, drain clearing, or gas line work
- ✓ Your San Carlos property has older plumbing systems that benefit from a contractor with 40 years of experience navigating legacy installations
- ✓ You prioritize maximum licensure longevity and want a contractor who has operated through multiple generations of code changes
- ✓ You're comfortable proceeding with limited customer review data available for evaluation
Consider Stella Painting if...
- ✓ You need painting services including exterior house painting, interior walls, cabinet refinishing, or door painting
- ✓ You value documented customer feedback about crew professionalism, punctuality, and maintaining clean worksites during projects
- ✓ You want a contractor known for detailed project explanations and high owner involvement from the initial consultation through completion
- ✓ Your project involves commercial painting work, where Stella Painting has proven experience with construction firms and nonprofit clients
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Clearly define your project scope first—do you need plumbing repairs or painting services?
- → For Egan Plumbing: Ask for recent customer references since review history is limited, and inquire about their typical project timeline and communication practices
- → For Stella Painting: Ask about crew size for your specific project and how Robert Stella stays involved throughout the work
- → Confirm project-specific warranties and guarantees that each contractor offers for their respective trade work
The Bottom Line
This comparison cannot guide a decision because you're looking at a plumber versus a painter—completely different trades. Determine what work you actually need done. If you need plumbing repairs, water heater service, or pipe work, Egan Plumbing brings 40 years of experience though you should request recent references given limited review data. If you need painting services, Stella Painting offers 19 years of proven expertise with strong customer feedback about professionalism and quality. You cannot substitute one for the other regardless of which has better credentials.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, each company is licensed only for their specific trade. Egan Plumbing cannot legally perform painting work under their plumbing license, and Stella Painting cannot perform plumbing work under their painting license. You would need to hire both separately if your renovation requires both trades.
Many established contractors, particularly in trades like plumbing, built their reputation through referrals and repeat business before online reviews became standard. The limited review history doesn't necessarily indicate quality issues, but you should ask Egan directly for recent customer references to evaluate their current service approach.
Yes, 19 years qualifies Stella Painting as a veteran contractor with substantial experience. The review data shows they've successfully handled diverse projects from multi-story exteriors to detailed cabinet work and commercial construction sites, demonstrating capability across complexity levels.
Yes, both Egan Plumbing and Stella Painting carry active workers compensation insurance and maintain $25,000 bonds. This provides protection if a worker is injured on your property and financial recourse if contracted work isn't completed as agreed.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top general contractors in San Mateo.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 12, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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