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Diamond Star Painting vs Trico Painting
Placer Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Trico Painting's 17 years of licensing history versus Diamond Star's single year represents a substantial experience gap that affects risk assessment.
| Diamond Star Painting | Trico Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 1 years | 17 years |
| License # | 1133155 | 929737 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Lincoln, CA | Roseville, CA |
| Website | www.diamondstarpainting.com | www.tricopainting.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Diamond Star Painting
Customers emphasize Diamond Star's thorough consultation process, competitive pricing, and personalized attention from hardworking crews who maintain strong communication throughout projects.
Trico Painting
Customers consistently highlight Trico's systematic communication protocols, punctual daily arrival, meticulous cleanup practices, and specialized expertise in cabinet transformations with detailed preparation work.
Key Takeaway: Diamond Star focuses on personalized consultation and affordability as a market entrant, while Trico emphasizes established systems, predictable processes, and refined cabinet specialization developed over nearly two decades.
Customer Reviews
Diamond Star Painting
Another successful project accomplished! Used Diamond Star multiple times over several years most recently at just moved into Sun City Rocklin home. Tom and team helped with exterior work following HV...
We just had Diamond Star paint our home's exterior and could not be happier. Tim was wonderful and helpful providing us with assistance in paint color options and advice on some dry rot work. Tabitha ...
This is an honest review of Diamond Star Painting. We recently had our home painted. The house is only 6 years old, but the paint failed, especially the trim paint. I have been looking at reviews on G...
Trico Painting
TRICO just finished another amazing project for us! From the first estimate to the finishing touches, everyone is friendly and professional. The quality of work is exceptional!
Tim and his entire crew were fantastic. They were polite, professional, and did a tremendous job. This was a big project. They completed everything ahead of schedule and the quality of work was outsta...
Trico painted all my new baseboards and finished my stairway project The workers were very professional, efficient and left the work areas clean. Highly recommended.
Consider Diamond Star Painting if...
- ✓ You're working with a tight budget and Diamond Star's competitive pricing as a newer market entrant could provide meaningful savings on straightforward projects
- ✓ Your project is relatively simple—a single-room repaint or basic exterior work—where extensive troubleshooting experience is less critical
- ✓ You value high owner involvement and personalized attention throughout the estimation and consultation process
- ✓ You're comfortable with a newer company that has proper insurance coverage but limited long-term track record to assess workmanship durability
Consider Trico Painting if...
- ✓ Your project involves cabinet refinishing, where Trico's specialized expertise and repeatedly praised transformation results indicate mastery of this complex work
- ✓ You're dealing with an older home where hidden issues may emerge, and Trico's 17 years of experience provides greater ability to diagnose and adapt to complications
- ✓ You prefer established systems and predictable processes, which Trico's systematic communication protocols and multiple-crew structure provide
- ✓ Long-term warranty reliability matters to you, and a 17-year business history offers more confidence they'll be available to honor commitments years from now
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Diamond Star for references from projects completed in their first few months of operation to assess how their early work has held up over time
- → Ask Trico about their specific cabinet preparation process and timeline, given their specialization in this area
- → Ask both companies about their warranty terms and what specific issues are covered for how long
- → Ask Diamond Star how they handle unexpected complications that require experience-based problem-solving, such as discovering dry rot or substrate issues during preparation
The Bottom Line
Trico Painting is the safer choice for most homeowners, particularly for cabinet work or complex projects where their 17 years of experience provides meaningful risk reduction and proven expertise. Their systematic processes and specialty cabinet skills justify confidence in predictable outcomes. Diamond Star Painting offers a credible alternative for budget-conscious homeowners with straightforward projects who are comfortable accepting the uncertainty that comes with a one-year track record in exchange for competitive pricing and attentive service. If your project involves older home complications or you need assurance the company will be available for warranty support five years from now, Trico's established history provides that security.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily—they have proper licensing and insurance, and their reviews indicate professional execution and attention to detail. The concern is limited track record for assessing long-term durability and whether they'll be in business years from now if warranty issues arise. Their one year of operation simply provides less data for predicting outcomes compared to Trico's 17-year history.
For complex projects like cabinet refinishing or older homes with potential hidden issues, yes—their 17 years of licensing means they've encountered and resolved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet. For straightforward repaints on newer homes, the experience premium may matter less. Reviews actually note Trico's competitive pricing, so the cost difference may be smaller than expected.
Trico Painting has clear specialization here, with multiple reviews specifically praising their cabinet transformations, detailed preparation processes including multiple rounds of sanding and priming, and finish quality. While Diamond Star lists cabinet refinishing as a service, Trico's repeated customer mentions of this specialty suggest deeper expertise developed over 17 years.
It's a legitimate consideration for risk assessment, not a disqualification. They have proper insurance and bonding, which protects you. The practical concerns are: limited evidence of how their work holds up over multiple years, uncertainty about business longevity for future warranty claims, and less experience diagnosing hidden problems during projects. For lower-stakes projects, these risks may be acceptable given their competitive pricing and positive recent feedback.
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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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