Dj Painting vs Trico Painting
Placer Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Trico Painting brings 17 years of experience and workers comp coverage versus Dj Painting's 2 years without workers comp insurance.
| Dj Painting | Trico Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 2 years | 17 years |
| License # | 1119717 | 929737 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Roseville, CA | Roseville, CA |
| Website | www.djpaint.com | www.tricopainting.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Dj Painting
Customers emphasize the owner's detailed project explanations, methodical surface preparation on older homes, and direct personal involvement throughout all phases of work.
Trico Painting
Customers consistently highlight punctual daily arrival, systematic communication with regular updates, specialized cabinet transformation expertise, and thorough cleanup practices.
Key Takeaway: Trico's feedback reflects a well-oiled operational system with multiple crews and structured processes, while Dj Painting's reviews center on the personalized attention of working directly with the owner-operator.
Customer Reviews
Dj Painting
We had an excellent experience with DJ Painting Inc. Dillon, the owner, painted our baby's nursery floor to ceiling, including inside the closet and all of the doors, and the work turned out beautiful...
Dillon did a fantastic job painting our house. Since it had been a while a lot of prep work was needed. When the paint went on, the results were amazing. Dillon is very neat, organized, and kept us in...
Dylan was great to work with. Super nice and did a great job!
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 Dj Painting if...
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accept that liability risk to work with a newer contractor
- ✓ You value direct owner involvement throughout every phase of your project without delegation to crew supervisors
- ✓ Your project involves an older home requiring extensive surface preparation where you appreciate detailed explanations of the work being done
- ✓ You're working on a straightforward interior or exterior painting project without complex cabinet refinishing needs
Consider Trico Painting if...
- ✓ You want the protection of workers compensation insurance to eliminate liability concerns if someone is injured during your project
- ✓ Your project includes cabinet refinishing, particularly transforming oak cabinets, where you want specialized expertise
- ✓ You value the problem-solving capability that comes from 17 years of encountering complications on hundreds of projects
- ✓ You prefer a systematic approach with multiple crews, daily coordination meetings, and structured project management over a single owner-operator model
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Dj Painting: Ask to see proof of liability insurance and confirm your homeowner's policy will cover any worker injuries since they don't carry workers comp
- → For Dj Painting: Request references from projects completed in the past year that match your project scope and complexity
- → For both companies: Ask about their approach to handling unexpected issues like hidden dry rot or damaged drywall discovered during prep work
- → For Trico Painting: If cabinet work is involved, ask to see photos of previous cabinet transformations and details about their preparation and finishing process
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Trico Painting is the safer choice with 17 years of experience handling unexpected complications and workers comp insurance that protects you from liability. Their cabinet refinishing expertise and systematic approach with multiple crews also make them the clear choice for kitchen transformations or larger projects. Consider Dj Painting only if you have a straightforward project, confirm your homeowner's insurance adequately covers contractor injuries, and specifically value the direct owner involvement throughout the work. The workers comp gap isn't just paperwork—it's real financial risk you're accepting if you choose the company without it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a painter is injured while working on your property and the company doesn't have workers comp, the injured worker could potentially file a claim against your homeowner's insurance policy for medical bills and lost wages. You should contact your insurance agent to understand your coverage and whether you're comfortable with this risk before hiring a contractor without workers comp.
The experience difference matters most if your project involves an older home that may have hidden issues, complex cabinet refinishing, or if you simply want the peace of mind that comes from workers comp coverage. If your project is straightforward and you've verified your insurance situation, Dj Painting's direct owner involvement and thorough prep work may serve you well despite being newer.
Trico Painting has developed cabinet refinishing as a specialty area with numerous customers specifically praising their cabinet transformations and multi-step finishing process. While Dj Painting handles quality work across various projects, cabinet refinishing isn't highlighted as a focus area in their project history.
Both companies demonstrate high owner involvement, but the structure differs. Dj Painting's owner-operator model means Dillon Johnson works directly with you throughout the entire process. Trico's family operation involves multiple team members with crews supervised by different family members, though they maintain personalized communication through daily coordination meetings and regular updates.
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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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