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Five Star Painting vs Phillips Painting
Sacramento Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Phillips Painting brings five times the licensed experience and carries workers compensation insurance that Five Star Painting lacks.
| Five Star Painting | Phillips Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 3.0 | ★ 2.8 |
| Years Licensed | 8 years | 39 years |
| License # | 1033495 | 506216 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Sacramento, CA | Orangevale, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarpainting.com | www.phillipspaintingco.com |
Key Differences
Customer Reviews
Five Star Painting
Good Service
Phillips Painting
Your painter Luis did a wonderful job painting today on 25th street
Consider Five Star Painting if...
- ✓ You're planning a straightforward interior repaint in a newer home without complexity concerns and can verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries
- ✓ Five Star's service area aligns closely with your Sacramento location and you've confirmed they actively serve your neighborhood
- ✓ You're comfortable assuming additional liability risk in exchange for potentially different pricing structures from a less established contractor
Consider Phillips Painting if...
- ✓ You want workers compensation coverage in place to eliminate personal liability if someone is injured during your project
- ✓ Your home was built before 1978 or has potential complications like water damage, stucco repair, or extensive exterior work where decades of experience matters
- ✓ You're in or near Orangevale and prefer a contractor with nearly four decades of local market knowledge and established supplier relationships
- ✓ You value the operational stability that comes with a business that's maintained licensing through multiple economic cycles
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Five Star Painting: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether contractor injuries on your property are covered if workers comp isn't carried by the contractor
- → For Five Star Painting: Request references from projects completed in the past year that are similar in scope to yours, given their shorter track record
- → For both companies: Ask about crew stability and how long their current painters have been with the company, since neither has extensive public review history available
The Bottom Line
Phillips Painting is the stronger choice for most homeowners. The combination of workers compensation insurance, 39 years of licensed experience, and veteran-tier expertise provides substantially better risk protection and capability for handling complications. Five Star Painting could work for very straightforward projects if you verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and you're comfortable with a contractor who has one-fifth the licensed history. But for typical homeowners prioritizing protection and proven experience, Phillips Painting's comprehensive coverage and nearly four decades in business make it the more prudent selection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For a simple one-color interior repaint in good condition, the gap matters less. But for projects involving older homes, exterior work, or problem-solving around water stains, wood rot, or surface preparation issues, Phillips' 39 years means they've diagnosed and solved these problems hundreds of times. That pattern recognition prevents costly mistakes and change orders.
If a painter is injured on your property and the contractor doesn't carry workers comp, they may sue your homeowner's insurance or you directly for medical costs and lost wages. Some homeowner policies cover this, many don't. Before hiring any contractor without workers comp, call your insurance agent to verify your specific coverage and consider whether that risk is worth taking.
The $25,000 bond is identical and provides the same financial protection if work isn't completed. However, bonding addresses only one type of risk. Phillips' workers comp coverage, longer operational history, and veteran status suggest more comprehensive risk management and business stability beyond just the bond requirement.
Both serve Sacramento County, so location shouldn't be a dealbreaker. However, confirm during your consultation that your specific address falls within each contractor's preferred service area, as Five Star notes defined geographic boundaries. Phillips' Orangevale base likely means strong familiarity with both suburban and urban Sacramento County properties.
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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 08, 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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