A And B Painting vs Stevenson Painting
San Mateo Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Stevenson Painting brings nearly double the licensed experience (25 years vs 13 years), which matters for complex projects and unforeseen complications.
| A And B Painting | Stevenson Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 13 years | 25 years |
| License # | 978584 | 787783 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Redwood City, CA | Half Moon Bay, CA |
| Website | anbpainting.net | — |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
A And B Painting
Customers emphasize A And B Painting's honest pricing, professional communication, and flexibility in scheduling extended projects with returning clients.
Stevenson Painting
Customers highlight Stevenson Painting's expertise in color consultation and ability to guide homeowners toward sophisticated color choices they wouldn't have identified independently.
Key Takeaway: A And B earns praise for transparent pricing and schedule accommodation, while Stevenson is valued specifically for design guidance and color selection expertise.
Customer Reviews
A And B Painting
Rudy & his guys did a 10 day painting project for me....and they did a fantastic job! Great work, fair pricing AND a friendly & honest owner! Hard to find nowadays, and A&B embodies this!
Rudy and his team do excellent work. They have now done two projects for me and I give them my highest recommendation... always professional, offering great advice, flexible to work with and complete...
Stevenson Painting
This family owned business painted my house with a gorgeous, complex color that I would have never been able to find as a DIYer. Bob and his helper did a beautiful job! 03/27 Once again Bob is now pai...
Consider A And B Painting if...
- ✓ You have a straightforward residential painting project without complications like extensive rot, unusual surfaces, or challenging color matching requirements
- ✓ Budget predictability and honest, fair pricing are your primary concerns and you want an owner who communicates clearly about costs upfront
- ✓ You're located in Redwood City or nearby communities and want a contractor who won't add travel time to your project schedule
- ✓ You value flexible scheduling and need a contractor who can work around your availability for extended multi-day projects
Consider Stevenson Painting if...
- ✓ Your project involves complex color selection and you want expert guidance finding sophisticated, non-standard colors that elevate your home's appearance
- ✓ You're painting an older coastal property where 25 years of experience diagnosing hidden moisture damage, substrate issues, or salt air deterioration becomes valuable
- ✓ You're in Half Moon Bay or the coastal region and want a contractor who knows local architectural styles and environmental challenges
- ✓ You want the deepest possible expertise for specialty applications or challenging surfaces where veteran-level problem-solving matters
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask both contractors how they handle unexpected issues like hidden rot or substrate damage discovered mid-project—what's their process for communicating changes and pricing additional work?
- → Request Stevenson Painting to provide specific examples of their color consultation process and how they've helped recent clients with complex color decisions
- → Ask A And B Painting for references from projects with similar scope and budget to yours, specifically focusing on how pricing aligned with initial estimates
- → Confirm travel radius and whether your location affects their scheduling availability or project pricing
The Bottom Line
For straightforward residential painting where fair pricing and schedule flexibility matter most, A And B Painting offers 13 years of solid experience with transparent communication. If your project involves complex color decisions, older coastal properties, or situations where 25 years of veteran expertise provides insurance against complications, Stevenson Painting is the stronger choice. Both are fully licensed and insured with identical bonding, so you're protected either way. Choose A And B for budget-conscious, uncomplicated projects in Redwood City; choose Stevenson when experience depth and color consultation justify their approach for coastal or complex work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward interior work in good condition, both contractors have sufficient expertise. The experience gap becomes meaningful if your project involves older homes, diagnosing problems beneath existing paint, or requires sophisticated color consultation. Stevenson's 25 years means they've encountered nearly every complication that can arise, while A And B's 13 years still covers most standard scenarios homeowners face.
Customer feedback suggests A And B Painting emphasizes fair, honest pricing and transparency, which typically appeals to budget-conscious homeowners. Stevenson Painting's reviews focus on color expertise and workmanship quality rather than pricing competitiveness. For standard work, A And B may offer more straightforward value; for projects where color consultation adds significant benefit, Stevenson's expertise may justify their pricing.
A And B operates from Redwood City while Stevenson is based in Half Moon Bay—about 30 miles apart. If you're in Redwood City or the mid-Peninsula, A And B is your local option. If you're coastal or in Half Moon Bay, Stevenson is local. Either can likely travel to your area, but the closer contractor may offer better scheduling flexibility and won't factor travel time into their day.
Both companies are owner-involved, meaning you'll interact directly with the principal rather than crew supervisors. The difference is in what that owner brings: A And B's owner is noted for honest communication and schedule flexibility, while Stevenson's owner is specifically mentioned for hands-on color selection guidance. Choose based on whether you need help with project logistics or design decisions.
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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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