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Color Pros vs Mcdermaid Painting
Santa Clara Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Mcdermaid Painting brings 24 years of licensing versus Color Pros' 13 years, with significantly broader specialty restoration capabilities.
| Color Pros | Mcdermaid Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 13 years | 24 years |
| License # | 982715 | 803672 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Morgan Hill, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Website | www.colorprosinc.com | www.mcdermaidpainting.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Color Pros
Customers praise Color Pros for quality finished work, clean lines, thorough preparation, and professional responsiveness on residential painting projects.
Mcdermaid Painting
Mcdermaid Painting customers emphasize decades-long relationships, detailed planning, and expertise handling complex restoration projects beyond standard painting.
Key Takeaway: Mcdermaid cultivates exclusive long-term partnerships spanning 5-25 years, while Color Pros earns repeat business through reliable project-level execution without the same emphasis on becoming a sole painting provider.
Customer Reviews
Color Pros
I would highly recommend Color Pros, and it's only been a week since my project has been completed. I had a hard time getting in touch with any contractor to paint the exterior of my home. I was conta...
I'm a general contractor and Ramon is AMAZING to work with. Always on time, on budget. Very professional and friendly.
Very professional, great workers and very helpful. They aren't over priced but they aren't the cheapest. But honestly, do you want the cheapest? I know that has never turned out well for me. Give ...
Mcdermaid Painting
Last month, McDermaid Painting painted the exterior of our two-story house, installed gutter guards, and repaired/painted kitchen interior ceiling from a water leak. Gus quickly provided an extensive...
We have used McDermaid for three painting projects over the past five years: one the house exterior and two interior projects. They are great to work with, often coming up with ideas that make the wo...
I have used McDermaid Painting at least 5 times over the last 25 years. In conjunction with another project I'm doing, they came out to do some touch-up painting indoors and outdoors. As usual, the ...
Consider Color Pros if...
- ✓ Your project is straightforward interior or exterior painting without restoration components, where Color Pros' 13 years of focused painting experience provides all the expertise needed
- ✓ You're in Morgan Hill or southern Santa Clara County and prefer working with a local contractor based in your immediate area
- ✓ You want competitive pricing from an established company with proven quality but don't need the specialized capabilities that typically command premium rates
- ✓ Your timeline is standard and you value the responsive communication and daily cleanup practices customers consistently mention
Consider Mcdermaid Painting if...
- ✓ Your project involves specialty work like cabinet refinishing, window restoration, furniture restoration, or dry rot repair that requires technical skills beyond standard painting
- ✓ You have an older home where the 24-year veteran's deeper experience diagnosing hidden damage and handling unexpected complications provides meaningful value
- ✓ You're seeking a long-term painting partner for ongoing property maintenance, as customers report using Mcdermaid exclusively over decades
- ✓ You're in Palo Alto or northern Peninsula areas where Mcdermaid is locally based, or you're coordinating with designers and contractors who value their demonstrated collaboration experience
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Color Pros: Ask for references from projects similar in scope to yours, particularly if your home is older and may have underlying issues beyond the paint surface
- → For Mcdermaid Painting: Given their broader service range, confirm their crew has specific recent experience with your exact project type if you're doing standard painting rather than restoration work
- → For both: Request a detailed timeline with milestones and ask how they handle unexpected issues discovered during surface preparation
The Bottom Line
For standard residential interior or exterior painting, Color Pros delivers quality workmanship at competitive rates with 13 years of proven execution—entirely sufficient for straightforward projects. However, if your project involves any restoration components, cabinet work, window repair, or dry rot issues, Mcdermaid Painting's 24-year veteran status and specialty capabilities justify their selection despite likely higher costs. Location matters too: Morgan Hill homeowners gain convenience with Color Pros, while Palo Alto residents benefit from Mcdermaid's local presence. For older homes where hidden issues may emerge, Mcdermaid's deeper experience provides meaningful insurance against complications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward repainting on a newer home, Color Pros' 13 years provides ample expertise. However, if your home is older or you suspect underlying issues like dry rot or failing trim, Mcdermaid's 24 years means they've diagnosed and resolved these complications hundreds more times, reducing the risk of costly surprises mid-project.
Not necessarily—Color Pros focuses specifically on residential painting and delivers quality results at competitive pricing for standard projects. Choose Mcdermaid if you're combining painting with cabinet refinishing, window restoration, or repair work, or if you value having a single long-term contractor for all future painting needs.
Both owners provide detailed estimates and remain accessible, but customer patterns suggest different styles. Mcdermaid's decades-long client relationships indicate a consultative approach where customers rely on their guidance for ongoing property maintenance. Color Pros demonstrates strong project-level communication and responsiveness without the same emphasis on becoming an exclusive long-term partner.
Both have demonstrated capability with two-story residential exteriors and maintain proper safety practices. Color Pros explicitly mentions two-story experience in their background, while Mcdermaid's broader commercial and restoration work implies similar capability. Either can handle this project competently, so base your decision on location convenience, specialty needs, and budget rather than height concerns.
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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 13, 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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