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Mcdermaid Painting vs Sunwest Painting
Santa Clara Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Two equally qualified veteran painting contractors with identical credentials but distinct geographic focus areas within Santa Clara County.
| Mcdermaid Painting | Sunwest Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 24 years | 24 years |
| License # | 803672 | 807426 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Palo Alto, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Website | www.mcdermaidpainting.com | www.sunwestpainting.net |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Mcdermaid Painting
Customers emphasize long-term relationships spanning decades, detailed project planning, and specialized restoration capabilities for historic features and cabinetry.
Sunwest Painting
Customers highlight responsive communication, willingness to handle structural repairs discovered during projects, and experience with both residential and commercial clients.
Key Takeaway: Mcdermaid receives specific praise for intricate restoration work requiring technical precision, while Sunwest is noted for proactively addressing structural issues beyond the painting scope.
Customer Reviews
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 ...
Sunwest Painting
The quality of the paint job was good. My house looks new again. There were some cracks on the stucco and they helped me filled the cracks.
Sunwest Painting painted the exterior of my house 4 years ago - and it still looks great now! Recently, we had a smaller paint project for them at a rental property and Alonzo - the owner - came out a...
Sunwest Painting did an excellent job painting the exterior of our house in South San Jose. The initial consultation with Denise was excellent steering us into color choices that we were extremely ha...
Consider Mcdermaid Painting if...
- ✓ Your project involves restoration work such as historic windows, aging cabinetry, or furniture that requires specialized refinishing techniques beyond standard painting
- ✓ You're located in Palo Alto or the Peninsula area and value working with a contractor familiar with local architectural styles and building characteristics
- ✓ You prefer a contractor known for long-term client relationships, with customers who return repeatedly over decades for multiple projects
- ✓ Your project requires meticulous attention to detail on challenging surfaces or materials that demand precise preparation and application techniques
Consider Sunwest Painting if...
- ✓ Your property is in San Jose or the South Bay area and you want a contractor with deep local experience in your specific region
- ✓ Your painting project may uncover additional structural issues like stucco cracks or dry rot that you'd prefer to address with the same contractor rather than coordinating multiple trades
- ✓ You manage rental properties or commercial buildings and need a contractor experienced with diverse client types and tight turnaround schedules
- ✓ You value a contractor who proactively identifies repair needs during the painting process rather than working around existing damage
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → What is your typical timeline for projects similar to mine, and how many crew members would be assigned to my job?
- → Can you provide references from projects in my specific neighborhood or from properties similar to mine in age and construction type?
- → If you discover additional repair needs during surface preparation, how do you handle pricing and timeline adjustments for that work?
- → How do you coordinate color selection and project planning, and will I have direct access to the owner throughout the project?
The Bottom Line
This choice comes down to geography and project type rather than qualifications, since both companies have identical credentials and 24 years of veteran experience. Choose Mcdermaid Painting if you're in Palo Alto or the Peninsula area, especially if your project involves restoration work on historic features, intricate cabinetry, or specialized surfaces requiring technical precision. Choose Sunwest Painting if you're in San Jose or the South Bay, particularly if you manage commercial or rental properties or want a contractor who proactively addresses structural repairs during the painting process. Either choice provides strong contractor protection and experienced workmanship.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it matters practically. Mcdermaid's Palo Alto base means familiarity with Peninsula architecture, building codes, and historic home characteristics common in that area. Sunwest's San Jose focus provides similar depth for South Bay properties. A contractor based near your property typically responds faster to questions and has established relationships with local suppliers for color matching or specialty materials.
Both have 24 years of experience diagnosing issues, but customer feedback suggests slightly different strengths. Mcdermaid receives specific praise for historic window restoration and addressing aging materials with precision techniques. Sunwest is noted for proactively handling structural repairs like dry rot and stucco damage discovered during projects. Ask each about their experience with homes from your property's era.
Base your decision on project type and location. Choose Mcdermaid if you're in Palo Alto or need specialized restoration work on historic features, cabinetry, or furniture. Choose Sunwest if you're in San Jose, manage commercial or rental properties, or anticipate needing integrated repair work beyond just painting. Request estimates from both to compare their assessment of your specific project needs.
Both handle common painting-adjacent work like dry rot repair and cabinet refinishing, but emphasis differs. Mcdermaid's customer feedback highlights furniture restoration and window restoration as particular strengths. Sunwest receives more mentions for structural repairs like stucco crack filling and drywall work integrated into painting projects. Discuss your full scope with each to see which demonstrates deeper experience with your specific needs.
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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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