Compare Local Pros
Cotter Painting vs Moreno Painting
Solano Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Moreno Painting brings 23 years of proven experience with exceptional speed and value, but lacks workers compensation insurance which shifts liability risk to you.
| Cotter Painting | Moreno Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 23 years |
| License # | 1094367 | 815820 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Vallejo, CA | Vacaville, CA |
| Website | cotterpainting.com | www.morenopainting.net |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Cotter Painting
Customers emphasize Cotter Painting's attention to detail and ability to handle difficult projects including three-story homes, hillside properties, and completing work abandoned by other contractors.
Moreno Painting
Customers consistently highlight Moreno Painting's exceptional speed and responsive scheduling, with repeat clients spanning 15 years praising meticulous work completed in surprisingly short timeframes at fair prices.
Key Takeaway: Moreno's customers focus on fast turnaround and established long-term relationships, while Cotter's customers emphasize creative problem-solving and successful completion of challenging projects other contractors wouldn't take on.
Customer Reviews
Cotter Painting
Jon and his crew did an amazing exterior paint job on our house that is 3 stories tall, and on a hill no less! They did some carpentry work to romance trim and some siding, and they did an amazing job...
Jon and his team did an excellent job painting the exterior of our home. He's easy to work with, detailed and met all our expectations.
on and Jeff helped us implement a very creative solution by developing a microwave sliding set that looks great. Furthermore, they helped us with several issues we had in the house. They are incredi...
Moreno Painting
I highly recommend Moreno Painting. Mr. Moreno was able to start my exterior painting project earlier than he had originally estimated. I could not believe how efficiently he worked to get my job co...
Very fast worker! Got the job done right away and everything looks great! Highly recommend!
We hired Alejandro for a full one-day job, including two doors. He did it flawlessly. Nice work. Fairfield
Consider Cotter Painting if...
- ✓ Your project involves challenging exterior work like three-story heights, hillside access, or properties where painting requires significant carpentry prep work including siding or trim repairs
- ✓ You want clear liability protection with workers compensation coverage in place, eliminating risk if someone is injured during your project
- ✓ You're completing or fixing work another contractor left unfinished and need someone experienced in problem-solving and creative solutions
- ✓ You prefer working with a growing business that provides attentive, detail-focused service on complex projects
Consider Moreno Painting if...
- ✓ You need a straightforward interior or exterior paint job completed quickly, possibly within one to two days for standard projects
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accepting the liability risk that comes with no workers comp coverage
- ✓ You value working with a deeply experienced contractor who has 23 years of refined processes and a long track record of repeat customers
- ✓ Affordable pricing and responsive scheduling are top priorities, and customers consistently report same-day consultations and earlier-than-expected project starts
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Moreno Painting: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether contractor injuries are covered under your policy and how a claim might affect your rates
- → For Cotter Painting: Ask for references from projects similar in complexity to yours, particularly if your job involves challenging access or extensive carpentry preparation
- → For both: Ask how long their current crew members have worked together and what happens if weather or unforeseen conditions extend the timeline
- → For Moreno Painting: Given the very quick completion times mentioned, ask specifically how surface preparation and drying time between coats are handled to ensure durability
The Bottom Line
If workers compensation coverage matters to you—and it should—Cotter Painting provides that protection along with proven capability on complex exterior projects requiring carpentry skills. Their four years in business is enough to demonstrate competence, especially for challenging work. However, if you need a fast, affordable, straightforward paint job and you've confirmed with your insurance agent that you're comfortable with the liability exposure, Moreno Painting's 23 years of experience and track record of quick, quality completions make them a strong choice. For most homeowners who want to avoid potential liability headaches, Cotter's combination of workers comp coverage and specialized problem-solving capabilities makes them the safer choice, particularly for exterior projects with any complexity.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends entirely on your risk tolerance and insurance situation. Moreno's extensive experience translates to real advantages in pricing, speed, and proven reliability over two decades. However, if a worker is injured and Moreno lacks workers comp, your homeowner's policy becomes primary coverage, potentially affecting your rates or exposing you to liability. Call your insurance agent before deciding to understand your actual exposure.
Cotter can certainly complete standard projects, but customers specifically highlight their strength in complex, challenging work rather than speed. If you need a straightforward repaint done in one or two days, Moreno's 23 years of refined processes give them the clear advantage. If your project has complications like extensive prep work, difficult access, or repairs needed, Cotter's problem-solving focus may be the better fit.
Some contractors operate as sole proprietors or use subcontractors rather than employees, making workers comp legally optional in California. Others drop coverage to reduce operating costs and offer lower prices. Regardless of the reason, the liability risk transfers to you as the property owner. Ask Moreno directly about their crew structure and what insurance protection exists if someone is hurt.
The data provided focuses on Cotter's exterior projects and carpentry work, while Moreno explicitly offers both interior and exterior services with customer feedback on interior jobs. If you need interior painting, Moreno has demonstrated capability in that area. Ask Cotter directly about interior experience if that's your project scope.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top painting contractors in Solano.
Other Solano Painting Contractors Comparisons
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.
Get in Touch
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.