Compare Local Pros
Cotter Painting vs Northstar Painting
Solano Painting Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Cotter Painting brings twice the licensing experience and specializes in difficult exterior projects, while Northstar Painting offers broader interior services at competitive prices.
| Cotter Painting | Northstar Painting | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 2 years |
| License # | 1094367 | 1124468 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Vallejo, CA | Fairfield, CA |
| Website | cotterpainting.com | painterfairfield.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Cotter Painting
Customers emphasize Cotter Painting's creative problem-solving abilities and success completing challenging exterior projects including work abandoned by other contractors.
Northstar Painting
Customers consistently highlight Northstar Painting's punctuality, competitive pricing, and organized work processes particularly for interior projects in occupied homes.
Key Takeaway: Cotter earns recognition for handling complex situations and difficult properties, while Northstar is praised for predictable scheduling and value pricing on standard residential projects.
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...
Northstar Painting
A job well done for sure! The owner and the crew paid attention to every detail of the job.
Jose and his incredible team did an outstanding job. From his professionalism responding to my request for quote and quick responses to every question. The team showed up on time every day and went a...
Jose from NorthStar painted my home and did an amazing job! Him and his team were amazing to deal with!
Consider Cotter Painting if...
- ✓ Your project involves challenging exterior work like multi-story homes, hillside properties, or older homes where hidden damage behind siding is likely and you need carpentry repair bundled with painting
- ✓ A previous contractor left your project incomplete and you need someone experienced in diagnosing what went wrong and completing work to proper standards
- ✓ You prioritize creative problem-solving and field experience over the newest pricing, especially for complex projects where twice the licensing years translates to better troubleshooting
- ✓ Your exterior painting requires custom carpentry solutions or structural preparation beyond standard surface prep
Consider Northstar Painting if...
- ✓ Your project is primarily interior painting, cabinet refinishing, or popcorn ceiling removal where Northstar's specialized equipment and service mix provides options Cotter doesn't advertise
- ✓ Competitive pricing is a priority and you've received higher estimates from other contractors for straightforward residential painting
- ✓ Punctuality and organized work processes matter significantly, particularly if you're living in the home during the project and need predictable schedules
- ✓ Your painting project is relatively straightforward without significant structural concerns where two years of licensing provides adequate experience
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Cotter Painting for references from exterior projects similar to yours, particularly if your home has hillside placement or multiple stories requiring specialized access solutions
- → Ask Northstar Painting how they handle unexpected complications like hidden water damage or structural issues discovered during surface prep, given their shorter licensing history
- → Ask both contractors to walk your property and identify potential problem areas before quoting, then compare how their assessments differ in thoroughness and proposed solutions
- → If choosing Northstar for a complex project, ask specifically about the owner and crew's total years in the painting trade before licensing their own business
The Bottom Line
Choose Cotter Painting if your project involves exterior painting on a challenging property, requires carpentry repairs, or if your home is older with potential hidden issues where four years of licensing experience meaningfully reduces risk. Their track record completing abandoned projects and handling hillside and multi-story homes demonstrates capabilities that matter for complex work. Choose Northstar Painting if you need interior painting, cabinet refinishing, or popcorn ceiling removal where they offer specialized services Cotter doesn't advertise, or if competitive pricing and punctual scheduling are priorities for a relatively straightforward residential project. Both contractors meet credential requirements, but Cotter's experience advantage is worth paying for when project complexity demands it.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward repainting with surfaces in good condition, both contractors have adequate experience. The licensing difference becomes significant when projects involve older homes, potential hidden damage, or structural repairs. Four years means Cotter has encountered more edge cases and developed troubleshooting skills that matter when problems arise. If your home was built before 1980 or shows signs of moisture damage or wood rot, that extra experience provides meaningful value.
Cotter has developed carpentry skills and equipment for challenging exterior projects including hillside access and multi-story work, which represents a specialized service mix. Northstar has invested in interior specialties like cabinet refinishing equipment and popcorn ceiling removal tools that require different capabilities. These aren't just marketing differences—they reflect actual equipment investments and skill development that determine what each company handles well.
Workers comp and bonds protect you from specific risks, but they don't prevent problems from occurring in the first place. More experienced contractors are better at identifying issues before they become expensive mistakes, like recognizing that flashing needs replacement before painting or that substrate moisture will cause premature paint failure. The bond covers financial loss if work isn't completed, but it doesn't compensate you for the time lost and hassle of hiring someone to fix improper work.
Customer feedback indicates Northstar offers competitive pricing, which may reflect their newer status and efforts to build their customer base. Cotter's pricing isn't noted as a concern, suggesting market-rate charges. For straightforward interior projects where Northstar specializes, their competitive pricing and service mix likely represent better value. For complex exterior work where Cotter specializes, paying market rates for twice the experience and carpentry capabilities typically costs less than hiring someone cheaper who creates problems requiring expensive fixes.
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 13, 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.