Frequently Asked Questions

Every home is different. We provide free, no-obligation estimates based on the size of the project, surface condition, and paint selection. Most homeowners have a detailed quote within 48 hours of our visit.

Yes. Hillis Brothers Painting is fully licensed to operate in Michigan, carries both liability insurance and workers' compensation, and has been BBB A+ accredited since 2014.

Yes. Interior, exterior, and cabinet painting carry a 3-year workmanship warranty, and deck staining carries a 2-year warranty on the finish. We stand behind the prep, materials, and craftsmanship on every job.

A walk-through of your property, a written scope of work, color and material discussion, and a detailed price. No obligation and no sales pressure.

No. Many of our customers leave us a key or garage code while they work. We treat your home like our own and lock up when we leave.

We use premium paints from trusted brands like Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Behr. We match the right product to the surface and use the system the manufacturer warrants.

Drop cloths on floors, plastic on furniture, masking around trim and outlets, and protection for landscaping outdoors. Our crews leave job sites clean every day.

You don't pay until the job is done and you're satisfied with the work. We don't collect deposits or partial payments on residential projects.

Most residential exteriors take 3 to 5 days depending on home size, prep work needed, and weather. We communicate the timeline upfront and keep you updated throughout.

We monitor forecasts closely and schedule around weather. If rain interrupts work, we protect all prepped surfaces and resume as soon as conditions allow. We never paint on wet surfaces.

Absolutely. We offer color consultation and can apply samples directly to your walls so you can see the color in your lighting before committing.

No problem. We offer color consultation and can apply samples directly to your walls so you can see the colors in your own lighting before you commit.

We cover floors with heavy canvas drop cloths and wrap furniture in plastic. We move what needs to be moved, mask outlets and trim, and inspect everything before we start.

Cleaning, sanding glossy or rough spots, patching small holes and nail pops, hairline crack repair, caulking gaps in trim, and priming where needed before any topcoat goes on.

Yes. We offer color consultation and apply test patches directly to your walls so you can see how the color reads in your home's actual lighting.

A single room typically takes 1 to 2 days. A full interior home repaint generally takes about a week, depending on the size of your home and the scope of work.

Usually 2 to 4, depending on the project size and timeline. The same lead painter stays on your job from start to finish.

We use low-VOC paints by default to keep odor to a minimum. Most homeowners can stay in the home during interior painting without issue.

We leave labeled, sealed touch-up paint and walk through the finished space with you. If anything needs attention after we leave, give us a call and we'll come back.

On the estimate visit we walk the entire exterior, check for peeling, chalking, rot, and caulk failure. We'll show you what we find and recommend the right level of prep.

A premium acrylic system designed for freeze-thaw cycles, lake-effect humidity, and Michigan UV. We prime bare wood and stain-blocking primer on tannin-prone surfaces like cedar.

Quality exterior paint in West Michigan typically holds up 7 to 12 years. South and west-facing surfaces wear faster. We'll tell you what we're seeing during the estimate.

Yes. As part of the prep we handle minor, non-structural board and trim repair, and we flag anything we find on the estimate. We do not do structural carpentry or subcontract the work to outside handymen.

We protect prepped surfaces, tarp anything exposed, and resume as soon as conditions allow. We never paint on wet, frozen, or extreme-heat surfaces.

Most residential exteriors take 3 to 5 days. Larger or more complex homes can take 1 to 2 weeks. We give you a firm timeline upfront and update daily.

Yes, all of those are included on most exterior projects. We specify each component on the written estimate so you know exactly what's covered.

Step 1: mildew treatment and pressure wash. Step 2: surface sanding, plus minor board replacement for rotting deck boards (non-structural). Step 3: premium stain and sealer. We apply one coat for transparent, semi-transparent, and semi-solid stains, and two coats for solid stain.

Most decks in West Michigan need re-staining every 2 to 3 years. South-facing decks and decks under heavy tree cover may need attention sooner.

Light foot traffic in 24 hours. Furniture and grills back in 48 to 72 hours. Full cure for heavy use in 7 days.

The applied stain and sealer finish. If the finish fails due to product or application within 2 years, we come back and re-do the affected area at no charge.

Premium oil-based and water-based stains and sealers built for Michigan climate. We pick the right system for your wood type and exposure.

We handle minor board replacement for rotting deck boards (non-structural) as part of the project. We do not replace handrails or structural components. We flag anything we find on the estimate so you know the scope.

New pressure-treated wood typically needs to dry for 3 to 6 months before staining. We can assess your specific deck and recommend the right time.

All cabinet work is done on site. Doors and drawers are removed, labeled, and sprayed on site in a portable spray booth we bring to your home. Most kitchens are fully functional again in about a week.

We do all cabinet work on site. We bring a portable spray booth with a filter and blower system to keep dust down. Depending on the project scope and your preference, we spray or brush-and-roll the finish.

With proper prep and a cabinet-grade paint system, the finish stands up to daily kitchen wear, grease, and cleaning. It cures hard over the first few weeks.

Yes. We've done many full color changes including dark stained oak to bright white. The right primer makes the difference.

Interiors aren't included by default but we can add them if you want them painted to match. We discuss this during the estimate.

We coordinate replacement doors through a local supplier when needed. Damaged doors are flagged during the estimate.

Cabinet painting typically runs a fraction of full replacement. If the boxes and layout are in good shape, painting delivers a near-new look without demo, install, or weeks of kitchen disruption.

Yes. We use boom lifts and scissor lifts as needed and our crews are certified to operate them.

Yes. Evenings, weekends, overnight, and around production schedules are standard for our commercial work. We plan around your operations.

Yes. We use low-odor paints, phase the work room-by-room, and schedule after hours or weekends to minimize disruption.

Yes. Epoxy and polyurethane floor coatings, safety zone striping, traffic lanes, and parking markings.

Yes. We coordinate with property managers and general contractors to hit handover dates.

Yes. All crews complete OSHA training, and we can provide documentation for property management and corporate compliance teams.

Over 30 years across offices, retail, warehouses, multi-unit residential, healthcare, churches, and schools throughout West Michigan.

Yes. We carry full liability and workers' compensation coverage and provide COIs to property managers and tenants on request.