Best Of
Best Painters 2025: St. Charles, South Elgin and the Fox Valley
David Cook
David Cook has run D'Franco Painting & Wallpaper in Huntley for 20+ years and has filmed more than a thousand videos on real jobs, so you can see the work before you pay for it.
Reviewed by David Cook · Last updated October 25, 2026 · 6 min read
Finding a reliable painter is hard, and even a friend's recommendation does not tell you what their criteria were. So David compared seven companies that homeowners in St. Charles, South Elgin and the Fox Valley often consider, D'Franco included, on the facts homeowners care about: reviews, years in business, crew type and how easy they are to book.
The short version
- The seven: D'Franco, Prime Time Painting, Steadfast Painting Solutions, D&K Painting, American Painting, PaintChimp and A&A Painting.
- We used Google reviews because that is what most people see first on their phones.
- D'Franco was the only veteran owned company in the comparison.
- Ask any painter whether their crews are background checked, and whether the checks are national.
How we compared them
We did our own digging, called local paint stores, and used a search tool to help build the comparison charts. To keep it fair, we focused on what homeowners care about.
- Google review count and rating, what most people see first on their phones
- Years in business
- Veteran owned status
- Subcontractors or employees
- Workmanship warranty
- Free color help
- Crew background checks
- EPA lead-safe certification
- Online booking
- Public starting prices, where available
Quick comparison
Competitor figures were current in 2025. Check them again before you book.
| Company | Google reviews | Years in business | Veteran owned | Crew type | Warranty | Online booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D'Franco Painting & Wallpaper | 4.8 from 277 Google reviews, as of October 12, 2026 | 20+ | Yes | Employees and subcontractors | Five years on painting, terms on the estimate | Yes |
| Prime Time Painting, Inc. | 4.6 from 185+ | 23 | No | Employees | Satisfaction | Yes |
| Steadfast Painting Solutions | 4.9 from 96+ | 12 | No | Employees | 2 to 3 years | Yes |
| D&K Painting, Inc. | 5.0 from 29+ | 22 | No | Owner led | Fix if there is an issue | Yes |
| American Painting, Inc. | 3.2 from 52+ | 29 | No | Family run | 1 year, with mixed feedback in public reviews | No |
| PaintChimp | 4.9 from 56+ | 5 | No | In house | 3 years | Yes |
| A&A Painting, Inc. | 5.0 from 163+ | 20+ | No | Employees | 1 year | Yes |
Color help, background checks and lead-safe certification
Here is what David found for the other six companies in 2025.
| Company | Free color help | Background checked | EPA lead-safe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Time Painting | Yes | Unknown | Likely |
| Steadfast Painting Solutions | Unknown | Unknown | Yes |
| D&K Painting | Unknown | Unknown | Yes |
| American Painting | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| PaintChimp | Yes | Unknown | Likely |
| A&A Painting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What stood out
A few things stood out in David's comparison.
- D'Franco was the only veteran owned company in the mix, and has an active YouTube channel it uses to show projects, answer questions, show problems and help people with their own painting projects. You can request an estimate online at any time.
- Prime Time Painting has a long track record, great reviews and a larger crew for big projects.
- Steadfast and PaintChimp offer clear warranties, do not subcontract, and are praised for solid communication and service.
- A&A Painting flies a bit under the radar but has high reviews, free color help and a background-checked team.
- D&K Painting is a small, owner operated crew for people who prefer direct contact and flexible service.
Why Google reviews matter for painters
We chose Google over BirdEye, Yelp or Facebook because that is what most people see first. Google Maps listings are the top result for painters near me, and they are what you tap when you search from your phone. More reviews mean more trust.
David finds it odd that the thing people most want to see is the hardest thing to get customers to do: leave a review.
What else to look for when hiring a painter
Besides ratings and warranties, a few details matter more than people think.
- Are the crews background checked? You are letting people into your home. Ask whether the checks are national, because a check run in Elgin will not show an arrest in Detroit.
- Do they offer design help? Color help can make a real difference when you are staring at 87 shades of white, ideally with samples from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore and Pittsburgh so you find a color that fits you.
- Is it easy to get a quote? Online booking saves time.
Final thoughts
Everyone says they are the best painter in town. That is why we stuck to the facts. Whether you are refreshing your walls, updating cabinets or adding wallpaper, this list should help you hire with confidence.
Related: Get an instant estimate, Interior painting.
Your next step
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