Sarasota Paint — Attraction in Sarasota

First off, this is a quality establishment and I've always been more than happy with the quality of paint, service and selection. I would have given this a five-star rating for their service and quality. However, a very big drawback is some of the painters they recommend. One in particular, Quality Painting & Remodeling, run by Gregg Polansky came recommended. I've gotten recommendations from Ben Moore stores everywhere I lived, so I trusted the referral. He turned out to be the worst painter I've encountered. After estimating a weeks' worth of work for an exterior house painting, he did a splash-and-dash job, slopping paint without any regard to details or quality of application. The first painter I've run across who didn't use an inch of painter's detail tape, working freehand with a five inch paint brush and slopping it all over the window sills. This allowed him to be "done" in two and a half days. He had to include our patio as a "freebie" due to the fact that he parked his paint-drenched cart on it and left the outline, which he attempted unsuccessfully to scrape off with the bottom of his sneaker! (Also, this I found out to my regret after the dismal make-shift paint job, is not a Better Business Bureau accredited business, with a D+ rating, hardly a glowing testimonial.) Normally, I wouldn't ding a store for a referral, but this painter had no aptitude and such scant ability, that the store would be better off not recommending painters if they are amateurs, whose detail lines match those of a sixteen-year old and who had never apprenticed under a professional to learn their trade. And had they checked his background on the BBB website, they would have and should have,...

Sixteen years ago, having never painted a house (inside or out), a realtor-friend recommended the quality of Benjamin Moore paint. "Something about the colors," he said. That began my long (and positive) history with Benjamin Moore.

Over time I've continued with Benjamin Moore paints and also tried other good paints sold at Lowes and Home Depot. A consumer who does a bit of research can find a number of fine options out there, just as I have.

However, I'm writing this review because my most recent experience at Sarasota Paint has reminded me what makes them great.

Christopher Brown is the name of the guy who helped me last. (He was so good that I asked for his card specifically so I could remember his name to write a review). It was his expertise, humility, patience, and passion for great painting that left me thinking "this kind of company is part of what makes a town great." Chris answered all of my questions in ways that left me better educated to make the right choices for my new home. The company's prices and gradations of paint options proved to be equal or (in some cases) even better than what I'd found at the bigger stores (paint solids, color options, longevity, hiding), and the advice was second-to-none.

I applaud the entire team at Sarasota Paint Company. They're ready to talk paint happily with any level of experience, they don't pressure you to choose their products or upsell you on categories, and the paints they offer (I can tell you first hand) are absolutely superb. Something about...

This Company provides excellent customer service in the store and when the unexpected happens! I planned to paint my courtyard which surrounds the pool over two days. The first day went well, excellent coverage, but on the night of the second day, a heavy, wet fog blanketed the area. In the morning, the second day's work had not cured being slimy to the touch. At this point, I used a roller to spread the paint which was a mistake. Even after drying, the adhesion was poor and frankly I had no idea how to rectify the situation. I contacted Sarasota Paint to ask for advice and was surprised when I received a call from the Customer Service Rep who wanted to come to the house and inspect the problem. He arrived with a representative of the paint supply company and they recommended a plan to fix the problem, and the final result looks excellent! I'm sure you would never get this customer service at a big box store, and I highly recommend the Sarasota Paint Company to all...