Best Exterior Painters in Colorado Springs (2024 Guide)

If you've searched for the best exterior painters in Colorado Springs, you already know the challenge: dozens of companies show up, many are franchises or out-of-town crews, and it's hard to know who will actually show up on time, do the work right, and stand behind it. At Confident Coatings & Exteriors, Inc., we've been answering that question for Colorado Springs homeowners since 2006 — and we think the answer matters.

What Makes an Exterior Painter "The Best"?

Before we get into specifics, it's worth defining what "best" actually means for exterior painting in Colorado Springs. This isn't Denver. This isn't Phoenix. The Front Range has its own demands:

• Intense UV at altitude — Paint fades faster at 6,000+ feet. The best contractors use products rated for high-altitude UV exposure.
• Freeze-thaw cycles — Colorado Springs can swing 50 degrees in a single day. Paint that isn't properly applied or isn't the right product will crack and peel within a season.
• Stucco and EIFS — A huge percentage of Colorado Springs homes have stucco exteriors. Not every painter knows how to prep, prime, and coat stucco correctly. Get it wrong and you're trapping moisture.
• Hail damage prep — Before any exterior coating goes on, a good contractor inspects for hail damage, cracks, and failing caulk. Painting over damage doesn't fix it — it hides it until it gets worse.

The best exterior painters in Colorado Springs aren't just good with a brush. They understand the local climate, the local building stock, and the local materials.

What to Look for When Hiring

1. Local, Established, and Accountable

Franchise painters and out-of-town crews may offer low bids, but when something goes wrong — and in Colorado's climate, something eventually will — you want a contractor who has a local reputation to protect. Look for a company that has been operating in Colorado Springs for years, not months.

Confident Coatings & Exteriors, Inc. was founded by Bart Rafferty in 2006. Bart's sons Patrick Rafferty and Peter Rafferty are now part of the crew. When you hire Confident Coatings, you're hiring a family that lives and works in Colorado Springs — not a call center that dispatches subcontractors.

2. No Subcontractors

Many painting companies — especially franchises — win the bid and then hand your job off to subcontractors you've never met. At Confident Coatings, the Rafferty crew does the work. That means consistent quality, consistent communication, and a team that takes personal pride in every project.

3. Proper Surface Preparation

The single biggest predictor of how long an exterior paint job lasts is surface preparation — not the paint brand. The best exterior painters in Colorado Springs will:

• Pressure wash the entire surface
• Scrape and sand all failing paint
• Caulk gaps around windows, doors, trim, and penetrations
• Spot-prime bare wood, metal, or stucco
• Apply a full primer coat before the finish coat

If a contractor skips prep to save time, you'll be repainting in three years instead of ten.

4. Written Estimates and Warranties

A professional exterior painter provides a written estimate that details the scope of work, the products being used, the number of coats, and the warranty. Verbal promises aren't warranties. If a contractor won't put it in writing, keep looking.

5. Colorado-Specific Product Knowledge

Not all exterior paints are created equal for Colorado conditions. The best contractors know which products hold up to UV, which primers bond to stucco, and which elastomeric coatings flex with temperature swings instead of cracking. Bart Rafferty has been working with these products in Colorado Springs for nearly 20 years — that knowledge shows in the results.

Common Exterior Painting Mistakes to Avoid

Painting in the wrong conditions. Colorado Springs weather is unpredictable. Painting in direct afternoon sun, in temperatures below 50°F, or when rain is forecast within 24 hours leads to adhesion failures. Professional painters schedule around conditions, not just around convenience.

Using interior paint on exterior surfaces. It happens more than you'd think with DIY projects. Interior paint isn't formulated to handle UV, moisture, or temperature swings. It will fail quickly.

Skipping the primer. Primer isn't optional on bare wood, new stucco, or surfaces with significant color changes. It's the foundation the finish coat bonds to.

Ignoring stucco cracks. Small cracks in stucco are normal in Colorado's climate. But painting over them without filling and sealing them first allows moisture to get behind the coating. Once moisture is trapped, freeze-thaw cycles turn small cracks into big problems fast.

Why Confident Coatings Is the Right Choice

We're not going to tell you we're the only good painters in Colorado Springs. But we will tell you what makes us different:

• Family-owned since 2006 — Bart, Patrick, and Peter Rafferty have built this business on repeat customers and referrals. Our reputation is our livelihood.
• No subcontractors — The crew you meet at the estimate is the crew that shows up to do the work.
• Full-service exterior — We handle exterior painting, stucco repair, deck staining, and roofing coatings — so you don't need three different contractors for one project.
• Commercial and residential — From single-family homes to multi-unit commercial properties, we have the equipment and experience to handle projects of any scale. Learn more about our commercial painting services.
• Honest estimates — We'll tell you what the job actually needs, not just what you want to hear.

Serving Colorado Springs and the Surrounding Area

Confident Coatings & Exteriors serves Colorado Springs and the broader Front Range, including Pueblo, Fountain, Monument, Woodland Park, Manitou Springs, Castle Rock, and Denver. If you're in El Paso County or the surrounding region, we can help.

Get a Free Exterior Painting Estimate

If you're looking for the best exterior painters in Colorado Springs, we'd love to earn your business. Learn more about our team or request a free estimate today. Bart, Patrick, and Peter Rafferty are ready to take a look at your project and give you an honest assessment of what it needs.

Confident Coatings & Exteriors, Inc. — Colorado Springs' family-owned painting and coatings contractor since 2006.