Painting Marin homes for over 40 years.
Interior and exterior painting, done by a licensed local crew that preps properly and cleans up after itself. Residential and commercial, from one room to a whole house.
Based in San Anselmo, serving San Rafael, Fairfax, Mill Valley, Novato, and the rest of Marin County.
What we paint
Interior painting
Walls, ceilings, and trim — one room, a floor, or the whole house. Proper prep, two coats where the surface needs it, and clean lines at every edge.
Planning range: $5–$9.50 / sq ft
Exterior painting
Siding, stucco, and trim built to take Marin fog, sun, and salt air. Scraping, priming, and caulking come before the paint does.
Planning range: $5–$10 / sq ft
Cabinet painting
A new kitchen without a new kitchen. Doors and boxes sanded, primed, and sprayed for a factory-smooth finish.
Planning range: $1,500–$3,500
Commercial painting
Offices, rentals, and small commercial spaces — scheduled around your tenants and your business hours.
Priced after a walkthrough
Pressure washing
Driveways, walkways, siding, and decks cleaned before painting — or as a standalone refresh that makes a house look new.
Priced by the job
Deck & fence staining
Decks and fences cleaned, prepped, and stained to stand up to sun and rain — the work neighbors specifically recommend us for.
Priced by the job
Planning ranges come from published 2026 Marin and Bay Area cost data. Prep, height, and the condition of the surface move the number — the estimator below shows how. Every real price comes after an on-site estimate.
Painting cost estimator
Pick a project, a size, and the condition of the surface. The total is the sum of the line items — nothing hidden.
Floor area for interior and exterior work. Cabinets are priced flat, so size does not change that total.
Your planning estimate
$6,000–$11,400
Planning range, not a quote. Surface condition, height, and access are priced after a visit. Try it: a 1,200 sq ft interior in good shape plans at $6,000–$11,400.
Interior vs. exterior vs. cabinets
| Project | Best for | Prep that matters | Planning range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior | Refreshing a home before a sale, after a remodel, or when the walls have simply had their day. | Patching, sanding, caulking, and masking — the finish is only as good as the wall under it. | $5–$9.50 / sq ft |
| Exterior | Protecting siding and stucco from fog, sun, and rain — and the curb appeal that comes with it. | Scraping, priming bare wood, and sealing gaps. Most exterior failures start at skipped prep. | $5–$10 / sq ft |
| Cabinets | A kitchen that looks new for a fraction of replacement — the highest-impact paint job per dollar. | Sanding, degreasing, priming, and spraying off-site or in place for a smooth, hard finish. | $1,500–$3,500 |
Honest advice is one of our promises — see About Us. In damp, shaded Marin lots, the paint system matters more than the color. On sunny lots, the prep matters most.
Guides: painting costs, paint & Marin weather
Short summaries of the three guides we publish for Marin homeowners. Each will become its own full guide page when the blog is added.
How much does it cost to paint a house in Marin?
In 2026, Marin interior work typically plans at $5–$9.50 per square foot and exteriors at $5–$10. A 1,200 sq ft interior in good shape plans at $6,000–$11,400 before prep and extras. Prep-heavy exteriors run higher: a shingled single-story home with heavy prep has drawn local quotes of $17k–$34k — prep, not paint, is the cost driver.
Exterior paint that survives Marin
Fog in Mill Valley and Fairfax keeps siding damp; sun in Novato and San Rafael bakes it; salt air in Sausalito and Tiburon eats hardware and coatings. The right primer and a paint rated for the exposure matter more than the brand name.
Paint colors for older Marin homes
Most Marin homes are 1920s–1960s Craftsman, bungalow, and ranch houses with small rooms and low natural light. Warm whites and soft neutrals open them up; dark colors shrink them. We bring large swatches — a chip on a screen lies.
What neighbors say
“I had Greg paint my house and stain all my decks. My house has full exposure to the sun and all his work has kept looking nice after a few years of sun exposure. He's local and an all-around great person. You won't be disappointed.”
— M. A., Fairfax neighbor, via Nextdoor
“Giesen Painting does wonderful work and is always willing to work with you on your project.”
— Fairfax neighbor, via Nextdoor
Neighbors in San Anselmo, Fairfax, San Rafael, and Novato recommend Giesen Painting on Nextdoor for whole-house work, exteriors, and detailed trim — most often for being licensed, local, and easy to work with.
Frequently asked questions
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Giesen Painting Co holds California CSLB license #700294 for Painting and Decorating, verified active, with a $15,000 bond and workers' compensation insurance. You can check the license any time with the Contractors State License Board.
How do I get a price?
Call (415) 305-6736 or send the contact form. We set up a visit, look at the surfaces, talk through colors and scope, and give you a written price — not a guess from photos.
How long does a paint job take?
A single room is usually a day or two. A whole-house interior is typically 3–5 working days. An exterior is usually 1–2 weeks depending on prep, height, and weather. The estimate visit sets the real schedule.
Do you paint commercial spaces too?
Yes — residential and commercial. Offices, rentals, and small commercial jobs are scheduled around tenants and business hours, and priced after a walkthrough.
Do you do pressure washing and deck staining?
Yes — pressure washing and staining of decks and fences are part of the work, not an afterthought. It is also the work neighbors mention most: decks stained years ago that still look good in full sun.
My house was built before 1978. What about lead paint?
Older Marin homes often have lead paint under newer layers. It is tested before sanding or scraping, and handled to EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rules. Raise it at the estimate visit and we will walk through what your home needs.
Request an estimate or call (415) 305-6736.