Top-rated painters.

Get matched with top painters in Lake Forest, CA

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 3 pros

Matching on HomeAdvisor

Share some details icon
Share some details about your home project.
Match with local pros icon
Within moments, match with highly-rated local pros.
Compare quotes icon
Compare quotes and choose the best pro for the job.

Top-Rated Painters in Lake Forest - Updated Nov 2026

Avatar for Jose's Painting
Jose's Painting
4.9(
108
)
Exterior Building - Paint or Stain - For BusinessExterior Home or Structure - Paint or StainExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Large+18 more

Serving Lake Forest, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1970

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"I highly recommend Jose's Painting L.A. I contracted with them to paint my 2.5 story craftsman home with a lot of detail and they did a beautiful job. I loved the fact that I received a fast itemized quote so I knew exactly what to expect. The workers were all professional and courteous. Also the work area was cleaned up everyday before they left. I would definitely use them again."
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+67

Response time2 days
Response rate95%
Recommended by96%of homeowners
Avatar for Rick Jamison Painting
Rick Jamison Painting
5.0(
249
)
Exterior Building - Paint or Stain - For BusinessExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: SmallExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain+5 more

Serving Lake Forest, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1978

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Sometimes, when a company makes a mistake you find out if that company stands behind their work and if they are made up of people with integrity. Back in April 2021, I called the company that installed my beautiful cedar wood garage doors to recommend someone to restain them. I trust the garage door company because they did a spectacular job installing the custom doors. He recommended Rick Jamison Painting (RJP), who has good Yelp reviews. Rick came right out right away and gave me a quote. Once the pricing was set, we made an appointment for his workers to do the job. But, not long after, I was scratching my head as the doors were looking dry and brittle. Rick came back out and determined that another coat would solve the problem. I had to pay more, but I didn't care because I really wanted my doors to look nice. After the second time they stained it, which was in June, OMG, the stain started to bubble. Feeling really confused and somewhat angry, I almost wanted to cry . So, Rick sent his son out to look at it. They came back out at the end of August and completely fixed everything. Now my garage doors look brand new again! RJP will have my business to maintain the doors from now on. I love my garage doors; they are beautiful. They look brand new! Best of all, I can honestly tell my neighbors and friends whom to use to stain and refinish their wood garage doors, because RJP absolutely stood behind their work. P.S. Two neighbors on my street came up to me and said the guys who did my doors were artists. They asked for their numbers."
Custom Garage Door Tustin, Ca.
Finished Kitchen
Finished Dining Room
Stained Handrailing
Exterior Home Painting

+20

4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by97%of homeowners
Avatar for Custom Painting & Decorating, Inc.
Custom Painting & Decorating, Inc.
4.8(
105
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Medium

Serving Lake Forest, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Cesar and his company provided clear descriptions and photos showing what they would take care of in painting our home exterior and our kitchen cabinets. They provided complete care over our home and exceeded our expectations in the high quality results they delivered for us!"
Exterior Paint
Recent Projects
Recommended by91%of homeowners
Wizard Painting Inc
4.7(
37
)
Exterior Building - Paint or Stain - For BusinessExterior Home or Structure - Paint or StainExterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: Large+18 more

Serving Lake Forest, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Francisco was my go to painting expert and he finished job earlier than promised time. He and his team did an amazing job and i cannot be happier. I highly recommend Wizard painting!"
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+14

Response time1 day
Recommended by91%of homeowners
Avatar for IM Painting, Inc.
IM Painting, Inc.
4.3(
284
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: LargeInterior Painting or Staining: 5 + Rooms

Serving Lake Forest, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1988

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"John really tries to sell the job but but falls short when his crew is unaware of his vision. The workman are unsupervised and I had to call John in a few times to clarify some specifics. The company has no sander dust extraction tools that other companies I interviewed use and they do not use positive ventilation. The did construct a tent around my kitchen but not before one of the workman brought in a can of spray paint and started touching up raw wood. The workman covered my garage with plastic sheeting when John said that they would build a containment tent. The wife was without use of the washing machine for a week. Because of the lack of dust containment paint dust was tracked everywhere the workman went. They used the downstairs bathroom and the microwave oven. The workman did not use positive ventilation breathing systems while painting and so they were high as kites all the time. The cabinets showed this. All the door and drawer edges were over sprayed and some were not done at all. When they hung the doors they forgot to put the rubber safety tabs back on the doors and all my stiles have screw intentions on them. All in all I think that IM painting needs to regroup. The company needs on the job supervision and they need to update their equipment for safety and the health of workers and also to avoid cross contamination with the house interior. One last thing that really got me steamed. The lead worker got into my upright tool box and took a screw driver to use to do something and left it on the garage floor. Most home owners are unaware of how these guys are really supposed to conduct themselves on a job. This your home and not a construction site. It should be managed as if you lived there. The use of loud mexican music and the use of your cooking equipment should be avoided. I would not hire this company until they grow up a little.."
 Exterior painting Project Costa Mesa
Best Western Casablanca Inn
custom gray kitchen cabinets
custom gray tone cabinet refinishing
interior staining painting

+129

Response time4 hrs
Response rate99%
Recommended by76%of homeowners
Avatar for FOREST PAINTING & REMODELING
FOREST PAINTING & REMODELING
5.0(
56
)
Exterior Home or Structure - Paint or Stain: LargeInterior Painting or Staining: 3 - 4 RoomsExterior Building - Paint or Stain - For Business+4 more

Serving Lake Forest, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"I received 3 bids for painting the exterior of our home and Forest Painting was about 20% less than the other two companies. I don't normally take the lowest bid on my purchases but the attention to detail on specific items of the proposal, as well as the positive approval reference I called persuaded me to use Forest Painting. Daniel (the owner) was very accessible and professional in communicating with me regarding his timing of starting and finishing our project. His team of painters were always on time each day and were great to work with. There were a few extra repair items that needed to be done for things that were not visible during the initial inspection and I was given verbal and written quotes which I felt were reasonably priced and the guys did a great job completing the work. The entire job was finished on time and the house looks fantastic. I would highly recommend and use Forest Painting again and will be using them for some interior painting in the near future."
Exterior Repaint
Beautiful home in Newport Beach
Beautiful home in Newport Beach
Beautiful home in Newport Beach
Beautiful home in Newport Beach

+40

Response time11 hrs
Response rate94%
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
...
Showing 1-10 of 598

FAQs for painting projects in Lake Forest, CA

Most homeowners opt for semi-gloss or high-gloss paint to make the baseboards stand out against the walls. If you’d rather keep things subtle, matching the wall sheen with eggshell or satin also works well. When your trim has nicks or dents, reach for a flatter, matte finish—it hides minor imperfections better than a shiny coat.

Stripping old paint from trim costs $1 to $3 per linear foot. Pros use specialized tools and techniques to lift away existing layers without gouging the wood, then prep the surface for a fresh finish. While it adds to your budget, proper removal protects the molding and sets the stage for a smoother, longer-lasting paint job.

Tackling the baseboards first often leads to crisper lines. Painting trim first lets you tape off the boards instead of the walls, so you’re less likely to splatter color where you don’t want it. Any stray marks on the wall get covered when you roll on the final coat, making the whole process faster and tidier.

You can absolutely paint baseboards in place. Leaving them installed avoids the risk of cracking or misaligning the boards when they’re reattached. With thorough cleaning, light sanding, and careful taping, a pro—or an experienced DIYer—can achieve a sharp, factory-smooth finish while saving you the hassle of prying off and reinstalling trim.

Painting almost always beats replacement in cost. Swapping out baseboards runs about $150 in DIY materials or roughly $1,100 with a pro, while repainting costs about $50 in supplies and $1 to $5 per square foot for labor. Unless the boards are warped or severely damaged, a fresh coat delivers the same visual upgrade for a fraction of the price.

Paintable caulk and wood filler are the go-to fixes for nail holes in baseboards. Wood filler sands flush for a glass-smooth surface, while caulk provides a flexible seal that won’t crack as the house settles. Either way, patching those tiny divots before you prime ensures your finished baseboards look seamless.

The Lake Forest, CA homeowners’ guide to painting services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.