Case Study: We Hired a Franchise to Paint Our House—Then Called DFranco Painting to do it right
A real, local, research-backed look at the difference between hiring a national franchise and a vetted local painting team.
📘 Table of Contents
- Why Homeowners Read This Case Study
- The Crystal Lake Homeowners: Their Situation
- What Went Wrong With the First Company
- How D’Franco Stepped In
- What We Fixed (And Why It Mattered)
- Final Results + Video Testimonial
- What Every Homeowner Should Learn From This
- Local Painter vs Franchise: Side-by-Side Comparison
- Why Hiring Local Matters (Citations Included)
- Our Promises to Every Customer
- Get Instant Pricing + Touch-Up Program + Referral Savings
Are You Worried About Hiring the Wrong Painter?
Do you need your house painted and struggling with the thought of who to hire for painting your house?
Not sure where to start aside from a AI or Google search? How do you know who to trust? Waht is the differnence- tere are so many painters- It is overwhelming!
Don’t Worry-You’re not alone.
When people search for painters, these are the top fear-based questions they ask on Google and AI searches:
- “Will the painters fix the drywall before painting?”
- “What if or will the painters get paint on my floors?”
- “Will they use the Right colors vs the wrong colors?”
- “Should I paint wood windows?”
- “Is trim supposed to be caulked?”
- “Are franchise painters reliable? What is the difference between franchise painters and Local painters?”
- “How do I know a painter will do all the prep correctly?”
This case study answers all of those (and more) — with real photos, a real family, and a real outcome here in Crystal Lake, IL.
Meet the Homeowners (Crystal Lake, IL) With a Painting Problem
We had the privilege of meeting A family in Crystal Lake that needed their entire home painted before fully moving in. They were looking to have:
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Base Trim
- Window Frames
- Doors
- Several rooms of wallpaper
Before calling us, they had already had another (several actually) estimates. After all estimated were in, thy edecided to go with a large, national franchise type painter.
They did what most people do — they hired a large national franchise, assuming there would be a structured, reliable, easy, pain-free, professional experience.
But within three weeks, the homeowners were calling us in tears. “Can you come back- and help us?”
What Went Wrong With the First Company
Here are the issues the homeowners discovered — and these happen to be the top 5 most common painting complaints nationally (backed by ConsumerAffairs and BBB review data):
1. Drywall Was Never Repaired Before Painting
Ceilings were painted over cracks, seams were not fixed, and nail pops were painted over, never even scraped off.
No sanding.
No patching.
No smoothing.
2. Wrong Colors in Two Rooms
Not “a shade off.”
We’re talking totally wrong colors.
3. They Painted Wood Windows That Were NOT Meant to Be Painted
It is one thing to have the wrong color, hey, we have done it, simple mix up and easy to fix. When you take oak windows and paint the entire window – which is supposed to be left natural oak (and they were only 3 months old!!) you have a whle new level of “WHAT THE HECK!”
Needless to say, this error caused permanent damage. – there is no going back to new oak windows once paint is applied.
(The homeowners are now pursuing compensation.)
4. Trim Was Never Caulked or Nail Holes Filled
Normally when new wood trim is installed, there are several things that need to happen. What You could see:
- all the lines or gaps caulked
- any seams filled or caulked
- masking the floor near or at the trim to floor areas
- fill the nail holes and sannd smoth
That is what you should see- but the previous persons never masked the floors, never filled the holes or never caulked anything- So the homeowner was left with seams, gaps, holes, and paint on their floors.
5. Paint on the Floors
Not specks — overspray,drips and smears across hardwood floors which had to be cleaned away
6. Uneven Coverage & Missed Spots
Production painting, rushed coats, and “basic patching” from the estimate… led to Extreme frustration. Not sure what was used on walls, but roller lines, drips, smears, even hand prints were on newly painted walls.
7. Communication Issues
With this larger company, they were told clear communication, everything in writing, a dedicated project manager. What the family had was;
- not getting a hold of a project manager
- crew that didnt speak english
- no idea when work was starting each day
- crews leaving after a few hours of work
- unclear scope of work and lack of details
To Be Fair: We’re Not Perfect Either — But Here’s the Difference
Every painter makes mistakes — including us.
We never pretend otherwise. (you will see some of the bad reviews we had that demonstate that)
But when something goes wrong on a D’Franco Painitng job, here’s what happens:
- We fix it.
- We pay for whatever needs correction.
- We don’t leave until the project is right.
- Your home is left with paint properly applied and workmanship we stand behind.
That’s the advantage of hiring a local company you can call directly — not a rotating franchise crew.
How D’Franco Painitng Stepped In (The Guide Enters the Story)
The customer said:
“We were amazed at how prepared your team was… the other guys left us stuck… the quality was unbelievable.”
We showed up with:
- A detailed scope
- A Plan of Action
- a vetted and backround checked crew displayed on the website- “I knew who was coming to my house”
- Festool HEPA sanding systems= elimate dust when we could
- Color verification
- A 3-week completion schedule
- Real communication from Daphne + Chad
- Emerald Designer Series (premium paint) provided as standard
- Emerald Urethane for trim
- ProMar 200 flat for ceilings (industry-standard matchable)
What We Fixed
Here’s exactly what we had to undo from the previous company:
1. Floors With Paint on Them
We used a specialty remover to restore the hardwood without the worry of hiring a company for sanding and refinishing the whole floor. (latex lift off is another great product-read more)
2. Wood Windows Painted Incorrectly
This required:
- Sanding
- Using the correct primer
- Filling nail holes
- Caulking joints
- Painting properly with Emerald Urethane
3. Drywall Repairs the Right Way
We fixed every crack, seam, dent, and nail pop before painting.
4. Proper Prep
Not “basic patching.”
Full surface pull sanding with Festool HEPA dust-free tools.
5. Correcting Color Mistakes
We repainted the two wrong rooms correctly.
6. Trim Caulking & Hole Filling
We fixed every gap and seam that was skipped.
7. Wallpaper Installation
We installed wallpaper cleanly, evenly, and with perfectly matched seams.
8. Full Project Completion in 3 Weeks
Walls, ceilings, trim, windows, repairs, wallpaper — done right.
The Result (Their Testimonial)
Here’s the customers’ own words from your video:
“From start to finish, the team showed up prepared. They understood our situation and were extremely clean and professional.”
“They took our house from something we were stuck with… to something amazing.”
“The preparation, the cracks you fixed, the attention to detail — you really strived for perfection.”
“Some of the walls weren’t straight, and you still made them look fantastic.”
“Friends, family, and neighbors have all complimented the work.”
What Every Homeowner Should Learn From This
1. Prep Work is Everything
Sherwin-Williams explicitly states in their product data sheets that:
“Surface preparation is the foundation of a durable, long-lasting coating.”
— Sherwin-Williams Product Data (Emerald / Duration)
Most painting failures come from poor prep, not bad paint.
2. Premium Paint (Emerald) Outperforms Franchise-Standard Duration
Emerald Designer Series offers:
- Better hide
- Better washability
- Better color richness
- All sheens available
- Better stain resistance
- Longer life
(Sherwin-Williams PDS: Emerald > Duration in durability metrics.)
3. Local Painters Deliver More Reliable Work (Research Proven)
MIT & AMIBA economic studies show:
- Local businesses recirculate 3× more money back into the community
- Local service companies have higher customer satisfaction
- Local owners have more accountability because reputation = survival
4. Franchise Painters Often Have Higher Crew Turnover
ConsumerAffairs + Indeed data shows franchise painting companies often rely on:
- Temporary crews
- High turnover
- Seasonal subcontractors
Which leads to inconsistent prep and uneven workmanship.
You hire a brand, not a team.
5. Local Painters Provide Direct Communication
With D’Franco you get:
- Direct communication with Daphne (office manager)
- Daily job check-ins from Chad (project manager)
- Owner involvement (David)
- Background-checked crews only
- A free 1-year touch-up visit
- Lifetime workmanship warranty
Try getting that from a national franchise.
Local Painter vs Franchise: Honest Comparison
| Feature | National Franchise (e.g., CertaPro) | D’Franco Painting & Wallpaper |
|---|---|---|
| Prep Work | “Basic patching” | Full pull sanding, Festool HEPA, full repairs |
| Paint Quality | Duration Matte | Emerald Designer Series (standard) |
| Trim System | Varies by crew | Emerald Urethane (premium) |
| Crew Consistency | High turnover | Background-checked long-term team |
| Warranty | 2-year limited | Lifetime workmanship + 1-year touch-up |
| Drop Cloths | Standard | Laundered regularly (clean & allergy-safe) |
| Color Verification | Not always done | Verified each room |
| Communication | Supervisor varies | Daphne + Chad + David direct |
| Mistake Handling | Depends on franchise owner | We pay to fix mistakes |
| Community Connection | Corporate model | Local, family-owned, community-based |
One other thing to consider is the affect you can have when hiring a local company vs national franchises to do work. Here is agreat article on that- Shop Local Illinois. You can read another one about the local multiplier eaffect here
Our Promises to Every Customer
✔ We’re background-check-only — every worker is vetted- we do the work so you can trust who is in your home
✔ We’re transparent — you see everything in writing and on our website
✔ We’re consistent — the same crews, year after year- live the longevity we have in people
✔ We use premium paints as our standard- why use cheap materials on your biggest asset?
✔ We give free touch-ups after a year- another way we stand out
✔ We give a lifetime workmanship warranty on what we do (ok dryywall cracks are not covered- houses settle)
✔ We communicate clearly before, during, and after the job
✔ And if we ever make a mistake, we fix it — period (we are here to stay, we want to be know for great work in our neighborhood!
Ready to Avoid the Stress This Crystal Lake Family Went Through?
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