Painters in Columbia, SC

Local listings, alphabetical, with a guide to hiring.

Painting contractors handle interior and exterior repaints, cabinet refinishing and drywall repair. Humidity affects exterior work, so ask how the crew handles dry times and weather delays.

Listed businesses (A–Z)

Listings are alphabetical and are not endorsements. Details were checked against each business's website on September 26, 2026. Listing policy.

About painters in Columbia, SC

Painters and wall paperers are a registered trade in South Carolina. SC Code §40-59-20 requires painters doing residential jobs over $500 (the threshold was $200 until 2022) to hold a specialty contractor registration from LLR's Residential Builders Commission. The same rule covers drywall installers, carpenters, masons and stucco installers. You can check a name on the LLR licence lookup.

Older homes need one more check. The EPA's lead renovation rule requires anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 to be lead-safe certified, including sole proprietors. The EPA says about three-quarters of US homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint, and many houses in Columbia's older neighbourhoods are that age (see our neighborhood guide). Compare quotes on the same paint line, number of coats and prep. For drywall repairs and trim, read how to hire a contractor in Columbia, and see roofers for exterior work above the walls.

How to choose

  • Check whether the contractor holds the licence or registration your job requires on the SC LLR lookup.
  • Ask which paint line and how many coats are included, and whether prep (scraping, caulking, priming) is itemised.
  • For homes built before 1978, ask about lead-safe work practices; renovators disturbing lead paint must be EPA RRP certified.

Official lookups: SC LLR licence lookup · EPA lead renovation (RRP) rule · SC Code §40-59-20 (specialty contractors)

Frequently asked questions

Do house painters in Columbia, SC need a licence?

They need a registration. SC Code §40-59-20 lists painters and wall paperers as residential specialty contractors who must be registered with the Residential Builders Commission for residential jobs over $500. Check the name on the SC LLR lookup.

My house was built before 1978. What should I ask a painter?

Ask for the firm's EPA lead-safe certification. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home must be certified and use lead-safe work practices.

How do I compare interior and exterior painting quotes?

Make sure each quote names the paint brand and line, the number of coats, which surfaces are included, and what prep (scraping, caulking, priming, repairs) is itemised. For exterior work, ask how weather delays are handled.

Columbia guides for this category