Somerset Painting & Professional Improvements

It went well. Overall they did a really good job. I am happy with the end result. The job actually required more of my attention than I expected and there were a few things that I had to point out to keep the job going, but overall I am very happy!

The professionalism and knowledge exhibited by owner Eric and his team (especially Adam, Luke and John) was beyond anything we've experienced to date. They conducted in-depth walk-arounds before and after to ensure that expectations were met. They were punctual and worked long days to complete the job on time. Costs matched the original quote, so no surprises. And something unheard of: Somerset does not require upfront deposits--in fact, you don't pay until the job is completed to your satisfaction! Who does that in this day and age?? (honest businesspeople, I'd imagine!). We are so pleased with the work Somerset did, and we will definitely call them again for any interior/exterior remodeling we may have!

I am starting to wonder if Angie's List is losing its touch because I have gotten burned by some highly rated contractors this summer. Based on Angie's List, I hired Somerset to paint the entire exterior of my house (aluminum siding, wood trim, and wood columns). They also replaced an entire wall of damaged dry wall in my garage and painted the interior of the garage. I started the estimate process with them in the early spring and they could not come out until the end of June. Hmmm . . . well it was a really rainy spring and summer here in Michigan. At first, I was pretty happy with Somerset's paint job of my house, wood trim, and 2-story wooden porch columns. (They didn't actually paint, but used a paint sprayer). I was disappointed, however, that the painters were messy and rushing, and there was paint spray left on my windows and brick work. The paint sprayer left drip marks in certain areas. In August 2015, I had my windows professionally cleaned. The window washers could not get the paint off the windows. Instead they had to take a rag and paint remover to the glass (which somewhat defeated the window washing). The paint is still on my brick despite the rain and several washes with the garden hose. Most importantly, however, I have had a problem with carpenter ants since spring 2015. I specifically asked the painters to check my 2-story wooden porch columns for any carpenter ant damage/rotting wood. The painters said everything was fine, and painted the columns. After the job was done, I noticed some "chipped" paint on one of the columns. Turns out that this was not a "chip." Instead, the damage was actually rotten wood torn away from the columns. So, the columns were rotting, and the painters ignored this, and just painted right on over the rotting wood. the wood was soft and mushy all around the base of the columns. Surely you could have felt the rotten, wet, mushy wood when the painters supposedly "checked" for damage. Also, there was a lot of confusion over whether the painters had to repair the garage. Even though the work was on the contract, they didn't know that they had to do it. So, the painters got mad at the extra work. When they were taking down the damaged dry wall from the garage, they were banging the walls so hard that a picture fell down in my house (on a adjoining wall to the garage) and damaged the paint on my inside wall. Jeez, take your aggression out somewhere else. The painters also left gaps between the new drywall and baseboard, and so I had to go around and caulk in those gaps myself to keep out insects and mice. Speaking of caulk, under Somerset's contract, the painters were supposed to caulk any gaps between my aluminum siding to prevent pests from entering. I had not noticed that this was also not done until the pest exterminator was out for a second carpenter ant treatment. The exterminator pointed out all these small gaps between pieces of siding where the ants could enter. I am giving them a C. I would not hire them again even though I now have to repair my rotten, wooden columns. Also, I have noticed that Somerset has several reviews from big jobs here on Angie's List (over 20k, over 30k). I think I got a bad job because my painters were rushing off to one of these larger jobs. I would think twice before hiring Somerset for a small job that they may messily rush because they are more concerned with a bigger paying client . Somerset really prides itself on being you friend. The salesperson was really stressed how the company gives money to charity, and how they are going overboard with all this "extra" service that is promised in their contract. The receptionist "Naomi" called after the job was done offering me a Starbucks gift card for a google review. It's a lot of schmoozing, but not a lot of hard work. I feel like I wasted $5,000.

They did a good job. There had been delays, due to rain, and because of this, they even worked on the 4th of July, which really surprised us. Overall, we were happy with their work.

Exceptional work and highly recommended. All of the different types of workers performed quality workmanship. Any issue was addressed immediately until I was satisfied, they never hesitated to return to address even tiny concerns. (It is worth it to get your window sills covered with metal) Rick is a positive and fun guy to work with, and is highly unusual in that he didn't want any money until the job was completed to my satisfaction. Even my father was impressed with the quality of work and he is never impressed! I can easily recommend to others and would hire again.

It went quite well. The workers paid very close attention to detail to ensure the paint job appeared flawless. Painters took their time and did not rush to finish the job. They reviewed their work throughout the project to make sure nothing was left undone. They left the job clean each day and cleaned as they progressed. The workers were professional, respectful and particular about their work. I appreciate the attention and care taken to complete the job on time with work well done. I am very happy with the finished product.

Extremely professional during every step of the painting process. After Naomi (extremely pleasant and helpful) took our initial call, we were quickly contacted by Eric to schedule our estimate. Eric was professional/knowledgeable, and provided a fair price. He was also more thorough than the other bids we received. (Somerset was our 3rd bid) He offered much more insite into the painting process, and was eager to answer all our questions. Once booked, we received several schedule updates as our job came up in line. Eric was quick to respond to any calls/emails we made, and stayed in excellent contact with us. As our time approached, we were contacted by James (project coordinator), and introduced to our work crew. John and Thomas were our painters, and we couldn't be happier with the end result! The work was thorough. The work was meticulous.They took special care around our landscaping and plants. They were well organized and professional. Everything came out beautiful. We would highly recommend Somerset! A+++++

After buying this deal, I was notified by the provider that they do not come out to my location [Ann Arbor].

2 men wrapped it up in 1 day. Looks great and I was surprised they could finish in 1 day. Would use them again in the future

We thought we needed the north face of the house re-sided after a new porch was put in. Rick came out to estimate the job and suggested that we would be better served if we re-sided the entire house, at a later time, and let him just make repairs using materials we already had. And before anyone suggests that we were sold more than what we needed, fact is that we already knew the entire house needed to be redone but the budget wouldn't allow for it right now. In other words, Rick sold us WHAT we needed which was considerably less than what we asked him to estimate. Another fact. Rick will be the contractor we call when we want the larger project done. No question. And the repair work? You cannot tell that there was ever a problem. Thank You Chad and company.

We just moved into a new house, and with a baby on the way we needed to have our main living area paint updated ASAP. We were mostly worried about timing, but also looking for a decent price and good work. Eric came over for an estimate within a week of calling, and we were able to get a discount by booking within three days of the estimate. Since we were worried about timing, Eric was able to squeeze us in between other jobs, and by both of us (my family and Somerset Painting) being flexible we were able to have the work completed within the time frame promised! I thought the pricing was decent, especially for something we couldn't handle ourselves - Eric even threw in updating the paint on our fireplace mantel. We had 2 painters come on a Saturday and worked between 10-6:00pm. My husband was in and out of the house all day and his remarks were that they did a nice job and were quick. Overall, everything looks great on our end, the company was very easy to work/communicate with, and I would definitely recommend them.

Jake and Dan were very good at getting the house sanded, caulked, primed and repaired rotten boards were needed. They were very good about letting us know what they were doing and how it was going. Did a very good job on the front door and side lights. Jake removed the front door sanded, primed and painted it. After checking it over he wasn't happy with the final product., so he did some filling in a bad spot and re-painted the whole door again. It looks GREAT, very happy with the final job.

Awesome! When Rick said he could make my old, dingy, faded, green garage door match my new dark wood front door...I didn't believe him. He said "trust me", and I did. I couldn't be happier. The faux finish he put on that garage door looks like real wood! You have to walk up to it and touch it to really know the difference. This transformed the entire look of my house. My curb appeal went through the roof! Thank you, Somerset Painting!

I have hired many contractors over the years, most of them were average at best so I joined Angie's list in hopes of finding a great painting company as I just didn't have the time to get it done myself this year. After all my researching was done I reached out to Rick at Somerset Painting among others to get estimates on my project. From first contact through the finished project, Rick and Somerset Painting are head and shoulders about the rest and sets the standard for how customers should be treated .. From first communications to showing up when they said they would be there to doing quality work and even cleaning up when finished. I would absolutely hire them again and will the next time I need painting! If you need painting done, you should absolutely give Rick a call! Kurt Douglas Clarkston, MI

Somerset Painting did an excellent job...We all know how frustrating it can be when your contractor doesn't show up on time. Thankfully we never experienced that. Rick Hartsell and his crew were very professional to deal with and got the job done in the time frame that it was promised. Our wood frame house has a lot of detail to it, so the Somerset crew brushed in the paint to thoroughly coat all surface areas. The contrasting paint on the trim was neatly detailed. At the end of each day, their ladders and paint cans were neatly stored together. The job is done and our house looks great! We highly recommend Somerset Painting and will definitely hire them next time around.

Nosh responded to our request for an estimate on stonemasonry work. He reviewed the photos we sent to him, and then met with us to go over the work and give us his quote. When we accepted his proposal, he quickly scheduled the project and worked two full days to complete it. He was careful and professional throughout and was respectful of our home environment in every way. We were very pleased with the results and highly recommend both Nosh and Somerset Painting for the high quality of their work.

UNBELIEVABLE!! A reputable contractor who exceeds customer expectations! He has a long list of do ?s and don?ts and darn if his team doesn?t abide by them. There is a lot of quality they put in that is not readily apparent until time passes. Quality is not free but if you want the work to last, it is cheaper in the long run. I had used Somerset many years ago to paint the exterior of my house. When I used previous contractors, the paint job only lasted a few years before it would start peeling again. Rick said he knew why. He said it took a lot of surface preparation before painting to make the paint last. He was right. 10 years later, there was still no peeling. So, when I needed the interior painted, of course I used Somerset. Now, I needed to change out the siding and replace the windows. I wasn?t going to use anyone else. Rick said the house would look MUCH better but I didn?t believe him. But, my siding was 45 years old, was dated, and failing. After they were done, my wife and I were shocked that the house looked much better, as Rick said it would. As promised in the list of do?s and don?ts, they didn?t make a mess and cleaned up completely. Really, who uses a magnet every day to make sure all stray nails are picked up and then go onto their hands and knees if they can?t find it? It?s a good thing we replaced the siding. There was a lot of rotten wood hiding underneath. They repaired it all. I can?t say enough about Somerset. They do good work, do what they say they will do, have excellent quality, and you can trust them. It doesn?t get any better.

They say the kitchen is the most important room in the house and ours was in desperate need of some TLC. When we moved into our 1950s brick colonial years ago we intended to do something about the kitchen cabinets, which were in good shape, but a dark wood shade. Our realtor described the kitchen as "tired" due to the dark cupboards. In 2015, we had truly grown weary of the dark cabinetry and decided to take action. Installation of new cupboards was not an option --so we decided painting them a fresh creamy white with soft yellow walls would perk up our dreary kitchen. Somerset Painting has painted my brother's kitchen cabinetry, and it definitely updated his kitchen. Our painters Jim and Jesse did an excellent and thorough job and asked questions along the way to ensure we were all on the same page. They finished the job on time and left our house in good condition. I am now a true believer in the transformative power of paint to update and refurbish. Next we install new countertops and floor to finish off this restoration project. However, painting the cupboards was first and foremost and a real game changer. We now enjoy being in out kitchen -- it's sunny and cheerful and fresh paint makes it look so much cleaner. I will no longer will be embarassed by my kitchen and plan to host Thanksgiving 2015 for my extended family! I now have confidence and motivation to undertake other updates to my house based on the results of the kitchen project, and will call on Somerset Painting. They did excelent work and were very professional from start to finish.

We had a minor water stain problem but with our house on the market it could have caused a serious delay. We accepted one of Angie's special packages and within 24 hours Somerset painting called to schedule a painter. Within 48 hours the job was done. The paint I had was a bad match, so the painter supplied the paint he had with him at no extra charge and the job is perfect. Nice people, super polite, the kind of people I was comfortable with in my home.

Everyone was very responsive, quick, and flexible to fit my schedule. The price was a little outside of what I had in mind, but Eric was willing to work with me to get it as close as possible especially if I agreed to help move furniture and prep the painting areas myself. I was willing to accept a premium over my budget because they came so highly recommended. There was only one painter available during the time I requested so it took a little longer (4 days), but Jim (the painter) was always punctual, well prepared, courteous, careful, and very responsive and helpful when I had questions or concerns. Overall great experience and I would recommend them.

Luke did a great job and we were extremely pleased. After looking over the entire house, he found a couple other pieces that needed repair and fixed those areas too. I felt he was thorough, friendly and efficient. I would definitely use this company again. Thank you for a job well done!

The provider was very prompt in arranging for one of his guys to come out and do some work that had some urgency. For the siding, which was less urgent, they were also able to come and complete the work much sooner than initially expected. The quality of the work was excellent. The guys were very up-front about cost and expectations. I initially bought a siding-repair deal, but it quickly became clear that the work I needed done was outside the scope of the deal. I was given a new estimate for the cost, and we proceeded.

They were excellent. It looks really good.

I spoke to Eric, and we set up a time and day he could swing by my house to give an estimate on painting the aluminum siding on my house. I set up the appointment knowing my wife would be at the house to greet Eric while I was at work. Unfortunately, something came up last minute and my wife was unable to be there on time, so I called Eric to see if he could assess the house without someone home and leave/email me an estimate. He told me that this company doesn't do that kind of thing so someone would have to be home in case he had questions, etc. I told him I would be available by phone if he'd like to call me during the assessment, so we set a time at which he'd call me at work. That time came and went and he finally called me about 45 mins later. It later came out that he thought that nobody would be home so he made some stops on the way (apparently not thinking about me at work, waiting on his call). I spoke to Eric and the assessment happened and I was told I would be sent the estimate. Days passed and I never received an estimate. Their office called on a Friday to see if I had received anything and when I said no, they verified my email address and told me Eric is out of town and would send it to me on Monday. I still have not received anything. It is also difficult to get a hold of a person in the office. More often than not, I reached a voicemail box when calling. Looking at the reviews, I'm sure these guys do great work (that's why I called them in the first place) however, good communication in a working relationship such as this is important to me and I didn't get that from Somerset Painting. Even if I had received the estimate that I was promised, I'm not sure if I would have retained their services. ****UPDATE**** Eric had apparently sent the estimate 3 times however, I never received it. Weird, considering he sent me an email with a link to dropbox to the correct email address and I received it. Anyway, I finally got the estimate via the dropbox application and I've updated the grades accordingly.

James, James and Phil were punctual, professional and all around pleasant to work with. I trusted them completely to be in my home. Any concerns were addressed immediately with positive results. The work they did was excellent! I would hire them again without hesitation.