Omaha’s continental climate produces some of the widest temperature swings in the continental United States, January averages around 24 degrees, while summer highs regularly push into the upper 80s and low 90s, and that thermal cycling is the primary adversary of exterior paint in the region. The repeated freeze-thaw cycle of winter, combined with spring ice storms and summer humidity from the Missouri River corridor, causes paint film failures that appear as peeling, blistering, or cracking along window frames and wood siding joints where moisture penetration is easiest. The city’s older housing stock, concentrated east of 72nd Street and throughout midtown neighborhoods like Dundee, Bemis Park, and Field Club, includes a significant number of brick and frame homes from the early twentieth century where lead-paint hazards are an additional consideration, a factor the city formally addresses through its Lead Hazard Control Program.
Omaha homeowners selecting painting contractors typically prioritize experience with older housing stock, knowledge of proper preparation timing around the frost calendar, and in some cases EPA lead-safe renovation certification for pre-1978 homes undergoing interior work.
Gerst Painting
Founded: 1977
Address: 20214 Veterans Dr, Suite 100, Elkhorn, NE 68022
Phone: (402) 289-1010
Website: https://gerstcontracting.com
Services: Residential painting, commercial painting, industrial painting, cabinet refinishing, drywall repair, wallpapering, faux finishes, exterior painting, interior painting, handyman services
Products Used: Not specified (premium-grade paints specified for all residential projects)
Mike Gerst founded the company in 1977 working from a station wagon, building it over nearly five decades into one of the region’s most recognized painting operations with 35 to 40 full-time employees and over 17,500 completed projects. Gerst Painting has received the Best of Omaha designation for 18 consecutive years and has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and national painting industry publications. Their service area covers Omaha, Papillion, Bellevue, Gretna, Elkhorn, Bennington, Council Bluffs, La Vista, and surrounding communities.
Shaver Painting and Decorating
Founded: 1976
Address: 5024 S 110th St, Omaha, NE 68137
Phone: (402) 289-4013
Website: https://shaverdecorating.com
Services: Commercial painting, industrial painting, residential painting, interior painting, exterior painting, epoxy floor coatings, apartment building exterior painting, specialty finishes, color consultation, cabinet painting
Products Used: Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams
Tom Shaver founded this Omaha painting company in 1976, and current owners Brian and Karina Struble brought over 20 years of industry experience when they acquired it in 2022. Shaver Painting is an active member of the Painting Contractors of America and holds commercial accounts with clients including Starbucks, Methodist Hospital, and NFM. Their color consultation service pairs clients with experienced consultants who factor in lighting, room size, and existing decor before recommending a palette.
Nebraska Painting
Founded: 1994
Address: 13209 I Street, Omaha, NE 68137
Phone: (402) 677-6295
Website: https://omahapaintcrew.com
Services: Residential painting, industrial painting, commercial painting, full-service interior and exterior painting
Products Used: Not specified
Nebraska Painting Inc. has operated as a full-service painting contractor in Omaha since 1994, serving residential clients alongside industrial and commercial accounts. Their industrial painting experience extends their capabilities to facilities and structures that require coatings beyond conventional residential products, including corrosion-resistant primers and specialty industrial finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does interior painting cost in Omaha?
A: Interior painting in Omaha typically runs $1.75 to $3.25 per square foot, with full interior projects for average single-family homes generally ranging from $2,200 to $6,500. Older homes with plaster walls, high ceilings, or extensive woodwork cost more to prepare and paint than newer drywall construction, and lead-safe work practices required for pre-1978 homes add additional cost.
Q: When is the best time to schedule exterior painting in Omaha?
A: Late spring through early fall, roughly May through September, is the optimal exterior painting window in Omaha. Surface temperatures need to stay above 35 to 40 degrees for paint to adhere and cure properly, which rules out most of the winter months. Early spring can be workable on mild days but requires careful monitoring of overnight temperatures to avoid applying paint to surfaces that will drop below freezing before the coating has cured.
Q: Do Omaha painters handle lead paint in older homes?
A: Contractors serving Omaha’s pre-1978 housing stock are expected to hold EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) certification, which requires specific containment, cleanup, and disposal procedures to prevent lead dust exposure. Homeowners with older homes should confirm that their contractor holds active RRP certification before any interior scraping, sanding, or disturbance of existing painted surfaces begins.
Omaha’s painting market is shaped by its climate as much as its housing stock, a combination that rewards contractors who treat surface preparation and product selection as seriously as color application, because the region’s winters will expose shortcuts within a single freeze-thaw season.