Detroit’s housing stock skews older than most American metros: the city’s residential build-out peaked between 1900 and 1960, leaving a high proportion of wood-frame homes with multiple layers of historical paint and frequent needs for lead abatement. Michigan’s seasonal extremes, from windchill temperatures well below zero in January to humidity-driven summer heat, create aggressive conditions for exterior coatings, and the city’s neighborhoods range from dense urban blocks in Corktown and Indian Village to sprawling suburban developments in Wayne County’s outer ring. Homeowners in Metro Detroit typically pay $1,175 to $3,666 for a full interior repaint and $3,000 to $15,000 or more for exterior work depending on the size, story count, and surface preparation needs.
Detroit-area painters regularly encounter exterior wood siding that has been painted over repeatedly without proper stripping, a condition that requires scraping, priming, and in some cases full siding repair before any new coating will hold through a Michigan winter. Cabinet refinishing has also grown in demand across the metro as homeowners in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Grosse Pointe opt for refreshing rather than replacing kitchens.
Detroit Spectrum Painters Inc.
Founded: Not specified (described as operating “for many decades”)
Address: 27560 College Park, Warren, MI 48088
Phone: (586) 755-0055
Website: https://detroitspectrum.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, specialty finishes including faux finishes, Venetian plaster, gold leafing, marbelizing, antiquing, electrostatic painting, stains, urethane, epoxy, floor coatings, sealers
Products Used: Not specified
Detroit Spectrum Painters describes itself as the Detroit area’s premier commercial and industrial painting contractor, with a specialty portfolio that extends well beyond standard wall coatings into decorative finishes, epoxy floors, and corrosion-control systems. Union-sponsored safety training and full insurance coverage support the company’s work across Macomb County and the broader Metro Detroit industrial corridor.
MacFarland Painting
Founded: 2003
Address: 30881 Schoolcraft Road, Suite 101, Livonia, MI 48150
Phone: (734) 564-6664
Website: https://www.macfarlandpainting.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, cabinet painting, trim carpentry, staircase remodeling
Products Used: Not specified
Founded by John MacFarland in 2003, this Livonia-based company completes over 2,000 painting jobs per year using a staff entirely composed of full-time employees with no subcontractors. The no-subcontract model means the same trained crews who give the estimate do the actual work, a distinction that matters for homeowners in communities like Northville, Westland, and Dearborn who want consistent quality across projects.
Trio Painting
Founded: Not specified
Address: Metro Detroit, MI
Phone: Not publicly listed
Website: https://triopainting.com
Services: Interior painting, exterior painting, wallpaper removal, drywall services, epoxy flooring
Products Used: Not specified
Trio Painting operates as a premium residential and commercial contractor focused on Metro Detroit’s affluent suburbs, including Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Birmingham, and Troy. The company’s scope includes epoxy flooring alongside traditional painting services, serving property managers and homeowners who want a single contractor for multiple surface-finishing needs within a project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does interior painting cost in Detroit?
A: Most Metro Detroit homeowners pay $400 to $1,200 to paint a single room, with a full interior repaint running $1,175 to $3,666 on average. Homes with significant drywall damage, high ceilings, or complex trim work will fall at the upper end of the range.
Q: What should Detroit homeowners know about lead paint before hiring a painter?
A: Homes built before 1978 are common throughout Detroit and many inner-ring suburbs. Any contractor disturbing painted surfaces in those structures must hold EPA Lead-Safe Certification under federal law. Ask to see the certification before work begins, particularly for sanding, scraping, or window replacement projects.
Q: When is exterior painting not advisable in Detroit?
A: Most exterior coatings require application temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit with low relative humidity. In Detroit, that window runs roughly from late April through mid-October. Painting during Michigan’s winter months risks poor adhesion, uneven cure, and premature peeling, so reputable contractors in the metro will typically decline exterior work outside the warm season.
Detroit’s architectural variety, from the ornate brick facades of Boston-Edison to the mid-century ranch homes of Dearborn and Livonia, gives painters here a broader surface-type portfolio than most Midwest markets. Homeowners starting a search for a painter should ask specifically about the contractor’s experience with their home’s exterior material, since masonry, wood clapboard, and aluminum siding each require a different preparation and primer approach.