“Painting is not rocket science,” says Brent Lockwood, president of Bayshore Painters. “You just have to focus on preparation and good-quality primers and paints.”
He makes it sound so simple, but anyone who has attempted a paint project on their own knows it’s anything but. A successful paint job includes appropriate equipment (ladders, scaffolding, sanders, brushes, rollers, sprayers and so forth), primers and paints, and other materials, and plenty of know-how. That’s true whether the job involves refreshing a single bedroom or painting a massive business development in cohesive hues.
Bayshore Painters, based in Shingle Springs, specializes in residential and commercial projects, interiors and exteriors. Lockwood started the company in 1995 when he was living in the Bay Area. He grew up in Soquel, and he put himself through college while painting on the side. “I was painting all through the Bay Area and Santa Cruz,” he recalls, noting that he relocated his business because his parents retired to Placerville. “I wanted to change the name, but it never happened.”
Since his move, he and his team have painted their way through the foothills—homes, office developments, schools and more. Bayshore Painters’ work can be seen in a number of familiar locations, including Poor Red’s Bar-B-Q in El Dorado, Skinner Winery in Rescue, Lava Cap Winery in Placerville, Buttercup Pantry (also in Placerville) and several of the business parks off Latrobe Road south of El Dorado Hills. Bayshore also has painted houses and churches in Coloma, and handled paint jobs for El Dorado County Office of Education and multiple school districts extending from El Dorado Hills to Camino.
Lockwood learned from someone he describes as an old-school painting professional. “I was intrigued by the craftsmanship,” he says. He has upheld those ideals in his business, and brought additional ethos: “If you notice, it is not Bayshore Painting; it is Painters. My belief is teamwork from the top to the bottom, and a positive attitude is the only way.”
That sense of teamwork and positivity extends to the broader community. “Giving back is our greatest achievement,” says Lockwood, citing donations to local school sports teams and raffles that might include sponsorship and labor (for example, a free bedroom paint job).
Throughout his years working in the foothill community, Lockwood says, he’s learned the color trends for the region. “Picking shades and placement is one of my favorite things,” he says. The painting industry is always changing, he notes, and keeping up is key. So, too, is maintaining respect for the tried-and-true products—and the best practices for using them. The most common mistake painters make, he says, involves going short on primer and finish. “For a coating to do its job, it needs to be thick enough—and not just two coats. Each substrate is different, and some may require more.”
Lockwood understands that clients want “the best bang for their buck,” meaning a high-quality paint job and great customer service for a fair price. To hire the right company, he says, checking credentials is an absolute must. “Ask questions,” he advises. A reputable painting business should be licensed by the Contractors State License Board, adhere to OSHA safety standards, follow PDCA (Painting Contractors Association) standards, carry comprehensive workers’ compensation and liability insurance, and be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and other esteemed business organizations. Finally, call some references. Key to a successful project is a knowledgeable team that shows up on time, operates safely, keeps a clean worksite, and maintains open communication with customers—a team that can “walk the client through the process as they go,” Lockwood says.
bayshorepaints.com
“If you notice, it is not Bayshore Painting; it is Painters. My belief is teamwork from the top to the bottom, and a positive attitude is the only way.”