We spoke with Charlie Dallavale Jr., president of Painting Plus, to learn about why the company remains one of North Atlanta’s top general contractors.
Can you share more about a project, teacher, or mentor that solidified your career path?
My grandfather was a siding contractor, so it started with the family. I did learn a lot of it through Walton High School's building construction program. Bob Overstreet was the shop teacher. We used to build kids' play forts and sheds, then sell them to a third-party company.
Tell us about a recent project you’re proud of. Why does that project stand out to you?
We just wrapped up a really special project in Sandy Springs. The homeowners felt the exterior was dated and didn’t reflect the way they used the space. They wanted something more inviting and cohesive, especially in the backyard. We installed a brand-new roof and gutter system, replaced the siding, and coated the existing brick with Romabio masonry coating to give it a more natural finish. From there, we focused on outdoor living. We extended the back porch, built a screen room, added a glass sunroom, and created a new fireplace and seating area. It’s a place where you can have coffee, host gatherings, or sit around a fire on a cool night. It completely changed how the family lives in the house.
How does Painting Plus stand out from other general contractors?
We treat our clients’ homes as if they were our own personal property. What I would do for a relative, I'm going to do for a paying client. I'm very tight with my money, and I try to stay tight with their money too.
Painting Plus has received James Hardie’s President’s Club award every year since 2015. What’s the key to delivering exceptional results year after year?
We’ve built a close-knit team that’s been together for years, and everyone takes pride in doing things the right way. They care about their reputation just as much as I do. We also follow the James Hardie specifications and ensure every detail meets their standards. On top of that, we communicate. We go over the project with the homeowner at the beginning, during, and at the end. If something needs to be improved, we fix it before we leave. We treat the home like it’s our own and treat the client like family.
What tools or products are you most excited about right now?
I’m excited about the James Hardie TimberHue collection. It gives homeowners the look of natural-stained wood siding, but without the maintenance of real wood. Anyone who has owned a real wood exterior in Georgia knows that between humidity, sun exposure, and carpenter bees, you’re constantly repairing, re-staining, and replacing boards. TimberHue solves that. It’s a fiber cement siding that’s pre-finished with a wood-grain stain appearance, so you get the character and depth of real wood. It doesn’t fade like a traditional stain, warp, rot, or attract insects.
What does it mean to you to work with family?
One thing I’m most grateful for in this business is the fact that I’ve been able to build it alongside the people closest to me. Not everyone gets that opportunity, and I don’t take it for granted. I’ve been working with my dad for more than 17 years, my brother for 15, and my best friend for 27. Working with family changes the way you approach a job. When your dad, brother, and closest friend are there with you, you don’t cut corners, because you’d be letting down the people who helped you get there.
Are there any Christmas traditions your family or the staff at Painting Plus follow?
We host a company Christmas lunch for everyone. At home, Christmas has always been a big deal for us, too. My dad, brother, and I have kept a lot of the same traditions from when we were kids. We get together, cook, and swap gifts, but really, it’s about being in the same room the same way we are at work.
Visit paintingplus.com to learn more.
If something needs to be improved, we fix it before we leave. We treat the home like it’s our own and treat the client like family.
Working with family changes the way you approach a job. When your dad, brother, and closest friend are there with you, you don’t cut corners, because you’d be letting down the people who helped you get there.