As our country approaches its 250th anniversary, Charlottesville City Lifestyle spoke with Charles Davis, the owner of Piedmont Paint & Finish, about the company's work at Monticello, as well as its background working throughout the area.
Piedmont Paint & Finish has built a strong reputation across Central Virginia -- how did the business get its start, and how has it evolved over the years?
I moved to Charlottesville in 2005 with a college degree and couldn’t get a job. So I went back to painting. Then I had a family, and it stopped being optional -- I had to make it work. That pressure forced consistency, discipline, and growth. Over time, we built a real company with systems, a strong team, and multiple divisions. What started as a way to get by turned into something we’re genuinely proud of.
You work on everything from residential homes to large-scale projects. What defines your approach to craftsmanship and quality, no matter the size of the job?
Every good paint job comes down to three things: prep, product knowledge, and application. If any one of those is off, the job fails. We don’t sell paint -- we sell peace of mind. The goal is that the client never has to think about it again once we’re done.
This year, you completed the repainting of the main residence at Monticello. Can you walk us through how that opportunity came about?
We’ve worked with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation for years and have been involved in multiple projects at Monticello. The main residence is typically maintained by a highly specialized restoration team, so we hadn’t worked on it directly before. This year, with the full repaint tied to the country’s 250th anniversary, they needed a larger, commercially experienced team to support the effort. We’ve become their go-to painting contractor, so we were brought in. We were excited -- and honored -- to be part of it.
What made the Monticello project especially meaningful or unique compared to your other work?
Monticello is basically America’s house. Outside of the White House or maybe Mount Vernon, there’s not a more recognized or historically important residence in the country. Being trusted with that is a serious honor.
When working on a historic property of that caliber, what additional considerations come into play in terms of materials, techniques, or preservation?
One of the biggest constraints was working during operating hours. Monticello is open to the public constantly, so our crews had to be highly aware of guests and maintain a professional presence at all times. That’s not easy on a project of that scale. Our team handled it extremely well -- we received consistent positive feedback and had zero complaints.
Monticello is such a symbolic site, especially as the country approaches its 250th anniversary -- did that historical weight influence how your team approached the project?
It reinforced the importance of getting everything right. When you’re working on something with that level of visibility and history, there’s no room for mistakes or shortcuts.
Your team has experience working on older homes and estates. What have those projects taught you about preserving history through craftsmanship?
We know restoration. From washing techniques to handling lead paint, from prep methods to primer selection -- there’s knowledge required at every step. Our management team has over 60 years of combined experience, and that depth shows up in how we approach these projects.
In a trade like painting, where the details truly matter, how do you train your team to maintain consistency and precision across projects?
People underestimate how much actual work goes into painting. It looks easy until you try to do it right. We train our team on process, expectations, and execution. Consistency comes from doing the fundamentals the same way every time.
What do you think people underestimate about professional painting, especially when it comes to preparation, technique, or long-term durability?
They underestimate both the prep and the skill. Painting isn’t just rolling color on a wall; it’s a trade. If it’s done wrong, it fails. If it’s done right, it lasts.
Anything else you’d like readers to know:
We’re quietly the best painting company in Charlottesville, and we’re the best option for painting, finishing, and paint supply. We know paint -- and we stand behind our work.
"Monticello is basically America’s house... Being trusted with that is a serious honor."