Testimonial from Chip K.

Painting Projects:
Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, Power Washing, Mildew Cleaning, Paint Stripping, Stucco Repair, Wrought Iron Painting, Deck Painting, Fence Painting, Masonry Tuck Pointing

This letter will serve as my recommendation of Martin Nichols as a truly exceptional painting professional.

Martin and his firm have just completed painting both the interior and exterior of my 195-year-old house in Georgetown.  This job involved extensive prep and restorative work, which Martin performed beautifully.  The painting itself was done flawlessly.

Martin also was very helpful in selecting colors and testing various samples.  His team was invariably on time, neat, courteous, and conscientious.  The work was completed on time and on budget.

I would recommend Martin for any paint job, but particularly for those requiring special skill, care, and attention to detail.

Chip K.
Georgetown, NW Washington DC 20007

Testimonial from Jhet A.

Painting Projects:
 Exterior Painting, Power Washing, Mildew Cleaning, Deck Cleaning, Deck Sealing,
 and Wood Replacement

Real professionals and very efficient!

That’s the only way to describe Martin Nichols and his crew.  My townhouse needed to be power washed and painted.  Martin explained the whole process thoroughly.  He went through each step and made sure I understood and that we were in agreement.  The work was performed on time with no hidden surprises.  It certainly was a pleasant experience to work with such PROS.  My home looks better than before!
 
Thank you Martin and crew!
 
Jhet A.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Testimonial from Brenda and David B.

Painting Projects:
 Cathedral Ceiling Angle Repair, Drywall Patching, Skimming, and Interior Painting

It is indeed rare, and a surprise to find a “skilled craftsman” in this day and age.
 
Even though our home is seven years old with cathedral ceilings that cracked, you and your team of painters have performed nothing short of a miracle.  Our home looks better now than it did when it was new. 

Thank you for an “excellent job!”
 
Brenda B.
McLean, Virginia 22102

Testimonial from Brooke B.

Painting Projects:
Cedar Deck Staining and Sealing, Power Washing, Mildew Cleaning, Exterior Painting, Metal Roof Painting, Fence Staining, Interior Painting, and Interior Wood Staining

Martin Nichols is a unique painter in that he is actually an artist, a rarity today.
 
We initially used Martin’s services for some smaller projects and graduated to very large ones upon seeing the quality of his work.  What I appreciated most about Martin was the attention he paid to the details of the work, from the prophylactic measures he took to assure no damage, to the immense time he spent with us to find the precise look we were trying to achieve.  The exceptional quality of the finished product is always testament to Martin’s unique ability as a painter.
 
We look forward to the other projects Martin will perform for us.

Brooke B.
McLean, Virginia 22101

Testimonial from Robert Ferimer

Painting Projects:
 Interior Commercial Painting and Exterior Commercial Painting of;  Window Sash and Frames,
 Wood Doors and Frames, Galvanized Tin Crown Moulding, and Wrought Iron Security Screens

I am the Property Manager for Capitol Associates III-X, LP that engaged Martin Nichols Painting and Decorating, Inc. to paint our replacement windows and trim on our Historical buildings located in Washington, DC.

Our project required extensive coordination between the painter, window installers, tenants and me.  Martin Nichols was very professional, organized, detail oriented and efficient.  He was always on time and had quality workers that were polite and respectful to the neighborhood.  He maintained an extremely safe and clean work space while making sure the property was restored each evening to a proper condition.

I would recommend his work to anyone that is seeking a painting professional.

Robert Ferimer
Capitol Hill, NE Washington DC 20002

Testimonial from John G.

Painting Projects:
 Exterior Painting, Wood Deck Cleaning and Sealing, Interior Painting, and Plaster Crack Repair

As a very satisfied client of yours for over 10 years, I am happy to provide you with this letter of reference.

Through the years you have performed a variety of painting and decorating tasks for me, from interior painting, to deck refurbishment, to interior wall repair, to exterior painting.  All of these jobs have been done on time, within budget, and to the highest of quality.

I have been particularly impressed with the care and attention to detail that you apply in the surface preparation phase of your work.  You go about this tedious task in a professional , steady, and unhurried manner that always shows in the final result.

I would be pleased to discuss your work personally with prospective clients.

John G.
Vienna, Virginia 22124

Testimonial from Sarah B. and Family

Painting Projects:
 Interior Painting, Mildew Removal, and Wallpaper Removal

Martin has done two interior painting jobs in our aging house and both turned out beautifully.  The first was a large wallpaper removal and painting project completed in August of 2003, and the second—another wallpaper removal and painting job—was in April of 2008.

Both were completed quickly and exactly as agreed to in advance.  Great care was taken both times to prepare the walls, use top-notch materials, and cause minimal mess.  And because Martin is so clearly trustworthy, one job was done while our family was on vacation, which meant we were inconvenienced not at all.  An unusual pleasure of working with Martin is that he offers a lot of expert, helpful advice about colors and combinations, and has plenty of samples and reference books to help make decisions.

Our family recommends him and his firm without reservation.

Sarah B.
Cleveland Park, NW Washington DC 20008

Testimonial from Sarah S.

Painting Projects:
Interior Paint Touch-Up, Exterior Painting, Paint Stripping, Power Washing, Wrought Iron Painting, and Rot Repair

This letter serves as a recommendation for Martin Nichols who I hired in conjunction with a window replacement project to paint the exterior and new windows of my 120 year old row house.  This was a difficult job due to the restrictions of living in a historic district of Washington, DC and the fact that every surface of my house was coated with 120 years of paint!.

To start with, Martin is an extremely professional, hard working and competent painter.  During the job he was polite, considerate and very responsive to my concerns.  As I had no idea how to go about restoring the front of my house to it’s original condition, he was ready and willing to assist me with color choices and wood and wrought iron restoration options.  In addition Martin is particularly talented at matching paint colors and retouching existing paint.  This was particularly noticeable in the interior of my living room windows where he was able to match paint to the existing wood trim stain.  You can hardly tell where the paint ends and the stain begins.  It was like magic in that the interior of the window and the surrounding wood trim ended up looking almost identical!

In addition, I’d like to point out that Martin is exceptionally meticulous, neat and all about the details.  He went out of his way to make sure that my house and surrounding lawn always looked well kept and clean.  By the end of the project the only thing that would give away that he was anywhere near my house is that it is now a show piece and the talk of the neighborhood.  I literally went from having the worst looking house on the block to the best!

Lastly, and most importantly to me, is that I am a dog owner and my dog was in the house the entire time Martin was on the job.  Luckily for me, Martin quickly made friends with my dog and worked with his “assistance”.  This was invaluable in that we, both my husband and I, work full time and were not able to take time off from work to watch the dog.  Mixing contracting jobs and dogs is difficult in the best of circumstances, but Martin went out of his way to befriend my dog and they ended up becoming “best buddies”.  You cannot put a price on that!

I would definitely use this company again.

Sarah S.
Capitol Hill, SE Washington DC 20003

Testimonial from Barbara H.

Painting Projects:
 Exterior Painting, Interior Painting, and Drywall Repair

Martin Nichols is proud of his work.  You will be proud of the painting Martin does for you.

Martin has painted three contracts for us.  The first was Spring 1998:  I still marvel at its perfection.  The precise painting techniques Marty has developed result in walls, trim, and ceilings painted by an obvious professional.

The third project was upstairs.  The first thing Martin did was put down protective covering on our new stair carpeting.  Martin and his employees were neat and treated our house with care.

I have appreciated Martin’s thoroughness, his helpful suggestions, and most importantly, results that cause my husband and me to engage Martin Nichols Painting again.

Barbara H.
Arlington, Virginia 22205

Testimonial from Mary D.

Painting Projects:
Interior Painting, Texture Ceiling Repair, Power Washing, Mildew Removal, Chimney Top Cleaning, Masonry Waterproofing, Deck Cleaning, Deck Sealing, and Exterior Painting

Martin Nichols has done painting at our residence in McLean for a number of years.  He has done both exterior and interior work.  I have always been very pleased with the work that he has done.  These are a few of the things that I like about Martin’s work:

He always gives me an estimate, very detailed, before he starts anything.  This way I know what every door, piece of trim, wall, etc., is going to cost, and why.  I find this much more understandable than one price for the entire job.

Martin does some repair work, rather than just painting over it (I wouldn’t know the difference).  So I feel that he is very trustworthy.

When there are bigger repairs that need doing (rotten boards, etc.) Martin makes recommendations on getting a carpenter to do the work before he proceeds with the painting.

Martin’s estimates on the length of time that the job will take are very accurate.  This helps me with planning (furniture moving, drapes, etc.).

I have been away from home for a week at a time while Martin is painting and I have felt no worry about the security of my house.

Martin is unobtrusive and quiet, yet an interesting conversationalist.

He takes responsibility for situations.  (I had chosen a paint for the living room, when he started to work he called me at the office to tell me that he didn’t think this color was what I had in mind.  He was right, it just didn’t look like the sample.)  He lost a day at work but the job was done right.

He always arrives in clean painters clothing, looking presentable.  This is his business, not just a job.  (I have had painters previously arrive in tee shirts and cut off jeans.)

He does not get paint smudges or drops of anything else on anything.  He cleans the paint off of all the windows in a very satisfactory manner.

Martin was originally recommended to me by my son who is a builder of houses in the one to three million dollar category.

Mary D.
McLean, Virginia 22102

Testimonial from Stephen and Karen H.

Painting Projects:
 Exterior Painting, Power Washing, and Mildew Cleaning

We are so pleased with the work that you did for us, that we want to write a letter of reference for you.

The exterior painting work that you did was done in a very thorough and meticulous manner.  The preparatory work was impressive.  The fact that the entire house was professionally power-washed and all of the windows cleaned, inside and out, enhanced the end result.  The new shutters and the complete final caulking make us feel like the house is in good shape for years to come.  Your price was very fair, especially considering the amount and quality of work and time.

Some of our neighbors have mentioned being unhappy with the results of their previous painters, that the exterior was not done very completely, especially at the high locations that are difficult to inspect.  That certainly has not been our experience with you. 

Thanks for the good work.  We will not hesitate to recommend you, and will be happy to serve as a reference.

Stephen H.
Arlington, Virginia 22203

Testimonial from Hunt and Betsy C.

Painting Projects:
Interior Painting, Wood Staining and Varnishing, Library Staining and Lacquering, Trim Painting, Exterior Painting, Window Pane Replacement, Power Washing, and Mildew Cleaning

I am writing this letter to convey my complete satisfaction with the work performed for me by Martin Nichols.  We discovered Martin while we were remodeling our home.  He has done both interior and exterior jobs for us over the past several years, and we will continue to use him.  He possesses vast knowledge of construction techniques, effects of environmental conditions, and how to protect the house from these elements.

He takes time to explain complexities of paint applications and why a particular approach is best.  He changed our minds on several applications, and we are glad he did!

Martin spends more time than most other painters doing preparation work.  He doesn’t just paint, but checks the surface for flatness, smoothness, and how the paint will adhere.  He will smooth walls or recaulk where needed.  He can examine an existing problem, determine its cause, and recommend a solution. 

I do not worry about my furniture or other household items when Martin is working.  He is very cognizant of the effects of dust, footprints, etc., and does a good job of covering and protecting my possessions.

Martin has always met his price estimates; in fact he often will do additional work in order to achieve the client’s vision of the finished job.  My experience has been that many contractors will do only what is bid for the job while knowing that the goals of the homeowner will not be met.  Martin can envision what the client wants and using his experience, steer them clear of problems.

Betsy C.
North Arlington, Virginia 22207

Testimonial from Gail B. and George H.

Painting Projects:
Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, and Wood Deck Cleaning and Sealing

 “George and I are writing to thank you for the work you did for us during the fall of 2000 and, more recently, the spring of 2001.  When we were interviewing painters to do the exterior of our house, your estimate was higher than we anticipated. However, after reviewing the detailed proposal and discussing with you exactly what doing the right job entails, we decided the extra money would be well spent.”

 “Your work on the exterior was very professional and extremely thorough. Our neighbors were actually commenting on the meticulous job you and your staff were doing.  Even now, months after the job was completed, the house looks newly painted.”

“Naturally, when we needed some interior painting done, and to have the deck refurbished, we called you.  Once again, you and your staff, after exhaustive preparation, did a fabulous job.  We were very impressed with your painstaking work and attention to detail.  We appreciate your time and effort and we will be contacting you for any further painting needs.”

Gail B.
Vienna, Virginia 22180

Testimonial from Charles and Mary Lou M.

Painting Projects:
 Exterior Painting, Power Washing, Mildew Cleaning, and Interior Painting

Martin Nichols has been painting for us for a number of years.  He is a professional’s professional;

a highly skilled painter who’s completed work is a work of art.  He has a keen eye for color which is helpful in selecting paint to harmonize with one’s draperies and other furnishings.
My neighbor was very impressed with his work and employed Martin to paint his house.  Also, my son appreciated his work and had him paint the inside of his house which was a real challenge as it is more than fifty years old. A real estate agent, who is a friend of ours remarked that who ever did our painting was a real professional and did an excellent job.  She had never seen painting of this quality before.

If one’s goal is to have a high quality professional paint job, then I recommend that they hire Martin Nichols.

Mary Lou M.
Vienna, Virginia 22182

Testimonial from Joan C.

Painting Projects:
Interior Painting, Plaster Repair, Drywall Repair, Plaster Crack Repair, Wood Staining and Varnishing, Exterior Painting, Power Washing, Mildew Removal, and Wrought Iron Painting

I am writing this letter to you as a recommendation for you to use when talking to other potential customers because I have been so pleased with your work and you have been so responsive to my requests for help.

You and I first met when you contracted to paint the interior of my house after it was remodeled in 1986.  I was impressed then with the extensive preparation work you did to make sure the final paint job was first rate.  I have since learned that your prep work, particularly for older homes such as mine, makes all the difference in how it looks when finished and how long it lasts.  After eleven years I asked you to repaint my second floor because some cracks had developed in a few walls and I wanted to change some colors.  But I still have not had to repaint my living room or dining room!

You also have undertaken some real challenges for me such as my basement, which had water damage and red wine stains on white walls; the exterior hard-to-reach corner of the house; and the front doors with metal grates (in desperate need of help) at my office (which you did immediately because of a scheduled event).

I am particularly impressed with your expertise (is there anything you don’t know about home repair needs?), and your efficiency and ingenuity.  You also have always let me know about problems immediately and recommend solutions so I can make the best decision.  When you undertake a job you are targeted toward its completion on the date promised.  No time is wasted.  And you kept my house so clean in the midst of a major paint job, allowing me to wash and iron curtains, clean pictures and mirrors while you were there (after the sanding of course).

You also have great advice on colors, a source of great stress for novices like me who surely don’t want to pay for a repaint job.  And your final product is always perfect.  I don’t know anyone who can match your talents or produce a better product.
 
I look forward to having your help keeping my home looking beautiful for years to come.

Joan C.
Woodley Park, NW Washington DC 20008

Testimonial from Barbara P.

Painting Projects:
 Wallpaper Stripping, Wall Repair and Skimming, Indoor Painting, Drywall Repair,
Mildew Cleaning, Outdoor Painting, Window Glazing, and Power Washing

Tom and I wish to thank you for an outstanding job last spring in the painting of the outside of our home.  We appreciate your professionalism every step of the way and your meticulous attention to important detail.

 In the course of interviewing several painting contractors for the job, I appreciated your directness up-front in stating “I’m more expensive than the rest, but I’m worth it” and you then spelled out in detail the breakdown of your bid and the reasons for each segment of the cost.  Since our house over the past 25 years, like many others, had been a patchwork of various low-bid jobs, it was in dire need of a lot of remedial prep work.  You carefully explained all the necessary prep work that was needed and why, and explained your methods of correcting the past neglect and preventing of future problems.

 As the job progressed, Tom and I were thrilled with the outstanding job you were doing.  In addition to educating us along the way about various aspects of the job and future preventive maintenance, you took the initiative to do little things that were not spelled out in the contract but which in your expertise you found desirable but not necessary.  You also gently but firmly prompted me along the way to get those storm windows and screens washed and put back up as you finished each window to minimize the outside dirt and debris after the fresh paint was applied.  Your humor along the way made an overwhelming chore seem like fun.

 Six months later in late November, I called you in a panic to complete the painting of our foyer ceiling and woodwork after having the ceiling re-drywalled after a plumbing leak upstairs.  I was having a reception two days later and needed the job done fast and well.  You came that afternoon and finished the work in a day, and undercharged me for the job!

 We can’t wait for you to start on the inside of our home, room by room. In the meantime we have recommended you to everyone we know and will continue to recommend you most highly to all of our friends and colleagues who need the best home painting specialist there is.

 With our thanks and looking forward to a lifelong professional relationship.

Barbara P.
McLean, Virginia 22102

Testimonial from Perry L.

Painting Projects:
 Interior Painting, Drywall Patching, Power Washing, Mildew Cleaning, and Exterior Painting

I called Martin in 1995 for a long overdue paint job on my house.  Of the four estimates I received, Martin’s was the highest.  I hired him immediately.

This bears explaining.  Ours is a house that we plan on being in for a while.  Upon talking with him it was evident that Martin was the only candidate who would do the work the way I would—No, that’s not right.  I should say that he painted my house the way I would if only I had his prodigious knowledge and experience.

Martin has the approach of an Old World craftsman.  Besides an artesian attitude, he has a strong work ethic.  He takes each job as a challenge to do his best, not just to routinely lay on paint.  Martin studies painting, reading technical bulletins and attending seminars.  He goes to extreme lengths to make sure the job is done right.

In our case, the paint job took over a month.  He had other work waiting but took the time he needed with us.  First, he power-washed the entire house.  He stripped much of our exterior woodwork down to bare wood.  He was meticulous in all his prep work.  Where appropriate, he used a thick bead of the highest quality caulk.  He carefully removed the rust and then painted the shutter hinges, the porch railings, and the exterior light fixture.  These were items that had not figured into his estimate—he simply considered them essential to his conception of a good job.  He arranged to get the brass door fixtures and street numbers refinished.  He consulted Benjamin Moore experts on a problem related to our shutters.  When he encountered rot, he didn’t just paint over it.  Rather, he advised on a long-term solution.  He was careful with the shrubbery and cleaned up thoroughly.

Later, When we put on an addition, I called Martin again.  It was an easy decision.  Not only do I trust him to give fair return on the price of the paint job, I know he’ll be courteous and businesslike, he’ll get along with my family, and I’ll feel good knowing that my house will look great and will endure the ravages of time and weather.

To anyone interested in a first rate, long-lasting and thorough paint job, one that will more than fulfill your expectations, we unreservedly advise you to hire Martin Nichols.

Perry L.
Falls Church, Virginia 22046