Painting FAQ · Lake, Sumter & Marion

Have questions before you hire a painter?

Good. You should. Hiring the wrong painter costs you twice: once for the job you paid for, and again to fix it. Here are straight answers on warranties, prep, coatings and cost, written the way owner Weston McWilliams talks at a walk-through: plain, honest, no fine-print games.

If you’re a retired homeowner in Lake, Sumter or Marion County who wants the job done right instead of quick and cheap, you’re in the right place. Read what you need, then reach out. There’s no pressure and no charge to ask.

Get my free estimate Call (352) 626-8007

Two coats, full prep
7-year peel-and-chip warranty
No payment until you’re happy

Interior Painting project by McWilliams Painting

Exterior Painting project by McWilliams Painting

2,000+homes painted in The Villages

6+ yrscrews together

Quick answers

Warranties, coatings and cost: the short answers

The questions we hear most at walk-throughs. The longer answers follow below.

Talk to a real person

Still not sure? Call and ask. We’d rather explain it now than have you guess.

(352) 626-8007

Do you offer a warranty on exterior painting?

Yes. Our exterior paint work carries a 7-year peel-and-chip warranty, and exterior epoxy carries a 5-year warranty on a maintained plan. If the paint peels or chips because of how it was applied, we come back and fix it. We also make a one-year follow-up call to check the finish. See our warranty page for full terms.

Polyaspartic vs epoxy: which lasts longer in Florida heat?

For garages and floors that see sun and heat, polyaspartic usually holds up better because it resists UV and yellowing and handles hot tires. Epoxy is a strong, proven pick for interior floors, which is why our interior epoxy carries a lifetime warranty. We’ll recommend the right one for your actual floor. Compare polyaspartic coatings and epoxy flooring.

How much does cabinet refinishing cost in Ocala?

It depends on the number of cabinets, the finish you want and any repairs, so we give a written price after we see the kitchen. Cabinet refinishing costs far less than replacing cabinets and gives you a fresh, durable finish. The estimate is free and there’s no payment until you’re satisfied.

McWilliams Painting gives retired homeowners across Lake, Sumter and Marion County straight answers on painting warranties, prep, coatings and cost. Paint carries a 7-year peel-and-chip warranty, interior epoxy is warrantied for life, and you don’t pay until you’re happy. Read the answers below, then request a free estimate with a same-day written price.

What warranties come with your painting?

Our paint work carries a peel-and-chip warranty. That means if the paint peels or chips within that window because of how it was applied, we come back and make it right. Interior epoxy is warrantied for the life of the floor, and exterior epoxy carries a warranty when you keep a maintained plan. We also do a one-year follow-up, where we call you back about a year after the job to check the finish and touch up anything that needs it. Most painters are long gone by then. Written warranties only mean something when the company stands behind them, and we do. You can read the full terms on our warranty page before you decide.

See our full warranty terms

How do you prep before painting?

Prep is where the quality lives, so we don’t rush it. We do full caulk and tape, cover your floors and furniture, patch and sand where needed, and prime bare or repaired spots before color goes on. On exteriors we pressure wash or softwash first so paint sticks to a clean surface instead of dirt and mildew. Then we put two coats on everything. Not one coat with a splash on the thin spots, two full coats. Our crews have been together six-plus years, so they know the little touches that make a finish look right. Before you pay a dime, you get a foreman-and-customer walk-through, where we go over the whole job together and fix anything you point out. That’s how straight lines and clean edges happen every time.

Polyaspartic or epoxy, which holds up better in Florida heat?

Both are floor coatings, and both beat bare concrete. Epoxy is the older, proven option and it’s a strong pick for interior floors, which is why our interior epoxy carries a lifetime warranty. Polyaspartic is a newer coating that cures faster and handles sun, heat and hot tires better, so it’s a smart choice for garages and anything that sees Florida’s UV. Polyaspartic also resists yellowing outdoors where some epoxies fade. If your floor gets a lot of sun or you want to use the space sooner, polyaspartic usually wins. If it’s an indoor floor and you want the longest warranty, interior epoxy is hard to beat. We’ll look at your actual floor and tell you which one fits, even if that’s the less expensive answer. You can compare both on our service pages.

Learn about polyaspartic coatings

How much does painting or cabinet refinishing cost?

Every home is different, so an honest painter can’t quote a real price without seeing the work. Cabinet count, ceiling height, surface repairs and how many coats a color needs all change the number. What we can promise is a clear, written price the same day we visit, with the prep, coats and warranty spelled out, so you’re not comparing apples to oranges. Yes, a cut-corners bid may come in cheaper. It’s cheaper because someone skipped a coat or the prep. When you factor in the 7-year warranty and the one-year follow-up, our price protects you longer. We’ll also tell you honestly if you don’t need everything you asked for. The estimate is free, and there’s no payment until you’re satisfied.

Do you serve my town?

We serve Lake, Sumter and Marion County in Central Florida, including Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares, Leesburg, Sorrento, Ocala, The Villages and the surrounding towns. We also work in the 55-plus communities like On Top of the World, Stonecrest, Del Webb and Legacy. If you don’t see your town, call and ask. Odds are we cover it.

See all service areas

Comparing bids

Why is it so hard to compare quotes?

Most painters hand you a vague verbal number and leave out the details that decide whether the job lasts. One bid says two coats but only puts on one. Another skips the caulk and tape, so your lines come out crooked and paint ends up on your floors and furniture. When every quote hides something different, you can’t tell who’s honest until the work is already done.

That’s a bad spot to be in, especially when you just want to stop worrying about it. We answer plainly here so you can compare bids fairly, ask better questions and hire with your eyes open. Ask any painter to put these in writing:

How many coats, and on which surfaces
What prep is included: caulk, tape, patching, priming, washing
What the warranty covers, and for how long
When you pay, and whether there’s a walk-through first

On the job

What happens on the job, and when do I pay?

How we work in your home, from the first coat to the final walk-through.

Talk to a real person

Still not sure? Call and ask. We’d rather explain it now than have you guess.

(352) 626-8007

Do you really put two coats on everything?

Yes. We apply two full coats, not one coat with a touch-up on the thin spots. Two coats give you even color and a finish that lasts. You can confirm the work yourself at the foreman-and-customer walk-through before you pay.

When do I pay for the work?

You don’t pay until you’re satisfied. Before any final payment, we walk the whole job with you and fix anything you point out. That walk-through is your chance to make sure the lines and coverage are right.

Are your estimates free?

Yes. Estimates are free, and you get a written price the same day we visit, with the prep, coats and warranty spelled out so you can compare bids fairly. Request your free estimate.

How do you protect my floors and furniture?

We cover floors and furniture, do full caulk and tape, and keep clean edges. You shouldn’t end up with paint on your countertops or carpet. If anything gets missed, we make it right at the walk-through.

Do you remove popcorn ceilings and fix drywall too?

Yes. Along with interior and exterior painting, we handle popcorn ceiling removal, drywall repair, stucco repair, staining, pressure washing and coatings. Ask about your project when you request an estimate.

Who we are

Who's behind the answers?

McWilliams Painting is owned by Weston McWilliams, a working painter and a member of BNI and BEST 352. Weston is married with kids and runs the company out of Fruitland Park.

Weston is straight with people. He’ll tell you to get three estimates, and he’ll tell you when you don’t need the pricier option. That honesty, plus written warranties and no payment until you’re happy, is why so much of our work comes from repeat customers and referrals across Lake, Sumter and Marion County. Read more about us or see what homeowners say.

2,000 to 3,000 Villages homes

Our crews have painted between 2,000 and 3,000 homes in The Villages alone.

Crews together six-plus years

The same crews know the little touches that make a finish look right.

Based in Fruitland Park

Serving Lake, Sumter and Marion County.

Repeat clients and referrals

Much of our work comes from customers who hire us again and send their friends.

Keep exploring

Services and pages our clients ask about

Interior painting Exterior painting Cabinet refinishing Polyaspartic coatings Epoxy flooring Warranty Reviews Service areas Request a quote

Contact

Ready to hire with confidence?

You’ve got the facts. Now get a real number for your home. Request a free estimate and we’ll walk your project, answer anything left, and hand you a same-day written price with the prep, coats and warranty in writing. No pressure, and no payment until you’re satisfied.