Here is a consummate professional who will forever change your stereotypes about remodeling and home improvement contractors. We needed a room painted quickly, to accommodate our busy schedule. I found John right here on Yelp. Unlike a couple of his colleagues, who were rude and dismissive on the phone (and one of whom has yet to call me back, a week later), John answered the phone promptly (on a Sunday!), addressed all of my questions, asked all of the right ones, and waited patiently while I consulted with my wife on his quote. He came the very next day, and completed the job in less than a day and a half. John provided expert input in choosing a shade and finish (who knew that white paint is not just white paint, or the secret to choosing the right white?). He showed up equipped with a copy of his license, insurance and bonding papers. Although he had to move some furniture and other items to do the job (and did so single-handedly and without complaint), he was able to get the job done with absolutely no disruption to the household. And it is truly the best paint job I have ever seen. John's business is called East Bay PAINTER, but it turns out that's not all he does. While he was working, I asked whether he happened to know a good handyman who could remove an old decaying wall cabinet and install shelves. John was happy to do the job, came back a couple of days later, and -- once again -- did a fast, efficient, reliable and professional job, even hauling away the old cabinet. Although he does not sell himself cheap (nor should he -- he is a topflight professional artist and craftsman!), John's prices are reasonable and competitive. John, you have certainly not seen the last of me! read more

We recently moved and had horrible experiences with handyman/painters. We got overcharged for botched painted jobs, and emotions ran pretty high. Then John came to the rescue! I think he may have even saved our marriage! After the Direct TV installer left a mess, we needed it fixed. We hired a handyman off of Craiglist, which I do not recommend. He assured us he could clean up and make the house look like nothing had happened. He lied. When he was done, there were noticeable spots on the house, and we were out $200. I came to Yelp to find a painter to fix the mess this handyman had left behind. Well, I should have come to Yelp in the first place . . . I called John at East Bay Painter and told him our situation. He came by our house in an hour and gave us his assessment of what needed to be done and quoted a price cheaper than the stupid handyman from Craigslist. Within a week from his visit, he got a sample from the house to get the matching paint, painted the messed up area for an amazingly affordable price. I never dreamed that I could afford such a professional and pleasant painter for such a reasonable price! It was a relatively small job, but he treated us with the same level of respect as if we were having him paint the whole house. If you need anything painted, give John a call. I intend to work with him for as long as he paints! Thank you, John the super painter! read more

John is fantastic. We've hired him twice - once about a year ago and then again more recently - and both times, the quality of his work and his attention to detail has been unquestionable. He is flexible and responsive. He is honest and ethical. The first job, a shoe polish kit under the bathroom sink was accidentally sprayed with white paint, which really was not a big deal and did not upset us in the slightest. He brought it to our attention, and even though we told him it was unimportant, insisted on discounting the cost of the shoe polish kit from our bill. On each job, he has been extremely helpful with unanticipated additional work, without even requesting to revise the estimate. For example, the wall inside a built-in bookshelf he was painting turned out to need minor repair, and our dog had destroyed drywall windowpanes near our front door, and he repaired both without hesitation. He helped us remove a completely stripped deep wood screw, which wasn't even in an area he was painting. We recommend him without hesitation to anyone in the market for a painter. read more

I got an email estimate but the scope of the work changed so emailed for another estimate but didn't hear back for a while. He got all weird after I emailed again asking him if he wanted the work and did he get my email. I get an email back stating basically, 'If you're prepared to sign a contract today, I can be out there today for a complete estimate'. Nope, we don't work that way and EastBayPainter has now been crossed of the list for our consideration. We get estimates before deciding on who to go with for the work or signing anything and will not be pressured. In what world would anyone agree to signing a contract before obtaining a realistic cost estimate for the job? read more

John was professional, offered great advice, was licensed, bonded and insured. He was clear in his scope of work and fair in pricing. He left 2 cans of Kelly Moore paint for touch-ups and was a pleasure to work with! I would call John again. read more

John came by and repainted the living room which was painted a really deep green. He was prompt, communicated exactly what he was doing and did a good job. His price was competitive and he is licensed and he used no voc paints. read more

I've hired John three times for my personal spaces, and recommended him to my former landlord, who, as far as I can tell, hired him to become "the" painter for the complex I used to live in. He's fantastic! His quality is beyond fantastic, he's extremely knowledgeable of paint options and solutions (including no-VOC eco-friendly options), he's punctual, efficient, his schedule is flexible, and his rates are quite reasonable. He makes the entire process completely painless and idiot-proof. He's amazing. Really. Now you no longer have an excuse to not paint something. read more

I couldn't be happier with the work that John did. I own The Animal Den Pet Resort and our walls take quite a beating here. He made them look new, fresh, and I'm so happy with th results. I'm so pleased with his work, I plan on calling him again to help me on some other painting projects I have planned in the near future. John is super clean and polite which is so appreciative.. I don't think he left one speck of a mess while he was here! read more

John is excellent. His cost estimates were accurate, his time estimates were accurate, he was exceptionally neat, and he had great ideas about how to improve our project. He gets my highest recommendation. In fact I made this profile just so I could give him a good review. After several flaky painters, it was a relief to work with John, who is licensed, insured and totally reliable. Who would believe you can find somebody so great on craiglist? read more

I called to schedule an estimate today, but instead, got some WONDERFUL advice. He was very honest with me and told me it would be a better idea to maybe hirer a genreal contracter instead of hiring him, floor installers, window installers etc. to remodel my home. He also gave me some very good advice that a first time home buyer should know when refurbishing a place as small as mine. I wish he was my Uncle or something so I could ask him for advice all the time. He's also very professional. If he helped me this much with a phone call, I can only imagine the great work he would have done if I picked him for the job. I would HIGHLY recommend this guy. You just can't go wrong! :) read more

John refinished our deck recently and I cannot emphasize enough what a fantastic job he did. I found him on Craigslist and when I emailed him I received an almost immediate response. He was professional throughout the entire process and provided much appreciate insight and expertise on our job. On several occasions he could have had the opportunity to unnecessarily up sell the job but at each step of the way he gave me honest opinions and I truly felt that he was looking out for my best interest. It was clear that his goal was to make my deck look the very best it could for a fair and competitive price. If you are considering having any painting done or a deck refinished go with John. You won't be disappointed. read more

I am so thankful I found John on Yelp! My front porch hadn't been painted in 12 years, my back deck hadn't been cleaned/sealed in 6 years, and both were looking fairly awful. He brought his trusty power washer and cleaned them and my little brick patio (which I don't think had *ever* been cleaned -- it was covered with grime and moss -- and now looks like new). My deck had turned a solid dark gray color, and he actually washed off the gray! I didn't know that was possible. I can now see the gorgeous redwood as it once must have been, with the wood grain and knots and all showing clearly. One coat of clear seal made the deck a thing of beauty. My front porch looks like new too after the washing and a coat of paint. John's a great guy to work with and pleasant to have around. He answered my emails promptly. He had a lot of helpful suggestions and was patient with all my indecision about paint colors and deck stain colors. I'll definitely call him next time I need any painting/deck sealing. read more

John came to paint two classrooms and a stairwell at a private ESL school. The work he did was amazing and I would definitely hire him for future projects. He's very professional and super helpful. He helped pick out paint colors and gave great suggestions. He did these projects in about 4 days. John was very thorough with laying down coverings, paying attention to details in the rooms and on the stairwell, and cleaning up all his materials. I was very impressed with his system and was happy that he went out of his way to put things back into place when he was finished. Simply outstanding. read more

John didn't do any painting for me, because he provided an honest opinion about a relatively cheap way to do it myself or through a smaller contract. Really enjoyed his fast response and honesty. Will definitely give him a call when I have a larger job. Thanks! read more

We hired East Bay Painter to refinish our deck and outside stairs last month. It was just one guy, John Aspatore, and wow, was he great. Every interaction I had with him was a total pleasure. Simple, friendly, and efficient. He did a gorgeous job, cleaned up, and was pleasant to have around. Being a licensed contractor, he's not the cheapest method of getting your painting job done, but we just didn't have the time and ability to do the job ourselves. John sure did right by us, and as long as I can afford it, I will hire him again and again. read more

I joined Yelp just to review John, because he makes my life as the owner of a small rental property so much easier. I used to paint units myself, and it would take forever and look horrible. False economy. Don't try this at home. John does it right, spending all the time it takes to prep a job thoroughly and cleans up after himself. He keeps good records of what paint is used, and when a tenant moves out, he isn't starting from scratch. We rent to students and our turnaround is usually a couple of years, and the paint is mostly in pretty good condition, but needs some freshening up. Each time he repaints a unit, it gets less expensive, because his paint stays on the wall, and can be cleaned and retouched. He keeps to his word on scheduling, and is extremely courteous to tenants and other contractors. He is a master craftsmen...and painting is not easy...to do well. John charges a reasonable rate for very high quality work. He always sticks to his estimates, no surprises. Zero flake factor...a great resource. read more

John is a great guy and did a very nice job. He was very helpful from the beginning, super courteous and honest. He was able to accommodate my job on short notice and came the very next morning at 7:30am so that I could pick colors before I left for work. He made things very easy because he received pictures of my space over email, then he sent me a link to an online color selector. He's great, honest, and reliable, ...and fast! read more

I could not have asked for a better painter. I just moved into a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo and needed it painted quickly. I found John on Yelp, and within two hours of my email to him, he got back to me and scheduled an estimate. I got estimates from five other painters and his was the best, but more so I just got a good vibe from him. He's on time, honest, and really helped me out with color scheme in my place. He brought swatches for me to pick from, bought the paint, patched up walls, and even replaced the 80's inspired gold light switch plates for me. He also removed old wallpaper, smoothed down walls, and just rocked out my place in a quick and clean fashion so I could move in immediately. My place looks awesome thanks to John, I would recommend him to anyone needing painting or handyman work. read more

Another professional job done at a moment's notice! I recently moved my washer/dryer upstairs and the plumbers had to crack open the wall. In order for the appliances to be moved in a timely manner, I had to get someone to patch and paint the hole. John was already doing a job for me and he said he could do it. John worked around the plumber's schedule. When they were done, he came in to do the patch work so the movers could bring up the appliances the next day. I saw the plumber had dented parts of the other wall but I KNEW I wouldn't have to say anything and John would take care of it. Sure enough, I come home to a perfect wall. I love this man, there is a big difference between a professional vs handyman. read more

John painted my my living room and kitchen/dining area about two years ago and the paint has held up great. His prices were very reasonable and he completed the project in the time he said he would complete it (the flooring people were coming a week later so it had to be done quickly). He also was able to patch up a hole in the drywall and do a few things I thought I had to have a handyman do (for free). He was professional and a nice guy too. read more

We hired John to paint several walls in our condo before a new tenant moved in. John was great at communicating exactly how the process was going to be done. Once we agreed on price, he purchased the paints and took everything from there. The walls look fantastic and the floors and ceiling were well protected. read more

John painted three rooms for me and I was very pleased with the results. John is ethical and honest. Unlike other contractors I have worked with in the past, he actually shows up, and completes the job on time. I would definitely hire John again. read more

Five minutes into a conversation with John Aspatore and you'll have absolute confidence that he knows precisely what he's doing and that you chose the right contractor. John is super-professional, exceptionally knowledgeable, and will actively listen to your objectives and concerns. We found his advice to be spot-on and he consistently steered us toward the most cost-effective solution. Beyond that, he is an absolute pleasure to work with. We initially hired John to paint two large rooms of our house, which he finished quickly and flawlessly for precisely the cost quoted. That same week we asked him to take a look at an ornate, 12-panel front door that had been damaged in a break-in attempt. Although two door companies and a locksmith told us it could not be repaired, John found a relatively inexpensive way to restore it to its original appearance - again, at precisely the cost quoted. He far exceeded our expectations. Give him a call - you'll get sound advice and great quality work at a reasonable cost. read more

John painted my 3 bedroom apartment and he did a great job. He was professional and completed the job on time. His pricing was competitive and he was upfront with costs. A lot of the painters I interviewed tried to get me to sign on to an hourly rate and to pay for the time it took to finish the project. John gave me an exact amount and it didn't change. He did a good job covering some old wallpaper in a room and also helped match some older oil based paint to make some touch ups, leaving me with plenty of extra paint for future needs. He also did a few other fixes for me that weren't originally part of the estimate and didn't charge. I would recommend John for your paint work and would happily use him again. read more

John did a great job painting an interior bedroom, repairing cracked paint on the window sills, and patching dings in the paint in my other rooms. He finished the work quickly and efficiently, no spills or drips (I'm very picky about that) and he charged me a hundred dollars less than what he quoted me on the phone. He showed up right on time, was friendly and low key. I will definitely call him again the next time I need painting. read more

We had a very good experience with John and would definitely use his services again. He returned my call within 24 hours regarding refinishing our deck. He discussed several cost efficient options with me and after sending him pictures of our deck, he gave an estimate and said he would be available to do the work (power washing and staining) within the week over a 2-day period. He was very nice and professional and did the work promptly. The deck looks amazing. Best of all he worked with us around the cost and even came back the day after his work was completed to put all the furniture back on our deck! read more

We contacted John about a year ago for a minor wood trim repair on our fence/deck. We inquired about our replacing/refinishing our deck and we ended up having John replace our front deck last year and he did a great job. We were very happy with the work and the price. He also helped us pick out the stain for the wood and was very knowledgeable. There was also some painting that needed to be done on the deck and surrounding areas and we were impressed with that as well. We were so impressed with his professionalism and work product that we contacted him again this year when we needed to have some reinforcement/repairs and painting done on our back deck rails. Once again, he did a great job and we were very happy. John is efficient, timely, courteous and professional. We would not hesitate to call upon John again or recommend him! read more

We recently had John paint two large rooms in our new home. With double height ceilings, angled walls and a textured finish I knew the house presented a challenge. I was very pleased with the results however; John did an excellent job. He is extremely professional, tidy, and efficient. I look forward to working with him again. read more

John A. from East Bay Painter is the utmost professional contractor. We have hired him twice to paint our redwood deck. His work is beautiful and his prices are more than fair. In fact, the last time, the final bill was LOWER than the estimate How often does that happen? He shows up EXACTLY when he says he will and takes EXACTLY as long as he says, making planning easy for my husband and I. John gives us good advice about products and ongoing maintenance and cleans up the work area EVERY day. In addition, he is very pleasant and courteous. What else could you ask for? We don't plan to do interior or exterior painting ourselves ever again. We are going to call John! read more

John is very nice to work with. He makes your life easier too. I did not have time to stick around the house while the painting work is going, so I handed him a house key, and he mailed it back to me promptly when the job was done. As he is a very reliable person and also he is a licensed painter, I could do that with no worries. John has very high standard in his work, and does excellent work. I highly recommend him. read more

Super quick response and good work on our deck. Really satisfied!

Yes, I only heard back from him a few days after I posted the review. He neglected to tell me why he never returned my calls and that he was calling back because he had heard someone had reviewed him on craigslist or yelp. The 3 other painters I called in for estimates were very responsive. John A., if you are the owner of the business in question, "Really?" is more snark than your potential customers are looking for. read more

John did a very clean and professional job painting the interior of my townhouse. He had some creative solutions to drywall problems the previous occupants left us. I would hire him again in a heartbeat. With John you'll get a real problem-solver who will help you achieve your painting goals! read more

This guy is amazing. My wife and I were interested in finding a painting contractor to paint a ton of oak cabinetry in our home in Walnut Creek I called John on a Saturday afternoon thinking I would leave a voice mail. He answered, listening carefully to my intended "project" and then opined the following..."don't do it, you will spend 40 to 60 K and not be happy at the end of the day...better to replace all those cabinets". Now I was taken aback at his candor to say the least. But as he went on to explain why painting is not a good option it was clear to me that this guy knows what he is talking about and is not interested in just taking a job for the sake of...taking a job. I can't thank him enough, I doubt too many others in the business of painting would have talked me out of a very large painting contract. We are now pursuing replacement and re design of our kitchen...Thank you John...you are a good egg. read more

John did a bunch of work for us, including prepping and painting our stoop and the trim around a number of windows. His work was clean and effective. He will be the first person I will call when I need painting in the future. read more

i just got off the phone with john. i have an ipe deck and he gave me the low down on them. treating them does not increase the life. it's purely aesthetic and it has to be done often. he offered to do as much but wanted me to know beforehand. awesome! thanks for the honesty. i will keep him in mind for other projects. read more

Called about getting an estimate and in his defense, we needed a 48 hour turn around on an estimate, but he stopped me in conversation and told me his just "too busy to help me." So unless you have some time on your hands, don't bother calling because he's too busy. read more

We recently needed to do some projects around the house painting a staircase, resealing a deck, and painting handrails and a gate. Found John on the intranet, and sent him an email to which he promptly responded. Working with John was great, he was professional, on time, and very responsive. He does quality work, and I will definitely call him again for our next project! read more