Residential Painting Services in Des Moines, IA
A paint job is 80% preparation and 20% paint, and the difference between the two is what you're actually hiring. Red Oak Painting repaints homes across the Des Moines Metro with a prep-first process, premium products we'll name in your quote, and a written warranty on every project. From newer builds in Ankeny and Waukee to established homes in Urbandale and Beaverdale, we quote it straight and put everything in writing.
Interior Painting
Walls, ceilings, trim, doors - the finishes you live with every day. We repaint interiors with washable, scrubbable products that survive kids, dogs, and hallway traffic, which matters because most homes in the metro's newer suburbs still wear the builder-grade flat paint they were sold with. It scuffs, it can't be cleaned, and touch-ups flash. Replacing it is the single most common project we quote.
Our interior process: furniture and floors protected, walls repaired and sanded, edges cut in by hand, two coats rolled to an even finish, and the room cleaned and reset before we leave it.
Common interior projects:
Whole-home repaints and single rooms
Two-story entryways and vaulted great rooms (we bring the staging)
Ceilings, trim, and door packages
Oak trim converted to modern white (huge in Urbandale and Clive's 80s–90s homes)
Accent walls and color changes over dark colors
Exterior Painting
Iowa is one of the harder climates in the country on exterior paint. Freeze-thaw cycles drive moisture into caulk joints and siding, summer humidity stresses the paint film, and south- and west-facing walls take a beating from the sun. When exterior paint fails here, it fails from the surface down which is why our process starts with the surface, not the sprayer.
Our exterior process:
Wash — the whole surface, because paint doesn't stick to dirt
Scrape & sand — every failing area, down to sound material
Prime — bare wood and repairs spot-primed
Caulk — gaps, joints, and trim sealed against Iowa weather
Two finish coats — premium exterior systems rated for Midwest freeze-thaw
The exterior season in central Iowa runs roughly April through October. Summer fills first; spring estimates get the best dates.
Cabinet Painting & Refinishing
A full kitchen remodel runs tens of thousands of dollars. Painting the cabinets you already own delivers most of the visual change for a fraction of it…if it's done right. Done wrong (brushed on over grease, no bonding primer), cabinet paint chips within a year, which is why this is the last project you want to DIY or hand to the lowest bidder.
We remove doors and drawer fronts, degrease and scuff-sand every surface, apply a bonding primer, and spray the finish coats for a smooth, factory-style result. Oak, maple, thermofoil, previously painted — we'll tell you at the estimate exactly what your boxes need.
Deck & Fence Staining
Iowa sun grays a deck and Iowa winters crack it. We clean and brighten the wood, sand where it needs it, and apply stain systems chosen for how the surface is used — full-sun decks, shaded fences, and high-traffic stairs don't want the same product. Expect a maintenance coat every 2–4 years depending on exposure; we'll tell you honestly which end of that range your deck is on.
What People Are Saying
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Red Oak Painting made the entire process easy from start to finish. The crew was professional, showed up on time every day, and our home looks better than we imagined. We couldn't be happier with the results.
— Sarah M.
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The attention to deal was outstanding. We'll definitely Red Oak again for future painting projects.
— David R.
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It's hard to find contractors who communicate well and actually care about quality. Red Oak Painting exceeded our expectations and transformed our home inside and out.
— Emily T.
Initiate a Project Discussion
If you're interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your project. Our team will review your message and get back to you ASAP.