Meet Central Iowa Painting
A residential painting crew built around a single idea, every painter should be trained to the same standard, every project should be run to the same process.
Our story
Central Iowa Painting was built on a simple idea: the difference between a professional paint job and an average one comes down to preparation, technique, and attention to detail, and every painter on the crew should be trained to that same standard. That’s why we built the CIP Certification Program. Instead of hiring painters and hoping their prior experience matches ours, we bring them through an 8-week training program that covers everything from safety and jobsite setup through advanced spraying and customer communication. Every painter working on your home is either certified or working toward certification under a certified crew lead. We paint interiors, exteriors, decks, fences, and garages for homeowners across the Des Moines metro and surrounding Central Iowa communities. We’re small on purpose, local by choice, and focused on doing residential painting well.
Meet Jacob
Owner, Central Iowa Painting
Jacob McClarnon, owner of Central Iowa Painting, was born and raised in Central Iowa. Jacob’s 10+ years of experience painting began in college, where he spent his summers working on residential projects and quickly developed a knack for the trade. Before long, Jacob started his own operation and found early success serving homeowners in the Ames area.
Toward the end of college, he founded an online marketplace startup designed to help painters and homeowners plan, quote, and manage painting projects more efficiently. Later, he transitioned his focus back to hands-on work and launched Central Iowa Painting, bringing his business experience and craftsmanship together under one brand.
Jacob holds a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Iowa State University and is a graduate of three business accelerator programs. Outside of painting, he works part-time as a business consultant helping other companies start and grow.
What we believe
Prep Is the Job
A great finish starts long before the first coat is applied. Filling nail holes, spot priming, caulking, masking, the parts nobody sees are the parts that decide how the finish looks and how long it lasts. So that’s where we spend our time.
Consistency Comes From Training
Every painter on our crew completes the same 8-week training program before working solo on your home. That’s the only way we know how to deliver the same result on every project, regardless of who’s holding the brush.
Communication Is Part of the Craft
You should always know what’s happening, what’s next, and when we’ll be back. If plans change, we tell you. If something’s not right, we fix it before we consider the job done.
Care for the Home, Not Just the Paint
We’re guests in your home for the duration of the project. Floors get protected. Furniture gets covered. Landscaping gets watched. And when we leave, the only thing that changed is what we painted.
The CIP Certification Program
Every painter on our crew completes an 8-week internal training and certification program before working independently on your project. We built the program because we needed a way to hold every painter to the same standard, not just “experienced” or “trained,” but trained on the exact process we use on every home.
What the Program Covers
Week1
Orientation & standards:
Company values, safety basics, professional appearance, customer experience expectations
Week2
Interior fundamentals:
Tools, products, order of operations, cutting, rolling, and daily workflow
Week3
Professional interior technique:
Surface preparation, drywall repair, spot priming, wet edge, productivity
Week4
Exterior fundamentals:
Exterior prep, ladder safety, weather considerations, protecting landscaping
Week5
Advanced exterior technique:
Airless spray operation, masking, spray tips, equipment care
Week6
Deck & fence:
Stain types, wood evaluation, application methods, weather timing
Week7
Customer experience:
Professional communication, jobsite etiquette, the customer journey, ride-along day
Week8
Reflection & development:
certification checklist review, career planning
On completion, painters earn the designation of CIP Certified Painter, the same standard we hold every project to.
Meet the crew
The people who’ll be at your home.
Alex Johnson
Owner
Founder of Central Iowa Painting and the person you’ll most often meet during estimates. Alex built the company around the CIP Certification Program because he believes every painter on the crew should meet the same standard.
- CIP Certified
Mike Carter
Crew Lead
Mike leads projects in the field and mentors newer painters through the CIP Certification Program. 8 years of residential painting experience across Central Iowa homes.
- CIP Certified
Sarah Miller
CIP Certified Painter
Sarah joined Central Iowa Painting in 2022 and completed the CIP Certification Program in 2022. Focus areas: interior and exterior.
- CIP Certified
David Kim
Painter, In Training
David joined Central Iowa Painting in 2024 and is currently working through the CIP Certification Program. Focus areas: interior.
- In Training
How we work
We show up when we say we will:
On-time arrival, consistent daily schedule, and honest updates if anything changes.
We finish what we start:
We don’t run three projects at once. When we start your project, we’re on it until it’s done.
We walk every project with you:
Before we consider a project complete, we walk it with you. If something isn’t right, we fix it on the spot.
Local by Choice
We’re based in Central Iowa and we paint Central Iowa homes. Not because it makes for good marketing, but because it makes for a better company. When you hire us, you’re working with people who live in the same communities you do, which means we take your project personally, and we’re around long after it’s finished.
Want to Work With Our Crew?
Request a free quote and we’ll set up a time to meet at your home.
