About Ellwanger Painting LLC

Justin Ellwanger — Painter, Owner, and the Guy Showing Up to Your Job

My name is Justin Ellwanger. I've been painting professionally since 2004 and I started Ellwanger Painting LLC in 2023 to do things the way I've always believed they should be done: honest pricing, real prep work, and a crew that acts like it belongs in someone's home.

I didn't take a traditional path. I dropped out of high school and went into the trades. What I learned—and what I still rely on every day—is that you make a living by showing up, doing what you say you'll do, and taking pride in the work. That's not a sales line. It's how I've kept food on the table for my family for two decades, and it's why people in Bellingham keep calling me back.

In that time I've painted thousands of homes, inside and out. I've worked on century-old Craftsmans with seven layers of old paint, high-end modern interiors with demanding finishes, and everything in between. I know what older homes need, and I don't cut corners to get through them faster.

Real Bellingham Homes. Real Conditions.

A lot of painters do great work on new construction or straightforward repaints. Older homes are a different challenge entirely—peeling paint from decades of moisture, surfaces that need serious prep before a brush ever touches them, and the kind of history that rewards patience over speed.

Older exteriors. Some of the most satisfying jobs I've done are on Bellingham's older exteriors—homes built in the early 1900s with real character but real problems: failing caulk, bare wood, multiple layers of old paint, and profiles that take more time to prep than a modern box house. I know how to read those surfaces and what they need to hold a proper coat. See an example: early-1900s Bellingham exterior repaint.

Large high-end interiors. On the interior side, I've worked on everything from small bedroom refreshes to very large, high-end whole-home repaints. These jobs require attention to detail, good communication with the homeowners living in the space, and the kind of finish work that actually looks finished. See an example: large luxury interior repaint.

Working in an occupied home isn't something every painter handles gracefully. I've done it enough to know how to protect your belongings, keep disruption minimal, and leave the space clean at the end of every day.

What Ellwanger Painting Does

I keep the scope focused on what I do well. I'm not a "we do everything" contractor.

How I Run a Job

Here's what working with me looks like from start to finish.

• Written estimates in plain language. I provide a detailed written estimate that spells out exactly what's included—surfaces, products, number of coats—and what isn't. No surprises after the work starts.
• A crew you'd be comfortable having in your home. I only bring people onto jobs who I'd trust in my own house. Clean, professional, and respectful of your space. That's a non-negotiable.
• I'm on the job. I do the walkthrough, I check the prep, and I make sure the work matches what we agreed to. When you hire Ellwanger Painting, you're not handing your house off to a subcontractor you've never met. You're working with me.
• Prep is not optional. Most paint failures come down to skipped prep. I don't skip it. It takes longer and costs more—but it's the difference between a paint job that lasts and one that doesn't.

Who I Work Best With

I'll be straightforward: I'm not the right fit for everyone, and I'm not trying to be.

The clients I work best with are homeowners who care about their house, want the job done right, and understand that quality work has a real cost. A lot of my clients own older Bellingham homes—homes they've invested in, that have real character, and that deserve to be treated accordingly.

If your main criteria is the lowest number on a piece of paper, I'm probably not your guy. But if you want a painter in Bellingham who will treat your home like it matters, show up every day, and deliver a finish that holds up—that's what I do.

Ellwanger Painting has become a go-to choice for exterior painting on older Bellingham homes and high-quality interior work across Whatcom County. That reputation is built one job at a time, and I intend to keep it that way.