BY STAFF
Arch Painting, a national painting contractor, has acquired Paintzen, an on-demand painting service platform, from global coatings giant PPG Industries, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from industry professionals. The acquisition, announced in January 2025, is part of Arch Painting’s goal to expand rapidly, with plans to triple in size over the next five years. The company aims to achieve this by integrating more technology into its operations, despite ongoing skepticism about its long-term impact on independent contractors.
Founded in 2013, Paintzen positioned itself as a digital tool to connect homeowners and renters with painting professionals at competitive prices. However, its rapid expansion raised concerns among traditional contractors about its role as a middleman. In 2018, PPG Industries purchased Paintzen for $75 million, hoping to strengthen its market control.
PPG’s ownership, however, was met with resistance. Many painting contractors saw the move as a conflict of interest, accusing PPG of undermining independent businesses by inserting itself between customers and service providers. Some contractors even severed ties with PPG, citing unfair competition. Following industry backlash, PPG offloaded Paintzen to Arch Painting in January 2025.
Now under Arch Painting’s leadership, CEO Rich Kilgannon has promoted the deal to modernize the $40 billion painting industry.
“The paint contracting services category is ripe for innovation that leverages the power of technology,” Kilgannon said in a statement. He insisted that the company’s digital strategy would benefit customers, though critics argue it could push smaller contractors out of the market.
Arch plans to integrate artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and even drones into its operations to streamline pricing and service delivery. While the company touts these tools to improve efficiency, skeptics worry they could replace traditional estimating jobs and reduce opportunities for contractors.
In addition to expanding its residential services, Arch intends to push Paintzen into the commercial sector and offer its platform to major retailers. While this could bring in more business, some industry professionals question whether it will further consolidate the painting market, making it harder for smaller businesses to compete.
Kilgannon likened the shift in consumer behavior to trends in other industries, arguing that if people can buy cars or book vacations online, they should be able to do the same with home improvement services. “If people are willing to purchase a Tesla or book an expensive vacation using their phone apps, why won’t they follow the same practice in beautifying and improving the value of their real estate?” he said.
While the acquisition signals a larger shift toward tech-driven service models, not everyone in the industry is convinced it will be beneficial. Many contractors remain wary of Paintzen’s role, fearing it may erode traditional business models and give more power to large corporations at the expense of independent painters.
As Arch Painting moves forward, the painting industry will be watching closely to see whether technology-driven consolidation helps or harms the professionals who have long relied on direct customer relationships to sustain their businesses.
