Attention to detail earns Twin Cities craftsman 5 stars

Residential painting requires patience and precision. Conrad Hansen has both qualities.

The suburban Minneapolis man owns Conrad Hansen Painting & Decorating, a small firm that follows a simple motto to achieve top results: "The smoother the surface, the finer the finish."

Before lifting a paintbrush, Conrad carefully removes all dings, dents and crayon marks from walls. That way, he knows he'll be applying paint to a clean surface. After applying the first coat, he shines a 500-watt halogen light on the wall to check for errors. Finally, he applies a second coat.

"I take great pride in my work and I do consider myself a craftsman," Conrad said.

Melissa Casby can attest to that. Melissa and her husband, Kurt, built a new house seven years ago. The builder's neutral paint scheme remained on the walls. Over the years, the Casby children, now ages 10 and 6, had nicked the walls in places, and Melissa was ready for freshly painted walls.

So the couple turned to ServiceMagic, where they found Conrad to paint the kitchen, dining room and stairwells in their spacious two-story home in Grant, Minn.

"Conrad Hansen did a really good job," Melissa said. "I still haven't seen any place where he missed."

Melissa was impressed with Conrad's thoroughness in bidding the job. Other prospective painters focused on the size of the rooms. But Conrad examined the details, kneeling down to inspect woodwork and forced-air registers.

A perfectionist

"He looked at intricate little places," Melissa said. "He seemed to be a perfectionist."

And although his price was higher than some of the other painters, Conrad got the job.

The project wasn't straightforward. It required Conrad and his crew to repair a water stain on the ceiling, use specialized ladders in the tall entryway and stairwells, and remove light fixtures before painting.

"We do the job right and disrupt their lives as little as possible," Conrad said.

That's why he doesn't start a new job before the one he's currently working on is completed. He and his crew clean up the work area every evening and strive to finish in less than the estimated time.

"I would definitely hire him again," Melissa said.

Meanwhile, she'll enjoy her new, brighter, more colorful surroundings. "It makes a big difference," she said. "It feels homier and cleaner."