Is N. Chasen & Son a Good Painting Company in Richmond?
N. Chasen & Son is a credible company for Richmond homeowners to include on a painting-contractor shortlist, particularly when an established local business, employee painter model, carpentry capability, wallcovering experience, and detailed project documentation are priorities.
Virginia DPOR currently lists N Chasen & Son Incorporated as a Class A contractor under license 2701-005889, with an expiration date of May 31, 2027. The company's own materials state that every painter is an employee rather than a day laborer or painting subcontractor, that no deposit or upfront money is required, and that preparation, application, final detailing, and cleanup are part of its work process.
That does not mean N. Chasen is automatically the right contractor for every homeowner. The final decision should still depend on the specific estimator, written scope, repair requirements, coating system, schedule, warranty, price, and how the proposal compares with other qualified Richmond painters.
N. Chasen & Son At a Glance
| Category | TPC Editorial Score | Editorial Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing & Compliance | 9.5 / 10 | Current Virginia DPOR contractor record located and matched to the Richmond address. |
| Insurance & Risk Protection | 9.2 / 10 | Published company contract terms state responsibility for workers' compensation and general liability insurance. Homeowners should still request a current certificate. |
| Company History & Local Presence | 9.6 / 10 | Company history traces the business to 1914 and describes a third-generation family-owned operation. |
| Crew Accountability | 9.4 / 10 | Company states painters are employees and that it does not use day laborers or subcontractors as painters on job sites. |
| Surface Preparation Signals | 9.0 / 10 | Official materials emphasize protection, preparation, application, detailing, and cleanup. |
| Repair Capability | 9.1 / 10 | Carpentry and woodworking are offered in addition to residential painting. |
| Estimate & Contract Transparency | 9.1 / 10 | Company publishes detailed-estimate language, payment terms, insurance obligations, warranty language, and change-order requirements. |
| Richmond Project Fit | 9.3 / 10 | Long local operating history and broad residential painting, wallcovering, and carpentry capabilities create strong Richmond relevance. |
What We Could Verify About N. Chasen & Son
One of the goals of Top Painting Companies is to separate independently verifiable information from marketing claims that homeowners should confirm themselves.
| Item | Status | What We Found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Contractor License | Verified Aug. 2026 | Virginia DPOR lists N Chasen & Son Incorporated under license 2701-005889, Class A, with CIC and HIC specialties and an expiration date of May 31, 2027. | Virginia DPOR → |
| Business Address | Confirmed | Company site and DPOR record both identify 6829 Atmore Drive, Suite H, Richmond, VA 23225. | Official Site → |
| Company History | Official Source | N. Chasen states that Nathan Chasen founded the business in 1914 and describes the company as third-generation family-owned. | Company History → |
| Painter Crew Model | Company Stated | N. Chasen states that every painter working on its projects is an employee and that it does not use day laborers or subcontractors as painters on job sites. | Craftsmen Page → |
| General Liability / Workers Compensation | Published Terms | The company's published contract terms state that the company is responsible for workers' compensation and general liability insurance. Request a current certificate for your project. | Contract Terms → |
| No Deposit / Upfront Money | Company Stated | The company currently states that no deposits or upfront money are required. Individual contract terms should still be reviewed. | Official Source → |
| Published Warranty | Published Terms | Published terms state that work or materials are warranted as reasonably fit for their intended purpose for two years unless modified in the individual contract. | Contract Terms → |
| EPA Lead-Safe Claim | Company Stated | N. Chasen's craftsmen page describes the company as an EPA lead-safe contractor. Owners of pre-1978 homes should confirm current certification and project-specific lead-safe procedures. | Official Source → |
N. Chasen & Son Company Overview
| Category | Current Information |
|---|---|
| Company | N. Chasen and Son, Inc. |
| Founded | 1914, according to company history. |
| Virginia Contractor License | 2701-005889 — Class A — CIC / HIC — current DPOR record expires May 31, 2027. |
| Office | 6829 Atmore Drive, Suite H, Richmond, VA 23225 |
| Phone | (804) 353-4563 |
| Residential Services | Interior house painting, exterior house painting, wallpaper installation, carpentry and woodworking, and power washing. |
| Additional Work | Commercial painting, commercial wallcovering, industrial coatings, sandblasting, and pressure washing are also listed by the company. |
| Painter Model | Company states its painters are employees rather than painting subcontractors or day laborers. |
| Best Potential Fit | Homeowners who value a highly established Richmond contractor, employee painters, painting plus carpentry capability, wallcovering experience, and detailed contract documentation. |
Who Should Consider N. Chasen & Son?
Potentially Best For
- Richmond homeowners who value a long-established local contractor.
- Owners who prefer painters employed directly by the contractor.
- Interior or exterior projects that may also require carpentry.
- Homes with wallpaper or wallcovering needs.
- Older homes where preparation and repair coordination matter.
- Homeowners who value documented contract and payment terms.
May Not Be the Best Fit
- Homeowners whose only priority is obtaining the lowest possible price.
- Very small projects where a one-person independent painter may be more economical.
- Homeowners who need immediate scheduling during a busy season.
- Projects where multiple qualified bids show another contractor offers a materially stronger scope or project fit.
What N. Chasen & Son Is Known For
N. Chasen's strongest differentiators are unusually deep Richmond history, a company-stated employee craftsman model, and a service mix that extends beyond basic painting.
Richmond History Since 1914
The company's published history traces N. Chasen back to Nathan Chasen's Richmond trade business in 1914. Painting was added after the company's early wallcovering work, and the business describes itself as third-generation family-owned.
Employee Painter Model
N. Chasen states that painters are employees and that it does not use day laborers or subcontractors as painters on job sites. For homeowners who care about crew accountability, that is a meaningful differentiator worth confirming in the project agreement.
Painting + Carpentry
Carpentry capability can be particularly useful when exterior trim deterioration, woodworking needs, or other substrate problems are discovered before painting.
Wallcovering Experience
Wallpaper and wallcovering have unusually deep roots in the company's history and remain part of its current residential and commercial service offerings.
Detailed Estimate Messaging
N. Chasen publicly states that estimates are complete and detailed with no hidden fees or surprise up-charges. Homeowners should verify that the actual proposal clearly identifies preparation, products, repairs, exclusions, and change-order procedures.
Published Contract Terms
N. Chasen publishes substantial contract terms online, including payment obligations, insurance responsibilities, warranty language, scheduling conditions, and written change-order requirements. That gives prospective customers more information to review before hiring.
N. Chasen & Son Evaluation Breakdown
These are Top Painting Companies editorial assessments, not customer star ratings. The purpose is to apply a consistent evaluation framework across Richmond contractors.
Licensing & Compliance
9.5 / 10This is one of the strongest parts of the profile because the Virginia contractor record can be independently located. DPOR currently lists N Chasen & Son Incorporated as a Class A contractor under license 2701-005889, with a May 31, 2027 expiration date.
Insurance & Homeowner Risk Protection
9.2 / 10N. Chasen's published terms state that the company is responsible for workers' compensation and general liability insurance. We would still ask for a current certificate of insurance tied to the actual project before work begins.
Company History & Local Presence
9.6 / 10A business history dating to 1914 gives N. Chasen unusually deep Richmond roots. Longevity alone does not guarantee the quality of an individual project, but sustained local presence is a meaningful contractor signal.
Crew Accountability
9.4 / 10The company's statement that painters are employees rather than job-site painting subcontractors gives homeowners a clearer picture of the labor model than many contractors provide publicly.
Preparation & Work Process
9.0 / 10Official materials specifically discuss protection of landscaping and furnishings, correct surface preparation, application, final detailing, and cleanup. The actual project proposal should still spell out exactly which prep steps apply to the homeowner's surfaces.
Repair Capability
9.1 / 10Carpentry and woodworking capability strengthens the company's fit for exterior painting and older-home projects where painting cannot responsibly begin until damaged wood or trim is addressed.
Contract Transparency
9.1 / 10The availability of detailed published terms is a positive transparency signal. However, homeowners should actually read the contract: it includes specific payment, warranty, claim, change-order, scheduling, and liability provisions that should be understood before signing.
What Types of Projects May Fit N. Chasen Best?
| Project Type | TPC Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Interior repaint | Strong | Established residential painting service, employee painter model, wallcovering capability, and published preparation process. |
| Exterior repaint | Strong | Exterior painting plus carpentry can be valuable when trim or substrate repairs are part of the scope. |
| Older Richmond home | Strong | Long Richmond history, painting, wallcovering, woodworking, and company-stated lead-safe capability make the company worth considering for older properties. |
| Wallpaper / wallcovering | Strong | Wallcovering has been part of the company's identity since its earliest years and remains a current service. |
| Painting + carpentry | Strong | Homeowners may benefit from coordinating painting and woodworking needs through one contractor. |
| Lowest-price repaint | Depends | The best value cannot be determined from company reputation alone. Compare N. Chasen's written scope and price with other qualified Richmond contractors. |
N. Chasen Contract Terms Homeowners Should Know About
Contractor reviews often ignore the contract. We think the contract is one of the most important homeowner-protection documents to examine.
No Deposit Claim
N. Chasen states publicly that it requires no deposits or upfront money. Confirm that this remains true in the actual proposal you receive.
Payment Timing
Published terms state that undisputed amounts are due 30 days after invoice unless another arrangement is agreed upon.
Two-Year Published Warranty
Current terms describe a two-year warranty that work and supplied materials will be reasonably fit for their intended purpose unless the specific contract modifies the language.
Written Changes
Published terms require modifications affecting cost, materials, work, or estimated completion date to be communicated and approved in writing.
Insurance Obligations
The company's published terms state responsibility for workers' compensation, commercial property, and general liability insurance.
Pre-1978 Homes
The published contract specifically addresses the EPA Renovate Right information for work on structures built before 1978. Owners of older Richmond homes should discuss lead-safe requirements before work starts.
Ask the estimator to walk through the proposal line by line. Confirm surface preparation, paint products, repairs, exclusions, protection, start expectations, warranty language, change-order procedures, and final payment terms before signing.
Questions to Ask N. Chasen & Son
1. Who will work on my project?
Confirm the employee crew model for your specific project and ask who will supervise the work.
2. What prep is included?
Get washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, priming, patching, masking, and cleanup requirements in writing.
3. What exact coating will you use?
Ask for the manufacturer, product line, sheen, and number or standard of finish coats.
4. How are repairs priced?
Understand which carpentry or substrate repairs are included and which require a written change order.
5. Can I see current insurance documentation?
Even though the company's published terms address insurance, request a current certificate before work begins.
6. What warranty will be in my contract?
Compare the contract you receive with the company's published two-year warranty language and ask about exclusions.
Sources Used for This N. Chasen Review
This page was fact-checked in August 2026. Top Painting Companies distinguishes official company statements from independent regulatory records.
Compare N. Chasen & Son With Other Richmond Painters
Frequently Asked Questions About N. Chasen & Son
Is N. Chasen & Son a good painting company in Richmond?
N. Chasen & Son is a strong Richmond-area consideration for homeowners who value an established local contractor, employee painters, painting and carpentry capability, wallcovering experience, and detailed homeowner-facing contract information. The right choice still depends on your individual proposal, price, project requirements, schedule, and comparison with other qualified contractors.
Is N. Chasen & Son licensed in Virginia?
Yes. As of this page's August 2026 fact check, Virginia DPOR lists N Chasen & Son Incorporated under contractor license 2701-005889. The current record identifies the business as Class A with CIC and HIC specialties and a May 31, 2027 expiration date. License information should be rechecked before hiring.
How long has N. Chasen & Son been in business?
N. Chasen's published history says Nathan Chasen founded the business in Richmond in 1914. The company describes itself as a third-generation family-owned business.
Does N. Chasen & Son use employees or subcontractors?
N. Chasen states that every painter who works on its projects is an employee and that it does not use day laborers or subcontractors as painters on job sites. Homeowners can confirm the crew structure for their specific project before signing.
Does N. Chasen & Son require a deposit?
The company currently states that it requires no deposits or upfront money. Its published contract terms separately state that undisputed invoice amounts are due within 30 days unless otherwise agreed. Confirm the payment schedule in your specific proposal.
What warranty does N. Chasen & Son offer?
N. Chasen's published terms state that work performed or materials supplied are warranted as reasonably fit for their intended purpose for two years unless the individual contract specifically modifies that language. Read the actual warranty and exclusions in the contract you receive.
What services does N. Chasen & Son provide?
Its current residential offerings include interior house painting, exterior house painting, wallpaper installation, carpentry and woodworking, and power washing. The company also lists commercial painting, wallcovering, industrial coatings, sandblasting, and pressure washing services.
How does N. Chasen & Son compare with other Richmond painters?
N. Chasen stands out for company history, employee painter messaging, wallcovering, carpentry capability, and published contract information. Other Richmond contractors may be stronger fits depending on repair needs, specialty finishes, project management preferences, pricing, or the exact scope. Use the Richmond rankings page to compare the companies side by side.