MOSES LAKE — When Simon Ribellia started painting homes at age 15, he wasn't planning on making it a full-time career, let alone starting his own painting business.

Today, at 23, Ribellia owns Marian Painting LLC, a company he founded in August 2023 that has grown from a one-man operation working out of a Prius into a business with about 15 employees, four vans and multiple crews providing home exterior and interior painting.

Like many tradespeople, Ribellia learned the craft on the job. After finding summer work with a local painting contractor as a teenager, he spent years learning the industry before launching his own company at age 20.

“I started painting at 15 years old,” Ribellia said. “I was doing that alongside school whenever I had free time.”

The company's name reflects Ribellia's Catholic faith. Rather than naming the business after himself, he chose a name inspired by Mother Mary.

In the years since founding the company, growth has come quickly. But for Ribellia, the biggest learning curve wasn't painting homes. It was learning how to run a business.

“As an employee, you just show up and work,” he said. “Learning how to do an estimate at 20 years old and price stuff accordingly and be confident in the answers that you give people, that was definitely a challenge.”

That experience has shaped the way he approaches customers today.

For homeowners considering a painting project, Ribellia believes one of the biggest mistakes is focusing solely on the final color or price tag.

Instead, he recommends paying close attention to how contractors prepare surfaces before the first coat of paint is ever applied.

“The biggest thing is what is their prep process?” Ribellia said. “Anybody can put paint on a wall, but what did they do before they painted that surface?”

Preparation can include washing surfaces, scraping loose paint, sanding rough spots, applying primer and sealing gaps with caulk. Those steps may not be as visible as a fresh coat of paint, but they often determine how long a paint job lasts.

“Most paint jobs are going to look good from six feet away,” he said. “But there is a difference.”

Ribellia encourages homeowners to ask contractors detailed questions about preparation work and request photos of completed projects that show more than just before-and-after results.

Another recommendation is to work with a contractor willing to explain products and options rather than simply offer a quote.

Many homeowners repaint only once every decade or longer and may not be familiar with different paint products or finishes, he said. 

“They're not painters, and we know that,” Ribellia said. “We don't berate them for not knowing. We educate them so they feel really comfortable with the decision they're making.”

Although painting is often viewed as a cosmetic improvement, Ribellia said a timely paint job can also help protect the exterior from weather damage.

“I see houses that didn't get painted, and water got in behind nails and cracks,” he said. “Then wood rots and you can end up with mold and bigger problems.”

He cited peeling paint, faded surfaces and deteriorating caulk as warning signs that homeowners shouldn't ignore.

“When your house is fading, when the caulking is sinking in, that's your house giving you a warning that it's about time,” he said.

For most homes, Ribellia estimates exterior paint should be evaluated every 10 to 15 years, though climate, siding materials and previous products can affect that timeline.

The color paint a homeowner chooses for interior walls often comes down to personal preference, he said, but a new color paint can also provide a refreshing change to the atmosphere and feel of a room.

As for color trends, homeowners remain drawn to neutral palettes, though Ribellia is seeing more interest in less traditional color choices than he did several years ago.

“There is still quite a bit of white and gray going around,” he said. At the same time, softer shades inspired by nature are gaining popularity.

“I've noticed a lot of blues and greens, like more sage green with some off-whites,” he said.

Despite the company's rapid growth, Ribellia says reputation remains one of his proudest accomplishments.

“When people mention that we're a good company, and they're people that I don't even know, that's a good feeling,” he said.

The young entrepreneur credits much of the company's success to communication, quality workmanship and integrity, values he says guide both customer interactions and project management. Ribellia said his core values are expectations, communication, quality and integrity.

“I think it begins with just having integrity,” Ribellia said. “When something goes wrong, overcorrecting to fix it and just making it right. We communicate to ensure the quality is up to our client's expectations and make sure they understand what their expectations can be.” 

For homeowners planning their next painting project, his advice is simple: ask questions, understand the preparation process and look beyond the paint color itself. A successful paint job, he said, should not only make a home look better today but help protect it for years to come.

As his company continues to grow, Ribellia says helping people remains more important than simply winning business.

“Whether they work with us or not, as long as they get taken care of and their house lasts, I'm happy,” he said.

Marian Painting

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    A house that Marian Painting recently finished. Owner Simon Ribellia said anyone can lay paint but when hiring a contractor, homeowners should ask about the preparation process. Ribellia said that’s what actually determines how long paint will last.
  

    A before-and-after painting job by Marian Painting. Owner Simon Ribellia recommends people get the exterior of their house repainted every 10-15 years and to watch for warning signs like fading paint and sinking caulking.
  

    Marian Painting Owner Simon Ribellia said he has noticed a slight uptick of colored paint jobs. He said when he first started it was a lot of gray but now people are choosing whites, browns, blues and greens too.