PCA Standards

What is PCA?

The PCA (Painting Contractors Association) has been setting the standards for the painting and decorating industry for over 130 years.

Founded in 1884, the PCA is a national trade association dedicated to the success of painting and decorating contractors through ethics, education, and excellence. PCA is recognized and supported by many industry manufacturers and suppliers as the premier organization committed to helping professional painting and decorating contractors improve their business.

PCA is the only trade association dedicated to the success of the nearly 310,000 painting contractors in America and Canada. PCA offers contractor members many opportunities to develop and grow through participation in education programs, attendance at local networking meetings, use of PCA Industry Standards and much more.

PCA Industry Standards

PCA developed its Industry Standards to make the painting and decorating industry transparent to both painting contractors and consumers.

  • Provide the measure by which the quality of wall coating work can be evaluated by the consumer.
  • Protect the contractor by establishing limits on the extent and verifiable uniformity of a project.
  • Protect the consumer by requiring work that is free from defects, deficiencies and significant variations of coating applications.
  • Save contractors time and money when used and referenced in painting work bids and contracts.

The Standards discuss a range of issues that commonly become the subject of misunderstandings, or in extreme cases, contract disputes and provide guidance for both the contractor and the layman concerning how such differences can best be avoided.

All participants in the architectural, engineering, design, construction, and painting & wall-covering industry benefit from the use and circulation of the PCA Industry Standards. All consumers benefit from the use of PCA Standards by those they contract with, to provide the best value for their painting and decorating expenditures.