Nashville commercial property owners face a deep field of painting contractors competing across office, healthcare, hospitality, and industrial work. The three firms profiled below operate independently, hold state contractor licensing where required, and have served Middle Tennessee for at least three decades each. Each entry draws on public company materials, BBB records, and direct site review.
Quick Comparison #
| Firm | Operating Since | Service Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Bradley Coatings | 1986 | Office buildings, healthcare, churches, private education |
| CMG Contractors | 1995 | Hotels, schools, airports, corporate, religious facilities |
| Charlie Irwin Painting | 1984 | Commercial, industrial, fireproofing, facility maintenance |
1. Bradley Coatings, Inc. #
Bradley Coatings has operated from its Nolensville headquarters since founding in 1986, building a portfolio that spans the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and Brentwood Baptist Church. The contractor runs a dedicated tenant division alongside its new-construction practice, allowing it to phase work around occupied commercial spaces. Its forty-year track record in Middle Tennessee gives it familiarity with regional general contractors, architects, and submittal expectations.
- Address: 7222 Haley Industrial Drive, Nolensville, TN 37135
- Phone: (615) 776-1910
- Owner: Brad Williams
- Operating Since: 1986 (40 years)
- Credentials: Licensed by the State of Tennessee Board of Contractors
- Service Area: Nashville metro and Middle Tennessee
- Specialties: Office buildings, healthcare facilities, churches, private education, entertainment venues, warehouses
- Website: Bradley Coatings
New-Construction Commercial Painting #
Bradley Coatings staffs jobsites for ground-up commercial projects and coordinates submittals with general contractors during the rough-in and finish phases. Project leads track Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore product approvals against architect specifications. Field supervisors run punch-list walks before substantial completion.
Tenant Improvement Division #
A separate tenant division handles repaint and refresh work inside leased office, retail, and medical suites. Crews schedule around tenant operations, often working evenings and weekends to keep businesses running. The division has served downtown Nashville office towers and suburban medical office buildings.
Healthcare Facility Coatings #
Healthcare clients receive low-odor and low-VOC product specifications suited to occupied patient areas. Crews follow infection-control protocols when working near clinical zones. The portfolio includes hospital, clinic, and senior-living interior repaints.
Faith-Based and Entertainment Venues #
The team has painted high-ceiling sanctuary spaces, performance halls, and worship campuses across Middle Tennessee. Projects include rigging, scaffolding, and lift work for tall interior elevations. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center remains a signature reference.
https://liddledesign.com/bradley/
2. CMG Contractors, Inc. #
Founded in 1995 by Marcus K. Hayes, CMG Contractors operates from a Scovel Street headquarters in North Nashville and ranks among the top three minority-owned painting firms in Middle Tennessee. The company has completed more than one thousand projects and carries a million-dollar per-project bonding capacity. Hayes serves as President and Chief Estimator while holding a Tennessee general contractor license.
- Address: 2718 Scovel Street, Nashville, TN 37208
- Phone: (615) 341-6234
- Founder: Marcus K. Hayes
- Operating Since: 1995 (31 years)
- Credentials: Tennessee Licensed General Contractor; $1M per-project bonding capacity
- Service Area: Middle Tennessee and the Southeastern United States
- Specialties: Hotels, schools, airports, corporate buildings, religious institutions, drywall assembly, acoustic ceilings, specialty finishes
- Website: CMG Contractors
Hospitality and Hotel Work #
CMG handles interior and exterior painting on hotel new-builds and renovations across the Nashville hospitality corridor. Crews coordinate with hotel operations teams to phase floors while rooms stay in service. Specialty finishes and accent walls fall under the same scope.
Education and Institutional Buildings #
The portfolio includes K-12 schools, university buildings, and houses of worship. Project scheduling accounts for academic calendars and summer-break completion windows. Field crews handle classroom block, gymnasium, and corridor scopes.
Drywall and Acoustic Ceiling Trades #
Beyond painting, CMG self-performs drywall assembly and acoustic ceiling installation, allowing single-source coordination on commercial buildouts. This integrated trade stack shortens schedules on tenant improvement and new-construction packages. The shop bids both painting-only and combined drywall-plus-paint scopes.
Airport and Municipal Projects #
CMG has executed contracts at airport facilities and municipal buildings, requiring badged-employee programs and security-cleared scheduling. Crews work with general contractors operating under federal aviation and public-works specifications. References include corporate campuses and government-leased properties.
3. Charlie Irwin Painting, LLC (CIP) #
Charlie Irwin, Sr. founded CIP in 1984, and the company now operates from offices in Franklin, Shelbyville, and Nashville to cover its commercial, industrial, and fireproofing divisions. CIP serves clients across Tennessee, Alabama, and the broader Southeast, holding memberships in the Painting Contractors Association, AMPP, and AGC. The firm earned BBB accreditation in October 2023 and runs internal OSHA 30 training led by an authorized OSHA 500 instructor.
- Address: 104 Alpha Drive, Franklin, TN 37064 (Commercial Office); 101 Centennial Circle, Nashville, TN 37209 (Fireproofing Office)
- Phone: (615) 790-8822
- Founder: Charlie Irwin, Sr.
- Operating Since: 1984 (42 years)
- Credentials: BBB Accredited since 2023; PCA member; AMPP member; AGC member; OSHA 30 trained workforce; NACE Level 3 Coatings Inspector on staff
- Service Area: Tennessee, Alabama, and the Southeastern United States
- Specialties: Commercial interior and exterior painting, industrial coatings, sandblasting, fireproofing, spray foam insulation, fire stopping, facility maintenance, wall coverings, floor coatings
- Website: Charlie Irwin Painting
Industrial Coatings and Sandblasting #
CIP runs a Shelbyville-based industrial division handling abrasive blasting, high-build epoxy systems, and protective coatings for manufacturing plants, water-treatment facilities, and structural-steel projects. NACE-certified inspectors document mil thickness, surface preparation, and cure conditions. Crews carry SSPC C-3 deleading qualifications.
Spray-Applied Fireproofing #
The Nashville fireproofing office installs sprayed and intumescent fireproofing alongside spray foam insulation and fire stopping. Carboline-approved applicators run the crews. Scope includes structural-steel new-construction packages on commercial towers and warehouses.
Facility Maintenance Programs #
CIP offers ongoing facility maintenance contracts for property owners managing multi-building portfolios. Scopes include scheduled repaints, touch-up rounds, and emergency response. Clients include industrial facilities and large commercial campuses.
Commercial Wall and Floor Coatings #
The commercial division handles wall coverings, textured coatings, and floor coating systems for office, retail, and institutional clients. Crews coordinate with general contractors on tenant fit-out and renovation packages. Documentation includes product data sheets and warranty submittals.
Reference Notes #
- Bradley Coatings firm history, location, and project portfolio drawn from the company website at liddledesign.com/bradley and Better Business Bureau business profile.
- CMG Contractors founding year, leadership, and credentials drawn from cmgnashville.com home page and Meet the Team page.
- Charlie Irwin Painting founding year, founder, offices, memberships, and OSHA training program drawn from cipaint.com About page and BBB business profile dated October 2023.
- Tennessee Board of Contractors licensing requirements for commercial painting projects above $25,000 verified against state regulatory guidance.
Selection Methodology #
This directory profiles independent commercial painting firms headquartered in the Nashville metro and Middle Tennessee region. To qualify, each firm must operate independently rather than as a national franchise outlet, carry general liability and workers compensation insurance, hold Tennessee Board of Contractors licensing where project sizes require it, and document at least one industry credential such as BBB accreditation, PCA or PDCA membership, OSHA training, or EPA RRP certification where applicable. National franchise networks were excluded. Each qualifying firm has operated continuously for at least five years, with the three profiled here each exceeding three decades of continuous operation. Commercial painting scope was prioritized over residential-focused practices.
Frequently Asked Questions #
Does a commercial painting contractor in Tennessee need a state license? #
Tennessee requires a state contractor license for any single project valued at $25,000 or more, with subcontractor licensing thresholds applying separately. Commercial painting projects on office buildings, healthcare facilities, hotels, and institutional buildings typically exceed this threshold. All three firms profiled above hold Tennessee licensing through either a direct general contractor license or the State Board of Contractors.
What certifications matter when hiring a commercial painter? #
PCA (formerly PDCA) membership signals industry-association engagement and continuing education. OSHA 30 training indicates jobsite safety competence for supervisors. EPA RRP certification covers lead-safe work in pre-1978 buildings. NACE or AMPP coatings-inspector credentials matter for industrial and protective-coating scopes. BBB accreditation provides a complaint-resolution pathway.
How are commercial painters priced for office and healthcare work? #
Commercial painters typically price by square foot of wall surface, with adjustments for ceiling height, surface preparation, product specification, and access constraints such as scaffolding or lift work. Healthcare and occupied-space work carries premiums for low-VOC product specifications, infection-control protocols, and night or weekend scheduling. New-construction work bids against architect specifications and submittal requirements.
What questions should a property owner ask before signing a commercial painting contract? #
Property owners should ask for proof of Tennessee contractor licensing, certificates of insurance for general liability and workers compensation, three commercial project references from the past two years, the specific product data sheets and manufacturer warranties offered, the crew supervisor assigned to the project, and the dispute-resolution and change-order procedures. Reviewing the firm’s BBB record and PCA membership status provides additional context.
Editorial Note #
This guide was published on 2026-05-11 and reflects research current as of that date. Verify licenses, phone numbers, and current business status before engaging any firm.