# Gilbert Carey Painting

**Trade:** House Painting · **Address:** 3 Cheswick Rd, Arlington, MA 02474, USA · **Phone:** (781) 859-5530 · **Website:** http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com/ · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 3.9/5** (medium confidence) — from 5 reviews across 4 sources. A 0–5 star rating built from what customers and the public say (every review and mention weighted by where it was posted, how old, how detailed and how credible it is, shrunk toward a 3.5★ baseline when evidence is thin) plus what the record shows (Reddit recommendations or warnings, a registry-verified licence, how recently they were reviewed, customer work photos, BBB grade, negative news, a revoked licence). Positive record counts only as far as the reviews have earned it; penalties count in full. Confidence describes how much weighted evidence stands behind the number, never the number itself: low when fewer than about five normal reviews' worth of weight (or mentions only) support it, medium up to about twenty, high beyond that across at least two sources. An operator flag for a suspicious review pattern caps a rating at 3.5★ and marks it low.
100% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 0 reviews, 0 negative.

## The honest read

Gilbert Carey Painting is an owner-operator shop in Arlington that's been doing residential and commercial paint jobs around Greater Boston for what the company describes as over 25 years — though its BBB profile lists 38, a gap the two sources don't agree on.

What stands out across its five on-file Google reviews (2021–2024) is repeat business: one customer says they've hired Gilbert for four separate projects, from residential and commercial painting to kitchen cabinets, and came back again after he sent his crew out to fix a few spots that got missed the first time.

The reviews lean on careful prep as much as finished results — one described tackling a two-bedroom condo that hadn't been painted in over a decade, calling out the crew's comfort working in tight spaces. Others mention a seamless quote-to-completion process and a bathroom repaint left clean with no mess behind. Two recent Reddit threads in r/ArlingtonMA also name Gilbert when neighbors ask for a painter recommendation. The company's Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active, and its BBB page carries an A+ grade, though the business isn't BBB-accredited and the page shows no complaint history to review.

There isn't much to flag: the on-file review record is small and the newest dates to mid-2024, so it's worth asking about current scheduling and getting a fresh quote before booking. For an owner-led crew handling both painting and light carpentry touch-ups, worth a call for anything from an exterior repaint to cabinet refinishing.

**Strengths:**
- Careful prep work — handled a decade-unpainted condo in tight spaces
- Repeat customer — same client hired for four separate projects
- Responsive follow-up — returned promptly to fix missed spots
- Verified license — active MA home improvement contractor registration

**Where sources disagree:**
- Company website says 'over 25 years' in business while its BBB profile states 38 years — the two sources disagree on how long it has operated.

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- Owner-operator painting contractor based in Arlington, self-reports over 25 years serving Greater Boston _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com) — “Gilbert Carey Painting is a residential and commercial painting contractor based in Arlington, MA offering interior/exterior painting, stain…”
  - [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Testimonials describe owner Gilbert (Carey) personally assessing jobs and leading the crew, consistent with an ow…”
  - [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com) — “Self-reported 25 years in business”
- Handled a two-bedroom condo unpainted for a decade with careful prep in tight spaces _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUM3aDcza3J3RRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIC7h73krwE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Gilbert and his crew did an amazing job painting our two bedroom condo.  It hadn’t been painted for over a decade, so the prep work was i…”
- Same customer rehired for four separate projects across residential and commercial work _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURELXZySnVBRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDD-vrJuAE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Have used Gilbert for four different projects.  Painting for a residential and commercial properties as well as painting kitchen cabinets…”
- Sent crew back promptly to fix spots that were missed on a job _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURELXZySnVBRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDD-vrJuAE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Have used Gilbert for four different projects.  Painting for a residential and commercial properties as well as painting kitchen cabinets…”
- Holds an active Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration _(confidence: high)_
  - [State License Registry](https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search) — “MA hic license 212003 verified active”
- BBB gives an A+ rating though the business is not BBB-accredited _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/e-arlington/profile/painting-contractors/gilbert-carey-interior-painting-services-0021-135835) — “Better Business Bureau grade: A+”
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/e-arlington/profile/painting-contractors/gilbert-carey-interior-painting-services-0021-135835) — “BBB profile for Gilbert Carey Interior Painting Services at 3 Cheswick Rd, Arlington, MA (matching this contractor) shows an A+ BBB rating d…”
- Interior and exterior residential and commercial painting _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com) — “Gilbert Carey Painting is a residential and commercial painting contractor based in Arlington, MA offering interior/exterior painting, stain…”
- Cabinet painting _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURELXZySnVBRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDD-vrJuAE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Have used Gilbert for four different projects.  Painting for a residential and commercial properties as well as painting kitchen cabinets…”
- Named directly by neighbors recommending a painter in r/ArlingtonMA _(confidence: medium)_
  - [reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/ArlingtonMA/comments/1u71a12/new_resident/os3avge/) — “r/ArlingtonMA — Gilbert Carey for painting”
  - [reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/ArlingtonMA/comments/1u71a12/new_resident/os3s3e2/) — “r/ArlingtonMA — Yes, I recommend Gilbert too.”
- Specializes in House Painting _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com) — “Gilbert Carey Painting is a residential and commercial painting contractor based in Arlington, MA offering interior/exterior painting, stain…”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUM3aDcza3J3RRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIC7h73krwE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Gilbert and his crew did an amazing job painting our two bedroom condo.  It hadn’t been painted for over a decade, so the prep work was i…”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUREdVpuVWh3RRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDDuZnUhwE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Gilbert and his crew were fantastic to work with. From estimate to completion was seamless. As we went along and other things popped up G…”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURELXZySnVBRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDD-vrJuAE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Have used Gilbert for four different projects.  Painting for a residential and commercial properties as well as painting kitchen cabinets…”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURXMlBlWVV3EAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDW2PeYUw%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Gilbert Carey Painting & his team did an excellent job on the bathroom! It looks fresh & clean. They cleaned up well after themselves. I …”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUQ2bWZuaS1nRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x5e8b52c4dbe9c460!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgID6mfni-gE%7C%7C?hl=en-US) — “5★ Gilbert and his crew were wonderful to work with on our interior painting project, from start to finish. Kind, professional and quality w…”
- Also offers Specialty Services _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com) — “Gilbert Carey Painting is a residential and commercial painting contractor based in Arlington, MA offering interior/exterior painting, stain…”
- Also offers Carpentry _(confidence: low)_
  - [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com) — “Gilbert Carey Painting is a residential and commercial painting contractor based in Arlington, MA offering interior/exterior painting, stain…”

## License

Status: **active** (#212003, hic) — verified against the official MA state registry on 2026-07-06, never self-reported.
Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search

## Sources

- [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Gilbert%20Carey%20Painting&query_place_id=ChIJNfLvho5244kRYMTp28RSi14): 5.0★ from 7 ratings
- [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Gilbert%20Carey%20Painting&query_place_id=ChIJNfLvho5244kRYMTp28RSi14): Listed on this source
- [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/e-arlington/profile/painting-contractors/gilbert-carey-interior-painting-services-0021-135835): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](http://www.gilbertcareypainting.com): 25 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details

## Mentions

Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding.

- “Yes, I recommend Gilbert too.” — u/tiramisutra in r/ArlingtonMA (2026-06-17) — https://www.reddit.com/r/ArlingtonMA/comments/1u71a12/new_resident/os3s3e2/
- “Gilbert Carey for painting” — u/bishop645 in r/ArlingtonMA (2026-06-17) — https://www.reddit.com/r/ArlingtonMA/comments/1u71a12/new_resident/os3avge/

## Recent reviews

- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Katie Kemp · 2024-08-18**: Gilbert and his crew did an amazing job painting our two bedroom condo.  It hadn’t been painted for over a decade, so the prep work was important to us as was a tradesman used to tight spaces. From the very beginning Gilbert listened, made quote adjustments with ease, schedule around our tenants, an…
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Eileena · 2024-04-11**: Gilbert and his crew were fantastic to work with. From estimate to completion was seamless. As we went along and other things popped up Gilbert was very accommodating. We couldn't have asked for a better experience or price. Crew was professional, friendly and dedicated to our satisfaction. Highly r…
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Ryan McEniff · 2024-04-08**: Have used Gilbert for four different projects.  Painting for a residential and commercial properties as well as painting kitchen cabinets.   Does a great job, guys show up on time.  I also called him for some spots that were missed on a job (it happens no one is perfect) and he made sure his guys ca…
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Linda DeFruscio · 2022-03-14**: Gilbert Carey Painting & his team did an excellent job on the bathroom! It looks fresh & clean. They cleaned up well after themselves. I recommend them!
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Erik Jacobs · 2021-10-04**: Gilbert and his crew were wonderful to work with on our interior painting project, from start to finish. Kind, professional and quality work. 100% endorsement.

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-07-06T13:49:26.724Z.
Cite as: Gilbert Carey Painting — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/gilbert-carey-painting-arlington)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/gilbert-carey-painting-arlington