Ball Brothers keep painting Wimberley

John Ball has been painting for a long time. In fact, he’s a second generation painter.

John is half of Ball Brothers Painting. The other half is James, who spends a lot of his time on the road.

Balls Brothers Painting, with an office at 13800 Ranch Road 12, just off the Square, does residential and commercial painting as well as historical restorations. The company also paints hospital rooms all over the country.

John and James worked for their father, who was a painter, before opening their own business in Austin in 1983.

“It’s all we have ever done,” says John.

Ball Brothers now employs about 40 people. Five of their employees have been with the company for more than two decades. “Some of our guys have worked for us for 20 years,” explains John. “We don’t just pick up people off the street.”

These days, John doesn’t do much actual painting. His job is to visit homes, give cost estimates and schedule jobs. He says he frequently drives more than 200 miles a day, visiting potential customers. “We go from Waco to Fredericksburg,” says John. “We’re not just in this area.”

200 gallons a week

Ball Brothers has painted hundreds of houses in the Wimberley area. John estimates the company goes through 200 gallons of paint every week.

Ball Brothers employs two foremen — Steve Martin (not that wild and crazy guy) and Josh Foreman (yes, his name is his job) — who supervise the work and make frequent trips to the job sites to make sure everything is going as promised. John’s wife Melissa handles the front office.

About 80 percent of Ball Brothers’ business is residential. But the company has also submitted successful bids for work on military bases. Years ago, the brothers were asked to do some drywall patching in a hospital. It turned into a lucrative business. They now retrofit hospital rooms and get them ready prior to moving in expensive medical equipment.

John has seen a lot of changes over the years. For example, he has seen the price of paint go from $12 a gallon when he first went into business to $40, or more, a gallon now. He says today’s product is much improved. “It goes on a lot smoother,” he says. “It flows better. Pretty much everything about it is better.” Including durability. Before, a paint job would last maybe 10 years, John explains. Now, a coat of premium paint can last 20 years or more.

Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore are the brands John prefers. With the volume Ball Brothers do in the Hill Country and beyond, they can often get a price break from the big suppliers.

Changing colors

Color preferences have changed over the years as well. John remembers the times when folks wanted green and turquoise walls. Now grays and whites are the hot colors.

Ball Brothers is a part of the community. “I can’t remember all the places we donate to,” says John.

The company has painted the Wimberley Playhouse, the high school, the tables and benches at Market Days and the rest stop along RR12 between Wimberley and San Marcos. The company donates money to the Wimberley Community Civic Club and annual ice cream social, among others.

John says the part of the job he enjoys most is meeting people. “Most of our business is word of mouth,” he says. “One of the things I like is the customers I meet. They are so nice. I bet I meet 10 new people a day.”

He and Melissa live in Wimberley. James lives in Austin.

John doesn’t wield a paint roller much any more, but says once you are a painter, you’re always a painter. “After so many years doing this, you can do it with your eyes closed. It’s just natural. Once you pick up that brush it’s like you have always been doing it.”

To contact the Ball Brothers call 512-360-7062 or visit www.ballbrotherspainting.com.

“It’s all we have ever done. Some of our guys have worked for us for 20 years. We don’t just pick up people off the street.”

John Ball Ball Brothers Painting