Rainbow's roots go back to Lugano Switzerland, to a painting shop named "Arcabalena" where a young Swiss-Italian, Rene Canonica, served his apprenticeship as a painter.

1927-1966)
With his journeyman papers in hand, Rene Canonica emigrated to the United States in 1925 and within a short time, was the proud proprietor of his own painting & decorating firm: Rainbow Painting & Decorating. The company was primarily a residential painting contractor in those early years, serving the San Francisco bay area.

(1967 - 2000)
John F. Maillard arrived in San Francisco via Chicago, New York, Geneva, Stockholm, Paris, Lugano and Rome, courtesy of the Swiss Bank where he was a roving bank officer specializing in construction financing. In 1967, he acquired Rainbow and quickly set to expanding the company's service line. Rainbow branched out into commercial and industrial painting— and, for the first time, started doing "high-work" (e.g., working on buildings above 3-stories). In 1987, the company's primary focus shifted to waterproofing and masonry restoration. And in 1993 the company name was changed to reflect it's current field of expertise: Rainbow Waterproofing & Restoration Co.

( 2000 – present)
Chris Abell, Dave Rentfro and Rob Browne took over the company in 2001, bringing with them extensive experience in structural preservation and restoration as well as background knowledge in construction, carpentry and engineering.