Painted our entire 1,700 sq ft Toronto semi last spring. Hired painters after getting 4 quotes. Sharing the process, what I paid, and what I learned about vetting painters.
The Quotes
Quote 1: $9,200 (company with branded trucks, website, multiple reviews)
Quote 2: $7,400 (smaller company, 2 painters, solid references)
Quote 3: $5,800 (one-person operation, no WSIB, paid cash only)
Quote 4: $6,600 (family business, have used them before on a smaller job)
What We Did
Hired Quote 4 ($6,600) - familiar with their work quality. Scope: walls and ceilings throughout (no trim - we did trim ourselves), 2 coats Benjamin Moore Eggshell on walls, 2 coats Flat white on ceilings.
The WSIB Issue
Quote 3 at $5,800 was tempting but they could not provide a WSIB clearance certificate. If someone gets injured in your home and they are not covered, you have serious liability. Always ask for WSIB clearance for any contractor working in your home in Ontario.
What Was Included
- All paint supplied by contractor (included in price)
- Fill nail holes and minor wall dings
- Caulk gaps at window/door trim
- Prime any patched areas
- 2 coats finish throughout
What Was Not Included
- Fixing larger repairs (we did those ourselves in advance)
- Trim painting (we DIY’d this after, took 3 weekends)
End Result
Total project (painters + our DIY trim): $7,100 all-in for a full repaint. Very happy with the quality. The key was giving them a clean, prepped surface - filled all holes ourselves before they arrived.
For painter recommendations across Toronto visit home.renovation.reviews.