Painter & Decorator in Sainte-Foy

Two topcoats is the professional standard for a proper finish, plus a primer or sealer coat on new plaster, stains, or strong colour changes. Be suspicious of quotes that assume one coat — it rarely covers evenly and is the classic way a cheap quote wins then disappoints. Dramatic colour changes (dark to light) can need a tinted primer plus two coats.

A standard bedroom (walls and ceiling, minor prep) takes a professional 1-2 days including drying time between coats. A whole 3-bedroom interior typically runs 4-7 working days for a two-person crew, longer with heavy prep, woodwork, or wallpaper removal. Exterior repaints depend on weather windows — expect 3-7 days of actual work spread over a longer calendar period.

Not always — this is the biggest source of quote confusion. Some painters quote labour-only with you supplying paint; others include mid-range trade paint and itemise upgrades. Materials typically add 15-25% to a labour-only price. Always ask: is paint included, what brand and line, and how many coats? Two quotes can differ mostly because one includes premium paint and the other assumes you buy it.

Painters quote one of four ways: per room (most common for interiors), per square metre or square foot of wall area, a day rate for open-ended work, or a fixed price for a defined whole-house scope. A fixed quote against a written scope — rooms, surfaces, prep level, number of coats, and who supplies paint — protects you best. Day rates suit only small punch-list jobs where the scope genuinely can't be pinned down.

Hourly rates run roughly $40-$90 depending on province and crew, a standard room costs about $350-$1,000, and a full 3-bed interior repaint typically lands between $3,000 and $10,000. GST/HST adds to quoted prices unless stated — always confirm whether tax is included.

Roughly May through September in most provinces — exterior coatings need sustained temperatures above about 10C and dry surfaces, which rules out much of the year. Book exterior work by early spring; crews' summer calendars fill fast, and late-fall paint jobs risk curing failures in cold snaps.