Frequently Asked Painting Questions

We’re a husband and wife team that has been painting together for over twenty years. We offer our clients a truely personal service, there are no other employees. In that time we have gained an excellent reputation for providing quality exterior and interior painting in Nanaimo. We have many clients that have used our painting services over and over. They know they can relax because they have hired someone that will get the job done efficiently and correctly and produce beautiful results. You can find out a lot more on our about us page.

We have an extensive list of references that are provided with every quote. You can read our client testimonials, and view many examples of our work in our interior painting portfolio and exterior painting portfolio. We are licensed and carry WorkSafeBC and liability insurance.

Yes. We provide free, detailed written estimates.

We buy our supplies and paints from the reputable paint retailers of Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Cloverdale Paint. Why do we use these companies? These businesses specialize in serving the needs of painting contractors and have extensive knowledge of paint technology. We get prompt service, high-quality products, and accurate paint tinting. We have a local designated contractor representative for each company. They can be easily reached with any concerns or inquiries we may have.

We use only quality paint from the higher end of the product lines offered by these manufacturers. Our professional painting experience comes into play when choosing a paint. We know the nuances of different products and evaluate the surfaces to be painted and the environment to determine which product will be most suitable for your needs.

You can’t say that any given paint manufacturer makes the best paint across the board. The quality of materials and proportions used vary not only between manufacturers, they differ between product lines of the same company. Even the most well known paint companies have product lines ranging from economy (builder’s grade) to superior.

There also no one particular paint that can be considered the best overall, it depends on what you need the product to do. Each paint has its own particular balance of properties. They are evaluated by hiding capability, coverage, to resist burnishing and scuffing, flow and leveling, stain resistance, adhesion, fade and mildew resistance. In general, you can’t go wrong with a paint from a reputable paint manufacturer in the upper price range of their product lines. You don’t have to buy their absolute most expensive paint to get a quality product.

There answer is, it depends. Paint companies frequently match each others colours, but they don’t always get it right. Most of the paint stores have computer devices that can read colour chips and samples to come up with a tint formulation, but it’s not always accurate. Often it serves as a starting point and has to be manually tweaked. This takes extra time, as well as someone with the patience and experience to get a close match. In some cases it’s best to purchase paint from the manufacturer that you chose the colour from. An experienced painter should be able to tell you when it’s not a good option to do a colour match. For example, whites and off-whites are not colours we recommend colour matching.

Yes, we can provide help, guidance and offer feedback in colour choices, Read our resource pages choosing interior colours and choosing exterior colour to get you headed the right direction.

There’s no standard of pricing in the painting industry and with the exception of a few types of painting there’s no mandatory training or certification required. The creates a wide range in prices, skills and quality of work. Our article on painting cost variances dives deeper into the myriad of reasons why you might receive painting quotes with drastic price differences.

No, in most circumstances you do not need to be present. You can leave us a key or temporary pass code. We have numerous references from customers who have entrusted us with their home while they are running errands, at work or on vacation. However, we realize that some customers may not be comfortable giving full access to their home and we respect that. We have no objections either way, as long as we can make arrangements to get in and out of the property as we require to get the work done.

Flooring is protected with drop sheets that we dedicate for interior use only and and other surfaces and belongings are covered with plastic sheeting. On exterior jobs we protect driveways, sidewalks, decking, etc. as needed with drop sheets. Where necessary we gently pull back shrubs and plants from the house and/or cover them for protection. During interior and exterior painting items will be masked and taped off if necessary. Our interior house painting services and exterior house painting services posts will give you a more detailed look into how we do our work.

Minor drywall patching and sanding is a standard part of the preparation that is included in our quotes. What is minor? This involves filling and sanding scratches, nicks, and dings as well as holes left by artwork, pictures and wall decorations. If agreed upon we can also include things like repairing holes from drywall anchors where shelving or curtain rods were hanging or damage from glued-on mirrors that have been removed. Issues resulting from improperly installed drywall, bulging, cracking, irregular mudding, failing drywall tape are not included in our quotes unless specifically agreed upon. Depending on the degree it may not be something we can address.

We don’t do major repairs where large pieces or entire sections of a wall need to be replaced. We leave this up to the drywall professionals.

Yes, the cause of the water stain must be resolved before we start painting. Then we use a sealer before we paint to ensure the stain will not bleed through the finish coats.

Yes, but usually only in conjunction with painting the walls.

If the ceilings are textured we will need to check if they have ever been painted before. Depending on the type of texture this will determine what steps need to be taken and the type of product that is required. In some cases we can prepare the space to spray the ceilings, otherwise they are cut in and rolled with a large scale roller. Flat ceilings may also be prepared for spraying or cut in and rolled depending on the circumstances.

Bringing in supplies and setting up for painting requires time and effort. If your plan it to eventually paint all of your house it will help you save money on painting to have several rooms painted at the same time. The key to painting your house a section at a time is to come up with an overall plan for a colour scheme that ensures the house will flow seamlessly once it is done.

Quite often only the walls need painting, while the doors and trim work remain in good shape. However, if you’re trim work needs painting it’s best to get it done at the same time as your wall painting. Many painters, including ourselves have a painting method where we paint the trim first and then cut in and paint the walls against the trim work. We generally do not paint trim on it’s own against finished walls. The same applies for ceiling painting. Painting a ceiling on it’s own takes extra preparation and protection that drives up the cost.

When selling your house a fresh coat of paint makes it look clean and inviting. Having bold or unique colours repainted with lighter neutral allows buyers to envision themselves living in space. Damaged or dingy walls and trim work can be a turn off or lead potential buyers wondering what else has been neglected. Painting is a good dollar value investment, considering it can refresh your entire interior space and give great curb appeal to your exterior. Most realtors would agree that painting is an excellent way to increase resale value.

The paint sheen that’s best suited to your space depends on the intended use of the space and on the aesthetic look you prefer. We will discuss the options when we view your house. Eggshell has long been the typical sheen for walls, but a matte finish has become very popular. Paint technology has allowed for specific paints in lower sheens that can be used in bathrooms and kitchens. The days of needing a semi-gloss in these spaces is long gone. Flat sheens are generally used on ceilings and slightly higher sheens like satin or pearl are used for doors and trim work. On exteriors the body of the house can be painted in flat or satin depending on the substrate and trim work and doors are most often painted in a satin sheen. More detail about sheens and the pros and cons of each can be found in our article about Paint Sheen Choices.

The type of use and amount of traffic will determine how frequently a room needs to be painted. Little-used or unoccupied spaces can go for years without repainting. High use areas like an entry way, hallway or recreation room may need repainting much more frequently.

Your visual tolerance of scuff marks and dings in your walls and trim work will determine how often you paint. Caulking can become an unsightly issue over time as it starts to deteriorate and separate between surfaces. This becomes noticeable as gaps or cracking start to appear within joints in the trim work or where the trim meets up with the walls.

There are times when it just makes sense to repaint or it becomes necessary due to damage. This can occur when alterations are being done to the house like flooring changes or kitchen cabinet replacement.

The timing of painting your house exterior has more importance over the interior because it serves a purpose beyond aesthetics. The paint and caulking provide a layer of protection. Don’t wait until there is accelerated peeling, cracking, harsh fading or bare wood exposure. If you put your painting off until your house is in this condition it will cost more due to the excessive preparation required. If it’s to the point where you have wood that needs replacing or dry rot the repair costs can be substantial. Our page on How often should the exterior of your house be painted. goes into much more detail.

Levels of VOC’s in paint are regulated by the Canadian government. Low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints are now the industry standard. VOC’s are most prevalent while the paint is drying or off gassing, but they can continue to evaporate into the air for a period of time after the paint has dried.

Oil based paints have high VOC’s and a strong odour. Thankfully paint technology has advanced to create latex options for situations where an oil paint used to be the only suitable choice. An example is where it was common to use oil paint for interior doors and trim work due to the superior leveling aspect and durable finish. Today there are latex acrylic paints that possess similar properties.

In the Nanaimo area you can take paint to one of the Nanaimo Recycling Depot locations. Check their website for the restrictions of what type of paint they will accept. It must have it’s original label and be identifiable. In the Parksville area paint can be taken to the Parksville Bottle and Recycling.

Latex paint that has been properly stored can be good for two years or longer depending on the conditions. Paint should be kept in a cool, dry place and should not be allowed to freeze. Keep the cans away from direct sun and other strong heat sources. Keep paint cans off of concrete floors, moisture coming up through the floor can cause metal cans to rust. Likewise, metal cans can rust if stored in humid environments. Make sure can lids are fully closed. Use a rubber mallet or place a folded up rag over the rim before using a regular hammer on it. Hammering the lid directly can cause dents that may prevent it from properly sealing.

Write the rooms and surfaces that the paint was used for on the lid and put a dab of the paint colour on it for easier identification. Snap a photo of the can and more importantly writing or label that was affixed to it. This keeps a record of the paint type and tint formula in case the can is misplaced and you need more of the paint in the future.

During storage, paints typically separate into solids and liquids. If you can stir the particulates back into the liquid, the paint is usually fine. If the solids have hardened and will not mix back in, it should be discarded. A foul or sour odor, visible mold or mildew indicates the paint has spoiled. Using paint that has exceeded far past its shelf life may cause a lingering sour smell or inconsistent texture. If the paint has become too old it may have lost some of its beneficial properties, even though it looks fine. If you suspect the paint is quite old, it’s best to buy new paint and start fresh.

If you left paint a bit too long in a rolling tray and put it back into the can it may have picked up a few dry bits from the edges of the tray. If the paint is otherwise fine you can strain it through a nylon stocking or purchase a straining cone or bag from a paint store. For a nominal cost you can buy an empty paint can. Don’t put it back into the same can or it will pick up the bits again. Dispose of the paint if it is contaminated with chunks from other than the above scenario or if has become jelly like.

There are many factors that go into calculating the cost of painting. A ballpark figure is completely redundant and seeking a “rough cost” is not a good way to compare between painting companies. The extent of the preparation work, the amount of windows and complexity of the trim work, number of colours, the depth of the current colours on the walls that need to be covered over and the amount of furniture and other items requiring protection are just some of the considerations that go into providing an accurate painting cost.

We don’t do a lot of new construction painting anymore. We’ve never had an interest in painting quick build spec homes where there is no time or budget to have high quality painting done. This is not a fit for our company. If you have a custom home being built by a thoughtful, quality builder and are looking for high quality painters we can give an estimate during any stage of the building process. Whether it is from a blue print or house that is already framed. Contact us to find out our process for new construction painting and what information we will require from you.