Painting

Typical GTA cost

$2 to $6 per sq ft

Interior walls and ceilings per square foot of floor area, two coats. Excludes major drywall repair, trim and exterior work.

Demand and price peak in summer. Booking outside it is the cheapest saving available on this job.

What this trade needs

We hold no licence to check for this category, so insurance and WSIB clearance are what a homeowner compares. That says what we hold, not what the province requires: nobody here has checked whether Ontario licenses this work. References and a written scope do the work a licence check would otherwise have done.

Ask before you hire

• How many coats, and is primer included on new drywall or a colour change?
• Which paint and which line, since the same brand sells four grades?
• Is patching, caulking and sanding in the price or extra?
• Who moves and protects the furniture?
• We hold no licence to check for painting, so ask for two references at a job like yours and get the scope in writing.