August 3, 2026 · Hiring Guide · By Marco Rossi, Next Day Painting Inc.
Before hiring any painter in Toronto, ask about WSIB coverage and liability insurance, what surface prep is included, which exact paint brand and product they use, how many coats are specified, timeline, clean-up responsibility, and the workmanship warranty. This guide gives you all 15 questions and the correct answers to expect.
Hiring a painter in Toronto sounds straightforward until you've received three quotes that differ by $800 and have no idea what accounts for the gap. The cheapest contractor might be cutting corners on prep, using a single coat of contractor-grade paint, or operating without insurance - leaving you exposed if something goes wrong.
These 15 questions are organized by category. Bring them to every consultation and use the answers to compare contractors on substance, not just price.
If a painter is injured on your property and isn't covered by WSIB (Workplace Safety & Insurance Board), you - as the property owner - can be held liable. Ask for a WSIB clearance certificate, which can be verified online at the WSIB website. Any legitimate company with employees will have this.
Liability insurance protects your property if the painting crew causes accidental damage - spilled paint on hardwood, a ladder denting drywall, a broken window. A minimum of $2 million in general liability is standard for residential painting in Toronto. Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm it names your address as the job site.
Experience in Toronto specifically matters - Toronto's older housing stock (1940s-1970s brick and plaster) behaves differently from new builds. Older homes may have lead paint, multiple old layers, or horsehair plaster that requires different prep. Local experience also means familiarity with HOA colour restrictions in condo buildings.
Fixed-price quotes protect you from cost overruns. Hourly quotes shift the risk onto you - if prep takes longer than expected, you pay more. For any room repaint or larger project, insist on a fixed written quote that specifies exactly what is included.
The scope should list every surface being painted - walls, ceiling, trim, baseboards, doors, window casings - and whether each is included or excluded. Vague quotes ("interior painting of living room") lead to disputes about whether the ceiling or trim were supposed to be included. If it's not written, it's not included.
Ask directly. Common exclusions include moving heavy furniture, painting the inside of closets, patching cracks deeper than 3mm, or painting the backs of doors. Knowing the exclusions upfront prevents end-of-job surprises when you get an invoice for extras that weren't discussed.
Industry standard for Toronto residential painting is a 25-30% deposit at contract signing, with the balance due on completion. Be cautious of any contractor asking for more than 50% upfront - that's a red flag. Never pay the full amount before work is finished and you've inspected the result.
Surface preparation is where most budget painters cut corners. A paint job that peels or looks patchy within two years almost always comes down to inadequate prep - not paint quality. These questions expose the difference.
Proper prep for a room repaint includes: filling nail holes and minor cracks with spackling compound, light sanding of glossy surfaces to promote adhesion, caulking gaps around trim and window casings, and wiping surfaces clean of dust and grease. Any painter who describes prep as "a quick wipe down" is not doing it properly.
Primer is not always necessary - on surfaces with existing paint in good condition and similar colour, a high-quality paint-and-primer product may suffice. But primer is essential when painting over raw drywall, going from a dark colour to a light one, dealing with stains, or repainting bare wood. Ask what the plan is for your specific situation.
Professional painters use canvas drop cloths (not plastic sheeting, which shifts and causes trips) and painter's tape on all trim and edges they aren't painting. Hardwood floors warrant a second layer of protection. Ask who is responsible for moving furniture - some painters include this, others require you to clear the room.
This is one of the most important questions. The paint brand and product line should be written into the quote. Benjamin Moore Aura, Regal Select, or Sherwin-Williams Emerald and SuperPaint are the professional standard. Reject any quote that says "quality paint" without naming the product - it almost always means a cheap contractor-grade paint that will require more coats and wear faster.
Two coats of finish paint is the professional minimum. One coat is never sufficient for an even, durable finish - you'll see roller marks, thin coverage over patched areas, and colour variation under different lighting. Some contractors quote one coat to hit a lower price point and then push for an "upgrade" on the job. If the quote says "one coat," walk away.
A standard interior repaint of 3-4 rooms takes 2-3 days for a two-person crew. An exterior repaint of a Toronto semi-detached takes 3-5 days depending on condition. Get start and expected completion dates in writing. If a painter is vague about timeline ("a few days" or "whenever we can get there"), it often means your job will be squeezed between other projects.
A professional painting crew leaves your home cleaner than they found it: drop cloths removed, tape pulled, paint cans and supplies gone, furniture returned to position, floors wiped for any dust or drips. Ask explicitly - some low-cost contractors leave overspray on windows, tape residue on trim, and paint drips on floors as "your problem."
A reputable Toronto painting company offers a 2-year workmanship warranty as standard. This covers peeling, flaking, bubbling, or adhesion failures that result from application errors. The warranty does not cover paint failure caused by moisture problems, structural movement, or normal wear. If the painter cannot explain what their warranty covers and what it doesn't, that's a red flag.
We answer all 15 questions before you sign anything.
Itemized quote, specified paint brand, 2-year workmanship warranty included.
Even before you ask the 15 questions, these warning signs should stop you from going further with a contractor:
Ontario does not require a provincial painting licence, but legitimate companies carry WSIB coverage and general liability insurance. Ask for a WSIB clearance certificate (verifiable at wsib.ca) and a certificate of insurance. Any reputable company provides these before work begins.
A complete quote specifies: surfaces being painted, prep work included, the exact paint brand and product, number of coats, labour and material costs, start and completion dates, clean-up responsibility, and workmanship warranty duration. Missing any of these is a gap you need to close before signing.
Get at least three written quotes for any project over $1,000. Three quotes give you a genuine market rate and expose outliers. Compare what's included, not just the total - a $200 difference may represent one fewer coat or the omission of primer.
The professional standard is Benjamin Moore Aura (or Regal Select) and Sherwin-Williams Emerald (or SuperPaint). Both lines offer excellent coverage, washability, and durability. Contractor-grade paints from no-name suppliers often require a third coat and wear visibly within 3-5 years.
A reputable painter offers a 2-year workmanship warranty in writing, covering peeling, cracking, and adhesion failures from application errors. Exclusions typically include damage from moisture intrusion, structural movement, or normal wear. Get the warranty terms written into the contract, not just stated verbally.
Hiring a painter in Toronto is a $500-$5,000+ decision depending on your project. The 15 questions above take 10 minutes to ask and can save you thousands in repair costs, disputes, and redos. The right painter welcomes them - because they know they have good answers.
For a free written quote from Next Day Painting - with every one of these answers specified in the contract - contact us here or call (289) 236-7039. We respond within 2 business hours and provide itemized quotes with the paint brand and product named.
Itemized scope, named paint brand, 2-year workmanship warranty. Emailed within 2 business hours.