Planning a painting project is no small job. You have to invest a lot of time doing research and understanding the process to make the right decisions. You will have to decide on which areas in your house you want to paint, pick a colour palette, find the right type and quantity of paint and primer, and even consider the weather, among many other factors. Making it through this list and finalizing every decision can be difficult. A professional painter in Calgary can ease your burden and help you with the process of painting your house from beginning to end.
A professional painter can help you choose a colour palette, do all of the preparations and complete the painting project with the least possibility of damage. This cost guide will help you to understand which factors impact the painting costs in Calgary and how to hire a professional painter for your next project. There is average, lowest and highest reported cost estimates for interior, exterior and full house paint projects in Calgary. This cost guide is based on 1266 verified HomeStars reviews from Calgary homeowners.
Cost to Complete Different Painting Projects in Calgary
| Location | Average Cost* | Lowest Reported* | Highest Reported* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior | $3,397 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Exterior | $5,570 | $100 | $30,000 |
| Full House Painting | $7,909 | $300 | $47,500 |
Costs as of October 2020*
Factors Impacting Painting Costs in Calgary
Size and Location of the Room
- The first step in planning any paint project is deciding what needs to be painted and making a list of these areas. Make sure you add even the smallest corners, railings and trims to this list. Also, note the colours you want to be used in different areas if using more than one colour.
- Based on the location of the selected surface (interior or exterior) the quantity and type of paint will change. This will highly reflect on paint costs overall.
- In Calgary, you may have to pay $3,397 to paint the interior of your house and $5,570 to paint the exterior of your house on average. It may cost you up to $47,500 to paint your whole house (interior and exterior).
Types and Quantity of Paint
- Once you have the list, you can discuss your requirements with a local painter and ask for a cost estimate. The painter will visit your home and measure the areas you want to paint in order to determine the quantity of paint you may require. The painter will measure the height, width and length of the areas to be painted and calculate them along with other factors like the type of paint and primer.
- If you’re not sure which type of paint and primer you want, you can discuss it with the painters. Their expertise can help you choose the right type of paint for different rooms and surfaces. They will also help you develop a colour palette.
- You may require up to 2 gallons of paint to give a single coat to an average room of 500 to 600 square feet in Calgary. Based on the type of paint and primer you choose, a gallon can cost you from $15 to $300. An expert painter will be able to tell you how much paint to buy and where to buy from. Based on your choices and requirements, a local painter can provide you with a cost estimate for painting.
Textured and Popcorn Ceiling
- Homes built before the late 1980s in Calgary likely have popcorn ceilings. Though it was a trend to have popcorn ceilings back in the day, many modern homeowners prefer a smooth finishing on their ceiling. Before you start the removal of the popcorn ceiling, we highly recommend that you check it for any presence of asbestos.
- Only an expert painter can inspect and confirm if your ceiling has any presence of asbestos. These elements are harmful to indoor air quality and should be dealt by only professionals. Based on the age of the ceiling and the amount of asbestos, the painters can create a plan and help you cover the popcorn ceiling of your home.
- Replacing or removing a popcorn ceiling is not one person’s job. It requires experienced painters who have special tools and supplies to complete this project. They can complete this job with minimum damage and will also clean up the mess after the project is completed.
Wall and Room Preparation
To avoid any damages to your decor, furniture or floors while painting, it’s very important that you prepare the specific areas to be painted before the project begins. You can discuss the preparation details with your painter before starting the project.
- Preparation for interior projects: interior paint projects include painting walls and trims, hallways, ceilings, kitchen cabinets and rooms. The painters can help you remove the furniture and decor from the paint area or cover it. This will protect them from any accidental paint spills. They will also remove the light fixtures, ceiling fans and cover electric boxes to have smooth paint over the surface.
- Preparation for exterior projects: exterior or outdoor painting projects include painting outdoor walls, sidings, front porch, deck, fence and other such areas. The painters will cover your landscape and outdoor light fixtures to save them for any paint splatter.
We highly recommend that you discuss these preparation details with a professional painter before starting the project so you know what’s involved.
Season
- Weather plays an extremely important role when it comes to any type of exterior painting project. Snow, rain, wind and humidity can ruin a good paint job. Given the weather conditions of Calgary, it’s wise to plan your exterior paint project in spring and summer when the weather is more temperate.
- Keep in mind that these seasons are the busiest for painters so their rates may be higher. You can plan ahead and book an appointment with the painter in early spring to suit your timeline and budget.
- As for any interior paint project, you can plan it at any time throughout the year. If you’re planning full house painting or parts of the interior and exterior of your house to be painted, we recommend you create a ‘paint plan’ with your local painter. In this plan, the painter will provide you with an estimate to complete the painting project as per the season, in better weather conditions and within your budget.
The Painter’s Profile
- Experience: a painter can charge you more based on their experience, knowledge and expertise in the field. A more experienced painter can be more expensive but they will complete the project without any hassle.
- Speed: experienced painters will bring more speed to your project. If you want a project done in a shorter timeline, we recommend you hire a professional painter. It will take them approximately 60 minutes to paint a surface of 100 to 150 square feet.
- Labour costs: if you have a big project like painting your whole house, then you will need a team of professional painters to work for you. The cost of extra painters will be added to your final invoice. This overhead cost is known as ‘labour cost.’ Before starting the project, make sure you discuss the number of extra painters and how they will be paid with the main painter. This will protect you from any surprise cost on your final bill.
Before you Hire Potential Painters
Discuss Supplies and Tools
- To complete any paint job you will require special painting tools and supplies other than paint and primer. Professional painters in Calgary carry different types of tools like paint rollers, paint roller extension poles, drop cloths, paint brushes, sandpaper, paint tray, putty knife and painters’ tape. They have other specialized tools as well which can be used if you have any special requirements.
- You can also ask them to buy paint and primer on your behalf if you have already chosen a colour palette. The cost of the paint and primer will be added to your final invoice.
Understand their Damage Repair Policy
- Be it exterior painting or interior, unforeseen damages can occur. There can be paint spilled or damage to the walls. To avoid the financial burden of any such damages, we recommend you hire an experienced painter and ask them for a damage repair policy.
- If the painter has a damage repair policy, make sure you get a copy for yourself if any damage occurs.
Check their HomeStars Profile
- To make a confident hiring decision, you can check a company’s profile on HomeStars before booking an appointment. You can check their verification badge, Star Score, reviews on their profile by Calgary based homeowners. You can chat with selected local painters and ask them for a custom quote. By comparing different quotes from different painters, you can finally hire the one which meets your requirements.
Hiring an experienced painter in Calgary may seem difficult and overwhelming but you can use the Ultimate Hiring Guide by HomeStars to make the process easy and seamless. You can hire an expert painter by browsing through a list of local painters in Calgary or ask for a custom quote by completing a service request form.