Finding an experienced and professional painting company in Ottawa can prove to be difficult with the never ending list in online searches. You might ask yourself “how do I know which one is better?”, “how do I know who I can trust” and “how will I know if they will do it right the first time”. Trying to choose from what seems to be a never-ending list of painters and painting contractors can feel daunting but it doesn’t have it be if you know what to look for and what to ask.
Painting homes in Ottawa is our passion and at PG PAINT & DESIGN we look forward to being your 1st choice for painters to work with
When you start a local search for painters you will undoubtedly get an overwhelming list of pages and pages of search results for painting companies in Ottawa, Ontario and with the tips we outline below we hope to make it a little easier when you set out to find the best painters in Ottawa to work with on your next home makeover project.
What To Look For When Searching For Painters In Ottawa
Painting contractors are experienced professionals who work to make your home look its best. They can be a small business that consists of only one person who is also the sole proprietor and also the painter that does all the work or they can be a bigger company that has employees or subcontractors that work for them.
While a painting contractor is typically hired directly by the homeowner and deals directly with one person for all their project specifics, other painting companies will hire sub-contractors to do the work, so sometimes you never know who you can trust to provide you with the best in quality painting.
If you are ready to get started on an interior painting or exterior painting project and are just getting started on your search for painters to work with, the best first place to start is by asking family, friends, neighbours and co-workers if they’ve hired any painting companies and if they were happy with the work that was done. Referrals from people you know is most often the best place to get started.
While some home owners choose to do their own DIY painting others will choose the hiring of painters from reputable and trusted painting companies in Ottawa who have years of experience, knowledge and skill. To help you find a qualified painter to work with, we recommend you narrow your search to three and have them come to your home to meet with you to provide a painting estimate.
This meeting is the perfect opportunity to get to know the person who may be working in your home, gives you the opportunity to provide all the details and scope of the work you are wanting to get done, and gives you the best opportunity to ask questions.
How To Hire The Best Painting Contractors In Ottawa
Once you have had the opportunity to meet with at least three painting contractors and have obtained detailed quotes from each you can begin to compare the prices they have quoted. As you ponder over the decision you might want to ask yourself things like, did they have the knowledge to recommend the best paint products for your project? Do they have enough experience in painting homes? It’s also important to ask yourself if they were personable and friendly? These and other frequently asked questions should be answered by the painting company you hire, after all these people will be working in your home every day.
If you are still unclear about anything in their proposal just ask. Painters are professionals that are always ready, willing and prepared to explain the pricing in detail. Ask them if the paint is included in their pricing, if things like fixing small holes and cracks in the drywall, sanding, caulking, whether a paint primer will be used before the paint finish is applied and whether they will clean up at the end of each day.
Why Repair Walls before Painting?
When painting over old or damaged drywall without repairing and prepping the surfaces first will result in all the imperfections showing up no matter which paint is used and who painted it. If walls are in poor condition paying a professional to properly fix and smooth out the surfaces before painting will be worth it.
Be prepared to pay extra for any of the repair work as this requires more time, labour and detail. You can also expect to see additional costs if the project includes painting of trim, baseboards, doors, frames, and molding as opposed to just getting a quote to paint the walls, getting plaster and drywall repairs, minor carpentry work, removal or repair to stipple ceiling as well as removing wallpaper.
If you are looking to save money and save the painting companies time there are a few things you can do before the painters arrive.
How to Find The Best Painters in Ottawa
Painters near you are often local Ottawa people who live in a neighboring community close by. They are typically small family run businesses who strive to provide the best in customer service and customer care and aim to always exceed your expectations and are very easy to find.
Start by asking your family, friends, neighbours and co-workers if they have any recommendations of painters in Ottawa they may have worked with already and if they were happy with the painting services they received. Hiring someone that was referred to you from a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker narrows your search to the finest.
Look for things like:
- Who seemed to be the most experienced and knowledgeable in their field and in what they were talking about
- Who were you most at ease and comfortable with both in communication and having in your home as this will be the person working in your home around your family, pets etc.
- Who was the most courteous, respectful and understanding of what your house painting project needs are.
- And of course which painter gave you the most attention to detail and answered all your questions. Who best explained the scope of the entire painting job.
Find the ones with honest reviews as well as testimonials from past clients, and if they back the quality workmanship with a guarantee to come back for touch-ups within a reasonable time frame after the project is complete.
How To Find The Best Ottawa Painting Companies
To find local painting contractors in a google search is simple, it’s the choosing which one to go with that can be daunting. We recommend going with referrals first, then search online. It’s helpful to get all your questions done on paper before the meeting with the painter so that you know what to look for when hiring a painter. Find out as much as you can by checking their online reviews, social platforms, and their portfolios of work completed by viewing photos of their work,
Remember to write down or bookmark the sites of the painting company you find most impressive after reading through their website. Once you have found 3 or 4 simply go back to their websites contact them by giving them a call or sending an email to arrange an appointment for a painting quote.
How To Get The Best Painting Estimate and Quote
Once you have selected the three to four paint contractors you want to invite to your home for a meeting and quote, it’s always a good idea to get your questions done on paper, your thoughts and ideas about the project and an itemized list of what you need done.
By making a list of questions to ask the painters it will make things clear for everyone right from the get go. Include in your list thing like which rooms you will want painted, whether things like the ceiling, trim, baseboards and doors are to be painted. It’s best to specify exactly what your needs and wants for your project are before the painter visits your home for your painting estimate.
Discuss if the quote includes repairs to drywall imperfections, filling of nail pops, holes, dents or cracks in the walls or ceilings. Consult with experienced painters who will be able to recommend the best quality of paint products to use for your specific project, help with any recommendations when choosing a paint color and advise on choices for paint finishes so that the decision on paint colours can bring the most value to your home.
The Lowest Painting Estimate Doesn’t Always Mean The Best Painters
We all want to save money, that’s a given, when it comes to painting your house there are a few things you should consider before hiring someone. Hiring a low cost cheap painter doesn’t mean your going to get an experienced or qualified painter. If your decision is based only on the lowest price, be prepared to be hiring someone with little to no experience, as well as not having everything you wanted done.
Be prepared if going with the lowest bid to have only one coat of paint finish applied to the walls instead of the standard two to three coats, you will also not get any trim, baseboard, ceilings, doors, frames included. You will not be getting the repairs and necessary prepping of the surfaces before the paint is applied. You won’t be getting paint primers applied which are important for proper paint coverage along with providing good protection barriers from in mold and mildew buildup in high moisture level areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Be wary and cautious of the lowest bid as this may result in you having to spend more than what you had budgeted for and it may end up costing you more in the end by hiring another company to correct the mistakes.
If you need more information and are looking for house painting tips before making your final decision visit our house painting blog for more and if you are ready to get started we’re here to help.
Get In Contact With Painters In Ottawa
This post was originally published on Jan 17, 2016 and edited on Sept 07, 2021
