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To choose a house painter in Toronto, get at least 3 written, itemized quotes and compare them line by line. Check the painter's WSIB registration and liability insurance. Make sure each quote names the paint by brand and line, and get the warranty in writing. Keep the deposit small; Ontario's consumer guide recommends no more than 10%.
What should you check before hiring a painter in Toronto?
Check seven things before you hire anyone: WSIB, insurance, a written quote, the paint by name, a written warranty, recent work and the business's record. None of them takes long. Together they tell you far more than a price does.
- WSIB. Ask whether the business is registered with the WSIB, and ask to see a clearance certificate.
- Insurance. Ask for a certificate of commercial general liability insurance.
- A written, itemized quote. Scope, prep, coats, the price plus HST, dates and payments.
- The paint by name. Brand, product line and sheen, not just "premium".
- A written warranty. What it covers, for how long, and how to claim.
- Recent work and references. Photos of similar jobs, and people you can call. Ontario's guide suggests at least 3 references.
- The business's record. Search Ontario's Consumer Beware List, and read recent reviews on Google and HomeStars.
Reviews are most useful when they describe the prep, the cleanup and how problems were handled. A star rating alone tells you little.
Do house painters need a trade certificate to work in Ontario?
No. Painter and decorator (commercial and residential) is a non-compulsory trade in Ontario. No certificate of qualification is needed to work. Painters who complete an apprenticeship can earn a voluntary certificate, and it's worth asking about.
The apprenticeship runs 6,000 hours, about three years of work and school. Many skilled painters learned on the job instead. Because no credential is required, the paperwork and past work below carry more weight.
Why does WSIB matter when you hire a painter?
The WSIB runs Ontario's workplace injury insurance, which covers a painting company's workers if they are hurt on the job. A painting business with employees must register with the WSIB to cover them. Asking about it shows whether the business is set up properly for the people it sends to your home.
The rules have exemptions. Homeowners hiring for work on their own home don't have to get a clearance certificate. Business owners who do only home renovation work, hired directly by the people living in the home, don't have to cover themselves. Their employees still need coverage.
You can still ask for a clearance certificate, and confirm it with the WSIB. A clearance is valid for up to 90 days, so check the date on it.
Clearance certificate:
a WSIB document confirming that a business is registered and in good standing, valid for up to 90 days.
What insurance should a house painter carry?
Commercial general liability insurance. It covers accidental damage the painter causes to your home or belongings, such as a ladder through a window. It also covers injuries to other people. Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts.
Check that the name on the certificate matches the business on your quote. Check that the policy dates cover your job. If anything looks off, call the insurer or broker listed on it.
Condo buildings often ask for a certificate of insurance before a painter can start. Our post on Toronto condo rules for painting covers what buildings usually want.
How do you compare painting quotes?
Line by line, not by the total. Ontario's home renovation guide suggests getting at least 3 written estimates. Check that each covers the same rooms and surfaces, the same prep, the same number of coats and a named paint.
A low total can mean something is missing. One quote may leave out the ceilings, another the primer, and a third may use a cheaper product line. Our checklist of what a painting quote should include shows every line to look for. Our guide to premium and contractor-grade paint explains why the product line matters.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Who will lead the job, and will they be on site every day?
- What prep does my home need, and is all of it in the price?
- Which paint, sheen and colour will go on each surface?
- How many coats, and will any areas need primer?
- How will you protect floors, furniture and plants?
- What are the start and finish dates?
- What is the deposit, and when is each payment due?
- What does the warranty cover, and how do I make a claim?
In an older Toronto house, also ask how the painter handles plaster cracks and peeling layers of old paint. The answer tells you how seriously they take prep. Health Canada says a home built before 1960 probably contains lead-based paint. Ask how old paint will be tested before anyone sands or scrapes it.
What are the warning signs of a painter to avoid?
The clearest warning sign is a painter who won't put the job in writing. Others are a large deposit, a cash price with no HST and pressure to sign today. So is having no proof of insurance, or of WSIB coverage for the crew. One sign is worth a question; several are a reason to keep looking.
- No written quote or contract
- A deposit well over 10%, or the full price up front
- A lower price "if you pay cash", with no HST
- No business name, address or way to reach them after the job
- "Premium paint" with no brand or product line
- No recent work to show, and no one you can call
- A price that disappears unless you sign on the spot
If you do sign a contract at home, Ontario gives you a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel for any reason. A painter who adds HST should also give you a GST/HST number. Our post on whether painters charge HST in Ontario explains how to check it.
What does Great North put in writing?
A Great North quote starts with your photos, which a crew lead looks over, coming out to see the job when it needs it. Every crew lead has 15+ years of experience. Your written, itemized quote arrives within 24 hours of seeing the job. It names the paint by brand and line and shows the price plus HST and the dates.
Every job gets two coats of the paint named in your quote and a walkthrough with touch-ups on the spot. A 20% deposit books your dates, and the rest is due an hour before the job is finished. Interior work carries a written 5-year workmanship warranty and exterior work a 3-year one, on every surface your quote accepts, handed over at the final walkthrough. A named person replies within 1 business hour.
See how the process works and the warranty terms, or start with interior painting or exterior painting. For a price range in about a minute, use the estimator.