Painting is one of the more deceptive home services — it can look good for six months before revealing whether the prep work was done properly. In Renfrew County, where homes range from heritage-era farmhouses to mid-century bungalows to newer builds, lead paint, substrate condition, and climate durability all play into hiring the right contractor. Here is how to evaluate and choose a painter.
Step 1 — Get Three Written Quotes with Detailed Scope
The most important thing you can do before hiring a painter is collect multiple quotes — and ensure each quote itemizes what is actually included. A quote that says "exterior house painting — $5,000" tells you almost nothing. A useful quote specifies:
- What prep work is included (scraping, sanding, filling, caulking, priming)
- How many coats of finish paint
- Which specific paint product (brand and product line)
- What is explicitly excluded from scope
- Whether cleanup and disposal of materials is included
Only with this level of detail can you meaningfully compare quotes. The lowest number often reflects the least prep work — which is where paint jobs fail.
Step 2 — Ask About Lead Paint
For any home built before 1978, lead paint is a serious consideration. Sanding, scraping, or pressure washing surfaces that contain lead paint creates hazardous dust that poses health risks to occupants, the crew, and neighbours. Health Canada considers deteriorated lead paint a health hazard, and professional testing is recommended before any mechanical disturbance of painted surfaces in older homes.
Ask any painter you are considering: How do you handle lead paint on older homes? A qualified painter working on pre-1978 homes should know Ontario lead-safe work practices — including using wet methods, appropriate PPE, HEPA vacuuming, and proper waste disposal. If they dismiss the question or say it is not an issue without having tested, that is a clear red flag on an older Renfrew County property.
Step 3 — Verify WSIB Clearance
Request a WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) Clearance Certificate before any work begins. This confirms the painting business is registered with WSIB and has current coverage. If a worker is injured on your property by an unregistered contractor, you may bear liability as the property owner.
WSIB clearance is particularly important for exterior painting, where ladder and scaffolding use creates real fall risk. You can verify clearance status through the WSIB website at wsib.ca.
Step 4 — Ask for References or Examples of Similar Work
Ask to see photos of comparable recent projects — preferably exterior work on similar-sized homes, or interior projects of similar scope. Even better, ask for references you can contact directly. A painter with a strong track record will have clients willing to speak to their work. Hesitation here is informative.
For exterior work, ask specifically about longevity: how old are their examples and how is the paint holding up? In Renfrew County's climate, good exterior work should still look solid at the three-to-five-year mark.
Step 5 — Confirm Surface Prep Scope in Writing
Surface preparation is the difference between paint that lasts a decade and paint that peels within three years. Prep typically accounts for 70–80% of what determines final paint quality — and it is the most commonly cut corner when quotes are being shaved.
For exterior work, prep includes: scraping all loose or peeling paint, sanding rough transitions, cleaning the surface (mildew treatment if needed), caulking gaps around windows and trim, priming bare wood. For interior work: filling nail holes and cracks, light sanding of sheen surfaces, masking, priming new drywall or stain-blocking problem areas.
If a quote vaguely references "prep included," press for specifics. If they cannot articulate what prep means for your specific project, that suggests a limited approach.
Step 6 — Ask About Workmanship Warranty
Reputable painters stand behind their work for 1–2 years. Ask what the warranty covers and how they handle callbacks. If paint peels in the first season due to application failure or inadequate prep — not from physical damage — a professional painter should return to correct it at no charge.
No warranty or "once we're done, we're done" is an answer that tells you something important about how seriously they take their work quality.
Step 7 — Confirm Cleanup Is Included
Confirm before the job starts that cleanup is included: removal of drop cloths, painter's tape, paint cans, and any overspray or drips that occur during the project. This is standard practice for professional painters, but confirming it avoids misunderstandings on the final walkthrough.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- Lowest bid with vague or absent scope — almost always means minimal prep work, which leads to early failure
- No mention of prep work in the quote — any painter who does not mention prep is either skipping it or expects you not to notice
- Dismisses lead paint concerns on a pre-1978 home — this is a safety issue and a professional responsibility
- Cannot produce WSIB clearance — you are legally exposed if an unregistered worker is injured on your property
- Requests large upfront payment before work begins — a reasonable deposit (10–30%) is normal; more than that before any work starts is unusual