What Painting Costs in St. Thomas, Ontario
Painting quotes vary widely between properties, and the reason is almost never the paint. This guide explains what actually drives the number on a St. Thomas painting quote so you can compare estimates on a like-for-like basis.
Figures in this guide are indicative and explain what drives cost. They are not a quote — pricing can only be confirmed after the property is assessed.
The main cost drivers
- • Project size — the total area of surface being coated, not the floor area of the house
- • Preparation — washing, scraping, filling, sanding, caulking and priming
- • Surface condition — sound paint costs far less to work over than failing paint
- • Materials — product grade, colour change, and how many coats are needed
- • Labour — the largest single component of nearly every quote
- • Accessibility — height, staging, awkward elevations and tight interiors
- • Number of coats — a strong colour change can add a full coat across the whole area
- • Trim and ceilings — often priced separately from wall area
Why preparation dominates the price
On a typical repaint, applying the paint is a minority of the hours. The rest is preparation. A room with sound walls and a few nail holes is quick; the same room with failed patches, peeling trim and a previous glossy oil finish can take several times as long before a brush touches a finish coat.
This is the main reason two quotes for the same house can differ substantially. If one includes proper preparation and the other assumes minimal prep, they are not quoting the same project.
How St. Thomas properties differ
Older homes near the downtown core generally carry more preparation because of plaster, layered trim paint and previously oil-based woodwork. Post-war houses sit somewhere in the middle. Newer subdivision homes usually need the least repair but often need priming over thin builder-grade paint before a durable finish holds up.
Exteriors add weather exposure to the equation — south and west elevations in St. Thomas age faster and may need more scraping and spot-priming than the sheltered sides of the same building.
Comparing quotes fairly
- • Which surfaces are included — walls only, or walls, ceilings, trim and doors
- • How many coats are quoted, and whether primer is included
- • What preparation is specifically described, not just implied
- • Whether repairs are in the price or listed as extras
- • Product grade and sheen for each surface type
- • Protection, cleanup and disposal
Indicative pricing for St. Thomas & Elgin County (before HST)
Interior painting
- Small bedroom (10x12)
- $350 – $600
- Master bedroom
- $700 – $1,100
- Living room
- $550 – $1,200
- Kitchen walls
- $350 – $700
- Bathroom
- $400 – $800
- Full home interior, per sq ft of floor area
- $2 – $5
- Whole-home trim and doors
- $1,200 – $2,500
Figures cover walls, ceilings and trim as scoped on our interior painting page.
Exterior painting
- Per sq ft of painted surface
- $2.50 – $5
- Bungalow / single-story home
- $2,500 – $6,000
- Two-story detached home
- $4,500 – $10,000
Wood siding and heavy prep sit at the higher end; brick and vinyl at the lower end. See exterior painting.
Cabinets
- Average kitchen cabinet refinishing
- $2,500 – $7,000 depending on door count and finish
Full detail on preparation and finishes is on the cabinet painting page.
Final pricing is confirmed after a free on-site assessment. Request a free quote and we will measure the actual scope.
Related questions
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Areas we serve
Request a clear quote for your painting project
Serving St. Thomas, Aylmer, Port Stanley and Talbotville.