10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Painter

Hiring a painter is a significant investment. A quality exterior paint job on a Vancouver home costs $5,000 to $12,000 — and a bad one can cost just as much to fix. These 10 questions will help you identify the professionals and avoid the mistakes that homeowners make when hiring painting contractors.

1. Are You Licensed and Insured?

This is non-negotiable. Ask for proof of general liability insurance and WCB (Workers Compensation Board) coverage. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor is not covered, you could be liable. Any professional contractor will have this documentation ready.

2. What Does the Quote Include?

A low quote often means prep work is being cut. Ask specifically: Does this include pressure washing? Scraping and sanding? Caulking? Priming bare wood? The prep work is where most paint jobs succeed or fail — make sure it is clearly included in writing.

3. What Products Do You Use?

A professional painter should be able to name the specific products they plan to use and explain why. If the answer is vague or they say they will use whatever is on sale, that is a red flag. Premium products like Sherwin-Williams Duration or Benjamin Moore Aura cost more but last significantly longer.

4. Can You Provide References From Recent Similar Projects?

Ask for 2-3 references from projects completed in the last 12 months that are similar in scope to yours. Call them. Ask about communication, cleanliness, whether the project finished on time, and whether they would hire the contractor again.

5. What Is Your Warranty?

A reputable painting contractor will offer a workmanship warranty of at least 1-2 years covering peeling, adhesion failure, and finish defects. Get the warranty terms in writing before signing.

• 6. How long have you been in business? (Look for 5+ years of local experience)
• 7. Who will be on-site doing the work — employees or subcontractors?
• 8. What is the payment schedule? (Never pay more than 10-20% upfront)
• 9. How do you handle unexpected issues like rot or moisture damage?
• 10. What does your cleanup process look like at the end of each day?

At Colour Craft Painting, we are happy to answer all of these questions and more. We are fully licensed, insured, and WCB-covered, and we back every project with a 2-year workmanship warranty. Schedule a free estimate and see the difference a professional team makes.