Residential painting is everything involved in painting a place where people live. That can be a single bedroom before a baby arrives, the kitchen cabinets that still work but look tired, or the whole house inside and out before it goes on the market. Most home projects are a mix of jobs, and the work goes more smoothly when one crew handles all of it in a sensible order.

We work in houses, townhomes, condos and rental units across the South Okanagan. Some owners call because the paint is worn, some because they are moving in, and some because they are tired of looking at a colour they did not choose. Whatever the reason, you get one written quote that covers every surface, the prep and the timeline, so you know the whole plan before the first drop cloth goes down.

What residential painting includes

Interior walls, ceilings, trim, baseboards and doors in any room of the house
Exterior siding, stucco, fascia, trim, windows and doors
Decks, railings and fences that take the weather
Kitchen and bathroom cabinet painting and refinishing
Drywall repair, from nail holes to water-damaged sections, before painting
Wallpaper removal and popcorn ceiling removal when the room needs it
Pressure washing as prep for outdoor surfaces
Colour and finish consultation at the quote stage

How a whole-house job is organized

Walk-through and written quote. We go through the house with you, room by room and wall by wall, ask how old the home is, and put every surface, the prep, the paint and the timeline into a free written quote.
Sequence the work. On a job with several parts, order matters. Repairs and removals come first, outdoor washing comes before outdoor paint, and ceilings are done before walls.
Pre-job call. Before we start we call to confirm colours and details and to go over what to clear, such as valuables, pictures, shelves and patio furniture.
Prep and paint. We cover floors, move and cover furniture, fill holes and cracks, repair drywall, caulk trim and windows, prime stains and patches, then paint.
Final walkthrough. We go through the house with you while the paint is still fresh, fix anything that needs a touch-up and clean up once you have signed off.

Living in the house while we work

Most of our residential customers stay in the house during the job, so a lot of the planning is about keeping daily life workable. We agree on the plan during the quote and again on the pre-job call.

Choosing which rooms get done first so you always have a kitchen, a bathroom and somewhere to sleep
Clearing valuables, fragile items, pictures and shelves from the work areas, while we move and cover the larger furniture
Covering floors, stairs and fixtures with proper protection, not a few old sheets
Arranging a place for pets while doors are open and paint is wet
Agreeing where we set up, where tools stay overnight and which entrance to use
Keeping each day’s work area closed off and tidy so the house stays usable in the evening

Choosing colours and finishes for a whole home

When you are painting more than one room, the colours have to work together as well as on their own. Light carries from room to room through doorways and hallways, so a palette that flows usually looks calmer than seven unrelated shades. We are happy to talk through colour schemes with you, including how colours will look against your floors, counters and the light that comes in during the day.

Finish is the other half of the decision. Flat or matte is the forgiving choice for ceilings and walls that are not perfectly smooth. Eggshell and satin are easier to wipe, which suits living rooms, bedrooms and hallways. Semi-gloss belongs on trim, doors, kitchens and bathrooms where moisture and scrubbing are part of life. Outside, the same ideas apply with products made for weather, and we set them out in the quote.

What affects the price of residential painting

We do not publish fixed prices because homes vary so much. Your written quote lists each factor below so the number makes sense to you.

The square footage and the number of rooms, floors and ceiling heights involved
Whether the job is inside only, outside only or both
The condition of walls and surfaces, including repairs, patching and sanding
Add-on work such as wallpaper removal, popcorn ceiling removal, cabinets and decks
Colour changes, especially dark to light, which may need primer and extra coats
Your product and finish choices and how much furniture has to be moved

Is your home older?

Health Canada says homes built before 1960 probably contain lead paint, and homes from 1960 to 1990 may. Textured ceilings in older homes can also contain asbestos, so they should be tested before anything is scraped. Tell us the age of your home when you ask for a quote and we will plan the testing and prep first.

Common mistakes with residential painting

Treating it as several unrelated jobs. When different people handle repairs, walls and outdoor work, the schedule drifts and surfaces get damaged, so we plan the full sequence in one quote.
Choosing colour from a tiny chip. Colours change with light and the room around them, so we encourage you to look at a sample on your own wall before committing.
Painting over damage. Cracks, stains and patches show through the finish, which is why drywall repair and primer are written into the scope, not treated as extras later.
Using one finish everywhere. A flat finish in a bathroom marks easily and a high gloss on a bumpy wall shows every flaw, so we match the finish to the room.
Leaving out the walkthrough. Problems are easier to fix while the paint is fresh, so we go through the house with you before we clean up.

Residential Painting by town

We offer residential painting in twelve Okanagan communities. Choose your town:

Residential Painting questions

Can you paint the inside and outside of my home as one project?

Yes. We can quote both together, or split them over different seasons if that suits you better. Interior work can go on in almost any weather, while exterior work depends on the temperature and the forecast.

Do I have to move out while you paint?

No. Most people stay. We plan the order of rooms so you can keep using the kitchen and bathrooms, and we close off and tidy each work area at the end of the day.

What if I only need one room done?

That is a normal job. A single room gets the same written quote, the same prep and the same walkthrough as a whole house.

Do you handle repairs before painting?

Yes. We fill holes and cracks, repair drywall and caulk trim as part of the prep, and the quote lists what is included.

Can you remove wallpaper or a popcorn ceiling as part of the job?

Yes, and we can include both in the same quote. On older homes we ask the age of the house first because a textured ceiling may need testing before it is scraped.

How do I get a quote?

Call or send the request form. We go through the house with you and send a free written quote listing the surfaces, the prep, the paint and the timeline.

A home project goes better when the whole plan is on paper before work starts. Request a free written quote and we will put yours together.

Request your free written quote or call (778) 760-0346.

Guides for residential painting

Curious how a job runs from the first call to the final walkthrough? Read how our painting process works.

Have a question first? Read the FAQ, learn about Alto Pro Painters or contact us.

Further reading: Primer on Wikipedia and Health Canada: chemical safety for DIY projects and renovations.

Watch: residential painting in action

A simple guide to interior paint finishes, by This Old House on YouTube.

Residential Painting in Penticton and the Okanagan