This question comes up on almost every Halifax painting project, and the answer depends on the contractor’s policy, the project scope, and how involved you want to be in product selection.
When Your Painter Sources the Paint
Most professional Halifax painting contractors purchase paint directly and include it in the project quote. This approach has several advantages: experienced painters have trade accounts at Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams with contractor pricing, they know exactly how much product is needed, and they take responsibility for colour matching and product suitability. If something goes wrong with the product, that is the contractor’s problem to resolve, not yours. The trade-off is that you will pay the contractor’s material cost plus their standard markup — typically 15–25%. This covers their time ordering and managing materials; it is a legitimate business cost.
When You Source the Paint Yourself
Some Halifax homeowners prefer to purchase their own paint — to choose a specific product they trust, take advantage of a sale, or control that line item in the budget. This is generally fine with most contractors provided you discuss it in advance and purchase the correct product in sufficient quantity. The risk is yours: if you buy the wrong sheen or insufficient quantity, the contractor will not absorb that cost. If you choose to source your own paint, ask your contractor what product and sheen they recommend for each surface before you buy.
Colour Selection Either Way
Whether you or the contractor is buying the paint, colour selection is always the homeowner’s responsibility. Take paint chips home and look at them in different light conditions. Halifax’s north-facing rooms get very different light than south-facing ones. Most Halifax paint suppliers will mix sample sizes for testing before committing to full cans.
CPM Professional Painting helps Halifax clients navigate product and colour decisions. Free estimate at cpmpainting.com.