Two painting quotes for the same Halifax home. One is $3,200. The other is $5,800. Both say “interior painting.” Which one do you choose?
The answer depends almost entirely on what’s actually included — and the quotes themselves often don’t make it obvious. Here’s exactly what should be in a professional painting quote in Halifax, so you can compare apples to apples instead of guessing.
Surface Preparation
Prep is the foundation of any paint job, and it’s where costs — and quality — vary most. A professional quote should specify what preparation work is included:
- Filling nail holes, cracks, and minor dents with filler
- Sanding filled areas smooth before painting
- Cleaning surfaces (particularly in kitchens and bathrooms where grease and moisture accumulate)
- Applying primer where surfaces require it — new drywall, bare wood, stain-blocking on water damage marks
- Caulking gaps around trim, window frames, and door frames
A quote that skips these items isn’t just lower quality — it will look lower quality within a year or two.
Protection of Floors, Furniture, and Fixtures
A professional crew should cover and protect everything that isn’t being painted. This means:
- Drop cloths on all flooring in the work area
- Plastic sheeting or moving blankets on furniture that can’t be removed
- Masking around light switches, outlets, and fixtures
- Removing or masking hardware on doors and cabinets
If a quote doesn’t mention protection of your belongings, ask specifically how they handle it.
Number of Coats and Paint Specification
This is one of the most common ways quotes get manipulated. “Painting the living room” could mean one coat or two. It could mean builder-grade paint or Benjamin Moore Regal Select. The price difference between these choices is significant — and so is the quality difference.
Your quote should state:
- Number of coats (typically one coat primer + two coats finish, or two coats finish where primer isn’t needed)
- Paint brand and product line (e.g., “Benjamin Moore Regal Select, eggshell finish”)
- Finish type for each surface — walls, ceilings, and trim typically use different sheens
Scope: Exactly Which Areas Are Included
A professional quote lists every area being painted and what’s included in each. Don’t assume “painting the bedroom” includes the ceiling, closet interior, trim, and doors. Clarify:
- Are ceilings included? (Often quoted separately)
- Are baseboards and door/window trim included?
- Are interior doors included?
- Are closets or built-ins included?
This is the most common source of “why is the final bill higher than the quote?” disputes — scope that wasn’t clearly defined upfront.
Labour, Materials, and HST
Your quote should show the total price including HST (currently 14% in Nova Scotia). Some contractors quote before tax and the number looks lower than it is. Others separate labour and materials so you can see the breakdown. Either approach is fine — just make sure the total including HST is clearly stated so you’re not surprised at invoice time.
Cleanup and Final Walkthrough
Professional painting includes cleanup. That means removing painter’s tape without damaging the finish, clearing all materials and equipment from your home, touching up any spots missed during the work, and doing a walkthrough with you before the job is considered complete. This should be standard, but it’s worth confirming.
WCB and Insurance Confirmation
While not always included in the written quote itself, a professional contractor should be able to provide a current WCB clearance letter and proof of liability insurance on request. CPM’s coverage is publicly verifiable.
Get a Complete, Transparent Quote from CPM
At CPM Professional Painting, every quote we provide is written, itemized, and covers all of the above. We serve Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and the HRM for both interior and exterior painting.
Book a free on-site estimate, or get a quick ballpark with our instant estimate tool. No surprises. No vague quotes.