A little prep on your end helps the job start on time and finish faster. Here's what we suggest to every client, and what we take care of ourselves.
One to two weeks before
- Finalize your colours. Test samples on two or three walls and look at them in the morning and evening light. If you're stuck, we offer colour consultations.
- Pick your sheens. Not sure whether you want matte or eggshell? See our guide to sheens by room.
- Plan around your household. Think about where everyone will sleep, work or study while each room is being painted.
The day before
- Clear small items. Take down pictures, mirrors, curtains, and anything breakable or valuable from shelves and tabletops.
- Empty the walls. Leave nails and hooks in if you plan to hang things in the same spot. Otherwise we'll fill the holes.
- Make space. Move what you can toward the middle of the room. We'll move and cover the larger pieces.
- Clear closets if they're being painted.
- Kitchen cabinets: empty the cabinets and drawers being painted.
On painting day
- Pets and kids: keep them out of the work area. Wet paint and curious paws don't mix.
- Parking and access: leave a spot near the door if you can, and let us know about alarm codes or lockboxes.
- Ventilation: we use low-odour paint where possible, but an open window or a fan helps.
Extra steps for exterior painting
- Move patio furniture, planters, barbecues and decorations away from the walls.
- Trim back shrubs and branches that touch the siding.
- Turn off sprinklers on painting days.
- Check the best time of year for exterior painting and book early.
What we take care of
- Covering floors, furniture and fixtures
- Removing and replacing switch plates and outlet covers
- Filling holes, sanding, caulking and spot-priming
- Daily tidy-up, plus a final clean-up and walkthrough with you
All of the prep is listed on your written estimate, so you know exactly what's included. See our residential painting and pre-listing and turnover painting services.
Get your fixed-price estimate
We're a family-owned painting company based in Niagara Falls. Every job gets one fixed price on a written estimate, with no hourly billing. Request your free estimate or email loveatfirstcoatpaintingco@gmail.com. We're available Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm.
We paint across the region, including Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland, Fort Erie, Grimsby, Port Colborne, Thorold, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Lincoln & Beamsville and Pelham & Fonthill.
