What Does It Cost to Hire a Painter in Edmonton? Plus, How to Choose the Right Exterior Pro

Homeowners in Edmonton have two clear goals before a paint job: get a price that makes sense, and hire a crew that shows up, preps properly, and leaves the exterior looking sharp for more than one season. This article explains real costs in Edmonton, what drives those numbers up or down, and how to pick professional exterior painters Edmonton homeowners trust. It also covers coatings that stand up to freeze-thaw cycles, hail, and high UV on the prairies.

What exterior painting really costs in Edmonton

For a typical single-family home in Edmonton, exterior painting runs from $2.50 to $5.50 per square foot of paintable surface. That puts many projects between $4,500 and $12,000. Bungalows on the lower end often come in around $4,500 to $7,500. Larger two-storey homes with multiple elevations, gables, and trim usually land between $7,500 and $12,000. Premium products, major repairs, and complex access can extend beyond this range.

Contractors estimate by measuring actual paintable areas, not floor square footage. Siding, trim, soffits, fascia, railings, and doors all count. Stucco has more square footage than it seems due to texture, which increases material use.

Hourly pricing is less common for exteriors, yet it helps to understand labour value. Skilled painters in Edmonton typically bill $55 to $85 per hour per painter, with a two- to four-person crew on most jobs. Crews move faster than DIY because they stage the site, spray where appropriate, and cut neat lines at speed.

Why some houses cost more to paint than others

Preparation level is the biggest driver. A house with clean, sound paint and minor caulking needs less time. A home with peeling coatings, moisture staining, or failed caulk needs scraping, sanding, stain blocking, and gap filling. Expect prep to be 30 to 60 percent of the labour on repaints. Good pros measure prep time carefully, because it determines how long the new paint lasts.

Access matters. Two-storey work, steep grades, walk-out basements, and tight side yards increase setup time. If ladders do not reach safely, a painter may bring pump jacks or scaffolding. That adds cost but also improves quality on high trim and eaves, where brush control and coverage suffer on shaky ladders.

Substrate type influences material and method. Stucco drinks more paint than fiber cement and may need elastomeric coatings for hairline cracks. Wood siding soaks into dry sections and often needs a stain-blocking primer. Aluminum and vinyl need proper cleaning and bonding primers, and color selection must fit expansion and heat considerations.

Colour choices affect price. A light colour over a light colour may cover in two coats. A major colour shift or deep accent tones can need three or more coats, especially on trim and doors that must look crisp in sun.

Season and scheduling add pressure. Edmonton’s exterior season usually runs late May through September, with shoulder seasons possible if temperatures and dew points cooperate. Booking early locks in a spot and avoids rush fees. Emergency timeline requests in peak season often cost more.

Real examples from recent Edmonton projects

A 1,200-square-foot bungalow in Mill Woods with aluminum siding and simple trim: washed, spot-primed, two coats of acrylic exterior paint. No major repairs. Final price: about $5,200. Duration: three days with a three-person crew.

A 2,000-square-foot two-storey in Terwillegar with stucco and detailed fascia: pressure-washed, hairline cracks bridged with elastomeric caulk, one elastomeric base coat on stucco, two coats on trim and fascia. Final price: around $9,800. Duration: five days with a four-person crew.

A 1970s wood-siding home in Westmount with peeling paint and sun damage on south exposure: extensive scraping, sanding, oil-based stain blocker on tannin bleed, full prime, two finish coats. Final price: approximately $11,500 due to heavy prep. Duration: seven days, three-person crew, one day of scaffold.

These numbers shift with material choices, access, and paint brand tiers, but they reflect typical Edmonton market conditions.

What homeowners should expect in a detailed quote

A strong quote is clear and specific. It names products, coat counts, prep steps, and areas included. If a quote is vague, the homeowner is buying assumptions. Professional exterior painters Edmonton clients rely on explain what they will do and what they will not do, in writing.

The document should list surfaces: siding, stucco, brick, trim, soffit, fascia, shutters, doors, railings, and any detached garage or shed. It should note masking of windows, landscaping protection, and whether downspouts are removed or painted in place. Primer types and brand lines should appear. Warranties should be practical, usually two to five years on labour and materials for repaints, with exclusions for structural movement and moisture intrusion.

Clarify colour roles. Who buys paint? Who colour-matches existing shades? How many colours are included before extra fees apply? Good firms set colour deadlines so they can order materials without delaying the start date.

Ask for the schedule. A typical exterior runs three to seven days, weather permitting. Pros watch Edmonton’s temperature swings and dew points to avoid flashing or poor cure. If forecast rain hits, they should communicate early and adjust without cutting corners on dry-time windows.

The paint products that hold up in Edmonton

Acrylic latex remains the standard for most exteriors in this climate. It adheres well, breathes enough for moisture to escape, and flexes during freeze-thaw cycles. On stucco, true elastomeric coatings add crack-bridging ability and resist wind-driven rain. For stained cedar, penetrating stains work if the wood is sound, but many older cedar exteriors move better into solid colour stains or full acrylic paint after proper priming.

Sheen choice influences durability and appearance. Satin or low-sheen on siding hides surface imperfections and sheds dirt. Semi-gloss protects trim and doors and makes them easier to wash. High-gloss on doors looks sharp but shows brush marks; spray or careful back-brushing helps.

Colour and heat matter on vinyl and some metals. Dark colours can absorb heat and increase expansion, risking warping on older vinyl. Use vinyl-safe colour formulations and ask the painter to confirm the substrate’s temperature limits.

For primers, rust-inhibitive primers help on steel railings and hardware. Stain-blocking primers stop cedar bleed and water marks from telegraphing through new paint. Adhesion primers give bite on glossy, previously oil-painted trim.

Prep steps that separate a durable job from a quick coat

Good crews approach exteriors in a sequence. First, they wash the house to remove chalk, dirt, and mildew. In Edmonton, this often involves mild detergents and low to moderate pressure to protect stucco and older wood. Next, they scrape loose paint and sand edges smooth. They spot-prime bare areas, fill minor wood checks, and caulk gaps at trim joints and penetrations. On stucco, they open hairline cracks slightly and fill with elastomeric crack filler.

Then they mask windows, fixtures, concrete, and shrubs. Many exteriors combine spraying on large flat areas with back-rolling for penetration and even sheen, followed by brush work on trim. Good painters keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks in shifting sun and wind.

Anecdotally, the most common failure seen on Edmonton repaints is skipped primer on chalky siding. Paint sticks well for a year, then sheets off. Chalking tests and proper bonding primers prevent this. It is faster to do it wrong, but it costs more to fix later.

How many coats do you really need?

On a sound, previously painted surface with a similar colour, two finish coats usually suffice after spot-priming bare spots. If colour is changing dramatically or the previous finish is patchy, a full prime plus two coats may be smarter, even if it looks like more work upfront. Stucco often takes more material per coat. Front doors and deep-colour accents may need three coats to reach uniform depth.

A painter who promises one coat across the board on an older exterior is betting on equal absorption and a perfect substrate. That bet rarely pays off through an Edmonton winter.

What to do before the painters arrive

Homeowners help the project stay on schedule by clearing patio furniture, barbecue grills, and planters away from the house. Trim shrubs that block siding. Repair sprinklers that hit painted surfaces. Confirm that all windows can be accessed from inside if needed, and that pets are secure. Choose colours early and respond quickly to any sample board questions. If rain is in the forecast, talk with the project manager about sequencing high-risk areas first.

Warranty and maintenance: what is realistic in this climate

A well-prepped exterior with quality acrylic coatings should look strong for five to eight years on sun-exposed south and west elevations, and seven to ten on north and east sides. Stucco with elastomeric coatings can push longer if cracks are kept sealed. Wood trim is the weak link; it moves with temperature and needs fresh caulk lines and paint touch-ups sooner. A fair warranty for Edmonton repaints runs two to five years. It should cover peeling and adhesion failure, not hail damage, pressure-washer gouges, or structural shifting.

Annual maintenance is simple. Rinse dust and pollen with a garden hose in spring. Spot-clean bird droppings and sap promptly. Keep soil and mulch off the bottom of siding to prevent wicking. Watch window sills and bottom trim for early wear. Minor touch-ups extend the life of the whole job.

What separates reliable professional exterior painters in Edmonton

Experience with local substrates is key. Edmonton has stucco from the 1970s and 1980s, hardboard and Masonite siding from similar eras, fiber cement and vinyl in newer areas, and plenty of cedar in mature neighbourhoods like Glenora and Strathearn. A crew that knows how each material behaves in freeze-thaw cycles will choose the right prep and products.

Clear communication builds trust. The best teams sequence work by elevation with daily updates, explain weather delays, and keep the site tidy. They document change orders and do not surprise clients with extras. They arrive with the right ladders, pump jacks, and drop sheets rather than improvising.

Insurance and safety matter. Alberta WCB coverage and liability insurance protect the homeowner. Proper fall protection on two-storey work keeps everyone safe. Ask for proof; professionals expect the question.

Colour support is valuable. Painters who can show drawdowns or sample boards on your specific stucco or siding reduce second-guessing. Colours look different in Edmonton’s strong summer sun than under store lights.

References help. A quick call to a client in Rutherford or Highlands tells more than a brochure. Ask how the house looked two years later. Good jobs age well.

How to compare two quotes that look similar

Start with scope. Are both bidders washing, scraping, priming, caulking, and applying two coats to every surface? Do they name paint lines, sheens, and colours included? Is stucco getting elastomeric where needed? Are doors and railings included or excluded?

Check access methods. If one quote includes full scaffold for high gables and the other plans to stretch on ladders, the price difference has a reason. Scaffold can add cost but typically improves finish quality on detailed fascia.

Look at time on site. A three-day plan for a large two-storey often means corners cut. A five- to seven-day schedule suggests proper prep and cure times.

Confirm warranty terms. Short, vague warranties tend to disappear when problems arise. A specific, written warranty that names what is covered is a stronger promise.

Finally, consider how each company communicates. The crew that asks good questions during the estimate usually does careful work during the job.

Budget-smart moves that do not compromise quality

Homeowners can control costs without hurting the finish. Keeping the colour close to the current shade keeps coats down. Bundling exterior and detached garage painting at once reduces setup duplication. Scheduling early in the season avoids peak-time premiums. Addressing small carpentry repairs before the painter arrives keeps their crew focused on painting.

It is also reasonable to phase work by elevation. If sun-baked south and west faces are failing, a painter can prioritize them this year and do north and east next season, keeping the home protected while spreading out costs.

Edmonton neighbourhood notes and what they imply for pricing

Mature areas like Bonnie Doon, Old Strathcona, and Westmount have tight setbacks, larger trees, and older substrates. Expect more prep and careful access planning. Newer neighbourhoods like Windermere, Chappelle, and Summerside often feature vinyl or fiber cement with high peaks and decorative trim. That adds ladder time and detail work. In infill-heavy areas, parking and staging can slow setups. Local professional exterior painters Edmonton homeowners use regularly know these quirks and price them accurately.

Frequently asked questions homeowners ask before saying yes

Does weather stop the job? Painters watch minimum temperatures, surface moisture, and dew points. Edmonton can drop fast at night, so they plan coats earlier in the day and protect fresh paint from dew. If wind picks up, they mask more and control overspray carefully or switch to brush and roller.

Can exterior doors be sprayed? Yes, and the finish looks smooth. Doors are usually removed or masked carefully, sprayed in a controlled area, and reinstalled the same day if temperatures allow.

Is pressure washing safe on stucco? With trained hands, yes. The crew uses lower pressure and wider tips, stands off the wall, and avoids driving water into cracks. For fragile stucco, a soft wash with detergents and a rinse is safer.

Can deep colours work on older vinyl? Sometimes. Painters use vinyl-safe colours and check the substrate’s heat tolerance. If the vinyl is warped or brittle, paint is a short-term fix, and replacement may be wiser.

How soon can sprinklers run after painting? Ideally, wait 72 hours on siding and trim. Early water exposure can spot or streak fresh paint.

Why many Edmonton homeowners choose Depend Exteriors

Depend Exteriors focuses on clear scopes, practical scheduling, and coatings that hold up to the city’s broad temperature swings. The team documents prep, names products, and stands behind work with a written warranty suited to Alberta conditions. Crews arrive with safe access gear and protect landscaping as a matter of habit, not exception.

The company works across Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, and nearby communities. From Terwillegar stucco to Westmount wood trim, the estimators know which primers, fillers, and topcoats make sense surface by surface. Homeowners see clean cut lines, even sheen, and tight caulk joints. More importantly, the finish looks as good next summer as it does on the final walk-through.

Ready to get numbers you can trust?

A quick site visit is usually enough to produce a fixed quote with a clear scope. Depend Exteriors can schedule estimates across Edmonton and surrounding areas, often within a few days. Homeowners who value a neat site, strong prep, and honest timelines can request a consultation, book a repair, or schedule an exterior painting project now. The team will measure, explain the options, and provide a fair price along with a practical schedule that respects Edmonton weather.

Quick checklist before booking

• Confirm the scope by surface: siding, trim, soffits, fascia, doors, railings, garage.
• Ask about prep steps, primer types, and coat counts for each substrate.
• Verify insurance, WCB, and warranty terms in writing.
• Review access methods and timeline with weather buffers.
• Approve colours with on-site samples, not just fan decks.

Professional exterior painters Edmonton homeowners rely on make the process simple. With the right prep and products, a fresh exterior stands up to hail, sun, https://dependexteriors.com/our-services/exterior-painting and frost, and it adds real curb appeal on every street from Summerside to Glenora. Booking early in the season secures the best window, but solid crews deliver strong results throughout Edmonton’s workable months. If the house is ready for a reset, Depend Exteriors is ready to get it done right.