CONDO
PAINTING for units, suites and common areas
- Free quotes
- Itemized written quote
- Since 2010
- Open 7 days
We plan condo painting around your building's rules, from elevator bookings and permitted work hours to protected hallways, then finish every wall in two or more coats, with low-odour paint on request and the unit left neat each evening.
Inside the building
Condo painting for Toronto units and buildings
Condominium painting covers the inside of individual units and, for property managers and boards, the shared parts of a building. In a unit, that means walls, ceilings, bulkheads, trim, doors and closet interiors, plus accent and feature walls. In common areas, it can take in corridors, lobbies, stairwells, amenity rooms and suite entry doors. All Painting has painted condos since 2010, from a single bedroom refresh to repaints that move floor by floor through an occupied building. Small and large jobs follow the same method, with the planning scaled to suit the building.
Four groups usually call. Owners want to replace the builder's flat white, add colour to an open-plan space, or freshen things up before a sale. Landlords and rental managers need a unit repainted between one tenant leaving and the next moving in, often within a narrow window. Property managers and condo boards plan corridor, lobby and stairwell repaints as part of regular building upkeep. And new buyers sometimes want the walls painted before their furniture arrives, while the suite is still empty and easy to work in from one end to the other.
In a condo, the finish is under close inspection. Big windows and pot lights throw raking light across smooth drywall, so any dent, ridge or patch shows. A good result has walls with an even sheen from every angle, straight lines where walls meet ceilings and bulkheads, and clean edges against window frames and floor-to-ceiling glass. Just as important is what happens outside the unit: no paint in the hallway, no marks on the elevator, and a plan that keeps the work out of your neighbours' way down the corridor.
Planning a condo job starts with the building, not the paint. We ask for the management office's requirements on elevator bookings, permitted work hours, parking for the work vehicle and hallway protection, then fit the schedule around them. For a single unit, a few clear photos or a short visit is usually enough to quote; for a building project we walk the common areas with the manager. The itemized quote lists each room or area with its preparation, colours, sheens and products, and you know who is coming into the unit before work starts.
Unit walls and ceilings
Living areas, bedrooms, dens and bathrooms, including bulkheads and ceilings. Smooth condo drywall is inspected under strong light, repaired and spot-primed, then given two or more finish coats, so walls look even next to large windows and rows of pot lights.
Accent and feature walls
A single wall in a deep colour behind a bed, sofa or dining table. Edges against ceilings, windows and neighbouring walls are cut in by hand, and dark shades are built up in enough coats to look solid and rich rather than thin, patchy or streaky.
Rental turnovers
Units repainted between tenants, timed around move-out and move-in dates. Nail holes, scuffs and marks left by furniture are repaired, walls go back to a neutral colour if you choose, and the suite is left clean and ready for showings or the next lease.
Common areas for managers
Corridors, lobbies, stairwells, amenity rooms and suite doors for property managers and boards. Work is phased by floor or area, and it can run on evenings and weekends where the building allows. Each floor's dates are set out in writing for residents.
How we paint a condo, step by step
The first job in any condo is protecting the building. Materials come up during the booked elevator time, with the elevator padded if management asks. The corridor floor outside the unit door is covered, and the door frame is shielded so ladders and trays do not chip it. Inside, furniture is pulled away from the walls and covered, flooring disappears under drop sheets, and outlet covers and switch plates come off. Anything that cannot leave the room, such as built-in shelving or window coverings, is masked before a brush is opened.
Ceilings go first. Flat condo ceilings get a brushed edge where they meet the wall, then one-way roller passes, while sprayed or textured ceilings are assessed beforehand because some do not take a roller well. On the walls, every dent, nail pop and drywall seam is filled, sanded and primed, then inspected again with a lamp held at a shallow angle. Edges along floor-to-ceiling glass, window returns and bulkheads are cut by hand, and the walls then receive two or more finish coats with proper drying time allowed between each one.
Trim and doors finish the job. Baseboards and door casings are cleaned, lightly sanded and caulked where gaps have opened, then brushed with a satin or semi-gloss enamel. Closet doors, including bifold and sliding doors, are painted on both faces where needed. When we pack up each afternoon, the unit is left in order and the corridor is clear. On the last day we check every wall and edge in the suite with you, plates go back on and every drop sheet, tray and can leaves the building through the booked elevator.
Reviews
What clients say
Why hire professionals
Why hire a painter for your condo unit
Condo painting is less about the paint than about everything around it. Buildings have rules, neighbours share the hallway, and smooth drywall shows every flaw. A painter who works in condos regularly handles those details, so the job stays within the rules and the finish holds up under bright light. Learn who we are and how long we have painted in Toronto.
Building rules handled
Elevator bookings, permitted work hours, hallway protection and whatever else the management office asks for are sorted out before the start date, so the job does not stall at the front desk.
Clean common areas
Corridor floors and door frames are protected, and the hallway is cleared every evening. Neighbours and building staff should see a tidy job, not drips on the carpet outside your door.
Wall flaws filled first
Condo drywall under big windows reveals every dent and seam. Careful filling, sanding and priming before the finish coats keeps those flaws from appearing once the sun swings round.
Less smell in shared air
Many units have limited ventilation and share air with the corridor. Zero‑VOC and low-odour paints keep smells down for you and your neighbours while the walls are being painted.
Work timed to your dates
Rental turnovers and pre-sale repaints usually come with fixed dates. A schedule agreed before the first day keeps the work in step with the move-out, the move-in or the listing.
Our process
How a condo painting project runs
Whether it is a single bedroom or a corridor repaint across several floors, the steps stay the same. The building's requirements are built into each one, so the work fits management's rules from the first day to the last.
Photos or a visit
For a small job, phone photos are usually enough; otherwise book a short visit for a full unit or common areas. We note wall condition, ceiling type, accent walls and the building's rules on hours and elevator use.
Colour and quote
Test shades against your own windows and flooring with real sample pots during a free colour consultation. Your written quote then itemizes rooms or areas, prep, colours, sheens and products, ready to share with management.
Booking with the building
Once you approve, the start date is confirmed with management along with the elevator booking. For building projects, a written schedule of floors and areas is provided so residents know when work will reach them.
Prep and painting
The corridor and suite are protected, repairs are filled, sanded and primed, and then ceilings, walls, trim and doors receive two or more finish coats. Unit and hallway are left orderly whenever we pack up for the day.
Walk-through
We go over every surface and edge in the unit or common area with you in good light. Plates and hardware go back, and every drop sheet, tray and can leaves the building during a booked elevator slot.
Ready to start?
Call (416) 710-4224 or send a few details and photos for a free, itemized quote.
Preparation
Preparing a condo unit and the hallway outside it
Building approvals
Before anything is scheduled, check your building's renovation or alteration rules. Painting is usually simple to approve, but most buildings still want notice, an elevator booking and confirmation of working hours. We work from those requirements, so pass along any forms or rules from the management office early.
Clearing the unit
Pack up ornaments, framed pictures, laptops and breakables, and leave dresser and shelf surfaces empty. Heavier furniture is moved away from the walls and covered by us. In compact units, furniture may be gathered in one room while another room is being painted.
Protecting corridors and floors
Hallway carpet or tile outside the door is covered, and the door frame is wrapped so ladders do not chip it. Inside, hardwood, laminate and tile are protected with drop sheets that stay flat, so nobody trips while moving through the unit during the work.
Repairing smooth drywall
Builder drywall in condos often has nail pops, seam ridges and dents from moving day. These are filled, sanded and spot-primed, then inspected under a strong light held close to the wall, because the large windows in most units expose anything that is left behind.
Masking glass and fixtures
Floor-to-ceiling glass, window frames, thermostats, intercom panels and built-in fixtures are masked or covered. Bulkheads and window returns are cleaned and prepared with the same care as the walls, since their edges are what catch the eye in a bright, open unit.
Products and finishes
Zero-VOC and low-odour paints
Condo units often have windows that open only partway and corridors that share air. Choosing a zero‑VOC or low-odour line limits the smell reaching you and the people next door, and they come in the common wall sheens, so choosing them does not narrow the look of the room.
Eggshell for living spaces
Eggshell gives living rooms and bedrooms a soft, even look with enough lustre to wipe away fingerprints. On smooth condo drywall it reveals slightly more than matte does, which is another reason the preparation underneath it has to be careful and thorough.
Satin for kitchens and baths
Kitchens, bathrooms and entry areas get steam, splashes and scuffs. A satin finish handles wiping and moisture far better than flat builder paint, while still looking calm next to the matte or eggshell walls in the rest of the unit.
Enamel for trim and doors
Baseboards, door casings, closet doors and suite entry doors are brushed with a hard-drying enamel in satin or semi-gloss. Doors and frames in corridors see constant traffic from residents, movers and carts, so a durable enamel matters there as much as inside the unit.
Service areas
Where we paint condos
In Toronto, condo painting covers everything from older concrete towers with larger suites and long corridors to the glass towers of downtown, Liberty Village, CityPlace and the waterfront, where units are compact and walls meet glass on one or more sides. Midtown buildings around Yonge and Eglinton, and the boutique mid-rises going up along main streets, each come with their own management rules. Stacked townhouses and loft conversions in former industrial buildings add brick, exposed ductwork and high ceilings to the mix, and each type of building changes how the work is planned.
Condo buildings are spread well beyond the city. In Peel Region, the towers around Mississauga City Centre and Port Credit hold everything from studios to large corner suites. York Region has growing condo communities in Vaughan's new downtown and along Highway 7 in Markham and Richmond Hill. Halton Region has mid-rise buildings in Oakville and Burlington near the lake, and Durham Region has newer condos in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. Wherever the building stands, the method stays the same, and only the management rules change.
Building rules
Condo rules, the seasons and painting a unit
Every condo corporation sets its own rules, and they shape the schedule more than the paint does. Most limit renovation work to weekday hours, require an elevator booking for materials, and ask that common area floors and walls be protected. Some want advance notice in writing. These rules are usually in the building's rules package or available from the management office. Sharing them at the quote stage means the start date is realistic and the front desk is expecting us when we arrive.
The seasons affect condos in their own way. In winter, units in older buildings can be very dry from building heat, while newer units with sealed windows can feel stuffy, and both change how paint dries. In summer, humid air slows drying and keeps odours lingering longer. Since many units only have windows that tilt or slide partway, zero‑VOC and low-odour paints, steady air movement from fans and a sensible gap between coats matter more here than in a detached house with front and back doors to open.
The city's condo stock also includes a large number of rented units, and turnovers between tenants are a frequent reason for a repaint. Landlords and rental managers often have only a short gap between one lease ending and the next starting, and the unit has to be painted, dry and clean for the new tenant or for listing photos. Owner-occupiers usually want the opposite: a calm pace, one room at a time, so the bed and the kitchen stay usable throughout. The schedule is built around whichever of these applies to your unit.
- Get the building's renovation rules from the management office
- Confirm permitted work hours and elevator booking requirements
- Decide on accent walls and test colours with sample pots
- Share move-out and move-in dates for a rental turnover
- Clear shelves, art and small items from the rooms first
What affects the cost of painting a condo
The size of the unit and the number of rooms are a start, but condos have their own factors. Ceiling height, bulkheads, the number of windows and the amount of glass to cut against all change the time spent on edges. Accent walls in deep colours need extra coats, and a big change from dark to light needs priming. Patching dents from furniture or marks from an old leak, and whether the ceilings are flat or textured, also matter, as do building rules that limit the working hours each day.
For common areas, the number of floors, corridor length, door count and any requirement for evening or weekend work shape the quote, and larger projects can be priced in phases. For a unit, the painting cost calculator gives a first rough range. Then send photos, or have us come by, and you receive a no-charge quote, written and itemized room by room or area by area, so you or the board can approve exactly the scope you want.
Price it before anyone visits
Pick the rooms and the work in our cost calculator for a ballpark range in about a minute.
Then ask for a free quote: written, itemized and free to change before work starts.
Projects
Recent condo painting projects
- Condo
- Downtown Toronto
Charcoal colour-drenched loft condo in King West, downtown Toronto
A loft condo in King West: drywall joints skimmed under raking light and deep-tone primer applied, then colour-drenched in charcoal, matte walls and satin trim.
- Condo
- Etobicoke
Corner suite repaint and clean-up at Humber Bay Shores, Etobicoke
A corner condo in Humber Bay Shores: drips sanded and navy and red walls primed, then repainted soft white with a pale warm grey den.
- Condo
- Burlington
Lakeside condo suite repaint near Brant Street in Burlington
A lakeside condo suite in downtown Burlington: window-return mildew cleaned and a ceiling leak stain sealed, then repainted pale warm grey with white trim.
Resources
Painting Guides and Resources
- Guide
Painting a Toronto condo: building rules, elevators and notice
Elevator bookings, work hours, notice, parking and odour. What to sort out with your condo building before the painters arrive, so the job runs on schedule.
- Guide
Choosing paint sheen room by room
Matte, eggshell, satin or semi-gloss? How sheen changes the way a wall looks, cleans and wears, and which finish suits each room in the house.
- Guide
How to prepare your home for painters: a checklist
A practical checklist for the weeks, days and morning before the painters arrive, inside and out, so the job starts on time and finishes without surprises.
Do you arrange the elevator booking with my building?
We work within your building's rules and coordinate with the management office. Usually the owner or tenant makes the elevator booking, since many buildings only accept requests from residents, and we confirm the dates and times with you so materials come up and go down in the booked slots. Working hours and hallway protection are agreed before the start date.
Can you paint my condo between tenants?
Yes. Rental turnovers are planned around the move-out and move-in dates. Nail holes and scuffs left by the last tenant are repaired, walls are repainted in the colour you choose, often a neutral that suits listing photos, and the unit is cleaned before the next tenant arrives. Let us know about lockbox or key access at the quote stage.
Is low-odour paint available for condos?
Yes. Zero‑VOC and low-odour formulas can go on any room you choose. That helps in units where windows only open partway and where the corridor air is shared with neighbours. They come in the usual wall and trim sheens, and the product chosen for each room is named on your written quote so there is no confusion on the day.
How long does it take to paint a condo unit?
It depends on the size of the unit, the number of colours and accent walls, how much patching the walls need, and the building's permitted working hours, which can shorten each day. Drying time between coats also plays a part. The written quote includes a schedule, so you know the start date and the order of rooms in advance.
Do you paint condo ceilings?
Yes. Flat ceilings are cut in at the wall and rolled in one direction to avoid lap marks. Sprayed or textured ceilings are looked at during the visit, because some textures loosen when rolled and need a different approach. Where a leak upstairs has left a water mark, that spot is sealed under stain-blocking primer so it cannot bleed into the new colour.
Can a property manager or board hire you for common areas?
Yes. For corridors, lobbies, stairwells and suite doors, the work is phased by floor or area and agreed with management. A written schedule is provided so residents can be told when work reaches their floor and what to expect, and we can talk with residents directly when timing needs adjusting. Evening and weekend work is possible where the building allows.
Does someone have to stay in the unit during the work?
No, as long as access is arranged with you and the building, many owners leave the unit during the day. If you work from home, rooms are painted in an order that keeps one space usable. Either way, you know who is coming to the unit ahead of time, and the unit is put back in order before we head out each day.
Which areas do you serve for condo painting?
Condo units and buildings across the city and the regions around it, including Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington and the Durham lakeshore towns. We are based at 18 King St E, close to many downtown towers, and quotes are free wherever your building is. Small jobs can often be quoted from photos alone.
Free quotes across the GTA
Let us plan your condo repaint
Send us the unit size, the rooms you want painted and your building's rules on hours and elevators. We will reply with next steps and a free quote in writing.