"What's it going to cost?" is the first question on every estimate call, so here's the honest version: published Ontario cost guides put professional painting in broad, predictable ranges, and then cottage country adds its own variables that can move a project meaningfully in either direction. This guide walks through both, so the written quote you eventually get (ours are free) makes sense line by line.
What are typical painting costs in Ontario?
Across Ontario, published price guides and contractor surveys generally land in these ranges. Treat them as orientation, not a quote, every building is different, and Muskoka properties often sit outside city averages for reasons covered below.
| Project type | Typical published range |
|---|---|
| Interior painting | $2.50 – $4.50 per sq ft of floor area |
| Exterior painting | $2.25 – $4.00+ per sq ft of wall area |
| Single room (walls, standard size) | $400 – $1,000 |
| Kitchen cabinet refinishing | $4,000 – $10,000 per kitchen |
| Deck staining | $2 – $5 per sq ft |
What makes a cottage cost more (or less) to paint?
- Surface condition: the biggest factor everywhere. Peeling, chalking, or bare weathered wood needs hours of washing, scraping, sanding, and priming before colour. Prep is most of the labour on older cottages.
- Height and terrain: walls rising off sloped granite, walkout basements facing the lake, and tall gable ends need staging that flat suburban lots don't.
- Access: water-access and island cottages add boat or barge logistics; we plan materials so nothing gets stranded, but the time is real and belongs in the quote.
- Wood species and coating type: log and cedar want penetrating stains and more careful prep than painted clapboard; previously painted surfaces converting to stain need stripping.
- Complexity and colour count: board-and-batten with contrasting trim, shutters, and multiple accent colours takes longer than one colour on smooth siding.
- Season and scheduling: the exterior window is short (roughly May–October), and compressed timelines around cottage season can affect scheduling.
How does a written painting quote work?
A proper quote is itemized: what gets washed, what gets scraped and primed, which product and sheen goes on each surface, how many coats, and what's excluded. If a quote is a single number on a text message, you're not comparing apples to apples. We walk the property (or work from photos for remote owners), then send a written scope: free, no obligation, and honest about what we'd skip as much as what we'd do.
Common questions
Why do painting quotes vary so much between companies?
Almost always prep. One quote includes washing, scraping, sanding, priming, and two coats of premium product; another includes a rinse and one coat of builder-grade paint. The cheap quote usually costs more per year of finish life.
Is HST included in painting quotes?
Quotes in Ontario are typically plus HST, shown as its own line. Ours are, so there are no surprises when the invoice comes.
Can you quote from photos if I'm not at the cottage?
Yes: a set of photos and rough dimensions gets you a solid preliminary number, which we confirm on site before work starts. It's how most of our remote and seasonal owners begin.
Does painting it myself actually save money?
On a small interior room, often yes. On a lakeside exterior with staging, weathered wood, and a short season, DIY savings usually vanish into equipment rental, product mistakes, and redone work, and falls off ladders are a real cost too.