Recent Paint IQ Answers

Is there a mould-resistant paint that actually works long-term in Vancouver bathrooms and basements?

Yes, there are mould-resistant paints that work well in Metro Vancouver's humid conditions, but they're not magic bullet...

Is it worth staining the fence on both sides or just our side in our Coquitlam backyard?

For maximum protection and longevity, staining both sides of your fence is absolutely worth the investment, especially i...

How do I know if my 1960s home in South Vancouver has lead paint without hiring a professional tester?

You can test for lead paint yourself using DIY lead test kits available at most Metro Vancouver hardware stores for $15–...

Surface Preparation

How much extra does extensive surface preparation add to the cost of an exterior paint job in Metro Vancouver?

Extensive surface preparation can add 40-80% to the base cost of an exterior paint job in Metro Vancouver, potentially i...

How long does a professional cabinet painting project actually take, and how much will it disrupt our kitchen?

This is one of the first questions Vancouver homeowners ask, and it's smart to plan for it realistically. A professional...

What cabinet colours are trending right now in Vancouver kitchens?

Vancouver kitchen colour trends have shifted noticeably over the past couple of years, moving away from the stark white...

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We want to paint our laminate kitchen cabinets — is this even possible or will it just peel off?

Painting laminate cabinets is absolutely possible and it's become one of the most popular kitchen updates in Metro Vanco...

What kind of prep and hardware changes should I plan for when getting my cabinets professionally painted?

Proper preparation is what separates a cabinet paint job that lasts a decade from one that chips within a year. Here's w...

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My garage floor paint is peeling off in sheets — what went wrong and how do I fix it?

Garage floor paint failure is extremely common in Metro Vancouver, and the root cause is almost always moisture. Our cli...

Can I paint my bathroom vanity myself, or should I hire someone? It's an older oak one that looks really dated?

Refinishing an older oak bathroom vanity is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make for relatively little cost,...

How do I touch up the trim paint on my house without it looking patchy?

Touching up trim paint so it blends seamlessly takes a bit more care than most homeowners expect, but it's absolutely do...

The paint on the south side of my house is fading way faster than the rest — what can I do about it?

South-facing walls in Metro Vancouver take a beating from UV exposure, especially during our long summer days when we ge...

We painted our kitchen cabinets two years ago and they're already showing wear — how do I maintain them?

Painted kitchen cabinets take more daily abuse than almost any other painted surface in your home, so some wear after tw...

Do we have to disclose lead paint to buyers when selling our older home in East Vancouver?

In British Columbia, sellers have a legal obligation under the Property Law Act and common law to disclose known latent...

Is it safe to just paint over lead paint in our older Vancouver home instead of removing it?

Painting over lead paint — known as encapsulation — is actually an accepted and often preferred approach when the existi...

What should I include in an annual paint inspection checklist for my Vancouver home?

Vancouver's wet climate makes an annual paint inspection essential to catch problems before they become costly repairs....

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We're planning to renovate our Vancouver home and have a toddler — what precautions should our painter take with possible lead paint?

Renovating with a toddler in a home that may contain lead paint requires serious precautions, as young children are the...

What qualifications should a Vancouver painting contractor have if they're going to deal with lead paint removal?

In Metro Vancouver, a painting contractor handling lead paint removal needs specific qualifications beyond a standard pa...

We want to repaint our Kitsilano character home with sustainable paint — what should we budget for?

Repainting a character home in Kitsilano with sustainable, low-VOC or zero-VOC exterior paint typically runs between $8,...

Can I get recycled or reclaimed paint for a garage or workshop project in Metro Vancouver?

Yes, recycled and reclaimed paint is available in Metro Vancouver and it's an excellent budget-friendly and environmenta...

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Our 1940s home in Mount Pleasant probably has lead paint — how do we know for sure?

Given that your Mount Pleasant home was built in the 1940s, there's a very high probability it contains lead paint. Lead...

What eco-friendly paint options are best for painting a nursery in our Vancouver home?

For a nursery in your Vancouver home, you want paints with zero or near-zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to protec...

How should I dispose of leftover paint cans after our house painting project in Burnaby?

In Burnaby and across Metro Vancouver, leftover paint is classified as a household hazardous waste and must never go in...

Are there any certifications I should look for when hiring an eco-friendly painter in the Vancouver area?

When hiring an eco-friendly painter in Metro Vancouver, several certifications and credentials signal genuine environmen...

We have a heritage church in Vancouver that needs interior and exterior painting. Are there special rules or techniques we need to follow?

Heritage churches in Vancouver come with specific requirements that go well beyond a standard commercial paint job. If y...

I manage a strip mall in Langley and want to repaint the entire exterior to refresh the look. Do I need my tenants' permission and how much should I budget?

As the property owner of a strip mall in Langley, you generally do not need tenant permission to repaint the building ex...

What kind of epoxy or coating system works best for a commercial kitchen floor in Vancouver, and what are the health and safety requirements?

Commercial kitchen floors in Vancouver need a coating system that handles constant moisture, grease, thermal shock from...

We're looking at epoxy floor coatings for our warehouse in Surrey. How long does it take and can we keep operating during the install?

Epoxy floor coating for a commercial warehouse in Surrey typically takes five to ten working days depending on the size...

How long does a tenant improvement painting job usually take in a Vancouver office space, and what should I know before scheduling it?

Tenant improvement painting timelines in Metro Vancouver depend heavily on the scope, but a typical 2,000 to 5,000 squar...

Our condo building in New Westminster needs a full exterior repaint as part of the building envelope maintenance. What's involved and what does it cost?

A full exterior repaint on a condo building in New Westminster is a significant project that typically falls under build...

Our strata council needs to repaint the hallways and lobby in a 120-unit highrise in Burnaby. What should we budget and how do we minimize disruption to residents?

Repainting common area hallways and lobbies in a 120-unit Metro Vancouver highrise typically runs $35,000 to $65,000 dep...

How much does parking garage line marking and floor coating cost in Vancouver, and do we need to follow any specific regulations?

Parking garage line marking in Metro Vancouver typically costs $1.50 to $3.50 per linear foot for standard traffic paint...

We manage a commercial building in Gastown and keep dealing with graffiti on our storefront. Are anti-graffiti coatings actually worth it?

Anti-graffiti coatings are absolutely worth it for Gastown and other high-traffic Vancouver commercial areas like Chinat...

What are fire-rated coatings and does our Vancouver commercial building actually need them?

Fire-rated coatings, also called intumescent coatings, are specialized paints that expand when exposed to extreme heat,...

What's the best approach for painting deck and porch railings? Ours are peeling badly after just two winters?

Peeling railings after only two winters is unfortunately common in Metro Vancouver, and it usually comes down to inadequ...

Our deck looks terrible after this past winter - grey, mouldy, and some boards are rough. Can it be restored or do we need to replace it?

After a typical Vancouver winter of relentless rain and limited sunshine, most untreated or poorly maintained wood decks...

We have a gazebo in our backyard that hasn't been stained in years. The wood is all grey and mossy. What should we do?

Neglected gazebos are very common in Metro Vancouver, partly because they are often tucked under trees or in shaded corn...

Is it worth staining the underside of my elevated deck? I can see the joists and beams from my patio below and they're starting to look rough?

Staining the underside of an elevated deck is something many Vancouver homeowners overlook, but it can be a smart invest...

We just had a new pergola built with cedar posts and beams. What's the best way to stain it in this climate?

Cedar pergolas are a West Coast staple, and finishing them properly from the start will save you years of maintenance he...

Should I paint or stain my cedar fence? My neighbour says paint lasts longer but I'm not sure what works best here?

This is one of the most common questions homeowners in Metro Vancouver face, and the answer depends on the look you want...

How long should I wait before staining my new pressure-treated deck? We just had it built last month?

This is a question that trips up a lot of Vancouver homeowners, and getting the timing wrong can mean wasted money and p...

Our south-facing deck gets absolutely blasted by sun all summer. What UV protection actually works for wood decks in Vancouver?

South-facing decks in Metro Vancouver face a unique double challenge. They get intense UV exposure from May through Sept...

My cedar hot tub surround is looking rough after a few years. How should I refinish it without damaging anything?

Cedar hot tub surrounds take a beating in Metro Vancouver. Between constant steam and splash exposure, chlorine or bromi...

Do I really need moisture-resistant paint in my Vancouver kitchen or is regular paint fine?

In a Metro Vancouver kitchen, moisture-resistant paint is strongly recommended. Our coastal climate already brings high...

I'm repainting my condo in New Westminster and want to skip the primer. When is that actually okay?

Skipping primer is perfectly fine in certain situations, but it can be a costly mistake in others. Here is when you can...

What type of paint holds up best on exterior wood siding here in Vancouver with all the rain?

For Vancouver's relentless rain and high humidity, a 100% acrylic latex paint is the best choice for exterior wood sidin...

Are there special paints for high-humidity areas like our laundry room and ensuite? We live in North Vancouver?

Absolutely, and in North Vancouver where you already deal with higher rainfall and humidity from the North Shore mountai...

Do I need to stain or seal my composite deck in Vancouver, or is it truly maintenance-free?

Composite decking is often marketed as maintenance-free, but that is not entirely accurate in Metro Vancouver's wet clim...

Should I use alkyd or acrylic paint for my interior trim and baseboards?

This is one of the most debated topics in painting, and both options have clear strengths. Traditional alkyd (oil-based)...