Hi, I’m Mike, owner of Royal Home Painters. After decades of painting condos across Toronto, from downtown high-rises to quiet spots in Etobicoke and North York, I’ve seen how a simple paint job can go wrong. A fresh coat of paint seems easy, but condo living has its own set of rules and challenges.
This guide shares my personal experience to help you avoid the most common condo painting mistakes I see homeowners and even inexperienced painters make. Understanding these pitfalls is the first step toward a flawless finish that you’ll love.
Key Takeaways: Condo Painting Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t Ignore Condo Rules: Always get permission from your condo board before starting. They have specific rules about timing, elevator use, and even paint types.
- Never Skip Prep Work: This is the #1 mistake. Cleaning, sanding, and patching are essential for a lasting finish.
- Choose the Right Paint: Low-quality paint leads to scuffs, poor coverage, and needing to repaint sooner. Use premium, low-VOC paint.
- Address Moisture First: Painting over damp walls in bathrooms or kitchens guarantees peeling and can lead to mould.
- Don’t Forget the Details: Ignoring trim, baseboards, and ceilings makes the whole job look unfinished.
- Be Careful with Popcorn Ceilings: Painting them with regular paint can make them peel. It’s a tricky job that often costs more to fix later.
- Hire a Vetted Pro: Choosing the cheapest painter often leads to costly repairs. Look for insured, experienced professionals with a warranty.
1. Ignoring Your Condo Board’s Rules
This is a colossal mistake specific to condo living. Unlike a detached house, you can’t just start painting whenever you want. Condo corporations in Toronto, Scarborough, and North York have strict rules to protect the building and its residents.
I heard a story from a condo unit owner in downtown Toronto. He hired a painter to paint the condo unit, who started work on a weekday morning without booking the service elevator. The building management shut down the job immediately, fined the owner, and the painter had to pack up. The project was delayed by two weeks, and the owner was out of pocket before a single wall was finished.
I recommend reading our blog post on the Condo Painting Checklist in Toronto.
Why Condo Rules Matter
Ignoring the rules can lead to:
- Fines: Imposed by the condo corporation.
- Work Stoppages: Management can halt your project.
- Conflicts: Issues with neighbours over noise or paint fumes in hallways.
Our Personal Experience: The Elevator Fiasco
We were scheduled to paint a beautiful condo in Etobicoke. We always coordinate with building management, but the client forgot to submit the final paperwork to book the service elevator. We arrived with our crew and equipment, ready to go, but couldn’t bring anything up. It caused a day’s delay and a rescheduling fee for the client. It taught us to triple-check that clients have confirmed all bookings in writing. It’s a simple step that avoids major headaches.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
- Read Your Condo Bylaws: Find the section on renovations and alterations.
- Contact Property Management: Ask them for their “painting package” or rules.
- Book the Service Elevator: Do this well in advance for the days you’ll need it.
- Inform Your Painter: Share all the rules with the company you hire so they can comply.
2. Skipping or Rushing Prep Work
The most significant difference between a flawless paint job and one that fails in a year is the prep work. In my decades of experience, rushing this step is the most costly of all condo painting mistakes.
It’s tempting to start painting right away, but you’re just painting over problems. Condo walls in places like North York and Scarborough see a lot of wear and tear. You must fix imperfections first.
A client in North York called us to fix a job that another company had done just six months earlier. The paint was flaking off in sheets. The previous painter had applied a latex paint directly over a glossy, oil-based trim without sanding or priming. It was a guaranteed failure and ended up costing the owner twice to fix. Make sure you read our blog post about hiring trusted condo painters in Toronto first.
Actionable Steps for Flawless Prep
This is what our award-winning team does on every project:
- Thorough Cleaning: Walls must be washed to remove dust and grease.
- Sanding and Smoothing: Glossy surfaces must be scuffed so the new paint can grip.
- Patching Imperfections: We fill all nail holes, cracks, and dents, then sand them smooth.
- Strategic Priming: A quality primer covers dark colours and stains, ensuring a uniform final coat.
Proper preparation is detailed and time-consuming, but it’s the only way to get a professional result. Don’t let your painter cut corners here.
3. Using Low-Quality Paint & Wrong Sheen
Choosing budget paint to save a few dollars is a classic false economy. In my years of painting high-rises from Liberty Village to Vaughan, I’ve seen the long-term price of cheap paint. It just doesn’t last.
Low-quality paint requires more coats and is more susceptible to scuffs and stains. In a condo with less ventilation, using a cheap paint with high VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can also harm your indoor air quality.
Why Premium Paint is a Smart Investment
We were recently called to a condo in Markham where the owner had used cheap, big-box-store paint for their bathroom. Dark mildew spots were already blooming around the shower. The paint had no moisture resistance. Using a proper kitchen-and-bath formula would have prevented this entirely.
Actionable Steps for Choosing the Right Paint
- Invest in Trusted Brands: Stick with proven brands like Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams.
- Choose the Right Finish: An eggshell or satin finish is ideal for high-traffic areas. It’s durable and washable.
- Use Specialized Formulas: For bathrooms and kitchens, always use a mildew-resistant paint.
- Prioritize Low-VOC or Zero-VOC: In an enclosed condo, low- or zero-VOC paints are essential for better air quality.
For more guidance, check out our list of the five best interior paints for your home that we trust for professional results.
4. Painting Over Popcorn Ceilings Incorrectly
This is a particular but disastrous mistake I’ve seen in many older Toronto condos. Popcorn ceilings are delicate, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can ruin them.
A few years ago, a client in Scarborough told us about his experience with another painter. He wanted to freshen up his unit, including the popcorn ceilings. The painter just rolled standard water-based latex paint directly onto the ceiling. Within an hour, huge sheets of the popcorn texture started to peel off and fall to the floor. The water in the paint dissolved the texture. It was a complete disaster.
Our Professional Experience with Popcorn Ceilings
The truth is, we generally advise against painting popcorn ceilings. If you ever want to remove the texture and flatten the ceiling in the future, it will cost nearly double if it’s been painted. The paint seals the texture, making it incredibly difficult and labour-intensive to scrape off.
If you absolutely must paint it, it has to be done correctly:
- Use an Oil-Based Primer: An oil-based or shellac-based primer must be sprayed on first. This seals the texture without using water, so it won’t dissolve.
- Apply a Top Coat: After the oil primer is fully cured, apply one or two coats of ceiling paint.
It’s a complex process that requires expertise. One wrong move can lead to a costly repair job.
5. Ignoring Moisture and Humidity Issues
Painting over a damp wall is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken bone. It might look fine for a moment, but the problem will come back, often worse than before. This is one of the most destructive condo painting mistakes I see.
Condo bathrooms and kitchens are ground zero for humidity. Painting over this dampness traps the water, leading to bubbling, peeling, and even mould growth behind the paint.
We were once called to a condo in Markham where the owner was frustrated with her bathroom paint peeling for the third time. She blamed the paint, but a quick inspection showed the real culprit: a broken exhaust fan. Until the ventilation was fixed, no paint would ever last.
Actionable Steps to Manage Moisture
- Inspect and Repair: Check for any signs of leaks and fix them first.
- Improve Ventilation: Ensure bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are working correctly.
- Use the Right Products: Apply a moisture-resistant or mould-inhibiting primer before your top coat.
- Allow for Full Drying: If you’ve repaired a leak, let the wall dry completely for several days before painting.
Moisture issues can also lead to mould, which poses significant health concerns. Before painting, it’s wise to understand the truth about mold contamination, its health risks, and prevention tips.
6. Picking the Wrong Colour from a Tiny Swatch
Picking a paint colour seems fun, but it’s where many condo projects go wrong. I’ve seen countless homeowners in downtown Toronto choose a colour from a tiny paper swatch, only to be shocked when it’s on all four walls.
Condo lighting is tricky. A colour that looked perfect in the store can look completely different under the LED pot lights in your Vaughan condo or with the natural light from a wall of windows.
We were called to an Etobicoke condo where the owner painted their north-facing living room a trendy charcoal grey. The room received little natural light and felt like a cave. We had to re-prime and repaint with a lighter, softer grey to make it feel inviting.
Actionable Steps for Perfect Colour Choices
- Test on Your Walls: Paint large sample squares on the actual walls and observe them at different times of the day.
- Consider Your Finishes: Hold samples against your flooring, kitchen cabinets, and countertops.
- Factor in Lighting: Check how the colour looks in both natural daylight and with your artificial lights on at night.
- Think Holistically: Ensure the colour flows well with adjacent rooms. For ideas, please read our blog about Small Condo Colours in Toronto.
7. Hiring the Wrong Painter
Choosing a painter based on the lowest price alone is one of the most common and regrettable condo painting mistakes. An unbelievably cheap quote often means they are cutting corners somewhere.
This can mean:
- No Insurance or WSIB: If a worker gets injured in your unit, you could be held liable.
- Using Cheap Materials: They use low-quality paint and tools that won’t last.
- Rushing Prep Work: They skip the crucial steps of cleaning, sanding, and priming.
- No Warranty: When the paint starts peeling in six months, they will be nowhere to be found.
Protect Your Investment
A professional painting company might have a higher upfront cost, but you are paying for peace of mind. At Royal Home Painters, we are fully insured with WSIB coverage, offer a lifetime warranty on interior painting, and have hundreds of satisfied clients across the GTA. We take the time to do the job right, from meticulous prep to the final cleanup.
Pro Tips by Mike at Royal Home Painters
Here are a few insider tips from my years of experience that you won’t find everywhere:
- Check Your Grout Lines: Before painting a bathroom, look at the grout lines in your shower. If they are dark or mouldy, that moisture might also be in your drywall. Fix the source of the humidity before you paint.
- The “Light Trick” for Imperfections: After patching and sanding, hold a bright flashlight parallel to the wall. Shine it across the surface. This will reveal any tiny bumps or uneven spots in your patches that the naked eye might miss. Sand them down for a perfectly smooth finish.
- Paint Your Vents: Don’t paint around the plastic air vents. Carefully remove them, paint them separately with a spray paint designed for plastic (like Krylon Fusion), and reinstall them when dry. It makes the wall look much cleaner and more professional.
Get Your Toronto Condo Painted Right the First Time
Avoiding the common condo painting mistakes we’ve discussed is the key to achieving a beautiful, long-lasting finish. A successful condo painting project isn’t just about colour; it’s a systematic approach that respects your home and investment.
From Mistake to Masterpiece: Your Next Steps
You now know to sidestep the most common pitfalls. The difference between a stressful project and a smooth transformation often comes down to experience and planning.
At Royal Home Painters, my team and I have spent decades perfecting our process for condos across the GTA, including Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, and Richmond Hill. We handle everything, from booking elevators to ensuring proper ventilation and protecting your property.
If you want a flawless, stress-free paint job that comes with the peace of mind of a lifetime interior warranty, let’s talk.
Ready for a change? Please send us photos of your space for a quick, no-obligation quote or book your free in-person estimate today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I really need to get permission from my condo board to paint?
Yes, almost always. Most Toronto and GTA condo corporations require you to notify them, book a service elevator, and follow specific rules regarding work hours and common area protection. Skipping this step can lead to fines and work stoppages.
2. What is the best type of paint for a condo?
We recommend premium-quality, low-VOC or zero-VOC acrylic latex paint. For walls in living areas and bedrooms, an eggshell finish is great for durability and washability. For high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens, a satin or semi-gloss paint with mildew-resistant properties is essential.
3. How can I avoid making a mess in my small condo space?
Proper protection is key. A professional painter will cover all floors with drop cloths, wrap furniture in plastic, and seal off doorways to contain dust. Using low-VOC paints also minimizes the strong paint smell, making the process more comfortable.
4. My condo has popcorn ceilings. Should I paint them?
We generally advise against it. Painting popcorn ceilings can cause the texture to peel off if done incorrectly. It also makes future removal much more difficult and expensive. If you must paint them, you will need a special oil-based primer and a professional application to avoid disaster.
5. How much should condo painting cost in Toronto?
The cost varies based on the size of your unit, the number of rooms, the amount of prep work required (wall repairs, etc.), and the quality of paint used. It’s best to get a detailed, in-person estimate. Be cautious of extremely low quotes, as they often signal cutting corners. At Royal Home Painters, we provide free, no-obligation estimates.
