By the Maple Coat Painting team · Updated
Painting a rental between tenants in Ottawa
Every day a unit sits empty costs rent. The fastest turnover is one where the price is known before the old tenant has left. Our prices are published, so you can budget the paint before you even see the unit.
Empty-unit prices
Walls, two coats, one colour, paint included, before HST:
| Room | Empty unit | (Lived-in, for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $715 | $795 |
| Medium | $930 | $1,035 |
| Large | $1,145 | $1,270 |
Empty is cheaper because there's no furniture to move and protect.
Turnover choices that keep costs down
- One neutral colour throughout. Walls-only prices include four stock whites. No colour decisions, easy touch-ups between tenants.
- Ceilings only where needed. A ceiling is $320 / $395 / $480; a stained one may need the stain treatment ($119 / $145 / $180).
- Trim in high-traffic units. Trim and doors is $240 / $300 / $360 per room.
Landlord's checklist
- Book the paint as soon as notice is given, with photos from the move-out inspection.
- Note every hole bigger than a loonie. Those aren't part of our standard service; minor filling is.
- Confirm heat and power stay on.
- Check building rules on elevators and trades hours (condos).
- Leave the unit empty and broom-clean.
- Keep the labelled touch-up container we leave for next time.
Older buildings
Homes built before 1960 get a lead paint check before any sanding.
Once we've checked your photos, your price is locked. After you book, it never goes up unless you ask for more work or the crew finds hidden damage, and then you can say no and keep the original scope at the original price.
Get your turnover price
Related: vacant home painting and Centretown condos.
Questions from Ottawa homeowners
What does it cost to paint an empty unit?
Empty-home prices: $715 small, $930 medium, $1,145 large, walls two coats one colour, paint included, before HST.
Do I need to be there?
No. Access between 8 AM and 6 PM on the scheduled day, working electricity and heat, and parking within about 50 metres (or disclosed before checkout) are our standard conditions.
Can you quote without seeing the unit?
Yes. Send three guided phone photos per room; a person checks them before anything is scheduled.
What about holes left by tenants?
Up to about a dozen small holes and dents per room are included. More is a flat minor-prep line: $80 / $105 / $130 by room size.
Can you paint the whole building?
We only do residential painting right now, so whole buildings and commercial work aren't something we take on. We paint individual units, priced per unit.
Ready for a price on your Ottawa rooms?