
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A House In Edmonton?
Homeowners in Edmonton ask this question every spring. They want real numbers, straight answers, and a clear path from flaking paint to a fresh, durable exterior. The short answer: most single-family exterior paint jobs in Edmonton land between $3,500 and $12,000, with townhomes and smaller bungalows often at the lower end and larger two-storey homes, detailed heritage houses, or homes with significant prep needs at the higher end. The long answer depends on size, siding type, height, access, paint quality, and prep work. This article breaks down those factors, shares local pricing ranges, and explains where money is best spent for Edmonton’s freeze-thaw cycles and UV exposure.
Depend Exteriors provides exterior painting services Edmonton homeowners rely on for durable results. The team has worked on everything from 1950s stucco bungalows in Capilano to new Hardie homes in Windermere. The numbers and advice below come from that day-to-day experience.
Typical Price Ranges in Edmonton
For a standard detached home in Edmonton, expect these ballpark ranges for exterior painting. These ranges assume two coats on previously painted surfaces, average prep, and mid-to-high quality paint suitable for Edmonton’s climate.
- Small bungalow (800 to 1,200 sq. ft. footprint): $3,500 to $6,000
- Mid-size two-storey (1,400 to 2,000 sq. ft. footprint): $5,500 to $9,500
- Large two-storey or custom home (2,200+ sq. ft. footprint): $8,000 to $14,000
Key drivers that push a quote up or down include siding material, height and roof complexity, the level of surface repair, and whether trim, soffits, fascia, and doors are included. Homes that need extensive scraping, caulking, and priming will sit at the upper end even if the footprint is smaller.
How Siding Material Affects Cost
Different exterior materials demand different prep methods, primers, and application techniques. That directly affects labour hours and paint usage.
Stucco is common across Edmonton, from Avonmore to Glenora. Hairline cracking shows up after winter. If the stucco is sound and previously painted, washing, minor patching, and a high-build elastomeric or acrylic coating typically suffice. Pricing often falls mid-range, because spray application speeds coverage, but patching and masking add time. Fresh stucco needs proper curing time. Painting too soon can trap moisture and cause blistering. A professional will check the age and alkalinity before recommending a system.
Wood siding and trim look great but need more prep. Edmonton’s dry winters and strong sun make wood checks and nail heads visible. Expect scraping, sanding feather-edges, spot-priming bare wood with an oil or bonding primer, and thorough caulking. Labour drives cost here. Budget on the higher side if there is peeling on the south and west elevations, which take the hardest UV hit.
Hardie board and other fiber cement products paint well and hold colour for a long time with the right primer and paint. The surface is stable, so after washing and minor caulking, application moves quickly. Costs tend to be moderate unless the design includes heavy trim details or three-storey gables that require staging.
Vinyl siding has limits. Painting vinyl is possible but requires vinyl-safe colours and specific vinyl-safe paint formulations to avoid heat warping. Colour choice matters more than most realize. Going darker than the original can cause warping in summer. Many owners repaint vinyl in a similar shade and focus fresh, contrasting colours on trim and doors. Costs are often lower due to faster application, but careful colour planning is essential.
Metal surfaces like aluminum siding and gutters need degreasing, chalk removal, and an appropriate primer. Adhesion tests are a smart step on older siding. Pricing is usually moderate, with thorough washing and masking making up most of the prep time.
Labour vs. Materials: Where Your Money Goes
On most exterior painting services Edmonton homeowners book, labour is 60% to 75% Depend Exteriors of the invoice. Prep work eats the largest share. Proper washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, patching, masking, priming, and safe access setup take time. The application phase is generally faster, especially when a sprayer is used on broad surfaces.
Materials account for roughly 25% to 40%, depending on surface type and paint tier. A typical Edmonton home uses 10 to 25 gallons across body, trim, and doors. Higher-end elastomeric coatings for stucco and premium acrylics for wood and Hardie raise material costs but extend repaint cycles. Spending an extra $300 to $600 on better paint often adds two to four extra years before the next repaint, which reduces lifetime cost.
Height, Access, and Safety
A two-storey home with steep rooflines and dormers in Terwillegar or Summerside requires more ladder moves, scaffold, or a boom lift for the high gables and chimneys. If trees are tight to the house or terrain slopes, setup time increases. Expect an access surcharge of $300 to $1,500 on projects that need specialized gear, especially for three-storey walkouts or homes backing onto ravines. Safety cannot be rushed. Fall protection, tie-offs, and controlled work zones are part of the job and show up in labour hours.
What Prep Really Costs (and Why It’s Worth It)
Edmonton’s climate exposes paint failures quickly. Freeze-thaw cycles force moisture behind weak paint and lift it. Spending on prep is the best insurance against early failure.
A thorough exterior prep process usually includes washing with a low-pressure rinse and a mild detergent, scraping any loose paint, sanding edges to a smooth transition, priming bare spots, caulking gaps at trim joints and penetrations, patching stucco cracks, and masking windows, lights, and landscaping. On an average two-storey home, proper prep adds 20 to 40 labour hours. That is a meaningful part of the estimate, but it keeps new paint bonded and uniform.
A common Edmonton example: the south-facing elevation shows widespread peeling on old wood trim, while the north side looks decent. Skipping the extra prep on the south will guarantee lifting within a year. Addressing the worst side correctly adds a few hours now and saves a redo later.
How Colour Choice Influences Price
Colour is personal, but it has technical consequences. Deep, saturated colours often need a special primer or an extra coat to reach full coverage, especially over a contrasting base. That can add $200 to $600 in paint and labour. Bright whites on stucco sometimes need a tint in the primer to avoid shadowing or flashing. If a client plans a major colour shift, a tinted primer reduces topcoat usage and evens the finish.
For vinyl, colour must be within the safe lightness range to avoid heat build-up. For Hardie or wood, darker colours absorb more heat and can show lap marks if the wrong technique is used on hot days. A professional crew plans the sequence and timing to prevent that.
Seasonal Timing in Edmonton
Exterior painting season usually runs from late May through early September. Daytime highs need to stay above 10°C during application and drying, and nights must avoid frost. Spring bookings fill fast, and late-summer slots tend to be in demand. Clients who schedule early often secure better timing and avoid rush premiums. Paint chemistry has improved for low-temperature application, but painting close to the limits risks extended dry times and dust pickup.
Rain, smoke, or wind can delay work. Most crews build a weather buffer into the schedule. Quotes generally assume standard weather. If sustained rain forces repeated remobilization, a schedule extension may occur, but the scope cost remains unless extra trips become significant. Depend Exteriors communicates delays clearly and re-sequences elevations to keep momentum.
Breaking Down a Realistic Edmonton Quote
A typical mid-size two-storey in Westmount with painted stucco and wood trim might see a quote like this:
- Wash and prep: light crack repairs on stucco, scrape and prime trim, caulk joints
- Materials: elastomeric/acrylic for stucco body, premium acrylic for trim and doors
- Application: spray and back-roll stucco, brush and roll trim
- Scope: body, trim, soffits, fascia, two exterior doors, three metal railings
That project often lands around $6,500 to $9,000 depending on crack density, height, and whether the soffits are vented aluminum that need careful masking. If the home needs large stucco patching or colour change from tan to cool white, the number moves toward the upper end.
A smaller Ottewell bungalow with previously painted stucco and simple trim might come in around $4,200 to $5,500 with a body and trim refresh, minimal patching, and two door colours.
A tall Windermere custom with Hardie siding, three-storey rear elevation, extensive trim, and dark accent colour can reach $10,000 to $14,000, mostly due to access complexity and detail work.
Paint Quality: What’s Worth Paying For
Edmonton’s UV exposure and temperature swing reward higher-quality acrylic and urethane-modified acrylics. On stucco, high-build elastomeric products bridge hairline cracks and offer better water resistance while remaining vapor-permeable. On wood and Hardie, a premium 100% acrylic exterior paint provides better adhesion, colour retention, and flexibility. Cheaper paints can chalk and fade faster, especially on sunny elevations, and often need repainting sooner.
A practical rule: choose mid-to-high grade products from reputable manufacturers, match the primer to the substrate and condition, and follow the specified spread rate and dry times. A lower-grade paint can save a few hundred dollars upfront but may reduce the repaint cycle by several years. Over a 12-year window, premium paint usually costs less.
How Many Coats Do You Really Need?
Two coats remain the standard for uniform colour and film build. One coat can work for same-colour refreshes on well-maintained surfaces, but it leaves little margin for wear and UV fade. Two coats add durability and protect against minor application inconsistencies. If coverage after the first coat looks uneven, the second coat solves it; a third is rarely necessary unless covering a very strong colour or dealing with porous, patched stucco.
Warranty and What It Means in Edmonton
Most reputable painters offer a workmanship warranty of two to five years. Paint manufacturers often list longer periods for product performance, but climate and substrate condition matter. A meaningful warranty specifies coverage for peeling and blistering due to adhesion failure, not damage from standing water, ice dams, or structural movement. Reading the fine print helps. Depend Exteriors provides clear, written terms, and returns to inspect and address issues that fit the warranty. That clarity is part of why clients in Crestwood and Ritchie call back for new projects.
Add-Ons That Affect Price
Scope creep is real on exteriors, and some additions make sense while the crew is on site. Common add-ons include staining wood decks or fences, repainting detached garages, replacing failed caulk around windows, and painting foundation parging. Each adds a modest line item, and bundling them during the main project cuts mobilization costs.
A note on parging: painting parging with the right breathable coating can tidy a façade, but it must be clean and dry. If the parging is failing, repair or replacement comes before paint. Depend Exteriors also handles parging and stucco repairs, which keeps scheduling tight and avoids gaps between trades.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro in Edmonton
DIY can save money on small projects, but exterior painting demands ladders, safe access, spray equipment know-how, and a strong understanding of substrate prep. Missed steps lead to early failure. A homeowner might spend $800 to $1,500 on paint and supplies for a small bungalow, along with several weekends of work. If that finish peels within two winters, the actual cost doubles. A professional crew finishes in a few days with better adhesion, cleaner lines, and a warranty. For multi-storey homes, hiring a pro is the sensible choice for safety alone.
How to Get a Fair, Accurate Quote
Estimates work best with a quick site visit. Good estimators measure linear feet of trim, note siding type, check height and access, test for chalking, and probe suspect wood. Photos help, but hands-on inspection catches problem areas like soft fascia ends, peeling above eavestroughs, and separation at window casings. Expect a written scope that lists prep steps, paint products, number of coats, included surfaces, and exclusions. That clarity stops surprises.
For homeowners comparing exterior painting services Edmonton-wide, looking past the lowest number pays off. Ask about primers, paint brands, prep approach, and safety. Ask how the crew will handle weather delays. A company that answers cleanly will likely paint cleanly.
Practical Budgeting Tips for Edmonton Homeowners
- Choose paint quality over unnecessary add-ons. Better paint has the best return.
- Tackle wood trim repairs with the repaint. Fixes are faster and cheaper while access is set up.
- Keep colours within reasonable shifts to avoid extra coats, unless changing the scheme is a priority.
- Book ahead of peak season to secure timing and avoid last-minute premiums.
- Plan for modest contingencies. Hidden rot or unexpected stucco delamination can appear once washing starts.
A Quick Look at Timeline
A standard two-storey exterior repaint takes three to six working days, depending on prep. Day one usually covers washing and protection; days two to four handle scraping, priming, body coats; the final days finish trim, doors, and touch-ups, followed by cleanup and a walkthrough. Weather interruptions may spread the project over a week and a half. Clear communication keeps the process smooth. Depend Exteriors provides daily updates so homeowners in busy neighborhoods like Oliver or Strathcona can plan parking and yard access.
Edmonton-Specific Considerations
Ice dams, high UV, windborne dust, and wide temperature swings define local wear patterns. South and west walls fade and chalk faster. North-facing areas can hold moisture longer, which encourages peeling on older wood. Eavestrough leaks stain stucco and degrade paint near downspouts. A proper exterior repaint in Edmonton addresses these with targeted primers, breathable coatings where needed, and sealants that stay flexible in cold. Crews schedule body coats during milder parts of the day and finish trim when shadows reduce surface temperature, which reduces lap marks and flashing.
What Depend Exteriors Brings to the Job
Depend Exteriors is a local team familiar with Edmonton’s housing stock and climate. The crew follows a clear process: careful inspection, honest scope, thorough prep, smart product selection, and steady application. They leave clean sites and call back to confirm satisfaction after the first major weather shift. Many clients are repeat customers who first hired the team for stucco repair or parging and later returned for exterior painting. That continuity helps maintain houses block by block.
Homeowners searching for exterior painting services Edmonton can trust will appreciate straightforward pricing, respectful scheduling, and work that stands up through winter. If a house needs more than paint, such as stucco patching or parging replacement, having one company handle both saves time and avoids finger-pointing between trades.
Getting Started: Simple Steps to a Solid Quote
Reach out with your address, a few photos of each elevation, and any known issues like peeling areas or past repairs. Depend Exteriors will schedule a site visit, confirm measurements, and provide a written estimate with clear line items for body, trim, doors, and any special surfaces. They will also include paint specifications, coat counts, and an estimated timeline. If the scope changes during prep, they discuss it before proceeding. That open-book approach keeps the final invoice aligned with the quote.
For homeowners in Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, and nearby communities, a fresh exterior is achievable within a defined budget. With careful prep and the right products, a paint job should last 8 to 12 years on stucco and 6 to 10 years on wood, depending on exposure. Spending where it matters—prep, primer, and paint—pays off through the winters ahead.
Ready for a quote or a quick curb appeal consult? Contact Depend Exteriors to book an on-site assessment. A short visit now can prevent bigger repairs later and get the home looking sharp for the season.
Depend Exteriors provides stucco repair and exterior masonry services in Edmonton, AB. Homeowners and businesses trust our team for stucco installation, repair, and replacement across a range of property types. As experienced Edmonton stucco contractors, we focus on durable finishes, reliable timelines, and clear communication with every client. Whether you need minor stucco patching, complete exterior resurfacing, or full stucco replacement, we deliver results that add value and protection to your property. Licensed and bonded, we stand behind our work and complete projects on schedule with attention to detail. If you are searching for stucco contractors near me in Edmonton, Depend Exteriors is ready to help. Depend Exteriors
8615 176 St NW Phone: (780) 710-3972 Website: https://dependexteriors.com Social Media:
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Edmonton,
AB
T5T 0M7,
Canada