Frequently Asked Questions

When choosing a colour, there are several factors to consider:

Interior:

It is important to first consider the size of the space you are painting. Dark colours will make a room seem cozy, but smaller. Lighter colours tend to open a room up and make it seem larger.

When looking at a colour chip, it is a general rule that once the colour is painted on all walls in the space, it will seem slightly darker than when looking at the chip. The best place to look at a colour chip is outside in the natural light or in the room that it will be used in. Fluorescent lights in a paint store will not give a true impression of the colour. We also recommend against picking colours online. It’s a good place to start, but we recommend seeing an actual colour chip or sample in the wall.

When painting an interior space, consider whether the paint itself is going to be a feature of the room or a background. If you have artwork or unique furniture that you would like to highlight, you may want to consider a lighter colour to put the focus on the art. If the paint job is intended to be an integral feature of a space, darker colours will stand out more.

Exterior:

For outdoor projects, the opposite rules apply; dark colours tend to make a home seem larger, while light colours make a home appear smaller. When choosing an exterior colour, we recommend a slow drive through the neighbourhood to see if you spot a house that really stands out to you. If you see something you like, it can be replicated easily; if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, it may at least provide you with a few ideas. It’s best to choose colours that will suit the neighbourhood you live in but aren’t exactly the same as your neighbours. One thing to keep in mind is that dark colours do tend to fade faster, as do blues and reds. However, with the right products we can make any colour last a long time.

Trends:

Colour trends are constantly changing, so if you decide to choose a design that is very trendy at the time, it may be out of season before you actually need to repaint the space. The wow factor of bold colours can also quickly fade. That said, in today’s market, with so many colours available, there are no consistent colour rules you need to live by. The number one thing is to make sure YOU like the colours you’ve chosenbefore going ahead with the project.

There is a common misconception that one paint store offers better paint than another. The truth is, every manufacturer and paint store offers several different grades of paint. There are some unique products available from some suppliers for some surfaces. However, the premium products from each manufacturer perform very much the same way and have similar ingredients. 

The important factor is to decide what grade of paint is necessary for the project. We always use what we believe is the best product available for a given substrate. While the ingredients may be very similar, different products do have unique characteristics. We have experience with the nuances of various products and have focused on certain products that meet all of our needs. The cost of paint tends to be about 20% of the cost of any given project. Upgrading to premium paint will have a small impact on the total price of a project. However, it will increase the value of the project exponentially by creating a better looking finish that will stand up to the elements, whether it is a house full of children or an unobstructed southern exposure.

We are happy to discuss the products that will work best for your project.

MPI product standards for each substrate are available online or on the specification sheets of any given product. Visit www.paintinfo.com for more info.

In order to give an exact price on any project, we must first visit the site or view a set of architectural plans. We are available to schedule an appointment for a free estimate. We can usually provide a quote the same day we view a potential project.

We also provide a cost-plus option. Our hourly rate is $65/hr and we charge cost plus 15% on materials used.

We recommend researching your market, and requesting quotes from as many as three reputable companies. Make sure your job specification is clear so that all three companies are quoting on the exact same project. You will typically find competitive pricing this way. At this point, you’ll not only have three prices, but you’ll have had an introductory experience with each company, as well as a formal presentation in the form of their quote. Now you’ve done a fair bit of legwork in gathering the appropriate information to make an informed decision. 

Once you have chosen a particular company, have a meeting with a representative to make sure everyone is on the same page. If you do this, you’ll be able to relax knowing you’ve done your homework. Chances are, if you’ve gone through this process, you’ll end up with a competitive price and a quality job.

First and foremost, we are committed to arriving on time and finishing on schedule every time. We do not make commitments that we cannot live up to.

The first step we take with any project is to create a plan. The better the plan, the less that can go wrong to delay a painting project. Our experience with developing the proper plan for each project results in extremely accurate projections for the duration of any given project. If you have a timeline, we will accommodate, adding more staff to ensure the project is finished on time.

We offer a 5 Year Workmanship Guarantee on all of our projects. Different products come with different warranties or guarantees as well. The products and their available warranties/guarantees depend on what substrate is being painted.

We highly recommend hiring a reputable company and making sure you’re satisfied with the work before you make your final payment and consider the job complete.

Step 1: Contact us to make an appointment for a free estimate.

Step 2: An Imperial Painting representative will come see the project in person.

Step 3: We will provide you with a detailed quote, outlining exactly what we will be doing, the products we will use and the total cost to complete the work.

Step 4: Once we are awarded the project, we will agree on a schedule. We will also invoice for a 30% deposit at this point, payable on or before the first day of work.

Step 5: Prior to starting, you will choose your colours, with our help and samples if needed.

Step 6: We will start the project on time as agreed.

Step 7: We will complete the project on time as agreed.

Step 8: We will do a final walk around together and make sure there are no deficiencies.

Step 9: We will immediately address any deficiencies.

Step 10: We will invoice for the completed project.

We have a project manager on site throughout every project. Once we are working on your project we will communicate with you daily as well.

We take safety very seriously. We do a complete safety inspection and subsequent safety meeting prior to starting work on any project, as well as a daily safety meeting if necessary depending on the scope of the project. We make sure to take all necessary precautions in order to complete your project safely.

We can provide you with a clearance letter from Worksafe BC as well as a copy of our insurance certificate at the start of any project upon request.

We carry five million dollars in liability insurance.

Our staff have also been subject to criminal record checks.