What a painter does
Professional painters prepare and finish surfaces in new construction, renovations, commercial interiors and industrial facilities. The job goes well beyond rolling paint on a wall. It includes filling and sanding, priming, caulking, protecting finished areas, spraying and choosing the right coating for each surface. Poor preparation shows up quickly as peeling, flashing or uneven finishes, and that leads to callbacks.
Painting is often the last trade before handover, so a reliable painter helps you close out projects on time and leave a strong impression with your client. Finch screens candidates for the type of work you do, from occupied office buildings and condominium suites to high-end homes, and checks their spray experience, safety training and how they work around clients and other trades.
Typical responsibilities
- Preparing surfaces by cleaning, filling, sanding, caulking and priming
- Applying paints and coatings by brush, roller and spray equipment
- Protecting floors, fixtures and finished areas from damage
- Matching colours and selecting the right coating for each surface
- Working from ladders, scaffolds and lifts in line with safety requirements
- Cleaning equipment and leaving work areas tidy at the end of each day
Qualifications and credentials
- Experience in commercial, residential or industrial painting
- Skill with airless spray equipment, often expected for new construction
- WHMIS training for handling paints, solvents and coatings
- Working at Heights training where the work involves fall protection
- Completion of painter apprenticeship training is an asset for some employers
Who hires a painter
- Painting contractors
- General contractors
- Property management companies
- Residential builders and renovators
- Industrial maintenance contractors
Where we recruit painter candidates
We fill painter roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Surface preparation habits and finish quality
- Spray equipment experience and coatings knowledge
- Experience working in occupied homes, offices or condominiums
- Safety training and references from past contractors
Interview questions to ask
- How do you prepare a previously painted wall that has patches and stains?
- What spray equipment have you used, and how do you control overspray?
- How do you protect a client's space when painting an occupied unit?