Painters and Decorators (except Interior Decorators)

Nature of work

Painters and decorators apply paint, wallpaper, and other finishes to interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and other structures. They work for construction companies, painting contractors, and building maintenance contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Painters and decorators:

• Read specifications to determine quantities of materials required.
• Prepare and clean surfaces using methods like scraping, sanding, sandblasting, hydro-blasting, and steam-cleaning.
• Remove old wallpaper and loose paint.
• Repair cracks and holes in walls and sandpaper and apply sealer.
• Mix and thin paint to obtain desired colour and texture.
• Apply paint or other materials like stains, lacquer, enamel, oil, varnish, fibreglass, metal coating or fire retardant using brushes, rollers, or spray equipment.
• Measure, cut and apply wallpaper or fabric to walls.
• Assemble and build scaffolding and swing stages.
• May advise customer on selection of colour schemes and choice of wall coverings.
• May provide cost estimates to clients.

Sample job titles

• construction painter
• house painter
• industrial maintenance painter
• painter
• painter and decorator
• painter and paperhanger
• residential painter

Skills

• Good colour sense
• Manual dexterity
• Comfort with heights
• Strength to move heavy ladders or set up scaffolding
• Precision and thoroughness
• Physical stamina
• Eye for detail
• Ability to plan work
• Knowledge of many types of finishes, their properties, and their applications
• Ability to calculate areas and relate calculations to required material
• Communication and customer service skills

Job requirements

• High school or equivalent (usually).
• Over three years of work experience in the trade is necessary to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade Qualifier option, 8,100 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for painters and decorators is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for painters and decorators.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Other considerations

• Painters and decorators work both indoors and outdoors. They arrange their work commitments so they will be outdoors in late spring, summer, and early fall, and indoors in late fall and winter.
• They may work with some physical discomfort when preparing surfaces or applying coatings in awkward positions. They must stand for long periods.
• Risks include injury from falling off ladders, scaffolds, or swing stages, and from working with hazardous chemicals like paint thinners and removers.
• Some painters and decorators may work for years on a single site. Others may work for contractors that rarely work on the same site more than once.
• Jobs in the construction industry are affected by seasonal changes and economic conditions. Work may be on a project basis. Workers should be prepared for periods of unemployment.
• Experienced painters and decorators may advance to supervisory positions for painting contractors or in other related fields like construction management, instructing, estimating, or building inspection.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

Contacts