# How to write an exterior painting estimate by surface in Canada Plan an exterior painting estimate in Canada using measured quantities, visible scope boundaries and a Vancouver, British Columbia worked example with 6 CAD cost lines and a matching PDF. Canonical: https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/guides/how-to-estimate-exterior-painting/ Author: Estimates editorial team Published: 2026-09-25 Updated: 2026-09-25 An exterior painting estimate should identify siding and trim quantities, preparation, coating materials and access assumptions. Separate repair work from repainting so the customer can see what the base price actually covers. Follow the Vancouver, British Columbia exterior painting example to check quantities and a C$4,704.00 illustrative subtotal before tax or markup. THE SHORT ANSWER An exterior painting estimate should identify siding and trim quantities, preparation, coating materials and access assumptions. Separate repair work from repainting so the customer can see what the base price actually covers. This guide follows a fictional single-storey siding repaint in Vancouver, British Columbia. The linked exterior painting PDF example (https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/samples/exterior-painting-estimate/) shows the scope and 6 separate costs in Canadian dollars. Treat it as a worked document, then use measurements, supplier quotes and labour inputs from your own project. 1. Inventory each surface Break the exterior into siding, trim, fascia, doors and any other surfaces the customer requests. Record material types and existing conditions. A single overall square-foot number can hide exclusions that become disputes later. 2. Inspect preparation and repairs A repaint allowance is not a replacement budget for rotten siding. Describe the preparation included and list damaged components separately. If their extent is unknown, explain when the repair scope will be assessed and how it will be priced. 3. State access and protection assumptions Height, landscaping, parked vehicles and limited access can change the work effort. The example assumes a single-storey property with ordinary access. Record what must be moved and who is responsible for it before work begins. 4. Allow for coating and weather constraints Confirm the chosen product’s preparation and application requirements instead of promising one universal schedule. Discuss a workable weather window and explain that final scheduling follows site and product conditions. Keep this note distinct from the estimate’s pricing-validity date. Review the Canadian project address For the single-storey siding repaint in Vancouver, British Columbia, the example uses the measured trade units shown in its PDF. Residential jobs may mix square feet, linear feet, counts and supplier units; keep each line’s measurement basis visible. Inspect substrate moisture and condition, product availability and the chosen finish. Write down the preparation level and any work needed before the selected product can be installed. The figures are fictional CAD inputs, not a local price survey. Describe which products the customer supplies and which the contractor supplies. State how any site condition outside the visible scope will be assessed and priced. Do not copy an allowance from another city or assume a sample’s tax entry establishes the treatment for this client. Work through the exterior painting quantities The matching PDF lets the client check each extension of quantity and unit rate. For this example, two useful checks are: - Scraping and caulking allowance: 12 hours × C$59.00 = C$708.00. - Siding painting labour: 1600 sq. ft. × C$1.30 = C$2,080.00. Adding all 6 lines gives a C$4,704.00 illustrative subtotal. The PDF records 0% tax and C$4,704.00 as its total, before any markup. These are chosen sample inputs, not prices observed in Vancouver, British Columbia. The measurement basis matters as much as the rate: a material purchase allowance may be larger than the installed area, while a fixture count is not interchangeable with hours of labour. Check the scope before sending - Identify every included exterior surface. - Record preparation limits and visible damage. - Confirm access equipment and protection needs. - Agree colours and coating products before procurement. Outside the illustrated scope: No siding replacement, multi-storey access, deck staining or hazardous-coating remediation. Product and site conditions must be checked before work. Check the business and client names, property location, dates, quantities, unit rates and notes. Confirm tax, markup and any required approvals for the actual job. If selections or site conditions are unresolved, label the line as an allowance and explain how it will be updated. Common questions Should siding repairs be included in a painting price? Include only repairs you have inspected and scoped. If a repair quantity is uncertain, state that it is excluded or provide a clearly defined allowance with a process for revision. Is exterior painting priced only by square foot? Surface area can price application work, while trim length, preparation hours, materials and access may need separate lines. Open the itemized exterior painting example and its app-exported PDF (https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/samples/exterior-painting-estimate/) to see these decisions presented to a client. You can adapt the structure while replacing every fictional project input with your own. Create an estimate ↗ (https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/download/)See the PDF example (https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/samples/exterior-painting-estimate/) (https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/samples/exterior-painting-estimate/) Preview of the matching estimate PDF · View the matching example (https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/samples/exterior-painting-estimate/) Get the app: https://quicklyestimates.com/en-ca/download/ App Store (iPhone): https://apps.apple.com/app/id6740389403 Google Play (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uzel.contractorplus