FAQ
Questions about hiring Hemlock
The things people ask before they book. Anything not here, call (604) 250-2561 and Mona will have the answer.
Quotes and pricing
Is the estimate free?
Yes. Paul comes to your home, measures every surface and writes the quote on the spot for most jobs. No charge, no obligation.
How quickly can you quote?
Usually within a few days of your call. For small jobs or homes you do not yet have possession of, we can quote from photos and measurements by email.
Is the quote fixed?
Yes. The price we quote is the price you pay. If you add rooms or work during the job, we quote that separately before we start it.
Do you have a minimum job size?
Yes. Interior projects start at $1,000 + GST and exterior projects at $2,400 + GST.
What do your prices look like?
A 2,000-square-foot interior with walls, ceilings, trim and doors usually lands between $10,900 and $18,400. Full exterior repaints run from about $8,500 for a siding house to $24,000 and up for a detailed character home, before GST. The pricing page has the full breakdown and an estimator.
Do I pay a deposit?
Yes. A deposit confirms your dates. The balance is due when you sign off on the final walk-through. The exact terms are on your quote.
How do I compare your quote with others?
Ask every painter the same four things: how many coats, is the trim included, what prep is in the price, and which paint line by name. How our pricing works shows what ours includes.
During the job
Who will be in my home?
A Hemlock crew with a Hemlock crew leader, start to finish. Everyone who paints for us is a full-time employee, never a subcontractor or a student crew. Meet the crew leaders.
Do I need to move my furniture?
Please clear small items, breakables and wall hangings. If you can move furniture away from the walls, great. If not, we're happy to move a few heavy pieces, usually at no extra cost. Mention it to your estimator.
Can you paint while we live in the house?
Yes. Most of our interior work is in occupied homes. We work fastest with the whole space open to us, but there's always a way around it: a room or two set aside for storage, or the job done in stages.
How long will it take?
Most interior jobs take one to three days. Whole-home repaints take up to a week. Your estimator tells you the number of days with the quote. Exteriors depend on size, prep and weather.
Do I need to be home?
For interiors, only to let us in and for the final walk-through, unless you prefer to be there. For exteriors, almost never, except when doors and windows have to be painted open. We arrange a time with you for that.
Which paints do you use?
Benjamin Moore throughout. Regal Select on walls, Aura Bath and Spa in bathrooms, Aura or Command on trim and doors, and Regal Select and Command outside. Your quote names the products.
Do you deal with lead paint?
Homes built before 1960 almost certainly have lead paint, and homes built before 1990 may. We test before any sanding or scraping. Where it is present we wet-scrape and contain the work, prime to lock the remaining layers in, and clean up at the end of each day.
What hours do you work?
Crews work weekdays, roughly 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Your crew leader tells you the day before what's happening next. The office answers calls every day, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The company
How long have you been in business?
Since 2003. Hemlock is owner-operated and based at 2015 Main Street in Vancouver. Our story.
Are you insured?
Yes. We carry $5 million in liability insurance and full WorkSafeBC coverage for every painter.
Where do you work?
Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster and Coquitlam. About 85 percent of our work is in Vancouver and on the North Shore.
Do you do commercial work?
Occasionally, for small offices and retail spaces. Our focus is homes.
Do you do popcorn ceilings, cabinets, staining or wallpaper?
Yes, as part of a painting project. We quote popcorn ceiling removal, cabinet refinishing, wood staining and wallpaper with the painting, not on their own.
Warranty and after
What is the warranty?
Three years on workmanship: if our paint peels, blisters or flakes because of how it was applied, we fix it. It excludes floors, steps and decks, and damage from water intrusion or impact.
What if I am not happy with something?
Tell your crew leader before they leave, or call us after. If you're not 100 percent satisfied, we come back until you are. That's the Hemlock Guarantee, it's not a slogan.
Do I get the leftover paint?
Yes. We label it by room and leave it with you for future touch-ups.
How do I care for the new paint?
Give walls two to four weeks to fully cure before scrubbing. After that, a damp cloth and mild soap handle most marks. Keep the leftover paint for touch-ups.
How often will the house need repainting?
Interiors every 7 to 10 years in most homes. Exteriors average about 15 years with our prep and Benjamin Moore, sooner on walls that take full sun.