• Estimating the quantity of material required by measuring surfaces or reviewing work orders
• Removing old coating by stripping it with solvents, heat, sanding, wire brushing water or sand blasting
• Preparing surfaces for covering by cleaning it, filling nail holes and cracks, and sanding rough spots
• Applying undercoat primers or sealers before painting, or ‘sizing’ prior to wallpapering
• Using good colour sense to match colours by using premixed paints, or mixing colour and pigment, oil and thinning and drying additives
• Using brushes and rollers or spray guns to apply liquid coatings such as paint, stain or varnish to surfaces of wood, metal, brick, concrete, plaster, stucco or stone
• Communicating effectively with customers, co-workers and supervisors
• Working independently or as part of a team, or supervising the work of others
• Keeping up with trends and learning new techniques in painting and decorating

To view the Essential Skills necessary for someone working in this occupation, click on the following link for Painter, NOC code 7294:

http://www10.hrsdc.gc.ca/CE/English/ShowProfile.aspx?v=6

What Preparation and Training Do You Need?

You should preferably graduate with your secondary school diploma with credits in Math and English before entering an apprenticeship for a Commercial & residential Painter/Decorator or an Industrial Painter of 5400 hours. (The minimum entry requirement under the TQA is grade 10). After successfully completing the required on-the-job and in-school training, you may write your examination and receive your Certificate of Qualification.

What’s Your Future as a Painter/Decorator ?

Many Painters and Decorators are employed by organizations/businesses, but quite a few are self-employed. In general, painters/decorators try to arrange their work so that they will be outdoors in late spring, summer and early fall, and indoors in late fall and winter. You may work long hours during the warmer months, mostly standing on ladders often with your arms over your head, and you may be required to lift materials weighing up to 25 kilograms. The risk of injury from falls is always present, and you will also be working with chemicals such as paint thinners/removers. Employers that might hire you include:

• Contractors involved in new construction, repair or remodelling work
• Organizations that own or manage large apartment complexes or schools
• Self-employment

For additional information about this career, check out the construction sector website at: www.CareersInConstruction.ca.

You may also want to check out the Ontario Painting Contractors' Association website at: www.ontpca.org, and the labour-related Ontario Industrial and Finishing Skills Centre (OIFSC) at www.oifsc.com.

Wage Rate

• Apprentices generally earn significantly less than fully qualified Journey people
• As you acquire skills and expertise your wage generally increases
• Fully qualified Painters and Decorators generally earn between $14.00-$ 25.00/ hour

Self-Rating

Ask Yourself: Is Working as a Painter/Decorator For You?

Do you have good manual dexterity?	Yes      No
Are you able to move heavy ladders or set up scaffolding?	Yes      No
Do you have good colour sense?	Yes      No
Can you climb and work at heights?	Yes      No
Do you like to do work requiring preciseness and thoroughness?	Yes      No
Do you enjoy keeping up with and learning about new trends in this field?	Yes      No
Do you have good vision and can you spot the differences and variations in appearance and texture?	Yes      No

If you answered Yes to most of these questions, a career as a Painter/Decorator may be for you!

You may also want to explore other careers that require similar interests and skills, such as:

• Auto Body Painter
• Lather
• Patternmaker