The West End mixes some of Toronto's oldest houses with busy main streets. Roncesvalles and High Park have large Edwardian homes with wood trim and front porches, Parkdale has grand Victorian houses, many now split into apartments, and the Junction and Bloor West Village have solid brick homes on narrow lots. As painters in Toronto's West End, we are used to plaster walls, original trim and the extra prep these houses need.
Typical West End projects include whole-house interiors before a family moves in, trim, stairs and doors brought back to a clean finish, painted kitchen cabinets, and exterior work on porches, gables and window frames. Apartments in larger houses are often repainted between tenants, and storefronts on Roncesvalles, Queen West and Bloor need their work done around opening hours.
Neighbourhoods in Toronto's West End
- Roncesvalles
- High Park
- Parkdale
- The Junction
- Junction Triangle
- Bloor West Village
- Swansea
- Little Portugal
- Dufferin Grove
- Brockton Village
Homes in Toronto's West End and what they need
Many West End houses date from the 1880s to the 1920s. Expect plaster that cracks along old lines, picture rails and tall baseboards, stained oak trim and staircases, and exterior wood on gables, porches and window frames. Larger houses are often split into units, so a job may mean one apartment between tenants rather than the whole house.
Painting jobs in Toronto's West End
- Whole-house repaints with walls, ceilings, trim and stairs. See house painting.
- Stained trim and doors painted white with the right primer. See door and window frame painting.
- Rental units repainted between tenants. See residential painting.
- Storefronts and restaurants on busy main streets. See commercial painting.
Good to know before you paint
- Hairline cracks in plaster come back if they are only painted over. Proper repair before painting makes the finish last.
- Stained oak trim needs a stain-blocking primer before it is painted white, or tannins can bleed through as yellow spots.
- If your house is split into units, tell us which areas are shared so we can plan access and keep tenants informed.
Questions from Toronto's West End
Can you repair cracked plaster before painting?
Yes. Cracks and small holes in plaster are filled, sanded and primed as part of the prep. Larger damage, such as loose or bulging plaster, is pointed out at the estimate so you can decide how to handle it.
Do you paint rental units between tenants?
Yes. Unit turnovers are planned around move-out and move-in dates, and the written quote lists exactly which rooms and surfaces are included.
Can you paint a house exterior on a narrow West End lot?
Yes. Narrow side yards and shared walls mean ladders and drop cloths have to be planned carefully. We look at access during the free estimate and include it in the quote.
