Basements are the hardest rooms in a Toronto house to paint well. Concrete holds moisture, older foundations show white mineral deposits, and open ceilings are full of joists, pipes and wires. Lumen Painting handles basement painting in Toronto with the prep and products these spaces need.
We paint unfinished and finished basements, from bright laundry rooms to rec rooms and basement apartments. The estimate is free, and the work is covered by a written workmanship warranty.
What is included
- Concrete and block foundation walls
- Drywall in finished basements and rec rooms
- Open ceilings: joists, ducts and pipes sprayed in one colour
- Concrete floors with floor-grade coatings
- Laundry rooms, workshops and storage areas
- Basement stairs, railings and doors
- Basement apartments between tenants
- Cleaning and prep of efflorescence and old flaking paint
How we do it
- Check for moisture
We look for damp spots, efflorescence and leaks before quoting. Active leaks need fixing before any paint.
- Clean and prep
Efflorescence and loose paint are removed, concrete is cleaned, cracks are filled.
- Prime
Masonry primer on bare concrete, stain-blocking primer where there are water marks.
- Paint
Walls and ceilings in finishes suited to below-grade spaces; floors in a floor-grade coating.
- Cure and walk through
We explain how long the floor needs before foot traffic and furniture, and check the work with you.
Painting concrete walls the right way
Ordinary wall paint does not hold up on concrete that breathes moisture. Bare foundation walls need cleaning, efflorescence removed and a masonry primer before the finish coat. Paint is not a fix for a leak: if water is coming through the wall, it needs to be dealt with first. We point out damp areas at the estimate so you can decide on next steps.
Open basement ceilings
Painting an open ceiling in one colour, often black, white or a soft grey, is a popular way to finish a basement without drywall. Joists, ducts and pipes are sprayed together, which hides the clutter and makes the ceiling feel higher. It needs careful masking of walls, lights and floors, which we include in the quote.
Brighter basement living space
Light, warm colours and a matte finish make a basement feel larger and less like a cellar. If your basement is part of a larger refresh, see interior painting or residential painting.
What affects the price
- Finished or unfinished
- Bare concrete and open ceilings are prepped and coated differently from drywall.
- Moisture and efflorescence
- Cleaning mineral deposits and dealing with damp areas adds prep time.
- Open ceilings
- Spraying joists, ducts and pipes needs more masking and protection than a flat ceiling.
- Floors
- Floor coatings need thorough cleaning and time to cure before use.
- Contents
- A cleared basement is quicker to protect and paint than one full of storage.
Every quote is free, written and based on a visit, so you know the full price before any work starts.
Basement Painting questions
Can you paint concrete basement walls?
Yes. Concrete walls are cleaned, efflorescence is removed, and we use a masonry primer before the finish coat so the paint holds.
Will paint fix a damp basement?
No. Paint does not stop leaks. If water is coming through the wall, it needs to be repaired first. We point out damp areas at the estimate.
Can you paint an open basement ceiling?
Yes. We spray joists, ducts and pipes in one colour, with walls, lights and floors masked off.
Do you paint basement floors?
Yes. Concrete floors are cleaned and coated with a floor-grade product. We tell you how long to wait before walking on it and moving furniture back.
Do you paint basement apartments between tenants?
Yes. Turnover repaints for basement apartments and rental units are a common request.
