Multi-Unit Painting That Turns Units Fast

A basic suite turn repaint covers walls and ceilings with a fresh coat of white or near-white, touches up trim and doors, and makes the unit look clean and ready for the next tenant. That's the floor — the minimum expectation. We do it efficiently and we do it well. Patches are sanded smooth, nail holes are filled, the corners are cut properly, and the baseboard is taped so the floor doesn't get a paint line along it.

An upgraded suite repaint goes further — new accent wall colour as part of a unit refresh, full trim repainting in white semi-gloss, door hardware masking, closet repainting, and a bathroom ceiling coat. These are the units that photograph well for listing platforms and command higher rents. The additional cost over a basic turn is modest and the return on increased rent or reduced vacancy is typically positive within the first lease cycle.

For condo units being prepped for sale, we often work with the realtor's colour recommendations to create a neutral, broadly appealing palette that photographs well. Agreeable Gray from Sherwin-Williams and Edgecomb Gray from Benjamin Moore are the two most common neutral choices in the Winnipeg condo market right now — warm tones that read as white in photographs but add depth in person.

Bathroom painting is a particular challenge in older Winnipeg apartment buildings where the original tile grout has grown dark or where the drywall behind the vanity has absorbed moisture and shows efflorescence. We address moisture issues before painting, not after. An oil-based or shellac-based stain-blocking primer on any moisture-affected area is non-negotiable — painting latex over a damp drywall surface is a two-month fix at best.

Common area condition has a direct relationship to tenant satisfaction and property value. Manitoba strata corporations typically address common area painting on 7–10 year cycles as part of their depreciation report capital plan. Hallways, lobbies, and stairwells that go beyond that cycle start accumulating the kind of wear that affects the building's market position relative to newer properties.

Corridor painting in a mid-rise or high-rise building is a logistical challenge because the building is occupied and the corridors are the primary egress path. We manage this by working one floor at a time, maintaining at least one exit stair operational at all times, and completing each floor's painting in a single overnight shift so the corridor is fully useable for the following morning. We work with the building's strata management to notify residents in advance.

Parkade and underground parking structure painting is a separate specialty. Concrete walls and columns in parkades need a breathable, vapour-permeable coating that handles the salt and calcium chloride tracked in during Winnipeg winters without delaminating. We use a masonry primer and acrylic elastomeric topcoat specifically rated for above-grade and below-grade concrete in parking structures.