How much do Ottawa painters charge to strip multiple layers of old paint off wood siding?

Stripping multiple layers of old paint from wood siding is one of the most labour-intensive exterior painting jobs you can hire out in Ottawa, and pricing reflects that reality. Expect to pay $3 to $8 per square foot for professional paint stripping on wood siding, with the total for an average two-storey home running anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000 or more depending on the factors below.

The wide range exists because no two stripping jobs are alike. A home with three or four layers of latex paint in reasonable condition is a very different project from a century-old house in Old Ottawa South or Centretown with eight or ten layers of paint — some of which may be oil-based, lead-containing, or applied directly over bare wood with no primer. The number of layers, the condition of the wood beneath, the profile complexity of the siding (flat clapboard strips faster than ornate Victorian millwork), and the overall square footage all drive the final number.

Lead paint is the most critical variable here. Any Ottawa home built before 1978 — and that covers a significant portion of the housing stock in older neighbourhoods like Glebe, Westboro, Sandy Hill, and Vanier — may contain lead paint. Homes built before 1960 almost certainly do. Under Ontario Regulation 278/05, lead paint abatement requires proper containment, worker respiratory protection, and regulated disposal of waste. Contractors who handle lead work charge a meaningful premium — often 30 to 50 percent more than standard stripping — because of the equipment, training, and disposal costs involved. Never hire someone who dismisses lead concerns or offers to skip testing on an older home.

In terms of method, professionals use a combination of heat guns, infrared paint removers (the Speedheater is popular for wood siding because it lifts paint without scorching), chemical strippers, and hand scraping. Infrared stripping is generally the gentlest on wood and fastest for large flat surfaces. Chemical strippers work well on detailed profiles but add material cost and require careful cleanup. Most contractors will use a combination approach and quote accordingly.

After stripping, the wood will almost certainly need sanding, spot repairs for any rot or damage revealed underneath, and a quality primer before topcoats — budget an additional $2,000 to $5,000 for that prep and prime stage on a full house.

If you are ready to get quotes from experienced painters, you can browse contractors through the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com/directory. Given the lead paint risk on older Ottawa homes, this is absolutely a project to leave to professionals with proper credentials and WSIB coverage.