What is the cost to repaint the exterior trim and soffits on an Ottawa home?

Repainting the exterior trim and soffits on an Ottawa home — without touching the main siding — typically costs between $1,800 and $4,500, with most projects falling in the $2,500 to $3,500 range. This is one of the most common exterior painting requests in Ottawa because many homes have vinyl or brick siding that doesn't need painting, but the wood trim, soffits, fascia, and window casings deteriorate and need regular maintenance.

Here's a breakdown of typical pricing by component:

• Fascia boards (the boards behind your eavestroughs): $4 to $8 per linear foot — A typical Ottawa home has 120–180 linear feet of fascia. Cost: $500 to $1,400
• Soffits (the underside of the roof overhang): $3 to $6 per square foot — Most homes have 200–400 sq ft of soffit. Cost: $600 to $2,400. Aluminum or vinyl soffits usually don't need painting; wood soffits do.
• Window trim/casings: $50 to $120 per window — Average home has 10–15 windows. Cost: $500 to $1,800
• Door trim: $75 to $150 per door including frame and exterior casing
• Rake boards (gable trim): $4 to $7 per linear foot
• Decorative elements (shutters, brackets, columns): Priced individually based on complexity

Labour makes up the bulk of trim work cost — about 75–85%. Trim painting is slow, detail-oriented work that involves a lot of cutting in (careful brush work along edges), ladder repositioning, and working around eavestroughs, light fixtures, and other obstacles. A trim-only job on a standard two-storey home takes 2 to 4 days for a two-person crew.

Materials for trim work are modest — typically 3 to 8 gallons of trim paint at $55 to $80 per gallon, plus primer, caulking, and supplies. Total material cost: $300 to $700.

Ottawa's climate makes trim and soffit maintenance especially important. Here's why:

Fascia and soffits take the worst beating of any exterior surface. In Ottawa, with 200+ cm of annual snowfall and dozens of freeze-thaw cycles, ice damming pushes meltwater behind eavestroughs and onto fascia boards. The repeated wetting and freezing causes paint failure and wood rot faster than on protected surfaces. Checking your fascia during a trim repaint — and replacing any rotted sections — prevents much more expensive repairs later. Wood replacement typically adds $8 to $15 per linear foot on top of the painting cost.

Soffits trap moisture from poor attic ventilation, which leads to peeling paint and potential mould. Before repainting wood soffits, a good painter will check for soft spots and ensure the attic ventilation is adequate.

Window and door trim in Ottawa expands and contracts with the extreme temperature swings (-30°C to +35°C). This movement opens gaps between trim and siding, or between trim and the window frame. Proper caulking during a trim repaint is essential — it should be done with a high-quality siliconized acrylic caulking (like Mulco or DAP Alex Flex) that stays flexible through temperature extremes. Rigid caulking cracks within a season or two in our climate.

For homes in heritage areas like the Centretown Heritage Conservation District, Sandy Hill HCD, New Edinburgh, or Rockcliffe Park, trim details can be extensive — wide casings, decorative brackets, ornamental woodwork, multi-piece crown mouldings. These homes often have 50–100% more trim than a typical suburban home, and the detail work requires experienced hands. Budget toward the higher end of the range, or even $4,000 to $6,000+ for homes with particularly elaborate millwork.

Paint selection for exterior trim should prioritize durability and adhesion. The best exterior trim paints for Ottawa's climate include:

• Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior (acrylic, excellent adhesion and flexibility)


• Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior (acrylic, UV resistant)


• Benjamin Moore Advance (alkyd-modified, extremely hard finish — excellent for trim but needs careful temperature management during application)

A satin or semi-gloss sheen is standard for trim — it highlights the architectural details, sheds water better than flat, and is easier to clean.

Ottawa trim painting costs run 10–15% below comparable Toronto-area pricing.

Make sure your painter is WSIB-covered and carries liability insurance — exterior trim work involves ladders and sometimes scaffolding, and you want proper protection.

Browse Ottawa Paint Contractors on the Ottawa Construction Network directory to find painters who specialize in exterior detail work and understand the specific demands of Ottawa's climate on trim and soffits.