Are you someone with a keen eye for colors and a love for seeing your work come to life? If so, you may have a bright and colorful future as a painter or decorator! These professionals are responsible for applying paint, coatings, and other finishes to both the interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and structures.
Main Duties of a Painter and Decorator
As a painter or decorator, your main duties involve estimating the quantity of materials needed for a project, removing old coatings using various methods like solvents, heat, sanding, or blasting, preparing surfaces for coverage by cleaning and filling holes and cracks, and applying primer or sealer before painting. You may also be responsible for matching colors, mixing paints, and applying liquid coatings using brushes, rollers, or spray guns. In addition, you might work with industrial coatings, apply unique finishes, or even work with different types of wall coverings.
Required Skills and Responsibilities
Your work environment will vary, as painters and decorators can be found working on residential, commercial, or industrial sites. You'll spend time outdoors during late spring, summer, and early fall, and move indoors during the late fall and winter. It's important to note that this profession may require standing for long periods with your arms raised overhead. There is also some risk involved, such as potential falls from ladders, scaffolds, or swing stages, and potential exposure to hazardous chemicals.
To succeed in this profession, you'll need to have a good sense of color, excellent manual dexterity, comfort working at heights, and the strength to handle heavy ladders or set up scaffolding. Precision and thoroughness are also crucial skills to ensure high-quality work. It's important to enjoy work that involves creativity and variety, as well as stay updated with advancements in paint and decorative products and technologies.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) Codes
If you're considering a career as a painter or decorator, it's helpful to know the different National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes associated with this profession. These codes include NOC 2006: Painters and Decorators (7294), NOC-S 2006: Painters and Decorators (H144), NOC 2011: Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (7294), NOC 2016: Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (7294), and NOC 2021: Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (73112).
With a demand of approximately 4,700 painters and decorators per province each year, this profession offers a promising career path. So, if you have a passion for colors, creativity, and precision, becoming a painter or decorator may be the perfect choice for you.
