What is a faux finish and how much does it cost to have one done in a New Brunswick home?

A faux finish is a decorative painting technique that mimics the appearance of materials like marble, stone, aged plaster, wood grain, or textured fabric — and in New Brunswick, having one professionally applied typically costs $8-20 per square foot of treated surface, depending on technique complexity.

Common faux finishes include colour washing (a soft, layered glaze effect popular in dining rooms), sponging (a textured multi-tone effect), rag rolling (a rolled cloth creates irregular organic texture), and more advanced techniques like marbling or Venetian plaster.

For a standard colour wash or sponge effect on a single accent wall in Moncton or Fredericton, expect to pay $300-600 for the wall. A full room treatment with a mid-complexity technique like rag rolling or glazing typically runs $600-1,500. High-end techniques like trompe-l’oeil murals or multi-step faux marble panels can reach $1,500-4,000 or more.

In New Brunswick, faux finishes add warmth and character to older homes with original trim and high ceilings. The Maritime climate doesn’t affect interior faux work directly, but humidity swings in summer can slow glaze drying times, so schedule this work in winter or early spring when NB homes run dry with the furnace on.

To find the right person, ask specifically for a decorative or faux finish painter — not every painting contractor has this skill. Ask to see a portfolio and a sample board before committing. Material costs are relatively modest ($50-150 for glazes and specialty products) — you are primarily paying for the painter’s skill and time.

This is firmly in hire-a-professional territory. A botched faux finish is difficult and expensive to fix because removing glaze layers without damaging the underlying surface requires repainting from scratch.

---

Find a Painting Contractor

New Brunswick Painting helps you find local painting contractors through the New Brunswick Construction Network:

• Expressions Painting
• Loves Painting Ltd.
• Worry No More Handyman Services