Right, so you need your house painted and you’re probably wondering who to call without ending up with some cowboy who takes your money and disappears.
Been there.
Look, there’s heaps of painters around but most are pretty average.
Some are brilliant, some are absolute disasters, and the rest are somewhere in between.
Who’s actually decent
Perth City Painters comes up a lot when people talk about reliable painters. They’ve been going strong for 15 years.
Longer than most anyway, which is good because half the painting companies seem to vanish after 18 months.
They do everything – interiors, exteriors, even cabinet refinishing if you’re into that sort of thing.
Got a 15-year warranty on exterior work, which is pretty good. Most painters give you 12 months if you’re lucky.
There’s also Precision Painters up in Sydney, Elite Exterior Solutions in Melbourne. Theyalso get mentioned in the industry.
What it’ll actually cost you
Interior of a three-bedroom house, you’re looking at roughly $3,500 to $7,000. Depends on who you get, what paint they use, how much prep work needs doing.
My brother got quoted $4,200 for his place last year and ended up paying $5,800 because they found heaps of cracks that needed fixing.
Should have been obvious but apparently it wasn’t.
Exterior’s more expensive. Two-story house, probably $6,000 to $12,000.
Could be way more if it’s a heritage place or needs scaffolding. Scaffolding alone can add $800 to $2,000 depending on the house.
Cabinet refinishing is around $1,500 to $4,000 if you want to fancy up your kitchen without replacing everything. Takes a few days usually.
Premium paint vs cheap stuff
Benjamin Moore, Dulux, that sort of thing costs about 20-30% more than the basic paint but lasts heaps longer.
Learned this the hard way on my first house – went cheap and was repainting three years later.
Surface prep is where they get you though. Fixing cracks, sanding back old paint, all that boring stuff.
Can add $500 to a couple of grand to the job but if you skip it, the paint looks like crap within a year.
Why not just do it yourself
You might be thinking “how hard can painting be?”
Trust me, harder than it looks. Tried painting my garage once and it looked like a kindergarten art project.
Streaks everywhere, missed spots, paint drips on the floor.
Professionals know how to prep surfaces properly, they’ve got the right equipment, and they can actually finish the job instead of it dragging on for months.
Plus they’re insured if something goes wrong.
Safety’s another thing. Working on ladders, dealing with lead paint in old houses, handling chemicals.
How to pick a decent painter
Licensed and insured should be obvious but you’d be surprised how many people don’t bother checking. Get proof, don’t just take their word for it.
Look for companies that have been around at least five years. Perth City Painters, for example – they’ve got the experience and they’re not going anywhere.
Have a squiz at their Google reviews but take them with a grain of salt.
Some companies are better at managing their online reputation than actually painting houses, know what I mean?
Get them to show you photos of recent work, not stuff from five years ago. Colors, finishes, that sort of thing. Should give you an idea of their quality.
Getting quotes
Talk to at least three painters, get detailed quotes that break down materials and labor.
Don’t just go with the cheapest – usually means corners cut somewhere.
Avoid blokes who knock on your door offering cheap deals. Half of them are cowboys who’ll take your deposit and disappear.
Good painters ask lots of questions about what you want, explain the process, give you realistic timelines. If they’re vague about details or rushing to get your signature, walk away.
Perth-specific stuff
Coastal areas need special treatment because of the salt air. Dulux Weathershield gets mentioned a lot, anti-corrosive primers too. Adds to the cost but worth it if you’re near the beach.
Heritage properties in Subiaco and that area need council approvals sometimes. Can add $800 to $1,500 to the job just for paperwork. Pain in the arse but you don’t want council on your back.
Mount Lawley, Victoria Park – lots of two-story houses there. Scaffolding costs more because of the narrow blocks and overhead wires.
Best time to paint
Spring and autumn are best for exterior work. Summer’s too hot – paint dries too fast and you get brush marks. Winter’s too wet and cold.
Interior you can do anytime really, but avoid school holidays if you’ve got kids. Paint fumes and bored kids don’t mix.
Common mistakes people make
Going with the cheapest quote without asking questions. Usually ends badly.
Not checking if they’re properly licensed and insured. Seen people get stuck with massive bills when things go wrong.
Picking colors without testing them properly. Paint a decent patch and live with it for a few days. Colors look completely different in different light.
What I’d do
Get quotes from Perth City Painters and a couple of others. Compare not just price but what’s included, what paint they use, how long the warranty is.
Don’t rush the decision. Good painters get booked up months ahead anyway, especially in peak season.
Ask neighbors who they used if their house looks good.
Word of mouth beats online reviews most of the time.
Make sure you’re comfortable with whoever you choose. You’ll be dealing with them for a week or more, and they’ll be in your house every day.
Final bit
Look, painting your house is a big expense and you’ll be looking at the results for years.
Don’t just go with whoever’s cheapest or whoever can start tomorrow. Take the time to find someone decent and you won’t regret it.
Perth City Painters seems like a safe bet based on what I know, but do your own research. Every job’s different, every house has its own challenges.
