Finding good Perth painters is nowhere near as straightforward as it should be.
The painting industry is full of underpricing to win the job.
Underpricing also means cutting corners on the prep work and then going quiet when things go wrong.
If you have ever been burned by a cheap quote that turned into an expensive problem, you’re not the only one.
Finding a quality painting contractor is easier when you know what to look for.
Here is what to check before you sign anything or hand over a deposit.
Licensing and Insurance Are Non-Negotiable
In Western Australia, painting contractors are required to hold a valid Building Services (Painters) registration issued by the Building and Energy division of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS).
If they have this registration it means that the contractor has met a competency standard and is accountable to a regulatory body.
On the flip side if something goes wrong on a job and your painter is unlicensed, your options are very limited.
If an uninsured worker is injured on your property or your home is damaged during the project, you could find yourself personally liable.
Always ask for a licence number and make sure to verify it.
If your painter is reputable, they will have no issue with this and will hand it over without hesitation.
Perth City Painters holds a Registered Painting Contractor licence number 7821 and carries full public liability cover on every job.
How Long Have They Been Working in Perth?
Having local experience as a painter goes a lot further than you may think.
Perth’s climate is unique and can be tough on paintwork. So having an experienced painter who knows exactly what types of paints suit your area goes a long way.
The UV here in Perth is among the worst in Australia, and if you live on the coast then your exterior paint will also have to deal with the salt air that chews through cheap paint.
In the summer time the temperature reaches 40 degrees regularly, meaning your paint is constantly expanding and contracting. The heat itself also affects how the paint bonds and cures.
Painters who have been working in Perth for years know which products hold up and which ones will fail.
They know the difference between a job in Cottesloe and one up in the hills and they factor that into how they work.
When you are talking to any painters in Perth, ask how long they have been at it locally.
A reputable business who has been working in Perth for a decent amount of time is not going to risk their reputation on cheap materials or a rushed prep job.
Preparation Is Where Most Jobs Go Wrong
Poor preparation is responsible for the majority of paint failures.
It is unglamorous, time consuming work and it is the first thing a cheap operator will skip.
Good Perth painters will inspect the surface properly before they quote.
They will talk you through what preparation is actually needed, whether that is filling cracks, sanding back existing paint, dealing with mould or moisture, priming the right substrate or pressure washing exterior surfaces first.
Take it as a red flag if the painter just shows up and starts slapping paint over the old surface.
If a painter quotes without taking a close look at the surfaces or the price seems surprisingly low with no mention of prep. Ask them about it.
Its worth a conversation rather than having a rough job that needs to be redone in 6 months.
Ask what preparation is included and get the answer in writing before anything starts.
Ask What Paint They Are Using
Paint quality makes a significant difference, particularly on exterior work in Perth.
Budget products normally look fine right after its done, but after 6 months to a year you will notice chalking or cracking.
Quality Perth painters will tell you exactly what they plan to use before the job starts.
Premium systems like Dulux WeatherShield, Taubmans Endure and Haymes UltraPremium are built for Australian conditions and carry manufacturer performance warranties that mean something.
If a painter is vague about products or just says they use “good paint” without being able to name a brand or product line, its worth asking further questions.
The price gap between a budget paint and a premium system is small compared to how much it will cost to have the entire job redone a year later.
A Written Workmanship Guarantee Matters
Any painter worth hiring should back their work with a written workmanship guarantee.
This is not the same as the manufacturer’s paint warranty. It covers the quality of the application itself.
If something goes wrong because of how the job was done, whether be peeling, bubbling, patchy coverage or sloppy cut lines, a workmanship guarantee means the painter comes back and fixes it at no cost to you.
Ten years is what to look for when comparing Perth painters.
Get it in writing before the job starts. A verbal commitment is very hard to enforce later.
Look at Their Reviews and Past Work
Word of mouth has always been the best way to find a good Perth painter. Someone who has previously had them do a job and they are satisfied with the result.
Looking through a companies Google Reviews is a great way to get an idea of their workmanship if you dont know anyone personally who has dealt with them.
Before you commit to anyone spend a few minutes reading through their Google reviews and looking at project photos on their website or social media.
Also look at how the business responds to anything critical. A professional operation takes that seriously rather than ignoring it or getting defensive.
Its very rare for a business to not have a single bad review, whether its real or not, but how they respond and deal with it tells you a lot about the professionalism of the company.
How They Communicate Early On Tells You a Lot
Having painters in your home is disruptive regardless of how good they are.
The ones who handle it well turn up when they say they will, keep you in the loop and leave the site tidy at the end of each day. That kind of reliability starts showing up well before the job begins.
Pay attention to how a painting contractor communicates during the quoting process.
Slow responses, vague timelines and not being willing to put things in writing are not quirks that disappear once they have your deposit.
A proper written quote covering the scope of work, the products being used, the timeline and the payment terms is a reasonable expectation from any professional painters in Perth. If you cannot get that it may be worth finding someone else.
Why Perth City Painters
Perth City Painters have been working across the Perth metro area for over fifteen years. We are licensed, fully insured and back all of our work with a ten year workmanship guarantee.
We only use premium paint systems selected for Perth’s conditions, and we are upfront about what we are using and why before any job starts.
Whether you need house painters in Perth for an interior repaint, an exterior refresh before going to market or a commercial painting project, we take the same approach to preparation and finish regardless of the job size.
We are happy to walk you through our process and provide a detailed written quote at no obligation.
Get in touch to discuss your project.
