Interior painting
Interior painting in Melbourne
Walls, ceilings, trim and doors, in houses people are still living in. Here's what the work involves, what moves the price, and what to ask any painter before you sign.
What an interior repaint involves
An interior repaint starts with protecting the room and preparing the surfaces.
We move what can be moved, stack it in the middle of the room and cover it. We protect the floors with drop sheets taped at the edges. Then we go over every surface: filling nail holes and cracks, sanding back flaking or brushy old work, cutting out any plaster that's blown off the wall, sealing water stains so they don't ghost through, spot-priming bare patches. We sand the skirting, architraves and doors too, because gloss and semi-gloss won't hold on a slick surface.
Ceilings first, then walls, then the trim and doors last so nothing gets knocked while it's still soft. Two coats is standard. A strong colour going over a pale wall, or a pale colour going over a dark one, will often want three, and we'll say so in the quote rather than discover it on day two.
Living in the house while we paint
Interior work usually happens around people. Kids, dogs, someone on calls in the back room.
We work room by room so the house is never entirely out of action, and we pack down each evening so the rooms you need at night are yours again. Sanding makes dust, so we vacuum-sand where we can and seal off doorways where we can't. Modern water-based interior paints are low odour and touch dry in about half an hour, but leave four hours or so between coats and give a fresh wall a couple of days before you push furniture back against it. Enamel trim takes longer and smells more, so we plan those areas around when you actually need the room.
What affects the price
Nobody can price an interior by the square metre alone. What changes the number:
- The condition of what's there now. Patching, sanding and sealing is the bulk of the labour, and a wall that has been badly patched before costs more than a bare one
- Ceiling height and stairwells, which need trestles or a scaffold and slow everything down
- How much trim there is. Ornate architraves, panelled doors and window sashes are all brush work, and brush work is time
- Colour changes, especially dark to light, and whether the ceilings are being done as well
- How much furniture stays in the house, and whether rooms are available in a block or one at a time
What to ask any painter
Ask how many coats are in the price, and what happens if the wall needs a third. Ask which products are going on which surface, by name. Ask who's physically doing the work, and whether it's the same people all week. Ask what preparation is included. Have the preparation, products and number of coats confirmed in writing before work begins.
Painting the outside as well? See exterior painting and roof painting. For a rental turnover or a pre-sale repaint on a deadline, we work with agents and property managers as well.
Preparation and aftercare
Read our painting preparation and aftercare guide for arranging access, protecting belongings and checking when the painted surface is ready to use or clean.
Want a price on your interior?
Get a free written quote and an agreed start date. We reply the same day, usually within the hour.
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