How to Prepare Your Home for Painting

Clear the Rooms

Move furniture away from walls or into the centre of the room. Remove wall hangings, curtains, and light switch covers. The more space our interior painting team has to work, the faster and more efficient the job will be.

Identify Problem Areas

Walk through your home and note any areas with peeling or flaking paint, cracks in walls or ceilings, water stains or mould, nail holes or dents, and areas where paint has yellowed.

Point these out to your painter during the quote stage so they can factor in the preparation work needed.

Exterior Preparation

For exterior painting, ensure garden beds are trimmed back from walls (30cm clearance), outdoor furniture and pot plants are moved away, cars are parked away from the house, gates are unlocked for access, and pets are secured inside or in a separate area.

What Professional Painters Handle

1. Surface washing — High-pressure cleaning for exteriors.
2. Sanding — Smoothing rough surfaces for a flawless finish.
3. Filling — Repairing cracks, holes, and imperfections.
4. Priming — Applying primer to bare surfaces and stained areas.
5. Masking — Protecting floors, fixtures, and surfaces not being painted.
6. Drop sheets — Covering all furniture and flooring.

Best Time to Paint in Melbourne

Melbourne's weather plays a big role in painting schedules. Interior painting can be done year-round because we control the environment. Exterior painting is best between October and April when it's drier and warmer. We avoid days below 10°C or above 35°C, and high-humidity days.

We monitor weather forecasts closely and schedule exterior work on optimal days. This is especially important for homes in coastal areas like Brighton and Hampton, where salt air can affect drying times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best time of year to paint the exterior of a home in Melbourne?

Exterior painting is best done between October and April when conditions are drier and warmer. We avoid days below 10°C or above 35°C, and high-humidity days, since they affect how the paint cures.

Do I need to move all my furniture out before painting?

No. Furniture just needs to be moved away from walls or into the centre of the room — we cover it with drop sheets along with the flooring. Most households stay in the home throughout an interior repaint.

How far back should garden beds be trimmed before exterior painting?

About 30cm clearance from the walls gives our painters safe, unobstructed access to weatherboards, render or brick. It's worth doing this along with moving outdoor furniture and pot plants before we arrive.

What should I point out to the painter during the quote?

Any peeling or flaking paint, cracks in walls or ceilings, water stains or mould, nail holes or dents, and areas where paint has yellowed. Flagging these at the quote stage means the preparation work is accounted for in the price from the start.