In this article we have taken averages from the past two years to find out how much does it cost to paint a Weatherboard house in Melbourne.

The weatherboard is one of Melbourne’s most loved homes. Owning such a unique classic is an honour but does come with on going maintenance. 

What factors vary the cost of painting a Weatherboard home?

Weatherboard homes vary in many ways and often require extra hours in preparation. Home owners seem to leave their weatherboard home too long without painting or maintenance. This in turn can see the price increase immensely depending on how bad the timber has become. In a lot of instances weatherboard homes require timber repairs from carpenters to replace any timber rot or wood rot. 

Factors that vary the price of repainting your weatherboard home;

• How much preparation is required?
• Whether it’s a single storey or double storey?
• How is the access? Does it require scaffolding or harness access?
• Does it require timber rot/wood rot repairs?
• How many colours will be used? Yes, this can alter the price!
• Do you have any of the following extras? Front Fence, Garage, Carport, Pergola?

Average Cost of painting a Weatherboard home

In 2020 we predict the following estimates for the costs of a weatherboard repaint 

• Single Storey Weatherboard – $15,000 +
• Double Storey Weatherboard – $20,000 +

If you are looking to learn more about the process of painting your Weatherboard home you can learn more here.

FAQ’s

Does it cost more depending on colours?

Yes. Using more colours can cost more due to time it takes to apply and the cost of extra paint. Also if you are going over dark colour with a light colour, an extra coat may be required.

Can I paint my Weatherboard house myself?

Yes but keep in mind if you don’t have the knowledge or tools to perform thorough preparation they paint may not last. Do some research into the best practises for exterior preparation.

Also don’t work at heights without the appropriate safety equipment. You may need a scaffold, harness and machinery. These tools may only be used by someone licences or trained in using them.

Another excellent result for our team at our Watsonia repaint. We started off with our usual vigour prep regime. But it wasn’t long until the timber rot started to appear. One quick call and our carpenters were there to save the day.

Now that we had the rot sorted we could continue sanding, filling and priming. Using our power sanders with dust extraction, we left minimal mess.

We primed all surfaces using Dulux Precision undercoat and Wattyl Aquaprep.

After all the hard work was finished, well the prep stage anyway. We were onto painting.

On this exterior repaint we used the Wattyl Solarguard range. The colours and finishes used were

Gutters, Fascia’s & Windows – Dulux Brume 1/4 strength – Low Sheen

Eaves – Builders White – Matt

Grey Areas – Dulux Teahouse – Low Sheen

The final result was amazing but don’t let us tell you that. Here is some feedback from our client.

‘The team at M.J. Harris Painting are true professionals in every way. We had the outside of our brick house painted – garage doors, gutters, down pipes etc. and they did a fantastic and quality job. We are very happy and will be using them again!’

Kim – Watsonia

Over the years we have restored and painted many homes in Watsonia and its surrounding neighbours in Macleod and Bundoora. Each and every time we have satisfied our customers with our high quality finish and genuine customer service.

This week saw our team complete this two storey, triple fronted weatherboard home McKinnon repaint. We had the joy of breathing life into this stunning seaside home. We kept true the home original colour scheme using all the existing colours.

Our Southside team have been working hard along side M.J. Harris Carpentry to revive this beautiful seaside home. Our project consisted to entire wall replacement, also known as re-cladding. Our carpenters replaced rotten window sashes, weatherboard stops and support posts.

A almost triple storey home almost always has access issues but with our own specialist access equipment we are able to reach all surfaces. There was no need to outsource a companies, keeping the cost to the client minimal. Having our own access equipment is such a time saver and ensures safety on the job site.

The Prep

We undertook a vigorous preparation regime which included pressure cleaning, scraping and power sanding with Festool orbital sanding machines. A benefit for using these types of sanders is the dust extraction vacuum, keeping the worksite a dust free environment. Another benefit of these fabulous machines are they are typically quieter than the standard machine sanders. This pays dividends for both ur and our clients, especially when we spend a week or so sanding.

The Paint Process

This repaint was all completed by hand, meaning no spraying to apply paint. The painter found this job easier due to hand paint due to all the access issues. Also the sea breeze coming straight off the ocean doesn’t help for over spray.

This project we used Wattyl Solarguard on all surfaces. We have found Wattyl to be the leading finish in exterior paint over the past few years. Their satin in the Solarguard range has amazing properties and seems to even out like enamel paint, leaving a smooth, clean finish.

A recent painting project completed in Mentone, sees this home office painted in a deep blue to create a space that feels like a step away from the rest of the home. The choice of colour by our clients was painted on all the walls throughout the room including the detailed plaster work and textured wall lining. With a mood that is calming this room has character and highlights the bold choices of our client. Our team spent many hours in the home to revamp a tired look and created a restoration that was transformative.

When is the best time to paint the inside of your Home?

Winter is well and truly on the way and with wet season approaching Melbourne painters are looking for places to stay dry. Interior work is ideal for any painter during winter and painters strive to book out with interior jobs.

We probably shouldn’t be sharing this but you may find that during winter the costs for internal painting come down compared to summer. During autumn, spring and summer everyone wants the exterior of their house painted, including the staining of decks. Generally exterior painting comes around more often than interior painting as it requires more maintenance.

Melbourne painters are likely to sharpen their pencils when pricing for interior work at this time of year. We recommend if you are considering a repaint of your home that now is a good time to start looking.

What to look for when hiring an interior painter:

• A reputable company, someone that employees a team of painters and doesn’t sub contract out any work.
• Find an accredited company or someone who is aligned with leading brands or affiliated with Master Painters associations.
• A company that holds insurances gives you piece of mind that your protected.
• A team of painters ensures an efficient job, the quicker it takes, the sooner your get your home back.

What are the best areas of your home to paint during winter?

There are many surfaces around the home which can be painted during these cold and wet months, some of these areas include:

• Ceilings
• Walls
• Windows
• Doors
• Skirting boards
• Cabinetry
• Kitchen joinery
• Staircases and balustrades

We understand that for some people painting the whole house at one time can be daunting. Thats why we recommend to those who can’t to it in one hit, its best best to break it up. This takes away the stress of having to move furniture and finding areas to store your items.

How to Wash Walls After Interior Maintenance & Painting

After you have invested in professional interior painting, washing the walls regularly will help extend the life of the paint job. The more often you perform regular maintenance on the walls, the less difficulty you will have getting them clean later on. The method and the tools you use to clean walls will depend on whether you are performing preventive maintenance, spot cleaning, or washing entire rooms. The type of paint on the walls will also determine the best method of cleaning.

Semi-gloss and gloss paints are the best for washing, while those that have a flat, eggshell, or satin-finish paint may streak or fade. If it has been a while since your last paint job, and you aren’t sure what type of paint you have on your walls, do a test spot to see how it responds to cleaning. If it doesn’t do well, you will probably want to consider getting a new paint job.

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance is more about removing the dust before it becomes set-in dirt. Better Homes and Gardens recommends starting with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum to remove loose dust before wiping down with a dust mop or cloth-covered broom.

Magic Eraser

This cleaning tool by Mr. Clean is a great cleaning item to keep on hand. It is especially effective for fingerprints and for cleaning crayon artwork that you don’t want to display.

Cleaning Walls Painted with Latex and Oil-Based Paint

Mix your own solution of three or four drops of dish soap with a half-bucket of water. Use a damp sponge to wipe walls without over-saturating. Use a dry cloth to wipe the dirt off the wall. Repeat until the water stays clean. Avoid coming into contact with outlets and other areas where there is electricity.

If walls are painted with oil-based paint, you can use a mild de-greaser, if needed, to remove stains. Neither type of painted walls should be cleaned with scrubbing tools or harsh cleaners.

Cleaning Walls with Mold 

Water exposure can lead to moldy spots that are resistant to regular cleaning products. Try using a damp sponge first to see if it removes the mold. If not, try a 50:50 bleach and water solution to kill the mold. If the paint is chipping or peeling in the area, there is probably mold behind the wall. Hiring a professional interior painting contractor to paint your home will help prevent these problems from occurring. We use special paint in areas to prevent the growth of mould and high-pressure washing to remove mold from exterior walls.

Work from Bottom to Top

Start at the bottom of the wall and work upward. Cleaning runoff from areas that have already been cleaned is easier than cleaning areas that are still dirty. Have two buckets, including the one with the detergent mixture and a bucket of clear water for rinsing. Change the water whenever it becomes dirty.

The best way to keep walls clean and fresh is to always choose the professional quality of paint job that you get from Dulux Painting. We will provide you with the quality paints and expert application that will provide you with a long-lasting, durable finish.

original source : http://www.choosedixon.com/how-to-wash-walls-after-interior-painting.aspx

We are now officially through the first month of 2018 and are very excited about the year ahead.  Let’s dive straight into, with this post we are giving our thoughts on the Pantone colour of the year.

One thing we’ve have noticed straight away is  2018’s colour choice seems to be pushing for bold and courageous, that will surely add a sense of individuality and is truly for the valiant designers and stylists.

Using such adventurous colours has the added challenge of designing and pairing the rest of the room’s colour scheme to compliment these feature colours.  However when done right there is a huge potential to create a space that radiates style and sophistication.

Without further ado, introducing 2018’s C.O.T.Y :

PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet 

“The Pantone Color of the Year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today.” – Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.

Pantone describes this year’s colour as  “Inventive and imaginative ” and makes comparisons of the shade to the mysteries of the cosmos. They’ve also tied this deep and provocative purple to such musical icons as David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix.

Well, the backstory and connection to such talented and inspiring artists of the past is all well and good, how does this purple work as an interior styling colour, and what colours pair with it? Lets have a look at few examples

This shade of purple can really take on a few different moods depending on your style pairings. We can create that aforementioned sense and tranquillity of the cosmos when paired with blacks and whites…

or it can take on a whole different feel of the ultra-modern and futuristic when accented with blues and pinks, although this pairing might be a little bit too ahead of its time at the moment in where your space could end up looking like a scene from the new blade Blade Runner movie…. lets put a pin in that combo for now.

Overall we are pretty happy with the Colour of the year choice for 2018,  our favourite combinations will be with the greens and whites giving the feel of tranquillity and spirituality yet also being imaginative, and unique.

What are your thoughts on Pantone’s Colour of the year? We’d love to hear from you, and see examples of this colour in action. Or if you are feeling bold and trendy we can consult with you on how and where to use this colour in your home. Our interior designers would love to work with you to create a space that will surely transform your home and bring you to the forefront of interior styling.

With the Holiday season fast approaching, many of us are left with a very long “to-do list ” of household chores and maintenance issues to button up before family members and guests start arriving for the traditional gatherings.

Coming out of the winter months straight into the busy holiday season is an inconvenience to say the least.  We all want our home’s to be looking and functioning the absolute best they can around this time of year. Finding the time to make this all happen is the tricky part. Our current working situations and lifestyles leave little room for extra curricular activities, projects and tasks around the home. Finding the time to complete all works needed may be near impossible for most families and households.

Make a list and check it twice 

There may be some projects that are just out of your realm of capabilities, things that are going to need the experience and expertise of a qualified professional. Your best bet will be to start by prioritising everything that needs to be done and then breaking the tasks down into a few seperate lists.

One list should contain all of the things you and your household members can easily accomplish yourself, things like a big push of spring cleaning, inside and out. Getting deep in there tackling all of the things that seem to go a mis and get the pass during the regular tidy ups and cleaning sessions. Giving your lawn and gardening tools and equipment a good once over if they have been sitting for the past months. You will know best what is inside your scope of capabilities our advice is to be realistic and don’t try and take on too much as it will only cause unnecessary stress and angst. The last thing you want is to make a space unusable because you were feeling proactive and decided you were going to tackle that little bathroom renovation yourself, or install that new sink and tap in the kitchen with out any real knowledge of how to do this or even the tools needed to get the job done.

** DIY tip : Create a brief safety checklist that ensures you have everything you need to keep yourself, your home and your guests safe. You’ll want to make sure you check and, if necessary, change your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries, for instance. You should also have a fire extinguisher near the stove so you can quickly get a handle on any kitchen fires that break out while cooking. If you have family member that have young children, make sure your home is kid friendly and safe for the little ones. Install gates at tops and bottoms of stairs and make sure there is nothing in reach of kids that will potentially cause them harm. When the adults are visiting and getting in to the holiday cheer its nice to know there are no avoidable incidents looming around your home.

Another list should contain a few of the things you may need a contractor or professional tradesmen’s skills to accomplish. Again the key is to be realistic! You might not have enough time to get the home extension you have been thinking of fully completed before guests start arriving, but you may possibly still have time to get a few other projects done and dusted that will have a positive impact on your guests stay. Being around a month and a half out of the start of holidays lets use that timeline to go over a few things you will be able to get finished in that time.

Our team have recently completed the restoration of a Californian Bungalow in Preston. Teaming up again with one of our regular builders we transformed this home leaving with another happy customer.

This project consisted of a full interior repaint and plaster restoration. The ceilings were in a terrible condition when we first inspected and we major preparation had to be undertaken to get  restored. After our painters prepared the surfaces when then sprayed in the cornices and ceilings rose’s whilst back rolling the ceiling beds.

The walls were dressed with timber panelling in time with the age of the home. The timbers had been there since the house was built and had seen some love over the year. Our painters went ahead and power sanded the flat surfaces and flushed fill the imperfections. Once the prep was completed and the walls were painted anyone would have thought they were brand new.

Areas of the woodwork were a stained timber finish but the client wanted to lighten the house by converting the trims into a painted finished. Armed with a stain restrain undercoat our painters sealed all the timber work ready to be painted. Because the timber had never been painted it had never filled so we then had the prep the woodwork for its first time. After numerous nails filled and gaps sealed we had everything ready for paint. We hit all the woodwork with semi gloss enamel in the colour ‘Natural White’ by Dulux to match the walls.

After all the hard work and effort were put in we were over the moon with the end result. More so, the client was stoked and looking forward to moving into their newly renovated home.

Our team have recently completed a full exterior repaint on the brick veneer home in Kew, Melbourne. This job required us to organise scaffolding as the house was double storey.

Whilst we had the scaffold up the client decided that he wanted to install timber strappings to his gable ends, something he regretted not doing when the house was built. We called in our carpentry team from M.J. Harris Carpentry to price the works up and 2 days later they were onsite installing the strapping. This worked in well as we also had some timber rot we had found during the preparation stage.

Our painters spent days preparing the house before applying paint. Using our Festool machines to power sand all external surfaces and heat guns to remove blistering paint.

This style of home is classed as a federation home and with this comes traditional colours.

Colour Scheme:

Brunswick Green

Cream

As a part of painting this home we ere employed to restore the timber decking. This deck had not had any maiantence in a long time and required some extensive preparation prior to coating.

Firstly,

We brought in our high powered pressure washer to remove all the dirt and moss that had gathered over the years.

Secondly,

We scrubbed down the timbers with a strong mixture of timber reviver. We left on the surface a little longer than usual to ensure it really soaked in.

Then,

We pressured washed again. After the final pressure wash the deck was finally ready to coat.

We applied 2 coats of Intergain Ultradeck which is a premium acrylic decking coating.

After all that was done we had another happy customer which sent us a fantastic email thanking the team for their work.