Blog
Painting advice for Sunshine Coast homes.
What a repaint costs, how long paint lasts in our sun and salt, and which finish goes where. Written by the crew who’ve been painting the Coast since 1985.
4 guides
What painting costs
Price ranges for Sunshine Coast interiors and exteriors, and what moves the number.
- Start hereHow much does it cost to paint a house?Sunshine Coast price ranges for painting a house inside and out, by bedrooms and wall type, plus what pushes the number up and how to get a firm quote.6 min readRead the guide
- How much does interior painting cost?Sunshine Coast interior painting prices by room and by house, from our own estimate. See what ceilings, trims, dark colours and high ceilings add.6 min readRead the guide
- How much does exterior house painting cost?Sunshine Coast exterior repaint prices by wall type. A standard repaint starts around $7,000 for render and $10,000 for weatherboard.7 min readRead the guide
- How much does commercial painting cost on the Sunshine Coast?How a Sunshine Coast commercial painting quote is built, from access and prep to asbestos checks and trading hours, and how to compare quotes fairly.8 min readRead the guide
16 guides
Looking after a painted exterior
How long paint lasts out here, when to paint, and what to do when it fails.
- Start hereHow long does exterior paint last in Queensland?Dulux's Weathershield guarantee covers peeling but leaves out fading. What Sunshine Coast sun and salt do to exterior paint, and the signs your walls are due.8 min readRead the guide
- When is the best time to paint a house exterior?July to October is the driest stretch on the Sunshine Coast. Here's the month-by-month weather data and the rain, dew and heat limits Dulux and Taubmans set.7 min readRead the guide
- What's the best exterior paint for a coastal home?The best paint for a coastal home is a guaranteed exterior system over proper prep. Dulux Weathershield vs Taubmans All Weather, sheen, colour and salt.8 min readRead the guide
- Why is my exterior paint peeling?Exterior paint peels when water gets behind it or it never gripped the old coat. Learn the signs, a quick check for each cause, and when to call a painter.9 min readRead the guide
- How do you paint rendered exterior walls?New render needs at least 28 days before paint. How to prep old render, which paint and how many coats, and what to do about cracks and white salt marks.8 min readRead the guide
- How do you choose exterior house colours?Pick exterior colours around your roof and brick, then check heat. Dark paint soaks up far more sun, shows chalking more and costs more to apply. Test first.7 min readRead the guide
- Why 2000s Hardie-clad homes fail at the joins firstOn a Hardie-clad home the boards hold paint well, so the joins go first. Here's where to look and how to reseal them properly before you repaint.8 min readRead the guide
- Start hereWhat is limewash, and is it right for your house?Limewash is lime, water and pigment that soaks into bare masonry. Where it works, where it fails, how it ages and how it compares with acrylic paint.10 min readRead the guide
- Should you limewash your brick?Porter's says its limewash wears back over about 10 to 12 years. How limewash looks on brick, the downsides, how to test your brick and how to undo it.11 min readRead the guide
- Should you paint a brick house?Painting brick works if the walls are dry and well prepped, but it's hard to undo. Paint, limewash or leave it, the prep steps and the upkeep that comes after.11 min readRead the guide
- Start hereHow do you paint the outside of a house?Paint a house exterior in the right order: prep, prime only where the label says, then top to bottom in two coats. Weather limits, sheens and where DIY stops.11 min readRead the guide
- How do you paint a weatherboard house so it lasts?Weatherboards last when the timber's sound. Check the boards, wash, scrape, sand, prime bare timber, then two topcoats. Steps, primers, upkeep and prices.11 min readRead the guide
- How do you repaint rusted metal so the rust stays away?Get loose rust off, prime, then topcoat. How to repaint rusted gutters, fascias and metal in Sunshine Coast salt air, and what voids a Colorbond warranty.8 min readRead the guide
- How do you paint a textured or rough wall?Bagged brick, roughcast, pebble dash or a texture coat: use a long roller nap, allow more paint than the can says, and recoat with the maker's own topcoat.11 min readRead the guide
- Can you paint concrete and besser block walls?Concrete and besser block take paint once they're cured, clean, dry and free of salt. Here's how long to wait and which sealers fill porous block.10 min readRead the guide
- Can you paint a garage door, and how do you make it last?Yes, you can paint a steel garage door, but check the warranty first. Prep, primer, paint and salt air care for roller, sectional and tilt doors.9 min readRead the guide
22 guides
Interior paint choices
Finishes and products for walls, ceilings and trims.
- Which paint finish should you use on interior walls?Low sheen for most interior walls, semi gloss for doors and trims, flat paint on ceilings. A room by room guide to paint finishes from Sunshine Coast painters.7 min readRead the guide
- How do you choose interior paint colours?Pick interior paint colours that suit your light: read the LRV, choose wall, trim and ceiling colours together, then test sample pots for three days.10 min readRead the guide
- How do you choose the right white paint?Pick a white by undertone, the room's light and its LRV. Dulux and Taubmans whites compared, which sheen goes where, and how to test before you paint.8 min readRead the guide
- How do you paint a room properly?Paint a room in the right order: prep, ceiling, cut in, roll, second coat. Recoat times from Dulux product pages, plus the mistakes that leave walls patchy.9 min readRead the guide
- How do you repaint doors, skirting and window frames?Clean, test, sand old gloss dull, prime, then two coats of enamel. How to repaint doors, skirting and window frames, including old gloss and aluminium.10 min readRead the guide
- How long does house paint take to dry?Water-based paint: touch dry in 20 to 30 minutes, recoat in 2 hours, washable in about a week. Dulux and Taubmans drying times, and why paint stays tacky.9 min readRead the guide
- How much paint do you need for a room or a house?Work out paint litres the way Dulux and Taubmans do: wall area, divided by the spread rate, times two coats. Worked room and house examples inside.9 min readRead the guide
- Start hereDo you need primer before painting?Bare, patched or stained surfaces, dark colours and old oil-based paint you're covering with water-based need primer. Sound paint in a similar colour often doesn't.9 min readRead the guide
- How do you paint a ceiling without streaks?Paint a ceiling with ceiling flat, a 10 to 18mm nap roller and two coats. Sheen, prep and lap mark fixes from Dulux, Haymes and Taubmans.11 min readRead the guide
- Start hereWhat are the different types of house paint?Acrylic for walls, enamel for trims, primer underneath. The main types of house paint, what each is for, and how water-based and oil-based compare.10 min readRead the guide
- What paint should you use in a bathroom?Use a kitchen and bathroom paint with a mould inhibitor, in low sheen or semi gloss, and a wet-area ceiling paint. Prep, coats and steam times from the makers.9 min readRead the guide
- How do you choose and paint a feature wall?Pick the right feature wall, choose a colour by LRV against the other walls, match the sheen and cut crisp edges. Plus limewash and texture options.9 min readRead the guide
- How do you stop stains showing through paint?Fix the leak, let it dry, then seal the mark with a stain block primer before you paint. Which blocker suits water, smoke, tannin, marker and rust stains.9 min readRead the guide
- Can you paint over wallpaper, or should you remove it?You can paint over wallpaper that's stuck down and sound, once it's sealed or primed. Peeling, ripped or mouldy paper should come off. Here's how to decide.9 min readRead the guide
- Can you paint interior brick walls?Yes, once inside brick is clean, dry and sealed. The prep, the primer and wall paint the makers name, filling mortar joints and what to keep off a fireplace.8 min readRead the guide
- How do you clean painted walls without damaging the paint?Warm water, a little mild detergent and a soft cloth, then rinse. How to clean matt, low sheen and gloss walls, and wash walls with sugar soap before painting.9 min readRead the guide
- Should interior walls be sprayed or rolled?Spray or roll interior walls? Compare finish, speed, masking and overspray, with tip sizes, thinning and safety from Dulux, Haymes, Graco and Wagner guides.10 min readRead the guide
- Which interior paint brand is best in Australia?No brand wins outright. Dulux, Taubmans, Haymes and Wattyl interior paints compared on coverage, sheen and guarantee, from their own product pages and data sheets.9 min readRead the guide
- How do you touch up wall paint so it doesn't show?Use the same tin, the same roller and only enough paint to cover the mark. Why touch-ups show (sheen, texture, colour, opacity) and when to repaint the whole wall.10 min readRead the guide
- How do you paint new plasterboard?New plasterboard takes a sealer undercoat, then two topcoats. Why joins can still show, what finish level to ask for, and which sheen hides the most.9 min readRead the guide
- Can you paint bathroom tiles?Yes, with a tile paint system matched to the spot: wall tile paint and clear coat on walls, a non-slip floor coat underfoot. Prep and cure times from Dulux.9 min readRead the guide
- How do you store leftover paint, and how do you get rid of it?Sealed, cool and off the floor, leftover water-based paint keeps for years. How to tell if it has gone off, and where Sunshine Coast paint goes for free.10 min readRead the guide
5 guides
Selling, renting and strata
Repaints for vendors, landlords, holiday lets and body corporates, and how to pick a painter.
- How body corporate painting works: quotes, committee approval, schedulingHow a Queensland body corporate repaint works: who pays, when the committee can sign off, the two quote rule, sinking fund planning and notice for residents.8 min readRead the guide
- Repainting a holiday let between bookingsHow to fit a holiday-let repaint between guests: how many days to block out, when walls can be cleaned, mould-proof bathrooms, costs and ATO tax rules.7 min readRead the guide
- Does painting before you sell add value on the Sunshine Coast?When a pre-sale repaint is worth it on the Sunshine Coast, what to paint first, what it costs, which colours to pick and what paint can't hide from buyers.8 min readRead the guide
- Between-tenancy repaints: what property managers should ask forRepainting a Queensland rental between tenants? Ask for a scope tied to the exit report, an itemised quote, a washable spec and a date that fits the vacate.8 min readRead the guide
- How to choose a painter on the Sunshine Coast: QBCC, insurance, accreditationBefore you hire a painter on the Sunshine Coast, check the QBCC licence, insurance, contract and deposit. Here's how to check each one and what it tells you.8 min readRead the guide
3 guides
Older homes, lead and asbestos
Queenslanders, fibro and pre-1970 paint: what to test and how it gets painted safely.
- Lead paint in pre-1970 Sunshine Coast homes: testing and safe repaintingBuilt before 1970? Your home has probably got lead paint. Where it hides, how testing works, why sanding is the danger, and how an old house gets repainted safely.11 min readRead the guide
- Painting fibro and asbestos eaves safelyFibro eaves in good condition can be painted, but never water blasted or power sanded. The safe prep steps, what's banned in Queensland and when to test first.8 min readRead the guide
- Repainting a Queenslander: VJ boards, verandahs and timberWhat it takes to repaint a Queenslander on the Sunshine Coast: lead testing, hand sanding VJ and verandah boards, timber repairs, and guide prices.9 min readRead the guide