A good house painting service is mostly preparation. Before any colour goes on, the painter washes the surfaces, scrapes and sands loose paint, fills gaps, repairs or replaces damaged boards, and primes bare timber. Then come two finish coats. In Auckland, a typical exterior repaint costs $7,000 to $20,000 and a full interior $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of the house, its condition and access. When you are ready, tell us about your house and we'll arrange a free estimate.
What does a house painting service include?
A full house painting service covers preparation, repairs, priming and usually two finish coats, plus protecting your floors, gardens and furniture and cleaning up after. Outside, that means washing, scraping, sanding, filling, replacing rotten boards where needed and painting weatherboards, trims, windows, fascias and often gutters. Inside, walls, ceilings, doors and trims. A written quote should list each part.
The steps a professional follows on a typical Auckland weatherboard house:
- Wash the cladding to remove dirt, salt and mould, then let it dry.
- Scrape and sand loose or flaking paint back to a sound edge.
- Repair: fill nail holes and cracks, and replace rotten boards or fascia sections.
- Prime bare timber with a wood primer. Resene notes that the thin pre-primer on new timber is only a temporary holding coat, not part of the paint system.
- Two finish coats in the finish you choose, with the drying time on the label between them.
- Clean up, remove masking, and walk through the job with you.
If your house was built before the 1980s, the old layers may contain lead. Health New Zealand advises treating paint on buildings from the 1980s or earlier as lead-based until a test shows otherwise. That changes how the paint is removed. See lead paint on heritage homes.
Interior, exterior or the whole house?
Most people start with the outside, because that is the paint protecting the house from Auckland's sun, rain and salt air. Interiors are often done room by room. Painting the whole house in one job can work out cheaper per square metre, because the painter sets up once and orders paint in bulk.
| Job | What it usually covers | Published Auckland price range |
|---|---|---|
| Single bedroom | Walls, and often ceiling and trims | $800 to $2,000 |
| Full interior, three bedrooms | Walls, ceilings, doors and trims | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Exterior, single-storey weatherboard | Cladding, trims, windows, fascias | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Exterior, two-storey or large villa | As above, plus scaffolding | $7,000 to $25,000 |
These ranges come from the published prices of several Auckland painting businesses. They are a starting point. The painter quotes the real price after seeing the house. See house painting prices for more detail, or the pages on interior painting and exterior house painting.
What moves the price of a house painting service?
Preparation and access move the price most. A house with sound paint and easy access costs far less than one with flaking paint, rotten boards and two storeys that need scaffolding. Other factors are the size of the house, the type of cladding, how many colours you choose, whether the colour changes from dark to light, and the quality of paint. Lead paint adds cost, because it needs safe removal and containment.
- Condition. Flaking paint, bare timber and rot all add hours. Published prices put rot repairs at $150 to $400 per board section.
- Access and height. Two-storey homes and sloping sections usually need scaffolding, which several businesses price at $1,500 to $5,000.
- Cladding. Weatherboard, brick, plaster and fibre cement are each prepared and painted differently.
- Colour change. Going from a dark colour to a light one can need an extra coat.
- Paint quality. Premium paint costs more per tin and usually lasts longer.
How do I choose a house painting contractor?
Ask at least two painters to quote in writing, and compare what each quote includes, not just the price. A good quote names the preparation, the repairs, the products and number of coats, how your garden and floors are protected, the start date and how long the job takes, and whether GST is included. Ask how they handle lead paint if your house is a heritage home.
Questions worth asking:
- What preparation is included, and what counts as an extra?
- Which paint products will you use, and how many coats?
- How do you deal with rot you find once the job starts?
- Who is on site, and who do I call with a question?
- What happens if the weather turns?
Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, any service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, and be fit for the purpose you asked for. Keep the written quote and any changes you agree to.
Do house painters paint gutters and fascias?
Yes, most exterior house painting quotes include fascias, barge boards and gutters, because they are part of the same job and use the same access. Plastic and metal gutters each need the right primer and paint. Check the quote says so in writing, because some painters list gutters, downpipes and roofs as separate items. The roof is usually a separate specialist job.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a house painting service take?
Auckland painting businesses publish estimates of about three to seven working days for an exterior repaint and five to ten for a full interior, depending on the size of the house, its condition and the weather. Preparation often takes longer than the painting. A single room can usually be done in a day or two. Ask for a start date and an expected finish in the quote.
What should I ask before I hire a house painter?
Ask for a written quote that lists the preparation, repairs, products, number of coats and what is excluded. Ask how they protect your garden and floors, how they handle lead paint on heritage homes, whether GST is included and how they want to be paid. A painter who explains the job clearly before it starts is easier to deal with if something comes up.
Do I need to be home while the house is painted?
Not usually for exterior work, as long as the painter can reach every side of the house and you have agreed on access, power and water. For interior painting, most people stay home and the painter works room by room. You will want to be there at the start to agree on colours, and at the end to walk through the finished job.
Is it okay to cut in one day and paint the next?
Yes, with most modern acrylic paints you can cut in one day and roll the walls the next, as long as you keep to the recoat time on the label. Some painters prefer to cut in and roll one wall at a time, so the edges blend while both are wet. The label on the tin tells you the drying and recoat times for that product.