Matt Rojewski

Keep your home's paintwork lasting longer with seasonal care: wash exteriors and clear gutters in autumn, check for damp and mould in winter, plan and book repaints in spring, and inspect for sun damage in summer. Regular maintenance catches small issues before they become expensive repairs.

A house repaint follows clear stages: an in person quote, scheduling, preparation of the space, surface preparation such as cleaning and filling, priming, two coats of paint, then a final walk through and clean up. Interiors often take a few days, exteriors a little longer depending on size and weather.

Low VOC paints contain far fewer volatile organic compounds, the chemicals that create paint fumes and can affect indoor air quality. They are lower in odour, better for people with sensitivities, and safer around children and pets, while modern versions perform as well as conventional paints.

Painting is one of the highest-ROI improvements for a rental or investment property — a fresh, neutral repaint helps a property let faster, command higher rent, and sell more easily, for a relatively low cost. Choose durable, broadly appealing neutral colours and avoid over-capitalising beyond what the property will return.

Paint finishes range from matte (flat, hides imperfections, best for low-traffic walls and ceilings) to low-sheen and satin (durable, washable, ideal for most walls), semi-gloss (tough and moisture-resistant, best for kitchens, bathrooms, trims and doors), and gloss (hardest and shiniest, for feature trims and high-wear surfaces).

To choose a good painter in Sydney, check they're licensed (required for work over $5,000 in NSW) and insured, ask for recent references and reviews, get a detailed written quote specifying prep, coats and products, confirm who does the work, and make sure they offer a workmanship guarantee.

Limewash is a breathable, mineral-based finish that soaks into porous masonry rather than forming a film on top, creating a soft, matte, mottled look. Unlike ordinary paint, it lets walls breathe — ideal for brick and heritage homes. It weathers gradually rather than peeling, and is refreshed by re-applying.

Painting a heritage home requires extra care: use period-authentic colour schemes, handle any pre-1970s lead paint safely, and choose breathable products suited to old masonry and timber. Heritage-listed homes or those in conservation areas may also need council approval before changing exterior colours.

Colour psychology suggests matching a room's colour to its purpose: calming blues and soft greens for bedrooms, warm neutrals and earthy tones for living rooms, energising yellows for kitchens, and restful, spa-like tones for bathrooms. Room aspect and natural light also affect how a colour feels, so always test on-site.

You can usually paint the interior of your own apartment (lot property) without strata approval, but changes affecting common property — like exterior walls, balconies or hallways — typically need owners corporation approval. Always check your strata by-laws first. Professional apartment painters handle building access, protection and neighbour coordination.

Bathroom tile resurfacing in Sydney typically costs $1,500–$4,000 for a full bathroom, compared with $8,000–$35,000 for a renovation. It's a professional restoration — deep cleaning, repairs, bonding agents and wet-area coatings — that lasts 7–10 years and takes days, not weeks, with no demolition.

Exterior paint typically lasts 7–10 years in Sydney, though this varies by surface and exposure. Coastal homes exposed to salt air and intense UV may need repainting sooner, while sheltered surfaces and fibre cement can last 10–15 years. Quality paint and proper preparation are the biggest factors in longevity.