Painting Tips & Insights

Expert advice from Melbourne's most experienced residential painters.

Painting cost per square metre in Melbourne (2026)

Painting costs $20-$60 per square metre for interior work and $30-$80 per square metre for exterior work in Melbourne in 2026. What drives the rate and how to use it.

14 July 2026 · 6 min read

Guides

Limewash paint explained: what it is, costs and where it works (2026)

Limewash is slaked lime and water, not ordinary paint. What it costs in Melbourne, which Australian brands are real limewash, and where it works.

6 July 2026 · 9 min read

Education

Porter's Paints Review: Worth the Premium? (A Melbourne Painter's Take)

Porter's Paints is Australia's designer paint brand: French Wash, limewash, mineral paints and a celebrated colour range. When the premium is worth paying.

6 July 2026 · 8 min read

Guides

Best tile paint for bathrooms: what a Melbourne painter actually uses (2026)

The best tile paint for bathroom walls and splashbacks compared: Dulux Renovation Range vs White Knight vs Rust-Oleum, with a working painter's verdict.

4 July 2026 · 8 min read

Guides

How to paint concrete: floors, walls & exterior (Melbourne 2026)

How to paint concrete floors, walls and exterior surfaces: the right paint for each, real Melbourne prices per square metre, and why concrete paint fails.

4 July 2026 · 9 min read

Education

How to remove paint from metal: stripper, heat gun or sanding? (2026)

The best way to remove paint from metal gates, railings, doors and roofs: chemical stripper, heat gun, sanding or home methods, with real Melbourne prices.

4 July 2026 · 8 min read

Guides

Deck oiling and restoration in Melbourne: costs, process and how often (2026)

Deck oiling in Melbourne costs $25–$45 per m², full restoration $45–$80 per m² in 2026. Oil vs stain vs paint, and how often to re-oil.

3 July 2026 · 11 min read

Guides

How much does it cost to repaint a house exterior in Melbourne? (2026)

Exterior house painting in Melbourne costs $30–$80 per m² in 2026. Prices by cladding, single vs double storey, and prep condition.

3 July 2026 · 12 min read

Education

How many coats of paint do walls need? (2026)

Walls need two coats of paint, plus primer on new plaster, patches, stains or dark-to-light changes. Real coverage rates, drying times and costs.

3 July 2026 · 7 min read

Guides

How much do painters charge per hour in Melbourne? (2026)

Melbourne painters charge $45–$80 per hour plus GST in 2026. Day rates, what moves the rate, hourly vs fixed quotes, GST rules and a worked bedroom example.

3 July 2026 · 10 min read

Guides

Limewash, paint or render: what's the best finish for a brick house? (2026)

Limewash on exterior brick costs $45–$70 per m² in Melbourne, painting $35–$55, render $80–$150 in 2026. Costs, prep and breathability compared.

3 July 2026 · 12 min read

Guides

What are painting rates per square metre in Australia? (2026)

Painting rates in Australia run $20–$60 per m² interior and $30–$80 per m² exterior in 2026. What the rate includes, how to measure, and worked 3BR examples.

3 July 2026 · 11 min read

Street map of Melbourne's inner west showing the suburbs Modernize Solutions services: Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, Braybrook, Sunshine, West Footscray, Kingsville, Maidstone, Maribyrnong and Spotswood

Based in Braybrook 0433 803 841 Open 7 days

Common questions

How long does paint take to dry between coats?

Quality acrylic paints like Dulux Wash&Wear are touch dry in around 30 minutes and ready to recoat in about two hours in normal conditions. Cold or humid Melbourne weather stretches that out, which is one reason exterior work is scheduled around the forecast.

Should I paint my house myself or hire a professional?

A single room with sound walls is a reasonable DIY job. Full interiors, ceilings, exteriors and anything with peeling or damaged paint are usually false economy, because the prep work and access equipment are where DIY jobs fail. Our guides on this blog cover both paths honestly.

How often should you repaint a house in Melbourne?

Exteriors every seven to ten years, sooner for weatherboards in full sun. Interiors last ten years or more if the walls were prepped properly. Melbourne UV and rain do most of the damage outside, so south-facing walls usually outlast west-facing ones.

Why is the paint on my walls peeling?

Almost always moisture or poor preparation. Paint applied over dust, gloss or damp plaster loses adhesion and lifts. The fix is to strip back the flaking area, treat the moisture source, sand, prime and repaint. Painting over the top without prep just moves the problem a year down the road.

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