How to get scuff marks off white walls (2026)
Get scuff marks off white walls with a melamine eraser sponge or sugar soap in under a minute per mark, and know when scrubbing will burnish the paint instead.
Painting Tips & Insights
Straight advice from painters who have worked on Melbourne homes since 1987.
How to patch a hole in a wall (2026)
Patch any hole in a plasterboard wall: filler for nail holes, a $12 mesh patch for fist-sized damage, backing and a plasterboard offcut for anything bigger.
Education · 21 July 2026 · 7 min read
Painting cost per square metre in Melbourne (2026)
Painting costs $20-$60 per square metre inside and $30-$80 per square metre outside in Melbourne in 2026. What drives the rate and how to use it on your quote.
Guides · 14 July 2026 · 6 min read
How many coats of paint do walls need? The straight answer (2026)
Two coats over a similar colour. Add a primer or tinted undercoat over dark colours, patches, stains or new plaster. When one coat works and when you need three.
Guides · 10 July 2026 · 7 min read
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.
Education · 6 July 2026 · 8 min read
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.
Guides · 4 July 2026 · 8 min read
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.
Education · 4 July 2026 · 8 min read
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.
Guides · 3 July 2026 · 11 min read
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.
Guides · 3 July 2026 · 10 min read
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.
Guides · 3 July 2026 · 11 min read
Spray painting vs brush and roller: which is better for your house? (2026)
Spray painting vs brush and roller for Melbourne homes. Where spray genuinely wins, where it fails, real 2026 prices, and what a trade since 1987 actually uses.
Guides · 3 July 2026 · 8 min read
Basalt Colour Guide: What Goes With Colorbond Basalt (2026)
Basalt is Colorbond's mid-tone grey, lighter and softer than Monument. What pairs with it and how to paint your house to match, from a Melbourne painter.
Guides · 2 July 2026 · 6 min read
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.