In our ultimate guide, we are sharing how you can find the right painting contractor in Perth for your project. Simply click on any of the headings below to skip to that topic & get our expert insights on finding Perth’s best painters.
We’ll be discussing the following:
- Who are the best painters in Perth
- What you should ask your painting contractor before works commence
- How to tell that you are choosing a quality Perth painter
- What are the benefits of hiring a professional painter
- What is the best time of year to paint
- What should I do to prepare for the painter before they arrive?
- There are so many colours to choose from, how do I pick?
- How much does it cost to hire a residential painter?
- What’s the difference between Residential & Commercial painting?
- How to keep your paint looking fresh?
Let’s help you find the right painting contractors!
1. Who are the best painters in Perth?
Defining what best means to you is the first step in the process. For some, “best” means the cheapest and fastest painting contractor. For others, it means reputation and track record.
For the team at Elite, “the best” means providing quality mixed with personal service.
Our director, Mike Cotterill started Elite Painting in Perth out of a desire to deliver just that. He had worked for other companies and felt that this personal standard was missing.
It’s why Mike Cotterill has invested in training each painting contractor within the team himself to ensure that Perth painting clients receive consistent quality and personal service each and every time they deal with someone from Elite.
The team at Elite takes these standards from the very first interaction with prospective clients right through to the completion of jobs.
Standards that are upheld for both residential and commercial painting clients in Perth.
Being the best painters means quality products from paint choice through to the tools and machinery used on painting jobs, quality workmanship, and of course having a track record of happy clients.
We strive to deliver this while keeping a personal and customer-focused approach throughout the painting process – from helping clients through color schemes and paint choices through to clean up and recommendations for care after the work is finished.
2. Things you should ask your painting contractor before engaging them
When you are choosing a painting contractor, you want to start with the type of painting project that you are undertaking.
Projects for Perth Painters will fall into two categories – commercial painting for businesses and government or residential painting for homeowners and landlords.
Let’s cover questions that you can ask that will help you no matter what the focus of your painting project.
- Do you have experience in this type of painting project?
Aside from the broader categories of commercial and residential, you may want to consider which painting services in Perth can deal with any special requirements.
For commercial painting projects, this may include specialized painting requirements such as Anti-graffiti coatings, painting for industrial floors that can provide health and safety benefits as well as working with interior design to create the right aesthetic for a business brand.
With residential painting projects, this may include working toward achieving a larger renovation project goal and ensuring that the look and feel is achieved for a home, or working with heritage homes where ceilings and walls may require extra attention.
- Are you registered?
The best painters in Perth will be registered with the Building Services Board. The Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 requires individuals and companies completing works valued over $1000 to be registered as a “painting contractor.”
This helps clients to choose legitimate trades and provides more protection if for some reason there is an incident during or after the completion of the works.
- Are you qualified?
Qualified extends past certification. Be sure to look at how they train their staff, what are their emergency procedures, what paints do they choose, how do they stay up to date with the latest technology, trends and practices.
- What insurance coverage do you have?
Residential and commercial insurance requirements can differ, so be sure to ask what is covered, and also what is not covered. This includes checking on any workmanship warranties that are provided on their work.
- Can you provide references?
Ask to speak with previous clients to find out how their experience was, what the site clean up was like, and whether time frames were upheld.
- What is included and excluded in your process?
Talk to your painting contractor about what state their rooms or space need to be in before the painting team arrives, how surfaces are dried, and what happens should they come across a problem.
The more you ask at the start, the better.
- Why did you start your business?
This is where you can find out if your painting contractor has a passion for their works. It will help you to know whether you are aligned in your definition of “the best”.
3. How can I tell I am getting a quality painter?
Aside from ticking the boxes above, be sure to look at their portfolio of work, and really ask about the guarantees that they provide for their workmanship.
Check which products they use, and why they use them. Your painter should have experience and knowledge that matches your Perth painting project.
A quality painter will invest in good quality paints and tools to complete your project and be up to date with techniques and technology.
Their portfolio of works will also help you gain an understanding of their standards, and the areas in Perth where they have completed projects.
For example, if you are undertaking a residential renovation project in the Perth Hills area, you may want to ask them what they recommend for both exterior and interior paints, and what challenges they have found with homes in that area before, and what solutions they recommend.
4. What Are the benefits of hiring a professional?
Residential painting can be seen as a fairly easy task, yet DIY’ing is not always the right option. Here are a few ways that choosing Perth’s best painting contractors can be the right move:
- Quality finishes add value
It’s not just about cutting into the corners. A quality finish means the workmanship will show, and if you are looking at renting out your home, or getting it valued, this can make a big difference.
The same goes for commercial projects. Choosing the right finish will make a difference in how your business is perceived by your customers.
- Get the right aesthetic for your space
A professional painter will be able to guide you through color choices. They will take into consideration the style and mood you are wanting to create, how the light will play a role, and also the overall flow and impact from other viewpoints within your building.
- Insurance & safe work environment
Get peace of mind when you deal with a team of professional painting contractors. Unfortunately, accidents do happen on the DIY front. Professionals have the right equipment, tools, and insurances to get the job done. Whether it’s from having scaffolding and ladders or using extractor fans to deal with any paint fumes or dust, a professional already has this covered!
- Problem detection & prevention
Perth painters with experience know the ins and outs of different suburbs in our city. When working on a project, professionals can identify if there is an issue with a wall such as a mold, and provide advice on specialist paints to treat and deal with the problem.
5. What is the best time of year to paint?
This depends on whether you are painting the interior or exterior of buildings.
Generally speaking, early summer or autumn are the best times as temperatures are more consistent throughout the day, and rain is less likely. This means the paint can be applied smoothly and cure properly.
This isn’t to say that painting can’t be done during cooler months (for interiors).
Thanks to tools and technology, heaters and fans can be used to help get the right finish inside and have your space ready when you require.
6. What should I do to prepare for the painter before they arrive?
If you have hired a professional painter, make sure you ask them if they require you to do anything before the job. Preparations will differ depending on the services your painter offers and what they will be painting.
Typically, you should:
- Remove items from walls, such as picture frames, if the walls are being painted.
- Remove any ornaments or decorative items such as rugs and curtains that may get in the way of the painters.
- Clear out cupboards and cabinets if these are being painted.
- Unplug and remove any electrical cords that might get in the way.
- Make access as easy as possible so that the job can be done more efficiently.
- Move furniture into the centre of the room for indoor jobs.
- Trim plants and greenery out of the way for exterior jobs.
- Notify your painter if you require the painting to be done in a certain order (i.e. one room before another).
- Check with your painter if you are required to clean the surface or fix any damages such as rotting wood, rusting metal or infestations.
- Vacate the area and keep kids and pets away from the workspace to minimise accidents and increase efficiency. If it’s convenient, you may prefer to leave the site while the job is being completed.
7. There are so many colours to choose from, how do I pick?
Making a decision about the right colour or shade for your project can be overwhelming. To simplify the task, at Elite we offer a Colour Consultancy service to our clients. Our fully qualified Interior Decorator can give expert advice on choosing colours which will help make your space sing. In some cases you’ll also be able to test sample house painting colours on your walls to give you an idea of the final result.
If you don’t have access to professional advice, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your paint colour:
- Do your research. Find examples of looks you like and see how particular paint colours have been used to achieve the effect.
- How much natural light does the room get? Bright rooms look good with cool whites and neutrals while you can use warmer whites to brighten up rooms that don’t get as much light.
- If unsure, go with matt, neutral colours over bright, vibrant hues. You can always add more colour and texture through your decor.
- Decide on warm vs cool. Warm colours such as yellow, red and orange will draw attention to the room. Cool colours like blue and green will feel softer and make the room feel more open.
- Light vs dark tones. Light tones can help make a space feel larger and darker tones can make a space feel sophisticated.
8. How much does it cost to hire a residential painter?
The cost of hiring residential painters in Perth will vary depending on the size of the job, the quality of the products used and the amount of preparation work required, such as removing old paint or cleaning walls. Painting window trims or other decorative elements in the home will increase the cost as these will need to be painted by hand.
On average, for interior house painting with two coats of premium paint it will cost around $20-$30 per square metre. For jobs that require more preparation and trim work or multiple colours, the quote might be higher. To paint the interior walls of a house, you can expect to pay anywhere between$3000 – $5000 AUD. To paint the exterior timber walls or brickwork of your home, you can expect to pay upwards of $5000. To get a tailored, obligation free quote based on your needs, get in touch with the team at Elite. We consider all the costs of your project upfront so that you know what it’s going to cost before the job starts.
9. What’s the difference between Residential & Commercial painting?
Commercial painting involves painting for commercial projects and can cover a wide range of facilities from restaurants and factories to hotels and residential complexes. Residential painting is for houses, both inside and outside. Residential paint jobs are generally smaller scale projects than commercial paint jobs, meaning commercial jobs tend to be more expensive and require larger resources to complete than residential jobs.
At Elite, we specialise in both residential and commercial painting services. Residential painting may involve drywall and overcoat painting, ceiling painting, fixing cracks, painting decking and fences etc. Commercial painting may involve more specialised services to meet the specific needs of the business. At Elite, our commercial services include removing graffiti, applying hard-wearing floor paint, meeting schedules and deadlines to accommodate for business in the premises and scalable painting solutions for small and large projects.
10. How to keep your paint looking fresh?
A professional paint job can transform a space, making it look new and fresh. However, even when you’re careful to look after your painted surfaces, life will bring wear and tear. It’s important to know how to care for your painted surfaces and avoid them looking tired and old before they should. Basic paint upkeep can help keep your paint looking fresher for longer.
If your paint gets scuffs and scratches from daily activities, try and clean or fix them as soon as you notice them. Keep your eye on high traffic areas as these tend to get the most wear and tear. Run your hand over the scuff marks. If the surface is smooth, a simple wet sponge might do the job. If it needs a deeper clean, add a small amount of dishwashing detergent to a damp sponge. If the surface is rough, it indicates the scratch has gone through the paint. In these cases you may need to smooth the area with sandpaper and apply a new coat of paint to the affected area.
One of the things that causes paint to fade quickly is intense sunlight. Investing in curtains, shades or tinted windows can help reduce the intensity of the sunlight and help your paint maintain its colour for longer. However, the best way to avoid fading paint is to invest in high quality paint at the outset. At Elite, we only use the best quality paint to give you a paint job that will stand the test of time. If you need a quote for a residential or commercial paint project, give us a call today to see what we can do for you.
Contact Elite Painting today for any painting questions and advice for your next project.