Costing up a whole house paint job?

Discussion in 'Styling & Decorating' started by SaberX, 6th Nov, 2015.

Join Australia's most dynamic and respected property investment community
  1. SaberX

    SaberX Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    202
    Location:
    WA
    Need to estimate the cost of painting a new home build, roughly 238m2 in floor space (including garage, but excluding alfresco) so essentially internal site space.

    30 c throughout, drop down to 27c in required areas.

    Given the builder quoted $6k to roughly paint and 3k+ for a soak-well affiliated company to do it (I assume price would be same for a paint specialist), I assume it's much cheaper to DIY, as this is what I have been told by many since day 1 of scouting display homes? On the flipside alot say its hard work and time, but I'm willing to for a few grand in savings as I plan to rent this out after living it for awhile.

    For those with IPs have you found cheap - Taubmans works best, or does the more premium paint brands or their products which offer the stain wash/removal, and other 'protection' worth the money in avoiding repainting as regularly? DUlux has one wash and wear paint that's been advertised heavily lately.

    I know i need brushes, rollers etc. but as a guide could anyone who has DIY painting recently/in the past, advise a rough guide to calculating number of litres of paint required, equipment I may be forgetting etc, so I can basically establish a rough conservative cost estimate in order to submit as part of my construction loan with Bankwest. Just wanted to get financed for this.

    (Cornices, ceiling and the doors are painted as a standard. Same for my front entry door)

    Appreciate any other painting advice for a first timer. Cheers
     
  2. DaveM

    DaveM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    14th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    3,761
    Location:
    Adelaide & Sydney
    I got my PPOR painted which is a similar size (5br 3 living) and it cost me $5k + paint. I would have DIY but my shoulders wont let me do it anymore.

    As for paint, if you are DIY spend more on the decent quality paint. Goes on heaps easier. And if the walls are bare plasterboard they will need to be prepped with a sealer undercoat, so tint that the same as the finishing coat which gives you 3 coats in colour.

    Paint cans say 16sqm per litre but work off 12. So calculate your surface square metreage then divide by 12 to get your required paint litres.
     
    vbplease likes this.
  3. No Probs

    No Probs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    117
    Location:
    Perth
    I recently had an investment property painted, I painted the ceiling myself before realising it's a false economy painting yourself so I paid for a painter to finish it off for me while I went to work to pay for him. End result is he did a better job and in half the time it would have taken me. I'll stick to plumbing and let the professionals do the rest in future. Painting drives me nuts, I can't stand it haha!
     
    Gforce, Nerak and Brian84 like this.
  4. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

    Joined:
    3rd Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    11,331
    Location:
    Perth
    My painting advice would be to get someone to do it and not DIY. Painting one room is ok, painting a house is a lot of work. I've tried to do it and failed - never again.

    I wouldn't go lower than Solver. Dulux or Taubmans would be the best but more expensive. After that I'd go Solver then below that all the other ones.
     
  5. Nimble

    Nimble Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    3rd Nov, 2015
    Posts:
    52
    Location:
    Australia
    I was looking into painting the interior of my new home last week and used Compare quotes and prices from more than 100,000 local businesses. to get quotes. I just put in my house specs (4 by 2) and location. I then had about 10 quotes and picked the one with best reviews. Total was 3.8k for 1 coat of sealer binder and 2 topcoats of premium Dulux wash and wear. They start tomorrow and said they will also sand the walls and fill any cracks/dents. Will use this site for backyard landscaping too once I figure out what I want there.
     
    Gforce, WattleIdo and Westminster like this.
  6. 4point5million

    4point5million Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    20th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    127
    Location:
    Global
    I've sprayed 3 houses, was lots of fun, by the 3rd house it was starting to look good lol
     
    Gforce, S.T, Azazel and 1 other person like this.
  7. Sonamic

    Sonamic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    1,340
    Location:
    Sunny QLD
    I would pay a painter to do it. Keep a tradie in a job. Pro finish in half the time, they have all the gear and if you intend to rent it after a short stint in it yourself you can claim the cost.

    But at the end of the day it's your time and money.
     
    Gforce likes this.
  8. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

    Joined:
    3rd Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    11,331
    Location:
    Perth
    That's a great price!
     
  9. WattleIdo

    WattleIdo midas touch

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    3,429
    Location:
    Riverina NSW
    Depends how much time you've got. Personally, it's a job I enjoy though it's so time-consuming. I've just spent weeks prepping just one room and still not finished. Very satisfying work though ... if you like that sort of thing.
    As for the paints, I uually go Dulux or Taubmans but I think most 'real' painters use Wattyl and cheaper brands and they look great! I'm considering using Porters this time. Then again, I might just be going dotty with the paint striper, sugar soap and metho!
     
    Gforce likes this.
  10. Stu

    Stu Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Oct, 2015
    Posts:
    100
    Location:
    Perth
    Wow that is very cheap - especially if it includes GST and they are insured and registered. Did you get a chance to check any of their work or ring the references?
     
  11. Nimble

    Nimble Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    3rd Nov, 2015
    Posts:
    52
    Location:
    Australia
    @Stu others were quoting similar prices and the company I went with had very good reviews. Didn't have much else to go on so went with them. In hindsight I should have contacted some references.
     
  12. Stu

    Stu Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Oct, 2015
    Posts:
    100
    Location:
    Perth
    @Nimble all good - I have to keep remembering we pay extra for everything in the West!
     
  13. vbplease

    vbplease Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    1,575
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Also if you're painting over a strong colour then a sealer undercoat will be required.. I learnt this the hard way - up to 5 coats of white didn't hide the lime green of the rendered walls of this particular unit.
     
    Gforce, Sannie and Stu like this.
  14. SaberX

    SaberX Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    202
    Location:
    WA
    Hi all,

    Apologies for the delayed response, i forgot to 'watch the thread' and missed the responses.

    Firstly being WA based there isn't any plasterboard. It'll be a new house, so I believe the old set and float - plaster etc over the double brick construction we do.

    The ceilings and cornices come painted - so no strained neck! Doors and frames painted to :) So essentially it's just the internal walls that I need to do of the 4 x 2.

    I saw the recent masters ad for 10% off paints - valspar, resene, sherwin, wattyl etc and people were saying Valspar for example were quality paints at cheaper prices? Does anyone agree when contrasted to taubmans and dulux - which is all ive seen as I usually only go into bunnings not masters.

    @Stu - is there a recommendation or place to check if a painter is registered, or any other accreditation one should check before engaging?

    It seems like there is a consensus that it's a tiresome job. I heard of professionals going in, two of them and getting it done in two weekends. I'm thinking if i have 6 months for the FHB grants, surely a few weekends and an odd weekday here or there will be done in no time? What worries me is it sounds like all those DIY'ers here make it sound like it takes weeks and weeks to even make decent progress?

    It'll be an investment property essentially after the 6 months qualifies... so I thought short of horrible colours or drastically nasty paint technique, that one only had to get a decent job done of paint on the wall as tenants wouldn't really care if it looked professional or not? Plus it'd get ruined after a short span of tenants i assume anyway?

    Have most found @DaveM guide of 12litres/sqm of surface area a good judge in estimating how much cans of paint i'll need and the total cost - trying to get it financed if I can by putting in an estimate :)
     
  15. SaberX

    SaberX Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    202
    Location:
    WA
    @Nimble your paint job was for a residential ppor not investment property? DO you find getting those paints with stain resistance/ease of clean like your DUlux wash and wear worth the extra price you pay? Particularly in whether i paint it myself or get someone to do it - is it worth splashing out more for those feature enabled paints? Or just go with a slight-medium sheen so it's still retains abit of that matte finish look but the sheen protection against marks and scuffs?

    @4point5million - so you wouldn't recommend splashing out on a paint spray gun for a first timer painting to speed up the process? Heard it gives a better finish too! :)

    @No Probs Undertsood what you mean by time economy. I don't work outside of office hours so I guess time wise I'm giving up spare recreational time. but same aspect. Just sounded like DIY saved alot of money compared to the builder... until i cost it up not sure the diff to a painter, but like any tradie job i'm sure they take a decent cut. Wonder if you can capitalise it to the property cost or just deduct it in full if its an IP.... although the first 6 months living in it for the FHB grants would knock out half the claim :(
     
    4point5million likes this.
  16. Stu

    Stu Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Oct, 2015
    Posts:
    100
    Location:
    Perth
    @SaberX All painters in WA need to be registered.
    Find a registered building service provider
    If you don't have access to a recommended painter I would try to met a painter on a job they are currently painting - or catch the painter as he is painting the rest of your new home and see if he would be happy to paint the walls after handover.
     
  17. devank

    devank Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    1,669
    Location:
    Inner West - Sydney
    Just finished painting about 3 x 5m metal (pergola roof).
    Last night spent an hour scaling off existing paint. Another hour on paint preparation. 3rd hour on painting under coat.
    Today morning spent an hour giving the first coat. Finally, spent another hour today afternoon on giving the second coat.

    Even though it is a small job, I had enough. I would rather pay someone do it.
     
    Sackie and Westminster like this.
  18. Nimble

    Nimble Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    3rd Nov, 2015
    Posts:
    52
    Location:
    Australia
    @SaberX - paint job was for an IP. To be honest I don't know if it was worth it as this is my first home/IP. I do hope it is, making it easier to clean up between different tenants. I am of the opinion that in many cases you get what you pay for. I don't know much about paint but that's what I got offered and from talking to a few people it seemed like a good choice. If I had more time I would ask around more, especially from painters who know what they are talking about. Can always go to Bunnings and ask there.
     
  19. 4point5million

    4point5million Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    20th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    127
    Location:
    Global

    I have found it works well for cheap ips, but I have never sprayed a < 500k ip

    Seems to always look good but I'm not sure why painters have a preference to roll

    Like anything renovating, keep the beers to a minimum the night before and most things turn out pretty good!
     
  20. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    27,094
    Location:
    Sydney or NSW or Australia
    $6k sounds cheap even excluding ceilings/jambs. Paint is the key so if it lasts 10 yrs it's roughly $12/wk, 2 beers.
     

PFI provide our clients with the opportunity to purchase an investment property, together with performing equity investments from a wide range of ASX listed securities some providing monthly income. This is the value of advice.