When it comes to freshening up your home, nothing transforms a space like a new coat of paint. However, painting a house, whether interior or exterior, can be a costly exercise if not planned carefully. The good news is that there are several innovative ways to cut down on expenses without compromising quality. In this guide, we’ll explore practical strategies to save on both interior and exterior painting, along with general tips, to make your every dollar count.
Let’s jump into the article to explore the cost-saving techniques together.
1. Interior Painting – Ways to Save Cost
Before diving into each tip, it’s essential to understand that interior painting costs are influenced by more than just paint. Preparation, room size, colour choices, and even timing can dramatically affect your budget. Let’s look at ways to make the process more affordable without cutting corners.
DIY Prep Work
One of the easiest ways to cut down on expenses is to handle preparation tasks yourself. Moving furniture, cleaning walls, removing wallpaper, and patching minor imperfections can save hours of labour fees. Painters often charge for these services, so even a modest effort on your part can lead to noticeable savings. Invest in painter’s tape, drop sheets, and basic filler, and you’ll create a smoother canvas for the professionals to work on.
Efficient Cost Calculation
Accurate measurements are crucial for controlling expenses. Before you start, measure your rooms and calculate the total square metre coverage. This helps estimate the precise quantity of paint to buy and gives the painters a clear indication when quoting. Online paint calculators are provided by many suppliers that make it easy for you, preventing you from buying too much or not enough for the project.
Bulk Painting
Painting your home by sections might be handy, but it is rarely cost-effective. Painters in Sydney often offer better rates when they’re booked for a larger project rather than multiple small jobs. For example, getting your entire house interior painted in one go can reduce the cost per square metre. It’s also more efficient as painters can set up once, work continuously, and finish faster, which reduces labour costs.
Colour Choices and Coats
Your colour selection can come as a shock to your budget. Darker shades or dramatic colour shifts will generally require multiple coats, greater quantities of paint, and more time. Lighter colours, neutral colours, or colours similar to your existing walls can reduce coats, saving materials and labour. In addition, using good-quality paint helps achieve better coverage in fewer applications.
Off-Peak Booking
Similar to most trades, painters have slower and busier periods. Scheduling your project outside of peak seasons, late autumn or winter, for example, may result in lower estimates and quicker availability. Most painters will bargain during slower months, so this would be a good time to receive competitive quotes. Keep weather conditions in mind if painting outdoors, but interior work has less to do with weather and can be accomplished year-round.
2. Exterior Painting – Ways to Save Cost
Exterior painting presents its own set of challenges, often requiring more preparation and durable finishes to withstand Australia’s climate. With higher labour costs and equipment needs, exterior jobs can be expensive. Here’s how to keep those costs manageable.
Right Season for Work
The time of year plays a huge role in painting costs and quality. Avoid peak summer when the heat can cause paint to dry too quickly or even blister. Instead, plan exterior painting during mild weather in spring or early autumn. This not only ensures a better finish but also allows painters to work more comfortably and efficiently, reducing labour time.
Regular Maintenance
One of the best ways to save money is to avoid letting your home’s exterior deteriorate to the point of needing a complete overhaul. A quick pressure wash, patching cracks, and touching up peeling areas can extend the life of your existing paint. Routine maintenance every couple of years will cost far less than a full repaint every decade.
Use High-Quality Paints
At first glance, premium paints might seem like an unnecessary expense. However, higher-quality paints often provide superior coverage and durability, meaning fewer coats and longer-lasting results. In Australia’s harsh sun and weather conditions, investing in durable exterior paint can save you from having to repaint sooner than expected.
DIY Small Areas
Not every part of your exterior needs a professional touch. Fences, sheds, or small decorative trims can be handled as DIY projects if you have the time and interest. By tackling these smaller jobs yourself, you reduce the total workload for the painter, which can lead to lower quotes.
Smart Scaffolding
Homes with multiple storey or difficult-to-reach areas can drive up costs because of scaffolding or specialty equipment. Before hiring, discuss with your painter how they plan to access these areas and whether there are alternatives to reduce equipment costs. Sometimes, even simple changes like trimming back vegetation can save money.
3. General Cost-Saving Tips
Beyond separating interior and exterior costs, some strategies apply across the board. These general tips can help any homeowner get more value from their painting project.
Get Multiple Quotes
It’s a standard but often overlooked step: always obtain at least three quotes from painters in Sydney. Ensure each quote outlines labour, paint quality, preparation, and clean-up so comparisons are easy. Comprehensive quotes also prevent last-minute add-ons.
Buy Only What You Need
Overbuying paint is a common budget drain. Use paint calculators or seek advice from suppliers to purchase only what’s necessary for your project. Not only does this save money, but it also reduces waste and storage issues.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
Opting for high-quality paint might seem expensive initially, but it often provides better coverage, requires fewer coats, and lasts longer, ultimately saving money.
Shop During Sales and Promotions
Many hardware and paint suppliers offer discounts throughout the year, especially during promotional events and stock clearance periods.
Maintenance Plan
Instead of waiting until your home needs a complete repaint, get into the habit of touching up on a regular basis. Keep an eye on high-traffic areas or exterior sections that are weather-exposed and prevent harm for a longer period of your painting, which costs you less in the long run.
Utilise EOFY Opportunity
For landlords and investors, the cost of painting can be tax-deductible maintenance. Performing painting work during EOFY can be of extra aesthetic value and cost advantage as suppliers offer reductions on paint and service, and you are allowed to claim expenses while paying taxation.
Hire Experienced Professionals
It may sound contradictory, but an experienced house painter in Sydney is able to accomplish the work efficiently, reducing the time and material wastage, which essentially translates into money saved.
Final Thoughts
Saving on house paint doesn’t have to come at the cost of style or durability. With some careful thought, timely shopping, and astute execution, it’s well within reach to get that professional finish on a budget. Whether painting the interior, exterior, or both, the secret is to know your costs, prepare appropriately, and take advantage of opportunities such as EOFY sales and tax benefits for investment properties. By combining these strategies, you can give your home a fresh look while keeping expenses under control.
