Getting real about what you can expect from your paint job
As house painters, we can achieve some amazing things. A coat of paint, applied well, can create an entirely new look, inside or out. Wall Treats are a team of premium painters; we work with some incredible homes old and new, and are always proud of the results.
However, there are some things that a coat of paint cannot do. The age of your home, the type of cladding, and the condition of the surfaces will affect the result. Understanding the possibilities and limitations of paint from the outset is crucial to a successful, satisfactory project!
These are the things we will consider before quoting your job:
The age of your home
Older homes are beautiful, and can look amazing with a new coat of paint. However, fresh paint will not fix any deeper symptoms of aging that your 1920s villa is experiencing. A quality finish can take longer, require more prep work, and look a little different that paint applied on a brand new build.
There may also be limitations—for example, putting a dark colour over a light one with aged substrate can cause issues. There is always risk to manage when painting over previous paint coats, particularly older ones.
Of course, another factor to consider when painting a home is maintenance issues. A new coat of paint won’t fix leaks, cracks, and rotting weatherboards. We have a network of contractors to call on who can help to deal with these before painting starts, but this does mean added expense and time.
The type of cladding
Unsurprisingly, each cladding material takes on paint in its own way. What your home is clad in can affect the paint colours you are able to choose from, the longevity of your paint job, and the finish.
Weatherboards, for example, often have limitations based on the Light Reflectance Value of a colour. Darker colours absorb more heat which can be a concern—the same applies to some plaster systems. We can look into the type of cladding you have and make recommendations for the type of cladding that we believe will offer the best results.
Some types of plaster can also experience cracking which is likely not fixed by a coat of paint. Again, this may require some maintenance before painting and if that is not done, the finish will suffer.
The condition of your home
This category is more or less an amalgamation of the two previous ones. What’s the overall condition of your home, taking into account age, cladding, and anything else that will affect the painting surface?
Often, there is maintenance or repairs to be done before painting begins. As mentioned, we can often arrange these through our networks, using trusted and vetted tradespeople. However, this adds time and expense.
One very significant aspect to consider is the substrate—what’s already layered on the surface and what lies underneath. Common substrate issues include blistering, rain spotting, alligatoring, chalking, cracking, and flaking. There are myriad factors that can contribute to this, and each one will require some care and time to remedy before paint is applied.
Part of our premium painting service is our expertise and experience. We take the time to quote carefully, taking into account all issues or potential issues plus what will be required for the best possible finish. We provide advice on whether your vision for the paint project is likely to pan out, and what will go into achieving it. It’s a point of pride for the team that we will be upfront and honest, always striving for the best possible quality but also realistic about what we can achieve.
Your home is unique—the same paint applied in the same way can yield an entirely different result than what was achieved at your neighbour’s place. Managing expectations from the outset is important to a good outcome for all involved!
Get in touch with the Wall Treats team and let’s discuss how we can help you get the look you want for your home.