The ten questions below will tell you more about a painting company in fifteen minutes than three quotes will in a fortnight. They cover registration and insurance, who does the work, how many coats you get, what preparation is included, and what happens if something fails in year two. The best painters answer all ten without hesitating, because they thought about every one before you asked.
Ask the same ten of every painter you speak to. The differences between the answers are the real comparison, not the numbers at the bottom of the page.
The questions about credentials
- Are you registered for work of this value, and can I see your insurance? In Victoria, registration requirements apply over $10,000 and domestic building insurance over $16,000. Public liability cover should be current and in the trading name on the quote.
- Are you accredited by a paint manufacturer or a trade body? Dulux Accredited status and Master Painters Australia membership both involve vetting and give you a path if something goes wrong.
- Who will actually be on site? Ask whether the crew is employed or subcontracted, and whether the person quoting returns during the job.
The questions about the work itself
- How many coats, and over what? Two coats over a sound, previously painted surface in a similar colour is normal. Three are needed for a big colour change, a bare or patchy substrate, or strong colours with poor opacity. The quote should say which applies where.
- What preparation is included, in writing? Washing, scraping, sanding, filling, gap sealing, spot priming and rot repair should each be named. “Prep as required” is not a scope.
- Which products, and which tier? A product name and sheen level per surface. Premium exterior systems buy years, particularly near the water.
- What is excluded? Ceilings, cupboard interiors, garages, fences, sheds and downpipes are the usual omissions.
The questions about risk and aftermath
- What is your warranty, and what voids it? Ask for the term in years and whether it covers labour as well as product.
- How do you handle unexpected repairs? Rot and rust behind old paint are common here. Agree a variation process and an hourly rate before it happens, not halfway through.
- What is your payment schedule? A modest deposit and progress payments against milestones are normal. A large up-front demand is not.
What good answers sound like
A good answer is specific and slightly boring. “Two coats of a premium low-sheen acrylic on the rendered walls, three on the west elevation because it is chalking, oil-based primer on bare timber, and two rotted board ends replaced at $95 an hour plus materials.”
A weaker answer sounds like reassurance. “Don’t worry, we do all the prep, we always use the good stuff.” That may be true. It is not something you can hold anyone to, and it is the clearest line between the best painters and the rest.
The cost questions worth asking too
The best painters price from measured rates, so ask what those rates were.
- What labour rate sits behind this price? Peninsula residential work runs $75 to $95 per hour plus GST, or $400 to $800 per painter per day.
- What rate per square metre did you use? Interior $20 to $60, exterior $30 to $80, weatherboard $45 to $80, rendered $30 to $55.
- Is scaffold or a lift included, and at what cost?
- Is a soft wash included? A whole house typically runs $260 to $735.
None of these are quotes. They are benchmarks, and an accurate figure needs a site inspection. Knowing them lets you tell whether a painter is estimating or guessing.
Questions specific to a second home
If the property is a holiday house, add three more. When can the work happen around bookings? Will someone check the place before the next guest? And who holds a key. Absentee ownership changes the logistics more than it changes the painting, which is why our holiday home painting service is scheduled around occupancy.
For an occupied home, ask about dust control, which rooms are out of action and for how long, and whether the crew works around pets. Good interior painting is as much about sequencing as cutting a straight line.
Get every answer into the written quote, not just the conversation. A painter happy to write down what they told you is almost certainly worth hiring. Start with an instant painting quote and use these ten questions at the inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask a painter before hiring them?
Ask about registration and insurance for the value of your job, whether the crew is employed or subcontracted, how many coats and over what preparation, which specific products will be used, what is excluded, the warranty term, how unexpected repairs are priced, and the payment schedule. Get every answer written into the quote.
How many coats of paint should a painter apply?
Two coats is standard over a sound, previously painted surface in a similar colour. Three coats are required for a significant colour change, a bare or patchy substrate, or strong colours with poor opacity such as deep reds and yellows. The quote should specify the coat count for each surface rather than stating one figure for the whole house.
Should a painting quote list the products being used?
Yes. A proper quote names the product and sheen level for each surface, not just the brand. Product tiers within the same brand differ substantially in durability and price, particularly for exterior work near the coast, so a quote that says only the manufacturer’s name leaves the most important variable undefined.
Is it a problem if a painter uses subcontractors?
Not automatically, but you should know. Ask who holds the insurance, who supervises daily, and who you call if there is a defect in year two. Many capable companies use trusted subcontract crews for overflow. The concern is a company that subcontracts everything and has no direct relationship with the people on your ladder.
