Kian shares lessons from 13 years of painting and a recent 130-year-old Victorian home in Fitzroy, with practical advice for homeowners in Fitzroy, Brunswick and across Melbourne.
13 years of painting experience in older Melbourne homes
I am Kian from Pars Painting Melbourne. I have 13 years of painting experience, with a focus on repainting existing homes, including Victorian properties. I cover residential interior and exterior painting, including homes in Fitzroy and Brunswick. Older houses often need a conversation about preparation before we discuss the final colours.
A repaint can refresh rooms, prepare a property for sale or protect exterior surfaces. Walk through the home and list worn paint, cracks, mould and recurring stains. Separate appearance from underlying problems: painting cannot resolve an active leak, and a large crack may need assessment beyond the painting scope.
Define interior and exterior painting separately
For interior painting, identify walls, ceilings, doors, skirting and window frames individually. A bedroom repaint that includes every trim is a different scope from walls alone. Note high ceilings, stairwells, fitted shelving and furniture that restrict access. These details help explain why two similar homes can need different amounts of work.
For exterior painting, list weatherboards, rendered walls, timber windows, doors and other nominated surfaces. Show the painter areas with lifting paint or difficult access. Discuss the proposed preparation and coating system for each material, rather than assuming one product suits the entire exterior.
Interior painting services · Exterior painting services
Make preparation and protection visible
Ask which cleaning, filling, sanding and priming steps are included, and which repairs require separate assessment. Preparation depends on the existing coating and underlying material. Dulux's interior preparation guidance covers clearing the room, protecting furniture and preparing surfaces; the product instructions still determine the requirements for a particular paint system.
Agree who moves furniture, removes fragile belongings and protects floors, glass and fittings. Tell the painter about recently finished flooring or delicate surfaces before coverings or tapes are selected. Protection belongs in the project discussion alongside colours and finish coats.
Covering and masking guide · Dulux interior preparation guidance
Plan access, daily routines and timing
In an occupied home, identify rooms you need every day and discuss whether work can be staged. Explain working hours, pets, parking and shared access. If you are arranging interior painters in Fitzroy or Brunswick, mention narrow access, stairs or building rules where relevant to your property; the suburb alone does not describe the job.
For outside work, discuss how weather could affect the sequence. Surface condition and the selected coating's application and drying requirements matter more than a calendar promise. Confirm availability directly, especially around a move or sale. Do not assume a quick enquiry response means the painting can start that day.
Painting in Fitzroy · Painting in Brunswick · When to paint outside in Melbourne
A recent project: a 130-year-old Victorian home in Fitzroy
My most recent project was a 130-year-old Victorian house in Fitzroy. Every room had its own distinctive colour. I repaired large cracks, and the house also had mould and other preparation issues to address. It is a useful example of why an older home repaint involves more than choosing a colour and applying finish coats.
For your project, show the painter each room separately and point out the damaged areas. Different colours, surfaces and repair needs should be recorded in the scope. Crack filling is not a diagnosis of structural movement, and painting over mould does not resolve the moisture conditions behind it.
The photograph on this page illustrates painting preparation; it is not identified as this Fitzroy project. Before handover, keep the agreed scope and product details for future maintenance and touchups.
Victorian and period home painting · Crack repairs before painting
Request a price for a defined scope
House painting cost in Melbourne depends on the surfaces, preparation, access and finish, not simply the bedroom count. Send an overview of the property, close photographs of damaged areas and your preferred timing. Ask for a written quote explaining inclusions, exclusions, proposed products and how additional work would be agreed.
For a useful photo enquiry, include one wide view of each room and close views of cracks or damaged paint. Add your suburb, the surfaces you want painted and whether the home will be occupied during work.
For smaller jobs, send me photos so I can review the surfaces and discuss an initial estimate. For larger jobs, I visit the property to assess the work. Photos may not reveal every issue, so the final scope and price need confirmation. Call Pars Painting Melbourne on 0402 242 442 or use the website enquiry form.
House painting cost factors · Compare written painting quotes · Request a painting quote
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay home during interior painting?
Discuss this before booking. Room access, ventilation, drying requirements and your household's needs determine whether staging is practical. Agree which spaces remain available each day.
Should I choose paint colours before requesting a quote?
A colour direction helps, but you can flag undecided choices. Tell the painter about major colour changes and different finishes so the proposed system can be assessed.
Does every surface need a primer?
Not automatically. Bare material, repairs, stains and the existing finish can change the requirements. Ask which primer, undercoat or stain blocker is appropriate and why.
Do you repaint older homes in Fitzroy and Brunswick?
Yes. I repaint existing homes, including Victorian properties, and cover interior and exterior work. Send photos for a small job; for larger work, I arrange a site visit.