Work through the scope before booking a painter
In short
Find a painter who works in your Melbourne suburb and has completed similar interiors or exteriors. Painting alone does not require Victorian building practitioner registration, but a contract that includes other building work can change the requirement. Flag possible lead paint before preparation starts and compare written quotes for the same surfaces, repairs, paint products and access arrangements.
Step 1
Describe the surfaces, damage and access
List each room or exterior area, then specify walls, ceilings, doors, skirting boards, windows and eaves separately. Include your suburb, photos, approximate building age and whether people will stay in the property during the work. Show peeling paint, water stains and damaged timber close up as well as in a wider photo.
Details for a Melbourne painting brief
| Property or job | What the painter needs to know |
|---|---|
| Older terrace or weatherboard home | Old paint layers, timber condition, high ceilings, narrow side passages and access to windows and eaves. |
| Apartment or owners corporation property | Permission for the work, lift bookings, loading and parking, shared areas to protect and permitted work hours. |
| Exterior repaint or bayside property | Surface material, height, exposed or corroded areas, garden protection and space for access equipment. |
Step 2
Check whether the full contract needs registration
Victoria's Building and Plumbing Commission guidance distinguishes painting alone from a contract covering multiple types of domestic building work. A painting-only job does not require building practitioner registration. If the contract combines painting with other building work and is worth more than $10,000, registration may be required. Ask the Commission to confirm the requirement if repairs or renovation work make your scope unclear.
Where registration is required, check the practitioner and authorised scope through the Commission before accepting the quote. For every job, ask for recent examples on similar surfaces, client references and a current certificate of public liability insurance. Confirm who will do the work, travel to your suburb and proposed start dates directly with the business.
Step 3
Get advice on old paint before it is disturbed
Victoria's Department of Health says lead paint was used in many Australian homes before 1970, and more recent homes may also contain it. Renovation and peeling paint can release lead dust or chips. Building age is a reason to seek professional advice about assessment, rather than proof that a particular surface contains lead. Avoid starting your own sanding or stripping while this is unresolved.
Ask how suspected or confirmed lead changes the preparation method, containment, clean-up and waste arrangements. The Department advises keeping children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women away from renovation work areas. For exterior work, ask how paint debris will be kept out of neighbouring areas, garden beds and soil. EPA Victoria identifies old flaking paint and paint lost during renovation as sources of soil contamination.
Water stains, recurring mould and soft timber also need attention before coating. Ask who will investigate or repair the cause, and record whether that work is included or needs another tradesperson.
Step 4
Compare preparation, products and exclusions
Consumer Affairs Victoria recommends comparing at least three written quotes for the same plans and specifications. Give each painter the same surface list and ask them to explain cleaning, removal of loose paint, filling, sanding where safe, repairs and priming. Name the paint brand and product range, colour, sheen and proposed finish coats for each surface. Have allowances for extra preparation or coats explained before accepting.
Check who moves furniture, protects floors and gardens, removes fittings and clears waste. For exterior work, include access equipment and any permissions needed for its placement. Ask how rain, damp surfaces or unsuitable temperatures will affect the schedule and when the painter will update you about delays. Agree how unexpected repairs will be priced and approved.
Questions that make quotes easier to compare
| If the quote says | Ask for |
|---|---|
| Preparation included | The actual preparation tasks, repair limits and any separate hazardous-paint allowance. |
| Quality paint | Named primer and finish products, sheen and proposed coats. |
| Exterior work | Exact surfaces, access costs, protection, clean-up and weather arrangements. |
Step 5
Confirm the agreement and inspect the finish
Record the accepted scope, total price, payment terms, dates and process for approving changes. Confirm colours and sheen before materials are ordered; ask for a sample on the actual surface if needed. For an occupied home, agree which rooms will be worked on first and when they can be used again.
Walk through the completed work with the painter. Check coverage, edges, doors and windows, and any paint on floors or fittings. Photograph unfinished areas or defects and agree when they will be addressed. Keep the invoice, product and colour details, care instructions and any written warranty for future maintenance.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- Building and Plumbing Commission: what is domestic building work?
Current destination of the former VBA guidance; registration classes and the distinction between single-trade painting and combined domestic building work.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: getting quotes for building and renovating
Comparable written quotes, scope and materials, public liability insurance and arrangements for price or timing changes.
- Better Health Channel: lead exposure and your health
Department of Health guidance on older paint, renovation dust, professional advice and protection of vulnerable occupants; reviewed 27 July 2026.
- EPA Victoria: check for lead contamination in soil
Flaking exterior lead paint and renovation debris as sources of residential soil contamination.
