Plan the painting work before choosing a business
In short
Find a painter who covers your Sydney suburb and has experience with your property and surfaces. Check whether NSW licensing applies to the scope, flag possible lead paint before preparation begins and compare written quotes for the same rooms or exterior areas. A useful quote names the preparation, paint system, access equipment and exclusions, so you can see what the price covers.
Step 1
List the surfaces and the condition of the old finish
A whole-house repaint, an apartment refresh and exterior timber restoration need different preparation and access. Send your suburb, property type and photos of both the full area and damaged patches. Separate walls, ceilings, doors, skirting boards and window frames rather than assuming they are all included.
Details that help a Sydney painter assess the job
| Your painting job | Include in the brief |
|---|---|
| Occupied apartment interior | Rooms and surfaces, furniture to move, lift bookings, parking and any building work-hour restrictions. |
| Older terrace or timber windows | Approximate building age, peeling layers, sticking windows and any known lead-paint test results. |
| Exterior walls, eaves or a coastal property | Surface material, flaking or rust, height, narrow side access and exposure to weather or salt. |
Step 2
Check the NSW licence rule for your scope
NSW generally requires a contractor licence for residential painting work valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST. There is an important exception: stand-alone contracts for internal paintwork do not need a licence, unless the paintwork is part of other home building work. Do not apply the exterior-work rule to a separate interior repaint.
Where a licence is required, ask for the contracting business's licence details and check them through Service NSW before work starts. Match the holder to the quote and check that the licence covers the work. If your contract combines painting with renovation work and the requirement is unclear, confirm it with Building Commission NSW.
For any scope, ask for evidence of relevant insurance and examples of similar completed jobs. For older windows, textured surfaces or work at height, ask how the team will prepare and access them. Confirm travel to your suburb and proposed timing directly with the business.
Step 3
Resolve old-paint risks before sanding or stripping
The NSW EPA identifies paint in homes built before 1970 as a possible lead source, and its lead-safety campaign specifically includes Sydney's Inner West. Building age is a reason to investigate, not a test result. Tell the painter about old coatings and arrange assessment before anyone disturbs them. The EPA advises testing suspected materials and treating them as contaminated if testing is not possible.
Ask how suspected or confirmed lead paint changes preparation, containment, clean-up and waste handling, and how occupants and neighbouring areas will be protected. Avoid doing your own preparatory sanding while this is unresolved. Lead exposure is particularly harmful to children and pregnant women.
Show the painter water stains, recurring mould and soft or damaged timber. Ask whether these need investigation or repair before painting, who will do that work and whether it is included. A fresh coating does not establish that the underlying cause has been fixed.
Step 4
Compare preparation and paint products alongside the total
Give each painter the same surface list and finish preferences. NSW guidance recommends a written quote covering all work, materials and your specifications. Ask the painter to name the paint brand, product range, colour and sheen, plus the primer or undercoat and proposed coats. If a colour change or damaged surface needs more work, have that allowance explained.
Clarify who moves furniture, protects floors and gardens, removes fittings and reinstalls them. For exterior work, ask whether scaffolding or other access equipment is included and how unsuitable weather will affect the schedule. Keep unknown repairs and hazardous-paint treatment visible as exclusions or separately priced work.
Turn vague inclusions into a useful comparison
| Quote wording | Detail to request |
|---|---|
| Prepare and paint | Cleaning, scraping, sanding, filling and the extent of repairs, with any hazardous-paint work identified. |
| Premium paint | Named products, sheen, primer and finish coats for each surface. |
| Exterior repaint | Exact areas, access equipment, protection, waste removal and weather arrangements. |
Step 5
Agree on changes and inspect the completed finish
Confirm colours and sheen before the painter orders materials. Ask to view a sample on the actual surface if you are unsure. Record the accepted scope, dates, payment terms and how extra repairs or extra coats will be approved. NSW guidance says variations to a residential building contract must be written and signed by both parties.
Arrange a walk-through with the painter before handover. Check coverage, edges, doors and windows, and any paint left on fittings or floors. Record areas needing attention and agree when they will be addressed. Keep the invoice, product and colour details, care instructions and any written warranty so future touch-ups use the right finish.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- NSW Government: painting work
Contractor licence threshold, GST inclusion and the stand-alone internal paintwork exception; updated 23 June 2026.
- Service NSW: check a builder or tradesperson licence
Official online contractor licence search and contact route if a licence cannot be found.
- NSW EPA: stay safe from lingering lead
Older paint, testing guidance, health risks and the campaign's Sydney Inner West focus.
- NSW Government: getting quotes for contractors
Consistent job briefs, written scope and materials, and signed written contract variations.
