Exterior House Painting
Exterior painting on the bay is a test of preparation more than anything else. In St Kilda and the surrounding City of Port Phillip, salt-laden air, damp and hard coastal sun work on every outside surface, and they find the weak points in any repaint that was rushed. A good exterior job here is mostly what happens before the topcoat: washing off salt and grime, repairing timber and render, priming bare and chalking surfaces, and choosing a coating system suited to the exposure. We repaint the exteriors of terraces, weatherboard cottages, Deco flats and rendered homes across the area, and we treat the prep as the part of the job that decides how many years you get before the next one.
What a proper exterior repaint involves
An exterior repaint is a sequence, and skipping steps is how coatings fail early. Our typical process is: a thorough wash to remove salt, grime, mould and chalk; scraping and sanding back any flaking or failing paint; repairing timber and render — replacing rotten boards, filling, caulking gaps and re-rendering blown areas; treating and spot-priming bare timber, knots, end-grain and porous render; then two topcoats of a quality exterior system applied in suitable conditions. On the coast every one of those steps matters more than it would inland.
Surfaces we paint
**Weatherboard and timber.** St Kilda's cottages take the brunt of the bay. We replace rotten boards, seal end-grain and joints where moisture gets in, spot-prime bare timber, then repaint so the boards are protected rather than just refreshed.
**Render and masonry.** Rendered facades and the area's Deco fronts need breathable coatings and repair of fretting, cracks and blown sections first. Painting over failing render simply lifts within a year.
**Brick.** Previously painted brick has its old coating checked for adhesion and failing paint removed before recoating. Unpainted face brick is a decision worth thinking through, since painting it is effectively permanent.
**Eaves, fascias, gutters and verandahs.** The trim and timber detailing on period homes is where salt damage shows first, so it gets particular attention.
Coastal exposure and repaint life
Because salt air weathers paint faster near the water, St Kilda exteriors often need repainting every five to eight years rather than the eight to twelve you might get inland. The most exposed, sun-facing and beachfront elevations go first. There is no way to stop the coast doing its work, but proper preparation and the right coating system are what stretch the interval as far as it will go.
Lead paint on older homes
Homes painted before the 1970s may carry lead-based paint under later coats, which matters when old paint is being sanded or scraped during exterior prep. We treat pre-1970s paintwork as potentially lead-containing and prepare it safely — wet sanding, containing debris and appropriate protection — in line with AS 4361.2 and general WorkSafe and EPA guidance.
Fixed price after inspection
Exterior pricing depends on the surfaces, access and the amount of repair, so a full exterior repaint of a weatherboard cottage commonly sits around $10,000 to $18,000 while a large period or rendered home runs higher. We give you a fixed price after inspecting the property so the number reflects the actual condition of the house.
Common Questions
Why is preparation so important for exterior painting here?
Because St Kilda's coastal air puts salt, damp and hard sun on every exterior surface, and those find any weak point in a rushed repaint. Thorough washing, timber and render repair, and priming before topcoats are what let an exterior finish survive the exposure rather than lifting within a year or two.
How much does an exterior repaint cost?
As an indicative guide, a full exterior repaint of a weatherboard cottage commonly runs about $10,000 to $18,000, with larger period and rendered homes higher. The main drivers are surface area, access and scaffolding, and how much timber and render repair is needed. We quote a fixed price after inspecting the home.
Can you paint exteriors in the cooler months?
Yes, by working to the forecast. Exterior paint needs dry surfaces and temperatures in the manufacturer's range to cure, and near the bay we also watch for overnight moisture and salt. We start once surfaces have dried and avoid coating late in the day when dew is coming, which sometimes means a slightly longer run.
Related Services
We also service these areas and offer these specialised services:
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