10 questions to ask a painter before you hire
A paint job looks the same on day one. The difference between a good painter and a bad one shows up 18 months later, when the cheap job starts peeling around the windows and the good job still looks like the day it dried. Asking the right questions up front is the cheapest way to tell the difference. Here are the ten worth asking, in 2026.
Print this list. Read it down the phone or in person. The painter's answers — and how comfortable they are giving them — will tell you everything you need.
1. How many coats are in your quote?
Two coats minimum is the Australian industry standard. One coat is the single most common way to win a job on price and deliver something that looks patchy in side light. Even a colour-on- colour repaint normally needs two coats to even out the sheen.
If the quote does not say how many coats, ask. If it says one coat, ask why. Sometimes there is a real reason (a refresh of the same colour on a recently painted wall). Most of the time it is corner-cutting.
2. Is prep included — filling, sanding, sugar-soaping?
Prep is the biggest single differentiator between two painting quotes on the same job. Filling nail holes and cracks with the right filler, sanding it flush, sugar-soaping kitchens and bathrooms to remove grease, and scraping any flaking paint — all of that takes hours and the cheap quote almost always skips it.
Ask the painter to walk you through what prep is included. A real answer lists specific tasks for specific rooms. A vague answer ("yeah we'll prep it") means you are paying for paint applied straight over dirty, dented walls.
3. What brand and product line are you using?
Dulux Wash & Wear, Dulux Weathershield, Taubmans Endure and Haymes Ultratrim are the standard Australian premium trade lines. They have better hide, better wash resistance and better UV stability than budget alternatives. They also cost about 50 percent more per litre.
Get the brand and product line on the quote in writing. "Trade paint" or "whatever I had on the truck" is not an answer. The paint brand is the easiest variable to swap silently after the quote is signed, so this is the line you want pinned down.
4. Do you use a primer?
Primer is non-negotiable on bare timber, new plasterboard, raw render, water-damaged ceilings, tannin-bleeding timbers, and repaints over very dark colours. It locks the substrate down so the topcoat adheres and stops bleed-through.
A painter who skips primer to save 30 minutes will leave you with a job that flakes inside two years. Ask the question and get the answer in writing.
5. How do you protect windows, floors, and furniture?
The right answer is detailed: drop sheets on every floor, plastic sheeting over furniture that cannot be moved, low-tack masking tape on skirtings, window glass, hardware and switches, and shoe covers when working inside. Ask specifically. The vague answer ("yeah, we'll be careful") ends with paint specks on your couch.
For exterior work, ask about masking around plants, garden lighting and any pool surrounds. These are the spots where overspray ends up if no one is paying attention.
6. Are you doing the work or sub-contracting?
Sub-contracting is normal in Australian painting. Big jobs run with two or three painters, and not all of them will be the person who quoted you. That is not a red flag on its own. The red flag is being shown one face and getting another on the day.
Ask whether the person quoting you will be on site, who else will be, and whether they have worked together before. A confident answer is fine. A "we'll see who's available" answer is not.
7. What is your touch-up policy?
Good painters offer a 14-day touch-up window. You walk the job a few days after they finish, mark anything you missed with low-tack tape, and they come back to fix it. The catch is that you have to be able to reach them — see question 10.
A painter who refuses a touch-up window or gets prickly when you ask is telling you they will be unreachable once your cheque clears. Walk away.
8. How long will the job take and what access do you need?
This is partly about scheduling and partly about reading the painter. A confident answer ("three days, we'll be in by 7:30 and out by 4, we need access to the side gate") tells you they have planned the job. A vague answer ("a few days, mate") tells you they have not.
Also ask whether they need power and water on site, where they will park, and what they will do with their equipment overnight. The answers reveal how organised the operation actually is.
9. Do you have public liability insurance?
Five million dollars of public liability is the minimum for residential painting in Australia. Ten million is the standard for any job involving scaffolding, roof access, or commercial property. Ask to see the certificate of currency, not just a verbal yes. Check the expiry date.
An uninsured painter who damages your floor, your neighbour's car, or themselves on your property turns into your problem fast. The certificate is worth the 30 seconds it takes to ask.
10. Do you have an answering service?
Painters are physically on site, with rollers in their hands and music playing, from early morning to late afternoon. Phones go to voicemail. The best painters in your area now run an answering service or AI receptionist that picks up every call, asks the right qualifying questions, and books the next quote.
The reason to ask is not just convenience. It is responsiveness. If you cannot reach the painter before they have your money, you definitely will not reach them in the touch-up window afterwards.
Green flags vs red flags
Green flags: written quote with brand, coats and prep itemised; certificate of currency produced without being asked twice; site visit before quoting; clear touch-up policy; answering service or receptionist on the line.
Red flags: cash-only deals; quote that is dramatically lower than two others; refusal to put anything in writing; vague answers on coats, brand or prep; no insurance certificate; cannot be reached on the phone.
If the work turns out to be faulty
Australian Consumer Law gives you statutory guarantees on services — they must be carried out with due care and skill. If the paint is peeling within months, blistering, or applied so unevenly that side light shows roller marks, you have grounds to require the painter to fix it at no extra cost. Document everything with dated photos. Email the painter (do not just call) so you have a written record. If they refuse, contact your state's fair trading office. For more background on choosing the painter in the first place, see our guide on how to choose a painter in Australia.
FAQ
How many coats of paint should be in the quote?
Two coats minimum is the Australian industry standard for interior and exterior work. Some painters quote one coat to win the job and then upsell the second. A single coat almost always shows roller marks, patchy coverage and the original colour bleeding through. If a painter quotes one coat, ask why and get the answer in writing.
What does proper prep actually include?
Filling holes and cracks with the right filler, sanding the filler flush, sugar-soaping or degreasing surfaces, scraping flaking paint, and spot-priming bare patches. Prep is the single biggest difference between a $2,500 quote and a $5,500 quote on the same job. The cheap quote almost always skips prep.
What paint brand should a painter use?
Dulux Wash & Wear, Dulux Weathershield, Taubmans Endure and Haymes Ultratrim are the standard premium trade lines in Australia. They cost more per litre but cover better and last longer. 'Generic trade paint' or 'whatever I had on the truck' is the answer you do not want. Ask for the brand and product line on the quote.
When does a painter need to use a primer?
Bare timber, new plasterboard, raw render, repaints over very dark colours, and any stained or water-damaged surface all need primer. Primer locks down the substrate so the topcoat adheres properly. Skipping primer is one of the most common reasons paint fails inside two years.
How will the painter protect my furniture and floors?
Drop sheets on every floor, plastic sheeting over furniture that can't be moved, masking tape on skirting boards, window glass and hardware, and shoe covers if they are coming inside. Ask specifically — a real answer is detailed; a vague answer means it will not happen.
Will the painter do the job themselves or sub-contract?
Sub-contracting is normal in Australian painting, especially for big jobs. It is not a red flag on its own. The red flag is being told one thing and shown another on the day. Ask whether the person who quoted you will be on site, who else will be, and whether they have worked together before.
What is a painter's touch-up policy?
Good painters offer a 14-day touch-up window after the job. You walk through, mark anything you missed with low-tack tape, and they come back to fix it. Painters who refuse a touch-up window are telling you they will not be reachable after the cheque clears.
How much public liability insurance should a painter carry?
Five million dollars of public liability is the minimum for residential painting in Australia. Any work involving scaffolding, roof access or commercial property should be ten million. Ask to see the certificate of currency and check the expiry date.
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