House Painting Cost Guide — South East Melbourne 2026
Family-owned · In the trade since 1987 · Master Painters member · No subcontractors
A guide to realistic, preparation-inclusive painting costs across South East Melbourne. All quotes are fixed-price and provided in writing after a no-cost on-site inspection.
Typical Painting and Coating Costs
The ranges below reflect realistic 2026 costs for professional, preparation-inclusive painting across South East Melbourne. Two properties of the same size can differ significantly depending on surface condition, access and preparation required. These are guides — not quotes. All prices are provided in writing after we inspect the property.
Interior Painting Costs
Painting Service | Typical Guide Range |
|---|---|
Single room interior repaint | $600 – $1,500+ |
1-bedroom unit / apartment interior | $2,000 – $3,500+ |
2-bedroom unit / apartment interior | $3,500 – $6,000+ |
3-bedroom house interior repaint | $5,000 – $12,000+ |
4-bedroom house interior repaint | $8,000 – $15,000+ |
5+ bedroom / large home interior | $12,000 – $25,000+ |
Exterior Painting Costs
Painting Service | Typical Guide Range |
|---|---|
Exterior trim only — brick veneer | $2,000 – $5,000+ |
Full exterior — single-storey brick/render | $5,000 – $11,000+ |
Full exterior — single-storey weatherboard | $8,000 – $16,000+ |
Full exterior — double-storey brick/render | $12,000 – $22,000+ |
Full exterior — double-storey weatherboard | $16,000 – $30,000+ |
Full Home Painting Costs
Painting Service | Typical Guide Range |
|---|---|
Full home repaint — 3-bed brick / render | $18,000 – $30,000+ |
Full home repaint — heritage / weatherboard | $25,000 – $55,000+ |
Specialist Painting and Coating Services Costs
Painting Service | Typical Guide Range |
|---|---|
Roof painting — standard tile/metal | $3,500 – $7,000+ |
Kitchen cabinet painting (10–15 doors) | $2,500 – $4,500+ |
$1,500 – $4,000+ | |
Deck painting (up to 40m², sound boards) | $1,200 – $3,500+ |
$1,500 – $5,000+ |
Sale, Rental and Refresh Work Costs
Painting Service | Typical Guide Range |
|---|---|
Rental refresh — unit / apartment | $2,000 – $4,500+ |
Rental refresh — 3-bedroom house | $3,500 – $7,000+ |
Pre-sale targeted refresh (2–3 rooms) | $1,500 – $4,000+ |
Important note:
Ranges assume professional, insured painting with preparation and standard materials included. The lower end reflects well-maintained surfaces, straightforward access and a simple colour scheme. The upper end and beyond reflect significant preparation, repairs, complex access or period detailing. Epoxy floor cost depends on the floor size, coating system, and required preparation. For heritage and period house painting, commercial painting, and strada and body corporate painting, check our dedicated pages.
What Affects the Price of a Paint Job
Surface preparation is the primary cost variable — not house size.
What pushes a job toward the upper end
Surface Preparation
Most painting problems — peeling paint, cracks returning, mould coming back — are caused by inadequate preparation before painting. Correcting cracked plaster, treating mould, sealing stains, and repairing failing surfaces add time and cost, but also determine how long the results hold.
Access and Height
Double-storey homes often require scaffolding or other compliant access equipment, which can add $2,000–$5,000 depending on the site, height and scope. Sloping blocks, narrow side access and complex roof profiles further increase access costs.
Surface type
Weatherboard requires significantly more preparation than brick veneer or render — scraping, sanding, gap filling, timber repairs and end-grain sealing before primer or topcoat goes on. A weatherboard home of the same size costs more than a brick home because of the preparation load.
Period and heritage detailing
Homes with original plaster, decorative cornices, ceiling roses, fretwork, verandah lacework and accumulated paint layers require careful hand preparation and more time than standard modern interiors.
Repairs
Where plaster repairs, timber rot, render cracking or mould treatment are needed, these are included in the fixed-price scope, not added as extras after quoting. The cost of repairs is reflected in the upfront quote.
What keeps a job toward the lower end
Well-maintained surfaces with minimal cracking, no mould, and sound plaster or render
Single-storey homes with flat or level site access
Standard ceiling heights under 2.7m throughout
Straightforward colour scheme — similar colour to existing, or a neutral palette requiring fewer coats
Vacant property with clear access to all rooms and areas.
Smaller, well-defined scope where preparation requirements are assessed and confirmed upfront
Notes on Specific Services
Interior Painting
Adding trims, doors and skirtings to a walls-only scope typically increases total cost by 25–40%. Period homes with decorative cornices, original plaster and high ceilings sit at the upper end. Plaster repairs and mould treatment are included in the scope where needed — not added after quoting.
Exterior and Weatherboard
Weatherboard preparation — scraping, gap filling, timber repairs and priming — is the most preparation-intensive exterior scope we work on. Homes on sloping blocks or with restricted side access require more time and may require additional access equipment. Render crack assessment and moss/lichen treatment are included in exterior quotes.
Roof Painting
A properly scoped roof painting job may include roof cleaning, moss and lichen treatment, ridge cap assessment and repointing where required, suitable priming and coating. The difference between a $3,500 and a $7,000 roof job is preparation, particularly repointing and biocide treatment. We provide a free on-site roof inspection before providing a quote.
Heritage and Period Homes
Federation, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Californian bungalow homes require a different approach to preparation than standard brick veneer. Breathable coating systems, period colour matching, original plaster preparation, and careful hand preparation of ornate details are all within the scope. Heritage repaints are quoted after a thorough on-site inspection — the range is wide because no two period homes are the same.
Why the Cheapest Quote Usually Costs More
Most painting problems — peeling within a year, cracks coming back, mould bleeding through — are caused by what was not done before the paint went on. A cheap quote looks attractive up front because it omits the preparation.
A quote that properly scopes the job — surface assessment, repairs, priming, and the right coating for each surface — will cost more than one that only prices the paint. Over 5–10 years, the properly scoped job almost always costs less, because it does not need to be redone.
Our quotes are written after an on-site inspection and include preparation and repair items that fall within our painting scope. The quote explains the agreed scope, inclusions and exclusions before work starts, so pricing is clear from the beginning.
A cheap quote often means:
- Paint application only — no preparation scope
- Repairs excluded or added mid-job
- Vague scope with no written breakdown
- Budget coating products not specified
- Subcontractors not disclosed
Our written quotes always include:
- Fixed-price scope before work starts
- Preparation and repairs identified on-site and included
- Coating system specified by surface type
- Clear workmanship expectations in writing
- Same team from inspection to completion
Helpful guide
The frequency of repainting affects your long-term maintenance costs. See our guide on how often Melbourne homes need repainting and what surface condition and coating type determine the cycle.
For a more in-depth epoxy garage floor costing read our guide Epoxy Garage Floor Cost: What to Expect in Melbourne.
Painting Price FAQs
Get a Fixed-Price Written Quote
Need house painters in South East Melbourne? We inspect the property, assess the surfaces, and provide a clear, written, fixed-price quote — covering preparation, repairs, and painting. No rough phone pricing. Clear written scope before work starts.
Main Melbourne Areas We Service
We are based in Glen Waverley and provide painting and repair-based repainting services across South East Melbourne suburbs, including:
We also service surrounding areas across South East Melbourne.
Book a Free On-Site Painting Quote
Need painters in Melbourne? We inspect the property, assess the surfaces, and provide a clear, fixed-price written quote covering preparation, repairs, materials, and painting.