Residential service
Weatherboard House Painting in Melbourne
Melbourne's weatherboard housing stock needs a specific approach: timber moves, joints open up and coatings crack. Correct preparation, flexible systems and honest repair work.
Weatherboard is a different job to render or brick
Timber cladding expands and contracts with temperature and moisture through the whole year. A coating system that cannot move with it will crack at the board edges and joints, water gets behind the film, and from there it lifts in sheets.
There are tens of thousands of weatherboard homes across Melbourne's south-east and bayside — Hallam, Narre Warren, Berwick, Cheltenham, Mentone, Brighton and right down the Mornington Peninsula. Many are 40 to 80 years old with a dozen layers of history on them, including original oil-based enamels and, on pre-1970 homes, potentially lead-based paint.
Preparation for timber cladding
Full preparation on a weatherboard exterior is genuinely labour-intensive, and it is the majority of the cost. Anyone quoting well below the market on a weatherboard repaint is skipping this stage.
- High-pressure wash and sugar-soap clean to remove chalking and mould
- Scrape back all loose, flaking and blistered coatings to a sound edge
- Sand back and feather the transition so old edges do not telegraph through
- Replace rotten or split boards; fill smaller defects with two-pack exterior filler
- Punch and fill nail holes, then spot-prime every filled area
- Re-caulk board joints, window and door frames with flexible exterior sealant
- Prime all bare timber the same day it is exposed with a timber-specific primer
Lead paint on older homes
Homes painted before 1970 may carry lead-based paint under later coats. Dry sanding or aggressive scraping releases lead dust into your soil and your home — this is a real health risk, particularly with young children on the property.
Where we suspect lead we test, and we manage the preparation accordingly with wet methods, containment sheeting and controlled waste disposal. We would rather have the conversation with you at quote stage than create a problem on your property.
Coating system
We use a full-bodied acrylic exterior system over a quality timber primer. Acrylic retains flexibility as the boards move, where an old-style enamel goes brittle and cracks along the board edges within a few years.
Trims, windows and doors are typically finished in a water-based enamel for a harder, more washable surface that still resists yellowing. Colour choice matters on timber: very dark colours absorb far more heat, move the boards harder and fade faster on north and west elevations. We will tell you if the colour you have picked is going to work against you.
Our process, start to finish
- 01
On-site inspection
We walk the job with you, measure up, check surface condition and note anything that needs repair before a brush is lifted.
- 02
Written scope and quote
You receive an itemised quote listing surfaces, coats, products and inclusions — so you know exactly what you are paying for.
- 03
Protection and preparation
Floors, fixtures and landscaping are covered. Preparation is the stage that decides how long the finish lasts, so it is never rushed.
- 04
Application
Primers and topcoats applied to manufacturer specification, in the right conditions, with the correct number of coats.
- 05
Quality inspection
We inspect cut-ins, edges and coverage in natural light and correct anything that falls short before we call it finished.
- 06
Final walkthrough
We walk the completed job with you, hand over touch-up paint and colour records, and only invoice once you are happy.
Weatherboard Painting — indicative pricing
These are indicative price ranges only. Every project is individually quoted after an on-site inspection — scope, condition and access change the number significantly.
| Project | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Small single-storey weatherboard | $6,000 – $10,000+ |
| Standard single-storey weatherboard | $8,000 – $16,000+ |
| Double-storey weatherboard | $12,000 – $25,000+ |
| Heavy timber repair / restoration | Quoted separately |
| Trims, windows and doors only | $2,500 – $8,000+ |
Frequently asked questions
How often should a weatherboard house be repainted in Melbourne?
Typically every seven to ten years. Coastal and heavily exposed properties, and homes finished in dark colours on the north and west, often need it sooner.
Do I need to replace boards before painting?
Only the ones that are structurally gone. Splits, minor rot and weathering are repaired with two-pack filler. We identify and price any board replacement at quote stage, with photos.
What about lead paint in older homes?
Homes painted before 1970 may have lead-based paint under later coats. We test where we suspect it and use wet preparation, containment and controlled disposal rather than dry sanding it into your garden.
Can dark colours be used on weatherboard?
They can, but heat absorption is significantly higher, which increases board movement and fade. If you want a dark scheme, we will specify a heat-reflective formulation and set realistic expectations on the repaint cycle.
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