Find a trusted painter in Brisbane

Queenslanders and brick lowsets need different painters

The house you own shapes the quote. A timber Queenslander has weatherboards, battens, lattice, fretwork and long verandah rails, and every one of them has to be scraped, filled, sanded and primed before a top coat goes on. Homes built before 1970 may also have lead paint under the newer layers, so a careful painter will test before sanding and contain the dust. Gutters, downpipes and the underside of a highset house are easy to leave out of a quote, so ask whether they’re included.

The brick lowsets found right across suburbs like Aspley and Mansfield are quicker outside, because the work is mostly eaves, fascias, gutters, window frames and doors. It’s worth choosing a painter who regularly works on homes like yours, since the prep, the products and the access gear are all different.

Sun, mould and Brisbane’s painting season

Strong UV and humid summers are hard on paint. North and west walls fade and chalk, while shaded south sides and eaves grow mould. Mould has to be killed and washed off before painting, not covered up, or it comes straight back through the new coat. Ask about the paint system as well: the right primer on bare timber, and a mould-resistant finish in bathrooms and on shaded walls, will hold up better in this climate.

Timing matters too. Afternoon storms and sticky humidity from about December to March interrupt exterior work and slow drying, so the drier months from around May to September are the popular window for outside jobs. Book a few weeks ahead if you’re aiming for that stretch. Interiors can be done any time of year.

Licence checks for painting work in Queensland

A painting job worth more than $3,300, counting labour and paint, needs a painter with a QBCC Painting and decorating licence. Most whole-house exteriors and full interiors are over that line. Search the painter’s name or number on the QBCC licensee register, and see our Queensland licence guide for what to look for.

Brisbane painting prices

As a guide, repainting a single room costs about $400 to $1,000, a three-bedroom interior $3,500 to $8,000, and a single-storey brick exterior $4,000 to $12,000. Weatherboard and double-storey homes typically run $8,000 to $20,000 outside, and a big highset Queenslander can sit at the top of that. Lead-safe removal and heavy mould treatment are usually priced on top. When painters don’t quote per job, they usually charge $65 to $100 an hour or $550 to $850 a day. Our painter price guide breaks it down further.

Matching you with a Brisbane painter

Tell us what needs painting, inside or out, and which suburb you’re in. We’ll line up one local painter whose insurance and reviews we’ve checked, along with their QBCC licence for bigger jobs. Browse painters nationally, check out Brisbane’s other trades, or get a free quote when you’re ready.