🇦🇺 DIY House Painting: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

1) Quick Planning (30–60 min)

• Scope: Which rooms/walls, trims, ceiling?

• Finish by area:

  • Ceilings: Flat/Matte

  • Walls: Low-Sheen/Eggshell (living/bedrooms), Semi-Gloss (kitchen/bath)

  • Trim/Doors: Semi-Gloss/Gloss

• Roller nap by surface: Smooth (6–9 mm) · Light texture (10–12 mm) · Rough (14–20 mm)

• Quantity estimate:

  Litres=Wall area (m²)×CoatsCoverage (m²/L)\text{Litres} = \frac{\text{Wall area (m²)} \times \text{Coats}}{\text{Coverage (m²/L)}}Litres=Coverage (m²/L)Wall area (m²)×Coats​

• Example: 40 m² × 2 coats ÷ 12 m²/L ≈ 6.7 L → buy 8–10 L (touch-ups).

2) Tools & Materials Checklist

• Paints: Interior acrylic (low-VOC recommended), primer (stain-blocking/adhesion as needed)

• Tools: Roller frame & sleeves, extension pole, angled brush (50–63 mm), paint tray/liner, cutting-in bucket

• Prep: Filler, putty knife, sandpaper (120–240 grit), caulk, sugar soap/cleaner, rags

• Protection: Painter’s tape, drop cloths/plastic, ladder, gloves, safety glasses, mask/respirator

3) Room Prep (45–90 min)

1. Move furniture, cover floors.

2. Clean walls (sugar soap → rinse → dry).

3. Scrape loose paint, fill holes, sand smooth, dust off.

4. Caulk gaps along trims.

5. Mask edges (skirting, window/door frames, switches).

   
   

4) Prime Smart (as needed)

• New plaster, patched spots, water stains, tannin-rich timbers, or glossy surfaces → spot/overall prime for even sheen and adhesion.

5) Cutting-In (15–25 min per wall)

• Use an angled brush to paint 50–70 mm borders around ceilings, corners, trims, and outlets before rolling.

6) Rolling Technique (10–15 min per wall)

• Load roller evenly, W/M pattern, then lay off in long, light strokes from dry to wet edge.

• Keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks.

7) Drying & Second Coat

• Typical recoat: 2–4 hrs for acrylic. (Cool/humid rooms take longer.)

• Lightly de-nib with 240 grit if needed, vacuum dust, apply coat 2.

8) Trims & Doors (Optional same day or next)

• Use semi-gloss/gloss. Tip-off with the brush for smooth finish. Consider a water-based enamel for low odor + hardness.

9) Clean-Up

• Remove tape while paint is slightly tacky for crisp lines.

• Wash water-based tools in warm soapy water; label leftover paint for touch-ups.

10) Safety & Conditions

• Ideal: 10–30 °C, 40–60% RH; ventilate well.

• Use drop cloths, stable ladder, PPE. Choose low/zero-VOC for bedrooms/nurseries.

Pro Tips (Australia-savvy)

• Strong sun + drafts dry edges fast—work in sections to maintain a wet edge.

• In coastal areas, dehumidify if RH is high.

• Keep a touch-up jar (small, sealed) labelled by room/colour.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping surface cleaning/priming → adhesion issues.

• Over-loading roller → sags/drips.

• Recoating too soon → lifting/patchiness.

• Poor masking → fuzzy lines.