Exterior Painters in Wellington

Exterior painting in New Zealand typically costs $30 to $60 per square metre, or $8,000 to $20,000 for a standard three-bedroom home. A small to medium single-storey home costs $8,000 to $14,000. A large two-storey home costs $14,000 to $25,000. Costs depend on the surface condition, cladding type, height, accessibility, and preparation required. Homes with peeling paint, damaged weatherboards, or lead paint require more preparation and cost more.

New Zealand has some of the highest UV levels in the world, so exterior paint must be specifically formulated for UV resistance. Top exterior paints include Resene Sonyx 101, Resene Lumbersider, and Dulux Weathershield. Acrylic paints are preferred over oil-based for most NZ exteriors as they flex with timber movement and allow moisture to breathe out. For timber weatherboards, use a flexible acrylic designed for timber. For plaster and concrete, use a product designed for masonry. Always use a quality primer on bare surfaces.

Homes built before 1980 in New Zealand may have lead-based paint, particularly on exterior surfaces. Lead paint is hazardous when sanded or scraped. Professional painters follow WorkSafe New Zealand guidelines for lead paint management, including wet sanding, containment of debris, and proper disposal. If your Wellington home was built before 1980, ask your painter about lead paint testing before work begins. Lead paint removal adds $2,000 to $5,000 or more to the project cost.

In New Zealand conditions, a quality exterior paint job lasts 8 to 12 years on timber weatherboards and 10 to 15 years on plaster and concrete cladding. North and west-facing walls weather faster due to UV and prevailing weather. Signs it is time to repaint include chalking (white powder on the surface), peeling or cracking, fading colour, bare timber showing through, and mould or mildew growth. Regular washing (annually) extends paint life.