How to Prepare Your Home for Painters in Perth

Getting your home painted is one of the fastest ways to refresh your property — but the results depend heavily on what happens before the first brush stroke. When you properly prepare your home for painters, the job runs faster, the finish lasts longer, and you avoid the frustration of delays or unexpected costs.

Whether you’ve booked our team at Perth Painting Services or you’re planning ahead, this guide covers everything Perth homeowners need to know about house painting preparation — from clearing rooms to protecting your garden.

Why Preparation Matters Before Painters Arrive

Professional painters in Perth invest significant time in surface preparation — but there’s a lot you can do beforehand to make the process smoother for everyone. Good preparation means:

• Faster job completion — painters spend time painting, not moving your belongings
• Better finish quality — surfaces are accessible and properly primed
• Fewer disruptions — your daily routine is less interrupted
• Lower overall cost — less labour time can reduce your final quote

Think of it this way: a well-prepared home is a painter’s best canvas.

Step 1: Declutter and Clear the Rooms

The first thing to do before painters arrive is clear the space they’ll be working in. For interior painting, this means removing as much furniture and personal items as possible from the target rooms.

For interior painting, remove or relocate:

• Freestanding furniture (chairs, side tables, lamps, ottomans)
• Wall décor including pictures, mirrors, clocks, and shelving
• Rugs and floor mats
• Curtains and blinds (especially near window frames being painted)
• Small appliances, plants, and decorative items

Large furniture like sofas or beds that can’t easily be moved can be pushed to the centre of the room and covered. However, the more you can clear, the faster your painters can work.

For exterior painting, clear the perimeter of your home. Move outdoor furniture, potted plants, garden ornaments, bikes, and play equipment away from walls, eaves, and fences. This gives painters safe and unobstructed access to all exterior surfaces.

Step 2: Protect Floors and Fixtures

Even the most careful painters use drop sheets — but your prep work adds an important extra layer of protection, especially for items that can’t be moved.

• Floors: Remove rugs entirely if possible. For timber, tiles, or carpet that stays in place, consider placing your own protective coverings in high-traffic entry and exit areas.
• Fixed light fittings and switches: These don’t need to be removed — painters will mask them — but pointing them out during your walkthrough helps.
• Built-in wardrobes and cabinetry: Empty shelves near walls that are being painted. Paint splatter can travel further than expected.
• Appliances: In kitchens, cover or move bench-top appliances away from splashback areas.

For exterior jobs, cover garden beds, pots, and outdoor furniture with plastic sheeting to protect against paint overspray. This is particularly important in Perth, where afternoon breezes can carry paint mist further than expected.

Step 3: Identify and Note Surface Issues

Walk through your home before the painters arrive and note any surface issues you want addressed. Professional painters in Perth will always inspect surfaces before starting, but pointing out specific areas gives them a head start and ensures nothing is missed.

Common issues to flag include:

• Cracks or holes in plasterboard or render
• Flaking or peeling paint from a previous job
• Water stains or mould patches (especially in bathrooms and laundries)
• Rusted surfaces on metal fences, gutters, or window frames
• Timber weatherboards with raised grain or rot spots

Good surface preparation is what separates a paint job that lasts 10 years from one that starts peeling in two. At Perth Painting Services, our team repairs, fills, sands, and primes surfaces properly before any topcoat is applied — but knowing what to expect helps you have an informed conversation during your free quote.

Step 4: Clean Walls and Surfaces Before Painting

Painters will typically clean surfaces as part of their prep process, but you can help the job along — especially for interior rooms.

For interior walls:

• Wipe down walls with a damp cloth to remove dust, cobwebs, and surface grime
• Pay attention to kitchen walls, which often have a greasy film from cooking
• Remove any adhesive hooks, nails, or picture hangers you no longer need

For exterior surfaces:

• A garden hose rinse the week before can help remove loose dirt and cobwebs
• Avoid pressure washing yourself unless you’re confident with the equipment — high pressure can damage render, timber, and older brick surfaces
• Let surfaces dry completely; painting over damp surfaces causes adhesion failure

Perth’s climate means exterior surfaces often carry a build-up of salt residue (especially coastal properties), dust from dry summers, and mould from winter damp. Our exterior painters handle thorough washing as standard prep, but pre-cleaning accessible areas saves time.

Step 5: Finalise Colour Choices Before the Day

One of the most common causes of painting delays is last-minute colour changes. Before your painters arrive, make sure you’ve confirmed your colour selections for every surface.

How to lock in your colours confidently:

• Get paint samples and test swatches on your actual walls — Perth’s natural light (especially north-facing rooms) can make colours look very different to what you see on a chip card
• Confirm sheen levels for each room (flat for ceilings, low-sheen for walls, semi-gloss for trims and doors)
• Let your painter know if you want feature walls, two-tone finishes, or specific colour blocking

If you’re unsure, our team at Perth Painting Services is happy to provide colour advice during your quote consultation. A clear colour brief means zero delays on painting day.

Step 6: Arrange Access and Secure Your Pets

Your painters need uninterrupted access to your home for the full duration of the job. A few simple arrangements make a big difference.

Access tips:

• Confirm start and finish times with your painting team in advance
• If you won’t be home, arrange a secure key handover or lock box code
• Make sure gates are unlocked for exterior jobs
• Let your neighbours know if scaffolding or equipment will be near the boundary fence

Pet safety:

• Dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room or taken out for the day
• Paint fumes — even low-VOC options — can irritate pets
• Open paint trays, tools, and tarps on the floor can be a hazard for curious animals

For homes with young children, coordinate around school or daycare schedules if possible. Painting days go more smoothly when the workspace is calm and clear.

Step 7: Prepare for Ventilation (Interior Jobs)

Good airflow during and after interior painting significantly reduces drying time and minimises paint odour throughout your home.

Before painters arrive:

• Identify which windows can be opened safely without disrupting the job
• Remove window screens from rooms being painted (if easy to do so)
• Ensure ceiling fans are accessible — painters will turn them off during the job but good airflow helps once the paint is drying

Perth’s warm, dry summers make ventilation easier, but in winter months, discuss with your painting team how they’ll manage airflow in enclosed rooms like bathrooms and hallways.

At Perth Painting Services, we use low-VOC, low-odour paints where appropriate — ideal for households with children, allergy sufferers, or pets.

Quick Preparation Checklist: Prepare Your Home for Painters

Use this checklist to make sure you’re fully ready before your painters arrive:

Interior Painting:

• Furniture moved or pushed to centre and covered
• Wall décor, shelving, and curtains removed
• Rugs and mats taken out of the room
• Small items, appliances, and plants relocated
• Walls given a light wipe-down
• Surface issues noted and communicated to your painter
• Colours and sheens confirmed in writing
• Pets and children arranged for elsewhere

Exterior Painting:

• Outdoor furniture and potted plants moved away from walls
• Garden beds and lawn areas near the house cleared
• Gates unlocked and access confirmed
• Neighbours notified if necessary
• Exterior surfaces given a light hose-down (and allowed to dry)
• Colour selections confirmed including trims, eaves, and doors

How Perth Painting Services Handles the Rest

Once you’ve completed your preparation, our experienced Perth painters take over. We handle:

• Full surface inspection and any repairs needed
• Professional washing, sanding, and priming
• Precise masking of windows, fittings, and floors
• Application of premium paints suited to Perth’s climate
• Daily site tidy-up and respectful work practices
• Final walkthrough with you before we leave

Whether you’re refreshing a single room or completing a full exterior repaint, our team works to a high standard at every stage.

Get a free quote from Perth Painting Services today and let’s talk through your project.

Frequently Asked Questions: Preparing Your Home for Painters

How far in advance should I prepare my home before painters arrive?

 Ideally, start your preparation 1–2 days before your painters are scheduled. This gives you enough time to move furniture, clear walls, confirm colour choices, and arrange for pets or children without rushing the morning of the job.

Do I need to move all the furniture myself? 

For interior painting, you should move as much as possible. Most professional painters in Perth can assist with shifting larger pieces, but this takes time away from painting. The more you prepare, the faster the job is completed.

Do painters in Perth clean walls before painting? 

Yes — proper surface preparation, including cleaning, is standard practice for professional painters. However, giving walls a light wipe-down beforehand (especially in kitchens) helps the process along and ensures the best possible adhesion.

Should I be home while my house is being painted in Perth? 

You don’t need to be home for the entire job, but it’s recommended to be present at the start for a walkthrough and at the end to inspect the finished result. Make sure your painters have secure access if you plan to be out during the day.

What happens if it rains on exterior painting day in Perth?

 Exterior painting requires dry conditions. A reputable painting company will monitor the forecast and reschedule if wet weather is expected. Perth’s dry summers make this less of an issue, but winter and early spring scheduling should factor in the possibility of rain days.

How long does a typical house painting job take in Perth?

 Interior room painting typically takes 1–2 days per room depending on size and condition. A full interior repaint of a standard Perth home takes 3–5 days. Exterior repaints generally take 2–4 days depending on the size of the property and surface preparation required.

Perth Painting Services is a local painting company serving homeowners and businesses across Perth Metro and surrounding suburbs, including Bayswater, Balcatta, Joondalup, Morley, Wanneroo, and more.

 

Call us on 0434 675 004 or request a free quote online.