How Often Should You Repaint Your House?
By Daniel Clark, director of DC DecoratorsUpdated 5 min read
Owning a home means there is always a job to do. Some jobs feel urgent. Others wait until they are impossible to ignore. Repainting often falls into the second group, until the walls start peeling, the colour fades and the house looks tired.
So how often should you repaint your house? It depends on a few things. For most Australian homes, plan to repaint the exterior every five to ten years. Inside, plan on every three to seven years, depending on the room and how it is used.
Repainting also protects your home. Australian homes deal with strong sun, salty coastal air, tropical humidity and dry inland heat. Below is how often to repaint each part of the house, and what affects how long the paint lasts.
In this guide (6 sections)
Exterior Repainting
Your home’s exterior is exposed to the weather all year. On average, most Australian homes need an exterior repaint every five to ten years. Where your home sits in that range depends on the factors below.
Climate
Climate plays a big part. If you live on the coast, you might need to repaint every two to three years, because salty air and moisture break paint down faster. Inland, where it is drier and there is no salt spray, an exterior paint job might last closer to ten years.
Materials
The material your home is built from also affects how often the exterior needs repainting. Timber usually needs repainting more often than brick or render, which hold up better over time.
The last paint job matters too. If it used high-quality paint and the painters did proper prep work, it will likely last longer than a quick DIY job done over a weekend.
Interior Repainting
The inside of your home is out of the wind and rain, but the paint still wears over time. How often you need to repaint indoors depends on the room and who uses it.
High Traffic Areas
Busy rooms like living and dining rooms usually need repainting every five to seven years. People come and go and furniture gets moved, so the walls pick up bumps and marks.
Hallways and corridors are high traffic areas too. These narrow spaces get constant foot traffic and pick up scuffs and handprints. A fresh coat every two to three years is usually enough to keep them clean.
Bedrooms
Bedrooms see less wear, but the time between repaints depends on whose room it is. An adult’s bedroom can often go seven to ten years without a repaint, especially if the paint was good quality and the room is mostly used for sleeping.
Children’s rooms are different. Small hands and crayons leave marks on the walls, so you might need to repaint every two to three years to keep the room clean and tidy.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms get more wear than other rooms. Cooking fills a kitchen with steam and grease, and both break paint down faster. It is a good idea to repaint a kitchen every three to four years, especially around the cooktop and food prep areas where splashes and stains build up.
Bathrooms have high humidity and regular contact with water, which is hard on paint. Even with moisture-resistant paint, a bathroom benefits from a repaint every three to four years. This keeps mould and mildew down and stops the paint blistering or peeling.
What Affects How Long Your Paint Job Lasts?
A few things can make a paint job last longer or wear out sooner.
The quality of the paint makes a big difference. Premium paint resists fading and is easier to clean, so you repaint less often. It costs more at the start, but it can save you money over time because it lasts years longer than cheaper paint.
How the paint goes on matters too. Professional painters clean and prepare the surface properly and prime it before any paint goes on. Skipping these steps is easy on a DIY job, and it is a common reason paint peels or cracks early.
Then there is aftercare, which is up to you. Wipe your walls down gently now and then. Watch for leaks or water damage and get them fixed quickly. Both help stretch out the time between repaints.
Repainting for Rentals
If you own a rental property, repainting keeps your investment in good condition. It also helps you attract good tenants and can support a higher rent.
Most landlords repaint every five to seven years, depending on tenant turnover and the condition of the paint. If you have had long-term tenants and the place is starting to look tired, a fresh coat of paint can make it look cared for and may encourage them to stay longer. If your tenants change often, you may need to repaint more regularly to keep the property neat between leases.
How Do You Know It’s Time to Repaint?
The general guidelines help, but the best test is often to take a good look around. Outside, check whether the paint has faded. Look for peeling and cracking too. If bare timber is showing, repaint before the weather does more damage.
Inside, look for discolouration and stains. Marks that will not come off with scrubbing are another sign. If the colours feel dated or you simply want a change, that is also a good reason to repaint.
Get a Free, No-Obligation Quote from DC Decorators for House Painting Across Brisbane
If your paint is fading or peeling, or you have spotted the early signs that it is time for a repaint, contact DC Decorators. Dan quotes every job himself and gives you a fixed-scope quote in writing, with colour advice included. Our work is backed by a 5-year painter’s workmanship warranty. Request a free quote or call 0406 634 769.
