Question 1

Do you need a licence to be a painter in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in New South Wales any painter doing residential work over $5,000 must hold a Contractor Licence — Painting and Decorating issued by NSW Fair Trading under the Home Building Act 1989. Always ask for the licence number and verify it at nsw.gov.au/fair-trading before signing a contract. For smaller jobs under $5,000, no licence is legally required, but hiring a licensed painter still offers better protection.

Question 2

How much does it cost to paint a 3 bed house?

Accepted Answer

Pricing varies widely based on house size, condition, and whether it's interior or exterior work. None of the 32 Wollongong painters list per-room rates publicly. Most offer free quotes — WM Painting & Decorating provides fixed pricing with no call-out fee, while PaiNTers Wollongong advertises fair pricing but doesn't publish rates. Expect quotes between $4,000–$15,000 depending on scope. Always get three written quotes before committing.

Question 3

How to tell if a painter is good?

Accepted Answer

Check their NSW Fair Trading licence first, then reviews. Top-rated Wollongong painters include WM Painting & Decorating (5.0★, 122 reviews) and Afterpay painting and decorating services (5.0★, 110 reviews). Ask to see photos of completed local jobs, especially homes similar to yours — Wollongong's coastal weatherboard cottages need different prep than brick suburban homes. A good painter will assess surface condition and explain prep work, not just quote paint application.

Question 4

What is a painter's hourly rate in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Most Wollongong painters quote per job rather than hourly, but when hourly rates apply, expect $45–$75 per hour for a qualified painter. The actual cost depends on prep work required, surface type, and access difficulty — coastal homes often need extra prep due to salt exposure. Of the 32 listed Wollongong painters, 81% have websites but none publish hourly rates. Fixed-price quotes are standard, protecting both you and the painter from cost blowouts.

Question 5

Is it more expensive to paint the interior or exterior of a house?

Accepted Answer

Exterior painting typically costs 20–40% more due to weather exposure prep, scaffolding, and Wollongong's coastal conditions requiring premium weatherproof paints. Of local search intent, 78% seek interior painters versus 50% exterior, suggesting interior work is more common. Roof painting (offered by 16% of providers) adds further cost. Get separate quotes for each — some painters specialise in one over the other, affecting both price and quality.

Painters in Wollongong

WM Painting & Decorating

JRN Painting & Decorating

Painted spaces

Revival Painting and Pressure Washing

Maintain Painting, Painters Wollongong

Tranquil Paintworks

Enlight PaiNTing

Wollongong painting services

Ash Reid Painting

Kouros Painting Services

Illawarra House Painters

Brush Strokes Painting & Maintenance Service

D & J Saverino Painters Wollongong

Proper Finish Painting

Andy Ding Painting & Decorating

Nu-Mod Painting and Decorating

Pro-Tex Painting & Decorating

We Paint NSW

Frequently Asked Questions

Painters in Other New South Wales Cities