Painting an apartment building means far more than applying paint. It involves inspections, approvals, careful preparation, safe access to every elevation and a program that works around residents who live in the building. Here’s what the process usually involves from start to finish.
1. Inspection and scope of works
Every good job starts with a proper look at the building. That covers the render, balconies, balustrades, stairwells, car parks and roofline. The findings feed into a written scope, which lists what will be painted, how it will be prepared and which coatings will be used.
2. Approvals and planning
In a strata scheme, a repaint needs committee or body corporate approval and a way to pay for it. Our guide to planning a body corporate repaint covers the sinking fund and approval side, and our piece on strata painting maintenance shows how to plan ahead.
3. Access
Reaching every part of a multi-storey building safely is a big part of the job. Options include scaffold, elevated platforms and rope access. Each has a place, and we compare them in our article on abseiling versus scaffolding.
4. Preparation
Preparation takes the most time and matters the most. It usually includes power washing, crack and render repairs, removing loose paint and treating mould. If moisture is getting in, it has to be fixed first, and our article on water damage, mould and efflorescence explains why.
5. Painting
Primer goes on where needed, then the topcoats, in the sequence set out in the program. Colours follow the approved scheme, and balcony edges, balustrades and common areas are done to the same standard as the main walls.
6. Resident communication
Residents need to know when work is happening near their unit, how to access balconies and who to call with concerns. Clear notices and one contact person make the difference between a smooth job and a stressful one.
7. Inspection and handover
At the end, the work is inspected against the scope and any touch-ups are completed. The committee or manager signs off, and you should get details of the products used for your records.
The process is the product
A well-run apartment repaint is mostly good planning. See our strata and body corporate painting and unit complex painting services, read our unit complex guide for owners and managers, or request a quote.
McAuliffe Painting. Eagle Farm, Brisbane QLD 4009. QBCC Lic 1180874.
