Paint is a thin, honest coating. It shows whatever is underneath: dents, cracks, old patch jobs, stains and sanding marks. That's why preparation - especially plaster repair - is most of what you're paying a painter for.
The damage that needs fixing first
- Dents and holes. Picture hooks, door handles, furniture knocks. Small ones get filled and sanded flush; larger holes need a proper patch with setting compound.
- Cracks. Hairline ceiling and cornice cracks get scraped out, filled and sanded. Recurring wide cracks can signal movement - worth understanding before they're hidden.
- Water damage. Stained or swollen plaster has to dry out and the leak has to be fixed first. Painting over damp plaster guarantees bubbling and mould.
- Flaking and bubbling paint. Usually moisture or a failed old coating. It gets scraped back to a firm edge, sanded, and the cause addressed.
What proper patching looks like
Fill, let it set, sand flush, spot-prime the patch, then topcoat. Skipping the spot-prime is why patches "flash" - you see a dull rectangle under the finished coat in certain light. Done properly, repairs disappear.
Stains need blocking, not covering
Water marks, smoke and tannin bleed straight through ordinary paint, sometimes for coat after coat. A dedicated stain-blocking primer seals them first. One of the clearest differences between a careful job and a fast one.
What you can do before painters arrive
Our preparation guide covers the practical side - moving furniture, flagging problem spots, and decisions to make early. The patching itself is best left to the people who sand walls for a living.
Call 0420 596 677 to talk through what your walls actually need.