Exterior House Painting Tawa Wellington

Tawa is one of Wellington's largest family suburbs, with a housing stock built predominantly in the 1960s and 1970s. That weatherboard era is well into its repaint cycle — typically 7 to 10 years for this type of cladding in Wellington conditions. A significant portion of homes in the area are showing the standard signs: chalking, surface cracking, peeling at joints, and in some cases bare timber starting to show through. Left untreated, that becomes a moisture and framing issue, not just a cosmetic one.

Why Tawa Homeowners Choose Our Exterior Painting

We Know This Housing Era Well

The 1960s and 1970s weatherboard homes common throughout the northern Wellington corridor follow predictable paint failure patterns — cracking at joints, weathered boards on exposed elevations, paint breakdown around window frames. We work across these suburbs regularly and know the prep requirements. Same construction era, same failure modes, same fix: thorough prep before the topcoat, not a quick coat over an unprepared surface.

Prep First, Always

A repaint done properly spends most of its time at the prep stage. Washing, scraping, sanding, filling gaps, spot priming — that's what determines how long the finish holds. We don't cut prep short to win a quote on price. Our quotes reflect what's actually required to deliver a result that lasts a decade, not one that needs doing again in three years.

Registered Master Painters With Genuine Accountability

Wellington Decorators holds Registered Master Painter accreditation — a standard fewer than 10% of painting contractors in New Zealand meet. For homeowners investing $15,000–$25,000 in an exterior repaint, that accreditation means your contractor is vetted, insured, and operating under a professional code of conduct. Learn more about our exterior painting service here.

Our Exterior Painting Process

1. Free on-site quote — Full assessment of cladding type, paint condition, and prep requirements before we price the job. No estimates from photos.
2. High-pressure wash — Remove dirt, algae, and loose paint. Mould treated with biocide where present.
3. Surface preparation — Scraping, sanding, gap caulking, and priming all bare or weathered sections. The step that makes everything else work.
4. Masking — Windows, trims, gardens, and hard surfaces fully protected before painting begins.
5. Two-coat topcoat system — Applied to manufacturer specification for full coverage, correct film build, and lasting durability.
6. Completion inspection — Walk-around with you on the day. Any issues resolved before we leave.

What Our Service Includes

• Full exterior repaint — walls, trims, fascias, soffits
• High-pressure wash and mould treatment where needed
• Gap filling, scraping, sanding, and spot priming
• Resene exterior paint products
• Colour consultation and sample testing
• Site clean-up and waste removal
• Workmanship guarantee

Cost Guide

Exterior painting costs depend on house size, paint condition, and the extent of prep required. Homes in the area with significant paint failure sit toward the higher end of these ranges:

• Small home (under 120m²): $8,000–$15,000
• Medium home (120–200m²): $15,000–$25,000
• Large home (200m²+): $25,000–$45,000

All quotes are fixed price. You'll know the exact cost before we start. No variations during the job unless you request additional scope.

FAQs

How do I know if my home needs a full repaint or just touch-ups?
Touch-ups make sense for isolated damage — a single weathered board, a section of peeling trim. When you're seeing widespread chalking, cracking, or paint failure across multiple elevations, a full repaint delivers better long-term value than repeated patching. We'll give you an honest recommendation at the quote visit.

How long will the job take?
Most homes in Tawa take 3–6 days. Those requiring significant prep work or with larger footprints take longer. We'll give you a specific timeframe when we quote the job.

Can I choose my own colours?
Yes. We use Resene, so the full range is available. We strongly recommend physical sample pots tested on your actual walls before committing to a colour — swatches and screens don't show you how a colour reads at full scale on your home.

What happens if it rains during the job?
We monitor the forecast and plan around it. Paint requires dry conditions and temperatures above 10°C to perform as specified. We'll adjust the schedule rather than push through unsuitable conditions and compromise the result.

Areas We Cover

We work across Tawa and the surrounding northern Wellington suburbs including Newlands, Johnsonville, Grenada North, Porirua, Linden, and Takapu Valley. If you're on the northern transport corridor, we cover your area.

Get a Free Quote

If your home is approaching or past its repaint cycle, get in touch to arrange a free on-site assessment. We'll tell you honestly what needs doing, what it'll cost, and when we can get started — no obligation, no pressure.