The painters are booked, the colour is chosen, and the job starts next week. Here is exactly what to do — and what not to do — to make the process smooth and protect your belongings.
What to Do Before the Job Starts
- Clear as much furniture as possible from rooms being painted — or move it to the centre if it's too large to remove. The less furniture in the room, the faster the job.
- Remove wall art, mirrors, switch plates, and any wall-mounted items you do not want worked around.
- Take down curtains and curtain rods if the walls behind them need painting.
- Remove pets and plan for them to be out of the house during active painting days — fumes are more concentrated than you realise, and pets walk through wet paint.
- Let your painter know about any surfaces you specifically do not want painted — cabinetry, feature tiles, or fittings.
- Confirm parking access so the team can unload equipment without blocking neighbours.
What Your Painter Will Handle
A professional painting job includes preparation that most homeowners do not need to do themselves. At Orbit Painting Melbourne, we handle:
- Moving and protecting all remaining furniture with drop sheets
- Masking floors, trims, architraves, and any surfaces not being painted
- Filling holes, cracks, and imperfections
- Sanding and priming as required for the surface and paint type
- Full clean-up on completion — all masking removed, drop sheets packed, and the space left tidy
What NOT to Do
- Don't wash walls with strong cleaners the day before — some residues affect adhesion and the painter will clean surfaces as part of their prep.
- Don't apply touch-up paint or spackle yourself unless you're certain it's compatible — mismatched filler can show through the final coat.
- Don't try to strip wallpaper without consulting the painter first — it can damage plaster and changes the job scope significantly.
- Don't rearrange the drop sheet protection mid-job — it's positioned deliberately.
During the Job
You don't need to be home the whole time, but try to be available at the start and end of each day. At the start, the painter may have clarifying questions. At the end, a quick walkthrough lets you flag anything before the next coat goes on — it's much easier to address at that stage than after the job is complete.
Keep ventilation open — fresh air helps paint cure faster and reduces fumes. If you or any family members have respiratory sensitivities, consider staying elsewhere for the first 24 hours after a full interior repaint.
After the Job Is Finished
Wait at least 4 hours before placing furniture back against freshly painted walls, and 24 hours before hanging anything. Water-based paints feel dry to the touch quickly but take 2–4 weeks to fully cure — avoid scrubbing painted surfaces during this period.
If you're in SE Melbourne and want a quote for your next interior or exterior repaint, chat with Mick or call us on +61 3 4427 9403.