Pressure Wash and Surface Prep.

What Surface Prep Actually Involves

Surface preparation is the unglamorous part of painting that determines whether a fresh coat lasts three years or fifteen. Before we touch a brush or roller, we work through a sequence of physical steps that vary depending on your home's age, substrate and condition.

The typical process runs in this order:

1. Pressure washing - We use a cold-water pressure washer (typically 1800-3000 PSI depending on the surface) to strip away mould, lichen, dirt, chalking paint and surface salts. Timber Queenslanders and fibro homes get lower pressure than masonry to avoid raising grain or forcing water behind cladding.
2. Scraping and sanding - Once the surface is dry (usually 24-48 hours in Brisbane's humidity), loose and flaking paint gets hand-scraped or mechanically sanded back to a sound edge. We feather those edges so the new paint film sits flat.
3. Gap filling and minor repairs - Hairline cracks, small holes and dried caulk joints get filled with an appropriate filler or flexible sealant before primer goes on.
4. Priming - A bonding or stain-blocking primer seals the substrate and gives the topcoat something to grip. The primer choice changes based on whether we're dealing with bare timber, tannin-rich hardwood, cement render, or a previously painted fibro surface.

This service is offered as part of a full exterior or interior repaint, not as a standalone pressure-wash job. Every quote we provide for a repaint includes this prep phase.

When an Ashgrove Homeowner Needs It

Most homes in the Ashgrove, Red Hill and Bardon area are pre-1980 builds, and a fair number are pre-war Queenslanders. Older paint films chalk, crack and lift in Brisbane's subtropical climate, and the combination of summer humidity, jacaranda pollen and shaded sub-floor areas creates ideal conditions for mould growth on the western and southern faces of a home.

Look for these signs that your paint surface needs proper prep before any recoat:

• Paint that feels powdery or chalky when you rub your hand across it
• Visible bubbling, peeling or flaking, especially on southern or west-facing walls
• Dark green or black staining on eaves, fence palings or fascia boards
• A previous paint job that started peeling within two or three years (often a sign prep was skipped)
• Timber that looks grey and dry rather than rich and solid in colour

Timing matters here. In Brisbane, the best window for exterior prep and painting is typically April through September, when rainfall is lower and humidity drops enough for surfaces to dry properly between coats. We can work through summer, but we factor drying times more carefully and avoid painting in direct afternoon sun.

What It Costs in Brisbane

Surface prep is priced as part of the overall repaint job, not as a separate line item you can remove to save money. Pulling it out would undermine the whole job.

As a rough guide, prep work typically accounts for 20-35% of the total job cost. For a full exterior repaint on a standard Ashgrove post-war home, you're looking at a total project range of around $3,500 to $8,000, which includes wash, scrape, prime and two topcoats. Larger two-storey homes or those with significant paint failure can sit higher.

What moves the price:

• Paint condition - A house with widespread peeling needs far more scraping and sanding hours than one with a sound existing film
• Access - Scaffolding or elevated work platforms for two-storey homes in suburbs like Bardon or The Gap add to the cost; this is quoted separately once we see the site
• Substrate type - Fibro (asbestos-cement sheet) requires wet sanding and specific disposal handling, which adds time and cost
• Mould extent - Heavy biological growth may need a biocide treatment before washing, particularly on south-facing eaves

What's Included in the Quote (and What's Not)

Our quotes include labour for all wash, scrape, sand, fill and prime steps, plus the primer itself. Standard drop sheets, tape and basic masking are included.

Typically quoted separately or flagged as a variation:

• Scaffolding hire for two-storey or steep-site homes
• Asbestos-related wet sanding or disposal if fibro sheeting is confirmed
• Significant timber rot repairs or replacement (we'll tell you upfront if we find it)
• Colour change fees if extra coats are needed to achieve full coverage

We always do a site inspection before quoting. Photos sent via phone can give us a ballpark, but prep requirements on an older Queenslander really need an eye on the ground.

Is This the Right Service for Your Property?

If you're planning to repaint any exterior surface, or an interior that has moisture damage, stained walls or old flaking paint, then yes, proper prep is part of the job. There is no shortcut here. Paint applied over a dirty, loose or unprepared surface will fail early, regardless of how good the topcoat product is.

If your walls are in genuinely sound condition with clean, well-adhered paint and you just want a colour change, the prep phase is lighter and faster. We'll tell you that honestly in the quote.

Safety, Insurance and Working with Older Homes

Many homes in the Ashgrove cluster were built when fibro sheeting containing asbestos was common. We follow Queensland Workplace Health and Safety guidelines when working with suspect materials, which typically means wet methods, appropriate PPE and licensed disposal if required.

We carry public liability insurance. If you'd like a copy of our certificate of currency before work starts, just ask.

If you're looking at a home with peeling paint and you're not sure what level of prep is actually needed, a quick site visit from us will give you a straight answer. No obligation, no pressure.