Are you seeing some peeling paint or faded walls around your apartment and wondering what to do next?
Strata painting services are one of the most important investments you can make in your property’s long-term value, and we’ve seen firsthand what happens when they’re pushed aside for too long.
It usually starts small: a bit of peeling paint in the stairwell, or a faded patch on the wall that everyone walks past without thinking much of it. But over the years of working with residential and commercial strata properties across Sydney, we’ve learned one thing, those little signs can snowball into bigger, more expensive problems.
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Why Strata Painting Services Are Essential
Strata painting isn’t just about keeping your building looking good. It’s about protecting it from everyday wear and tear, harsh UV exposure, moisture damage, mould, and other environmental stressors that Sydney buildings face year-round.
Staying on top of your building’s paintwork also helps by keeping your residents happy, cuts down your long-term maintenance costs, and it leaves a great first impression on your future tenants or buyers.
So how often should you schedule strata painting—and how do you know it’s time for a refresh? Let’s break it down.
How Often Should Strata Painting Services Be Done?
Strata painting isn’t just about keeping your building looking fresh, it also plays an important role in protecting your building from long-term damage. But how often should you actually schedule strata painting services?
Well, the answer depends on various factors like your building’s location, age, and how much exposure it gets from the external elements.
According to the Australasian Strata Insights Report (2024), around 15% of Australians live in strata-titled properties, with 2.5 million in private apartments and 1.7 million in other types of homes. In New South Wales alone, nearly 1.3 million people (17%) live in private apartments, and many of them rely on regular strata painting Sydney services to stay in top condition.
General Guide for Repainting Strata Properties:
- Residential strata buildings: Every 5 to 7 years to maintain your property’s appearance and protect your walls from changing weather conditions.
- Commercial or high-traffic strata buildings: Consider repainting every 3 to 5 years, since these areas experience heavier use and wear.
While these timelines offer a helpful starting point, the reality is that every building is different. A few key factors can shorten or extend how often you’ll need strata painting. Let’s take a closer look, starting with location.
Common Factors That Affect How Often You Need Strata Painting
1. Location
Coastal properties have a charm of their own. Those ocean views in Bondi, Manly, or Coogee are hard to beat. But with that beauty comes a bit of a trade-off: salty air, sticky humidity, and harsh UV rays that wear down exterior paint much quicker than you’d expect. If your building’s near the water, you’re probably looking at a 4 to 6-year cycle for strata painting.
While, if your property’s inland, say in Parramatta or Penrith, you’ve got a little more breathing room. With fewer environmental pressures, you might be able to stretch that out to 7 to 10 years, depending on how exposed your building is to the sun, wind, and rain.
2. Building Type and Age
Older buildings, especially those made from timber or brick, often show signs of wear more quickly. You’ll often spot cracking, peeling, or moisture damage sooner, so they would need more frequent touch-ups.
3. How Much Exposure Your Building Gets
- Sunlight: If your building faces north or west, it’s getting a lot of sun and UV exposure, which causes the paint to fade, crack, and wear down faster.
- Moisture: Do you live in a humid area? If so, moisture can sneak into your walls, leading to mould, mildew, and those dreaded paint bubbles, especially in basements and stairwells.
- High-Traffic Zones: Entryways, corridors, and shared lounges in strata complexes wear down faster because of regular use. So they may need more frequent repainting than other areas.
Now that you know what can affect your repainting schedule, here’s a quick reference guide to help you plan ahead based on your building type and location.
Your Go-To Guide for Strata Painting Schedules
| Building Type | Recommended Frequency |
| Low-rise residential | Every 5–7 years |
| High-rise (with exposure) | Every 4–6 years |
| Coastal properties | Every 4–5 years |
| Commercial/retail strata | Every 3–5 years |
| Heritage or aged buildings | Every 4 years or as needed |
Tip: For tailored advice, consider reaching out to professional strata painters offering strata painting Sydney solutions. They ’ll assess your property’s specific needs and help you plan a long-term maintenance schedule to keep your building in top shape.
7 Clear Signs It’s Time to Get Professional Strata Painting Services
As a property owner, keeping your apartment building in top shape is essential, not just for making your tenants happy, but also for attracting new ones. And while structural issues often get priority, the exterior appearance of your building is what people notice first. That’s why investing in regular strata painting services is a great move to help protect your building and boost its long-term value.
So, how do you know if it’s time to call in the experts? Here are 7 signs it’s time to refresh your building with professional strata painting:
1. Peeling or flaking paint
This is one of the most obvious signs your strata building needs attention. Once the paint starts peeling, it’s no longer sealing and protecting your surfaces, leaving them exposed to weather, water damage, and potential mould.
2. Fading or discolouration
Has the colour of your building lost its real shine? Prolonged exposure to Sydney’s sun and changing weather can cause paint to fade and look patchy, making your property look old and poorly maintained. But a fresh coat of paint can instantly restore your façade’s tired look.
3. Blistering or bubbles under the paint
Bubbling or blistering is often caused by moisture trapped under the surface. It’s a common issue in high-humidity or coastal areas like Bondi or Cronulla. This not only looks bad, but it could also be a sign that there’s a water leak or ongoing moisture issue behind the surface. And while it might seem minor at first, water damage can quickly compromise the structure of your walls if it’s left untreated.
4. Cracked surfaces
Hairline cracks around windows, door frames, or other surfaces may seem small, but they let in moisture, which can lead to bigger issues like rot or internal dampness. Strata painting services help seal these cracks while giving your building a much-needed refresh.
5. Chalking or powdery residue on walls
Rub your hand along the wall, do you see a fine white dust? That’s called chalking, and it’s a sign the paint has deteriorated due to UV exposure or age. Chalking not only makes your building’s appearance look dull but it also means the paint is no longer protecting your walls and that repainting is due.
6. Mould growth
If you’re noticing black or green patches in damp or shaded areas (like stairwells, basements, or shaded walls), then it’s time for strata painting. Mould shows the paint has lost its protective barrier and needs to be replaced with a mould-resistant coating.
7. Dirty or stained surfaces
Over time, pollution, dust, and general grime can stain your exterior walls especially in busy areas like Sydney’s CBD or Parramatta. So, when pressure cleaning or scrubbing no longer works, it’s a sign the surface needs more than a wash—it needs a repaint.
Do these signs look familiar?
Don’t wait for complaints to pile up or for your building to start looking worn down. When it comes to maintaining your strata property, cutting corners isn’t worth the risk, especially with something as noticeable as painting. That’s where we come in.
At Paintistry, we bring over 10 years of industry expertise to every project, whether it’s a residential complex, commercial strata, or a large-scale repaint.
Get in touch with today for a free consultation. Let’s work together to keep your building fresh, clean, and well-cared for.
