Colour and care notes

Short, practical notes for Auckland homeowners planning a repaint or looking after the paint they have. Each one answers a question people ask before they book a painter, with the official or industry source linked so you can check it.

• How long exterior paint lasts

  BRANZ puts the typical repaint at 7 to 10 years. What shortens it, and the signs the outside is due.

• The best time to paint a house in Auckland

  Spring is when most people book. The weather exterior paint needs, and why interiors suit winter.

• Paint sheen and paint systems

  Primer, undercoat and finish coats, sheen levels for each surface, and acrylic versus oil.

• Choosing exterior colours

  Light versus dark on sunny timber, sample swatches, and working with the roof and joinery.

• Reading a painting quote

  What a written quote should list, why the cheapest skips prep, and your consumer rights.