The Inner West has some of Sydney’s best-loved housing and some of its hardest to paint well. Victorian and Federation terraces, worker’s cottages and Californian bungalows in suburbs like Newtown, Balmain, Rozelle, Leichhardt, Annandale, Marrickville and Dulwich Hill have high ceilings, decorative plaster and a century or more of old paint layers. Getting a finish that lasts comes down to the preparation.
What we paint in the Inner West
- Terrace and cottage interiors: walls, ceilings, cornices, ceiling roses, picture rails, skirting and panelled doors
- Exteriors: rendered and painted brick façades, timber fretwork, cast-iron lacework, verandahs, windows and front fences
- Apartments: walk-up flats and newer units, including strata common areas and stairwells
- Small commercial: shopfronts and offices on King Street, Norton Street, Marrickville Road and Darling Street
What Inner West homes need
Old paint and lead
Most terraces here were built well before 1970, so their original paint layers often contain lead. Old paint is tested before anything is sanded. Where lead is present, preparation is contained and wet-sanded, and the clean-up is thorough. It takes longer, but it’s not optional with children or pets in the house.
High ceilings and decorative plaster
Ceilings of 3 metres or more, deep cornices and ceiling roses need planks or a mobile scaffold, and careful brushwork instead of quick rolling. Cracked cornices are filled and reshaped before painting, so the new paint doesn’t highlight old damage.
Damp in old brick
Many terraces have no damp course, or a failed one. Painting over damp brick with a sealed, plastic-like coating traps the moisture and the paint blisters. We look for the source first and use breathable products on walls that need them.
Access
Narrow side passages, rear lanes and limited street parking are part of every Inner West job. We plan deliveries, ladders and scaffold around them, and protect neighbouring walls and paths when working on shared boundaries.
Typical Inner West prices
Inner West homes usually sit at the upper end of Sydney’s ranges because of ceiling height, decorative trim and preparation. Use our interior painting cost guide, exterior painting cost guide and painting cost calculator for current ranges, then request a quote for a fixed price after we’ve seen the home.
Suburbs we cover
Newtown, Enmore, Stanmore, Petersham, Lewisham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Summer Hill, Ashfield, Haberfield, Leichhardt, Lilyfield, Annandale, Rozelle, Balmain, Birchgrove, Camperdown, Glebe and Erskineville.
Getting a quote
Send your suburb, the type of home, which rooms or walls need painting and a few photos through our quote form, or call 0434 952 858. For heritage exteriors, let us know if the house is in a conservation area so colours can be checked early.
GOOD TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a terrace in the Inner West?
A two-bedroom terrace interior usually costs $5,000 to $9,000, depending on ceiling height, cornices and how much repair the walls need. A single-fronted terrace exterior with timber detailing is often $6,000 to $12,000. High ceilings and decorative trim are the main reasons Inner West homes sit above the Sydney average.
Do I need council approval to repaint a heritage home in the Inner West?
Repainting in similar colours is usually routine, but changing the external colours of a heritage-listed home or a house in a heritage conservation area can need approval. Check with Inner West Council before you commit to a new exterior colour scheme.
Is there lead paint in my Inner West home?
Homes built before 1970 often have lead in their older paint layers, and most Inner West terraces are much older than that. We test old paint before sanding and use lead-safe preparation where it's found.