Key Considerations For Choosing The Right Strata Painters

In Australia, strata living is getting more and more popular. At least 16% of Australians already reside in more than 3 million strata and community-titled lots, which are projected to be worth $1.3 trillion in total, according to the most recent Australasian Strata Insights Report.

Let’s cut to the chase—if you’re managing strata, keeping those properties looking sharp is non-negotiable. It’s your name on the line, after all. And honestly, picking the right painting contractor? That’s no small decision. Choose poorly, and you’ll be answering for every peeling wall and faded trim. Get it right, and you’re the one who safeguarded the building’s value and kept everyone happy. Because of the size of the buildings, the variety of surfaces, and the need to strike a balance between tenants’ expectations and legal requirements, strata painting projects can be challenging.

We’ve included a checklist below to help you choose strata painters in Sydney with confidence. We go over crucial factors like capacity, capability, regulatory compliance, material quality, communication, cost, and timing.

Table of Contents

1. Look for painters with proven strata experience

Not every painter is prepared to deal with the particular requirements of strata structures. Large-scale, multi-unit residences are frequently the subject of strata painting and painting maintenance projects, which need meticulous preparation and execution to minimise resident inconvenience and disturbance.

Expert strata painters are aware of the difficulties that come with painting in communal areas, such as the need to employ the safest access techniques—such as EWPs, scaffolding or abseil, necessary permits, seclusion zones, and pedestrian access—to guarantee that everyone’s safety comes first.

They coordinate access to residents’ balconies and make sure tenants are informed of any upcoming work in a timely manner since they recognise the value of communication. They know the finest methods to guarantee a durable, superior finish. They are skilled in working with the concrete and brick exteriors of these structures as well as the interior halls, stairwells, and lobbies.

With 75 years of experience painting huge, intricate layers, Higgins Coatings offers you peace of mind. Together with a diverse management and operational team that prioritises communication, responsiveness, openness, and safety, our team is capable of delivering outstanding outcomes quickly.

2. Ensure compliance with local regulations and strata rules

The norms and regulations that apply to each stratum property can differ from one state or region to the next. These rules include everything from paint kind to on-site safety measures and traffic control.

Let’s be real—when it comes to stratum property projects, you can’t afford to mess around with amateurs. You need people who actually know what they’re doing and truly understand the legal landscape. If your team slips up on compliance, the whole project’s at risk—think delays, surprise costs, even fines. It’s just not worth the headache.

And don’t just assume a company’s on the level—dig into their credentials. Proper licenses and certifications aren’t just paperwork; they’re proof that your contractor is serious about professionalism and safety. Take Higgins as an example: we don’t just talk the talk; we’re triple ISO certified (that’s ISO 9001 for quality, 14001 for environment, and 45001 for safety). Those aren’t just badges—they guide every step we take, making sure your project’s handled right, from start to finish. This indicates that our team adheres to industry standards, takes workplace safety and compliance seriously, and lowers risk for strata managers.

3. Prioritise quality materials and modern techniques

The look of your strata building and the durability of the paint job are directly impacted by the calibre of the strata painters in Sydney and the supplies they employ. Honestly, paying for pros who actually know what they’re doing—and who use top-shelf paints built for Aussie weather (yeah, that wild UV, buckets of rain, sticky humidity, the whole nightmare)—is just smart. Skimping out with cheapo paint might look like a bargain at first, but trust me, you’ll end up with flaking walls, constant patch jobs, and repainting way sooner than you’d hoped. Might even mess up the building underneath. Not worth it, mate. What appears to be a savings now may end up costing significantly more later.

Examine the company’s painting procedure as well. Trustworthy and professional painters use the newest painting techniques and cutting-edge preparation processes. This will maintain the aesthetic appeal and value of your strata property by guaranteeing that the paintwork is of a high calibre.

At Higgins, we’re dedicated to innovation, ongoing development, and surpassing client expectations with superior work. By showcasing our dedication to quality, our staff has gained the trust of strata managers and established a solid reputation for dependability since 1949. Our long-standing success has been built on this emphasis on consistency and quality.

4. Effective communication and project management

Residents, the strata manager, the painting contractors, and other building stakeholders must coordinate for strata painting projects. To ensure that everyone is informed and that any problems are resolved quickly, clear and regular communication is crucial. A project management procedure that keeps everyone updated at every stage of the project is a hallmark of the greatest strata painters in Sydney.

From the get-go—like, literally from that first bid—the painting crew needs to keep you in the loop. You want to know what’s up: deadlines, any random hiccups, drama on the job site, how things are moving along, all of it. Nobody likes radio silence. Plus, they should actually run the project like they know what they’re doing, not just bumbling around. Quick, safe, and not turning your place into a circus. The less they disrupt your day-to-day, the better, right?

Last but not least, strata painters must have a well-defined team structure, with a project manager and foreman on-site to address queries, worries, and unforeseen problems during the project’s duration.

5. Check reviews and ask for references

Examining reviews and requesting references from prior customers are trustworthy methods to determine the calibre of a stratum painter’s work. Word-of-mouth referrals, online evaluations, and testimonials can all offer insightful information about a painter’s professionalism, level of work, and capacity for meeting deadlines.

Your review process will benefit greatly from the experience and knowledge of other strata painters in Sydney and body corporate representatives in your network, so ask them for references and input. As an alternative, your painter should be ready to give you a number of references and contacts from their prior customers and projects that you may get in touch with personally.

Conclusion

Because it immediately affects the property’s appearance, value, and resident satisfaction, selecting the best strata painters in Sydney is crucial for strata managers. You can guarantee the completion of a painting project that surpasses the expectations of all pertinent parties by using this checklist and carefully assessing possible painters based on experience, compliance, quality, communication, cost, and schedule.