“You Can’t Take the Pain Out of Painting… Or Can You?”

Article supplied by SCAQ Partners, Rochele

Let’s be honest. Nobody gets excited when their strata community needs repainting. Unlike a new pool, upgraded facilities or fresh landscaping, painting is often seen as a necessary expense rather than an exciting improvement. Yet for body corporate committees, strata managers and owners, it is one of the most important investments a building can make. The challenge usually isn’t the painting itself. It’s everything surrounding it. Cost. Differing opinions. Disruption. Special levies. Choosing the right contractor. Before a paintbrush touches the wall, the pressure is already building.

Why Strata Painting Can Feel So Painful

One of the biggest frustrations is that nobody wants to spend money on work they don’t believe is needed yet. “The building looks fine. Why paint it now?” It’s a fair question, and one raised in committee meetings every day. The problem is that once a building is showing signs of deterioration, the work may be urgent, extensive and expensive. Planned maintenance can quickly become reactive repairs, placing pressure on budgets, sinking funds and committees. Regular inspections, maintenance plans and touch-ups help identify issues earlier. Instead of repainting becoming an unexpected crisis, it becomes a planned part of protecting the building.

Then There’s the Money

When it’s time to dip into the sinking fund, cost can create immediate resistance. Conversations can quickly shift from protecting the asset to simply finding the cheapest option. Then comes the phrase that can make an AGM go quiet: Special levy. Structured repayment options can give communities another way forward.

Spreading costs over time may reduce the pressure on owners while allowing important maintenance to proceed before smaller issues become larger ones. Price will always matter, but it should be considered alongside preparation, access requirements, product systems, project management, warranties and the contractor’s ability to complete the work safely.

The Disruption Is Real

Even the best-organised painting project will create some disruption. There may be scaffolding, noise, restricted balcony access, parking impacts and painters working near windows or common areas. Understandably, residents often notice the disruption before they notice the finished result. That’s why communication and planning are just as important as the paint itself. Staged works, clear schedules, advance notice and regular updates help residents understand what is happening, when it is happening and how it may affect them. Will there still be the occasional complaint? Probably. But uncertainty creates far more frustration than a well-explained plan.

The Bottom Line 

Most people don’t dislike painting. They dislike the cost, disruption and uncertainty that can come with it. At Rochele, more than 50 years of working with strata communities across South East Queensland has taught us that successful projects are about more than applying paint. They require careful planning, clear communication and a practical understanding of how people live within the building. You may never completely take the pain out of painting, but with the right planning, information and support, you can make it a whole lot easier.

Article supplied by Rochele