Getting your house painted inside sounds simple enough, right? Just slap some paint on the walls and you're done. But if you've ever tried it yourself or watched a proper painter work, you'll know there's a lot more to it than that.

We've been painting homes across Auckland's North Shore for years, and honestly, we see the same mistakes over and over. Home owners in Takapuna, Devonport, and Browns Bay often ring us after their DIY attempt has gone wrong, or when they realise their "cheap" painter has left them with a mess.

Here's the thing - our certified NZMA painters usually spend two or three days on what looks like a simple bedroom. Sounds excessive? Let us explain why good interior painting actually takes time, and what you can do to make sure your project goes smoothly.

Why prep work makes or breaks your paint job

Look, anyone can roll paint onto a wall. The difference between a paint job that looks great for years versus one that starts peeling after six months? It's all in the prep work.

Before we even crack open a tin of paint, we're cleaning walls, filling every nail hole and crack, dealing with any damaged plaster, sanding everything smooth, sealing gaps with caulk, and putting on a proper primer. Sounds like overkill? Trust us, it's not.

Different walls need different treatment too. The weatherboard interior walls in an old North Shore villa are nothing like the gib board in a new Albany townhouse. Both need painting, but the approach is completely different. This is where having proper plastering expertise really counts - most painters just don't have these skills.

Setting Your Home Up for Success

Get everything out of the way

Seriously, clear the room completely. We've seen too many expensive couches covered inpaint splatters and plaster dust because someone thought "just covering it with plastic" would be enough. It won't be.

Take down your artwork, move the furniture to another room or the garage, remove light fittings and switch plates if you can. Yeah, it's a hassle, but you'll thank yourself later. If you're not comfortable removing electrical stuff, just let us know - we can sort that out safely.

Don't expect paint to go on straight away

This catches people out every time. You book painters, they arrive, and then spend days doing what looks like "nothing" because there's no paint going on the walls yet.

Good painters spend ages on the boring stuff - fixing holes, sanding rough spots, cleaning everything down. It's not glamorous, but it's what makes the difference between a professional finish and something that looks amateur.

Weather matters too. High humidity, cold temperatures, or trying to rush things never ends well. We'll give you a realistic timeline that accounts for all this stuff.

Give us space to work

Painting is messy work. We need room for ladders, drop sheets, equipment, and to move around safely. For everyone's sake (including insurance reasons), it's better if people stay out of the work area while we're painting.

Finding the right painter (without getting ripped off)

Do your homework

Check that painters are actually licensed and insured - don't just take their word for it. Look at photos of their previous work, and if possible, talk to people who've used them recently. Pay attention to reviews that mention specific suburbs on Auckland's North Shore like Milford, Mairangi Bay, or Albany.

Get quotes from a few different painters, but remember - if someone's quote is way cheaper than everyone else's, there's usually a reason. Good paint costs money. Skilled labour costs money. Proper prep work takes time, which costs money.

Ask the right questions

Any decent painter should give you a written contract that spells out exactly what they're doing, what paint they're using, and how long it should take. If someone's dodgy about providing timelines, that's a red flag.

At North Harbour Plaster and Painting, we hold NZMA certifications and carry proper insurance for all our North Shore jobs. We've worked on everything from Devonport's old character homes to the new developments in Greenhithe, so we know what we're dealing with.

How much does interior painting cost on Auckland's North Shore?

This is the question everyone asks first, and honestly, it depends on heaps of factors. Room size matters, obviously, but so does the condition of your walls, what kind of paint you want, and how much prep work is needed.

Older homes or places that need lots of wall repairs cost more because there's more work involved. Simple as that.

Things like high ceilings, fancy architectural details, and premium paint all bump up the price. Kitchens and bathrooms usually cost more per square metre because there's more fiddly work around cabinets and fixtures. But big open-plan areas might work out cheaper per square metre.

The biggest cost factor? How stuffed your walls are to start with. If they're in good nick,we can get straight into the proper prep and painting. If they're full of holes, need gib stopping work, or have other issues, that all takes extra time.

Our free quotes break down labour and materials separately, so you can see exactly what you're paying for. No one likes nasty surprises when the bill comes.

Choosing paint that actually works

Don't cheap out on paint

Look, we get it - paint is expensive. But buying cheap paint is like buying cheap tyres for your car. You'll pay for it later.

Good paint covers better, lasts longer, and looks better. The extra cost upfront usually saves you money because you won't need to repaint as often. We only use paints that we know work well in Auckland's climate.

The finish matters too. Low sheen works great in bedrooms and lounge areas. Semi-gloss or gloss finishes are often better for kitchens and bathrooms where you need to wipe walls down regularly.

Think about Auckland's weather

Auckland's coastal location, humidity, and temperature swings all affect how paint performs. We've learned through experience which paints handle these conditions best.

Your paint choice should suit your house style too. Whether you're doing up an old villa in Birkenhead or refreshing a modern home in Long Bay, the right paint makes a huge difference to how the place looks and feels.

Many of our North Shore customers do their interior and exterior house painting at the same time. Makes sense really - you get colour coordination inside and out, and it's often more cost-effective to do both jobs together.

Why we're different

We're local,based right here in Takapuna and cover the whole of Auckland’s North Shore area with our painting and plastering services. What sets us apart is that we actually know both trades properly - most painters can't do decent plastering work, and most plasterers aren't great painters.

Simon, who runs the business, has his NZMA qualifications and has worked on everything from North Shore renovations to new builds and even some of the flash accommodation places around New Zealand. He knows what good work looks like.

We've got happy customers all over Browns Bay, Castor Bay, Northcote, and right across the Auckland’s North Shore. People use us because we show up when we say we will, do what we say we'll do, and clean up properly afterwards.

Ready to Get Started?

Interior painting done right makes a massive difference to how your home looks and feels. Whether you're freshening up one room or doing the whole house, we reckon you deserve someone who knows what they're doing.

Give North Harbour Plaster and Painting a call for your free interior painting quote. We'd love to have a chat about your project and show you why North Shore homeowners keep recommending us to their mates.

We cover all the North Shore suburbs - Takapuna, Devonport, Browns Bay, Milford, Albany, Birkenhead, and everywhere in between. Licensed, insured, and NZMA certified so you don't have to worry.

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