Federation, Edwardian and 1920s weatherboard exteriors — prep, lead safety, and palette.
Adelaide has thousands of timber weatherboard homes — Federation cottages, Edwardian bungalows, 1920s California-influenced bungalows. Most concentrated in Unley, Prospect, Norwood and Glenelg. They all need similar treatment, but each has subtle quirks.
Weatherboards expand and contract significantly. Old paint flakes at board edges first. A proper repaint needs aggressive scraping, sanding (mechanical for large areas, hand for delicate trim), spot replacement of rotted boards, and priming of every bare patch.
Any home built before 1970 likely has lead in its existing paint layers. Lead-safe preparation requires wet sanding (not dry), full dust containment, painters wearing P2 masks, and proper waste disposal. This adds 15-25% to the prep budget but is non-negotiable for older homes — it’s a health and legal compliance issue.
Federation: sage greens, terracotta, cream trims. Edwardian: soft creams, dove greys. 1920s: muted greens, blues, oranges with crisp white trims.
A premium weatherboard repaint lasts 8-10 years before a full repaint. Coastal homes (Glenelg, Henley, Grange) sit at the lower end — salt air drives 30-40% faster paint failure on west walls. Spot maintenance every 3-5 years extends the lifespan.
Weatherboard work is a specialist trade. Use our weatherboard painters service to match with painters who do this every week, not occasionally. Heritage palettes available in our heritage colour finder.
How commercial painting differs from residential — pricing, scheduling, compliance and EBA considerations.
Coverage rates, tin sizes, and how to avoid both over-buying and the dreaded mid-job Bunnings run.
Glenelg, Seaford, Henley, Grange — what’s different about coastal painting and why it costs slightly more.
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