Residential Painting

BUFO Paint takes job-site safety seriously, which is why we use aluminium A-frame trestles and planks fitted with full safety handrail systems whenever we paint multi-storey homes. This lightweight, secure setup gives our painters stable access to upper levels and rooflines while reducing fall risks in line with Australian WHS expectations and recognised industry standards (AS/NZS 1576 and AS/NZS 1892). We also utilise mobile scaffold towers where suitable, and for larger or more complex projects we engage licensed scaffold companies to design and erect compliant scaffolding systems. To keep our temporary access equipment modern, well-maintained, and fully compliant, we hire from trusted local scaffold and equipment hire providers. In addition, our team members hold current EWP licences, enabling safe operation of scissor lifts and boom lifts when mechanical access is required. The result is a safe, efficient, and professional jobsite that protects our team and ensures a high-quality finish for our customers.

At BUFO Paint, protecting your home is just as important to us as creating a flawless paint finish. We always lay down durable canvas drop sheets to shield floors and furniture, because prevention is far better than cleaning up mistakes later. Some areas, like around toilets or high-traffic zones, require extra care, and we’ve developed smart, sustainable solutions. We use brown paper where it fits, and for larger areas we turn to recycled cardboard sourced from our suppliers, saved from previous jobs, and even rescued from local recycling bins, giving it a second life before it’s discarded. This approach reflects more than just good housekeeping, it’s a testament to our respect for your property, our commitment to professional, stress-free service, and our belief that attention to detail is what separates great painters from the rest. With BUFO Paint, you get not just a beautiful finish, but a painting experience that is careful, considered, and creative from start to finish.

Spray painting is often our method of choice, delivering exceptional coverage and a flawless, professional finish. To protect hard surfaces, windows, light fixtures, and other areas not being painted, we carefully apply painter-specific masking tape and masking film. While this approach is convenient and highly effective, the materials are not currently recyclable, so we use them thoughtfully and sparingly, often alternating with reusable canvas sheets or recyclable paper. We take every precaution and apply professional techniques, but please note that occasionally masking tape can lift poorly adhered paint or coatings from adjoining surfaces, an issue beyond our control. Our priority is always to achieve the highest-quality results while respecting your property and minimizing waste wherever possible.

Ceilings are one of our favourite things to paint. There’s something deeply satisfying about turning a tired, patchy overhead surface into a calm, quiet plane that simply does its job and then disappears from view.

Most ceilings are painted white, but they don’t have to be. An emerging trend we’re seeing more of is colour drenching, painting all surfaces in a room the same colour, including the ceiling, walls, doors, frames, and windows. It creates a cocooning, immersive feel and can make a space feel both bold and surprisingly calm. If that sounds familiar… 1960s, anyone? Design trends have a funny way of cycling back around.

Traditionally, ceilings are painted with flat paint, and that’s very much by design. The flatter the paint, the lower the surface tension, which means it reflects less light and draws less attention to itself. That softness helps hide plaster joins, fixing points, and the unavoidable limitations of construction. A good ceiling shouldn’t shout. It should sit back and let the rest of the room shine. The trade-off with very flat paint is washability; it doesn’t love being scrubbed. In kitchens and bathrooms, where moisture and ventilation can be an issue, we switch to washable ceiling paints that still look soft but can handle a bit more life.

For most ceilings, BUFO Paint uses Wattyl Maxi Ceiling Flat, a product we’ve trusted for more than 20 years. Old-school painters still call it “Chandelier Flat,” a nickname from the days when Solver drums featured a chandelier on the label, long before Solver became part of Wattyl. The name has changed, but the performance hasn’t. Maxi contains a subtle hint of black pigment, which helps it cover exceptionally well while still reading as crisp white to the eye. The result is a smooth, even ceiling with a soft, elegant finish.

When ceilings are stained or discoloured, we first apply Zinsser Smart Prime to block water marks, smoke, soot, nicotine, and other stubborn stains. This fast-drying, water-based primer bonds beautifully to most surfaces and seals the problem areas so they don’t bleed through the final coats. Its quick curing time allows us to move confidently into top coats, leaving the ceiling looking clean, fresh, and consistent with the rest of the home.

One challenge we often uncover is ceilings that were never properly sealed during the original build. When that happens, the paint tends to sit on the surface instead of bonding into the plaster. We can spot this quickly by how fast the paint soaks in and flashes off as we roll. Symptoms can include cracking, peeling, bubbling, or surface crazing. Sometimes these ceilings show no visible issues at all until we apply additional coats. The added weight and surface tension can trigger problems that were always there, just waiting. This happens often enough that it's worth mentioning here as well as in our T&Cs. To peel off all the ceiling paint and start fresh is a mammoth effort and not allowed for in the average repaint quote. 

And then there’s the act of painting ceilings itself. We don’t roll ceilings with our arms strained above our heads. That’s a fast way to get career-long bursitis. Instead, we use our whole bodies, starting from our feet, moving through our hips, with our shoulders locked and stable. The roller becomes an extension of the body. When it’s done right, it feels less like hard labour and more like a slow, steady dance across the room. Physical, focused, and oddly joyful. That’s probably why we love it so much.

When painting interior walls, BUFO Paint applies premium finishes by brush and roller using Wattyl’s washable ID Advanced low sheen acrylic. This product is low VOC, meaning most volatile organic compounds like toluene, xylene, and acetone have been significantly reduced. In the 1990s, paint companies proudly advertised low-VOC formulas; today, the entire industry has followed suit, so it no longer needs to be said. As painters who work with these products every day, we’re grateful for the improvement. There are some paints on the market that boast even lower VOC but as a career painter, I can safely say the paints we use today are quite safe for me, for you and for your family.

Our team cuts straight, crisp lines by hand and selects the correct roller nap for different surfaces to achieve a consistent, refined finish. While Wattyl is our preferred choice, we can source and apply products from any manufacturer to achieve the look you’re after. Thinking about feature walls, special effects, or even wallpaper? Ask us! We love working with creative surfaces and statement finishes.

When painting woodwork including architraves, doors, skirting boards, windows, picture rails, fretwork, balustrades, and handrails, BUFO Paint follows a careful, multi-step process to achieve a finish that looks great and lasts. We start by thoroughly sanding all surfaces to remove debris, smooth imperfections, and lightly etch the surface so the new coatings can properly bond. An undercoat is then applied, chosen specifically to suit the existing substrate. This step is critical for ensuring strong adhesion and creating a stable, long-lasting base.

We often see the results of poor preparation on existing woodwork. This typically shows up as peeling, blistering, or surface crazing in the paint film. When we encounter these issues, patch repairs simply won’t last. The failed coatings must be completely removed so the surface can be properly prepared and the system rebuilt from the ground up.

Undercoat & Acrylic Enamel

Once the undercoat has cured, we fill and sand any holes, cracks, or joins before applying spot primer and at least two top coats. In most cases, we use high-quality acrylic enamel, which provides a beautifully smooth, durable finish. Acrylic enamel is more flexible than traditional oil-based enamel and performs far better in the harsh Australian sun, meaning it resists cracking, yellowing, and premature ageing over time. The result is crisp, clean woodwork that stays bright and hard-wearing for years to come.

Oils

In some situations, a painted finish isn’t the right choice. Where timber grain and character are worth showcasing, we may recommend a clear finish instead. Depending on the application and exposure, this can include oils, stains, and varnishes, each selected to protect the surface while accentuating the natural beauty of the timber.