Painting · Across Victoria
Surface Prep & Plaster Restoration in Melbourne
Paint only lasts as long as the surface under it. We fix that first.
Surface preparation and plaster restoration is the repair work done before paint goes on: crack patching, drywall stopping, cornice repair, water stain sealing and full sanding. It suits Melbourne homeowners, landlords and small businesses who want a repaint that lasts, because paint is a thin film that fails along every defect beneath it.
Hairline cracks from shrinkage and seasonal movement are a plaster problem we repair properly. Cracks that keep widening or step out from door and window corners point to structural movement, which needs a builder or engineer before filler is worth doing, and we say so. Then the same team moves straight on to interior painting, exterior painting or a specialty finish.
When you need it
- Cracks reappear along the same line after every repaint because the filler was skimmed over, not raked out.
- A repaired leak has left a brown ring on the ceiling that bleeds through every coat.
- Cornice has pulled away from the ceiling, opened at the mitres or been chipped.
- Old enamel on doors and skirting is chipped or glossy and will not hold new paint.
What is included
- Crack patching: raking out, flexible filling and taping joint cracks so they do not telegraph through.
- Drywall stopping of failed joints and screw pops, plus patching small holes and soft board.
- Cornice repair: re-fixing loose lengths, filling open mitres and junction cracks, rebuilding chipped profile.
- Water stain sealing once the plaster is dry, so tannin marks cannot bleed through.
- Full sanding with dust extraction, then a raking-light check so repairs disappear under paint.
Our preparation and application process
Step 1: Protect and open up
Floors sheeted and doorways sealed, then cracks raked out to a vee so filler can grip, stains washed and dried.
Step 2: Fill, stop and re-fix
Thin coats of filler, tape over joint cracks, cornice re-fixed, each coat dry before the next.
Step 3: Sand and seal
Repairs sanded flush and feathered in, old enamel dulled to a key, stains sealed so the topcoat dries evenly.
Step 4: Check and clean up
Raking-light check and spot fills, dust vacuumed from sills and surfaces, sheets up ready for painting.
Materials and systems
Crack patching compound
Flexible filler for hairline and shrinkage cracks that tolerates seasonal movement.
Plasterboard stopping compound
Jointing compound for re-stopping failed joints, bedding tape and filling patches.
Cornice cement
Fast-setting plaster adhesive that re-fixes loose cornice and fills open mitres.
Stain-blocking sealer
Locks in dried water and smoke marks so they cannot bleed through new paint.
What affects the cost
- The number of cracks and joints, and whether they need filling or raking out and taping.
- Cornice condition, from a few open mitres to re-fixing long runs.
- How much sanding old enamel trim and heavy paint build-up need.
- Access, such as stairwells and high ceilings that need platforms.
- Whether painting follows straight on, which makes one combined job more efficient.
We do not publish prices because every surface is different. Get a free quote with the scope written down.
How long it takes
A single room with a few cracks and a stained patch typically needs about a day of preparation, depending on how many coats of filler it takes. Whole-home repairs or full sanding of enamel trim typically run over several days.
Drying sets the pace: deep fills typically need overnight before sanding and stain sealer most of a morning before a topcoat, depending on temperature and ventilation.
How to prepare
- Have any leak fixed by the relevant trade first; we seal stains once the plaster is dry.
- Tell us if the home was painted before 1970; older coatings can contain lead, which changes how we sand.
- Point out cracks that have returned after an earlier repair; it helps us judge plaster against movement.
FAQ
Plaster Repairs & Prep: questions people ask.
Can you just paint over cracks in the walls?
No, paint over an unfilled crack splits along the same line as soon as the wall moves. Cracks need raking out, flexible filling, tape on plasterboard joints and sanding flush first.
How do I know if a crack is structural or just plaster?
Hairline cracks that stay the same width season after season are usually shrinkage and can be repaired. Cracks that keep widening, run diagonally from door and window corners or come with sticking doors suggest footing movement, common on Melbourne's clay soils, and need a builder or engineer first.
Can you paint over a water stain on the ceiling?
Yes, once the leak is fixed and the plaster is completely dry. Water stains bleed through ordinary paint, so we seal them with a stain-blocking sealer and patch any board that has gone soft. If a blocked gutter caused it, our gutter team can clear that too.
How much does plaster repair and surface prep cost in Melbourne?
It depends on the number of cracks and joints, the cornice condition, the amount of sanding, access, and whether painting follows straight on. A small crack can be a failed joint the length of a wall, so we inspect first and give a free, no-obligation quote with repairs itemised.
How long does surface prep take before painting?
Typically a day for a single room with a few cracks and a stained patch, and several days for a whole home or heavy sanding, depending on drying times between coats. We book painting to follow directly so prep is not a separate visit.
Often booked together
Related services
Free quotes
Get a free plaster repair quote
One enquiry can cover several jobs: a repaint and a roof clean, a pool recoat and the surrounds, a bathroom refresh before sale.
- Step 1: We read your request and look at any photos
- Step 2: We call, text or email you (your choice) to talk it through
- Step 3: Site visit if the surface needs a closer look
- Step 4: A free, no-obligation quote with the scope written down
Get a free plaster repair quote
Tell us about the surface and how you would like to hear back. Photos help us quote faster.
Plaster Repairs & Prep, done properly.
Get a free plaster repair quote. Free, no-obligation, across Melbourne and Victoria.