Trusted Painting & Decorating Services in Kiama

Painters in Kiama: basalt, terraces and salt spray

Kiama is a small town with a lot of history on show: a harbour cut from rock, a blowhole that draws crowds, and rows of terraces built for quarry workers. It also has some of the harshest sea exposure on the south coast. WM Painting & Decorating is licensed and insured, with over 10 years of painting and decorating experience, and we price Kiama jobs for the salt and the age of the buildings.

This page covers what is specific to painting here: the quarry-era housing, heritage planning around the town centre, headland weather, and old paint. If you want a quote, call 0434 432 267 or use the contact page.

Licensed & Fully Insured

Transparent, Fixed Quotes

Expert Colour & Finish Advice

High-End, Long-Wearing Paint Products

Complete Aftercare Services

Painting services in Kiama and the Municipality

Interior Painting

Careful interior work in old cottages and terraces, plus clean modern finishes for newer homes and holiday rentals.

Exterior Painting

Salt-resistant exterior systems for headland and harbour-side homes, with serious prep on weathered timber.

Commercial Painting

Cafes, shops and accommodation in the town centre, painted around trading and guest changeovers.

Roof Painting & Coating

Roof recoats for exposed positions where sun, salt and wind work hard on the surface.

Decorative Finishes

Period-appropriate colours, wallpaper and decorative finishes for character homes.

Terraces and cottages built on the quarry boom

Much of Kiama’s older housing exists because of basalt. Quarrying of blue metal took off from the 1870s, supplying roads, tramways and railways in Sydney, and the stone left from the harbour on ships nicknamed the Stone Fleet. The Collins Street terraces were built in stages through the 1880s for quarry workers, and the Pilot’s Cottage near the harbour, built about 1880 to 1881 with basalt walls, is now a museum. You can read more at the Pilot’s Cottage Museum listing and on Kiama’s visitor history pages.

That history shapes the painting. Timber terraces and workers’ cottages tend to have narrow eaves, tight gaps between buildings and decades of paint. Narrow side access means more ladder work and careful masking. Weatherboards need loose paint scraped and bare timber primed. Brick and stone walls need gentle cleaning, not blasting, so the surface is not damaged. For interior work in these houses, our interior painting team repairs plaster, cuts in neatly around old timber trim and leaves the place clean.

The Kiama Town Centre conservation area and repainting

Kiama Council has proposed a Kiama Town Centre Heritage Conservation Area covering Manning Street between Bong Bong and Terralong Streets, and Terralong Street out to Collins Street. The council endorsed it in 2022 and sent it for a Gateway Determination, so check with council whether it is now in force for your property.

On the rules for repainting, Kiama’s interim minor maintenance policy says clause 5.10(3) of the Kiama LEP 2011 means development consent is not needed for minor maintenance works, and it lists repainting of external walls as an example. The same policy notes that for listed heritage items and areas, exempt development rules are limited and consent can be required for other work. You can find the policy on Kiama Council’s website and the draft DCP Chapter 4 covers external colours, materials and finishes. Because requirements differ by property, get written confirmation from council before you start.

If you need a historically sensible scheme, our colour consultation helps you choose colours and finishes that suit a Victorian terrace or a basalt cottage. We list paint names and finishes so council can see exactly what you intend.

Headland weather: salt, wind and southerlies

Kiama’s headlands, harbour and long beaches put many houses a few hundred metres from breaking surf. In a strong southerly, salt spray travels well inland. It dries on walls, window frames, gutters and metal balustrades and attacks paint from the surface and the back.

Our exterior prep for Kiama homes is simple but slow. We wash with fresh water to remove salt, sand to a sound edge, spot prime bare timber and treat rust on metal before it is coated. We seal gaps around windows and joins, then apply two coats of an exterior acrylic chosen for the surface. Colours matter too. Dark colours on exposed walls fade faster in coastal sun, so we advise on shade and finish before the job begins.

Holiday rentals and accommodation need quick turnarounds, and we plan the job to match. Read more on our exterior painting page, and for exposed roofs see roof painting and spraying. Dulux’s exterior preparation guide sets out the same basics.

Dairy country behind the coast: Jamberoo and Kiama Downs

Kiama’s story did not start with quarrying. Cedar was cut from the Jamberoo Valley and shipped out through the harbour until the forests were logged out in the 1850s, and dairy farming then took over the district. That farming past explains the long weatherboard homesteads, tin-roofed outbuildings and sheds you see behind the coast.

Those buildings face a different set of problems: sun on corrugated iron, damp in shaded timber and wind-driven rain. Roofs and sheds need rust treated before coating, and farmhouses need a full prep of the verandah timber. Homes at Kiama Downs and Bombo sit close to the water as well, so we scope salt exposure property by property.

Old paint, lead and what to do about it

Kiama has many homes built before 1970, which means lead paint is likely somewhere on the property. The NSW EPA’s LeadSmart renovating advice warns that sanding, scraping dry or burning old paint releases dust that settles in roof spaces, wall cavities and floors. We scrape wet, avoid heat guns, bag the waste and keep children and pregnant women out of the area. If you are unsure whether paint is safe to disturb, call us first.

Fibro from before the late 1980s may also contain asbestos, so we do not sand it dry.

Kiama neighbours and how to book

We cover Kiama and nearby areas including Gerringong, Shellharbour and Wollongong. See the areas we serve list for more. Commercial clients in the town centre can read about commercial painting. To book, call 0434 432 267 and we will visit, inspect and send a fixed written quote.

What Our Customers Say

    
 
 
         
   Lynn Thomson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Quality job would highly recommend
  
 
        
   Matthew Jones 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great all round performance from the crew. Great job quality, friendly and polite people to deal with , and very clean and tidy.
  
 
        
   Dylan Readman 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was such an easy experience getting William to paint our  house
From start to finish the process was great!
We couldn’t recommend him more!
Thankyou!
  
 
        
   Lincoln Bell 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Couldn't recommend Will and his team enough. Quality was second to none, fair price and great communication.

If I could leave 6 stars I would!
  
 
        
   Aiden Menzies 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Appreciate William and the crew for coming out on short notice.

The high standard of work and communication was exactly what I was looking for after recently moving to the southern highlands.

Couldn’t recommend WMPainting & decorating enough for all your needs on your new or old homes

Thanks again Will
  
 
        
   Ian Town 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Will and his team painted the outside of our house in Bundanoon along with our fence and some interior touch-ups. We were very happy with the overall results. Will was easy to communicate with and we found his team friendly, punctual and most importantly, cleaned up well after themselves! Would definitely recommend to others.
  
 
        
   Fiona Saunders 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had will and his team paint my unit in Wollongong and I am very happy with there services
  
 
        
   M Griffin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Good painter, nice service
  
 
        
   Taylah Chapman 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Done photography with the team, great to work with
  
 
        
   Beth Morris 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional conduct, on time, yet friendly.
Fantastic paint job, we are very happy with the results! We will be using Will and Chris again!!

How We Work

Consultation and Color Selection: We help you choose the perfect colors and finishes.
Surface Preparation: We ensure surfaces are well-prepared for painting.
Clean and Efficient Process: Our team works neatly and swiftly to minimise disruption.
Professional Painting: Experienced painters deliver high-quality results.

Planning the year for a Kiama repaint

Spring and autumn usually give the steadier weather on the south coast. Summer brings strong sun and holiday crowds, and winter southerlies can drive rain sideways into fresh paint. If you run a holiday rental, we can schedule work in the quiet weeks between bookings. If you are painting before a sale or lease, tell us your dates and we will work back from them. We check the forecast and the moisture in the timber before each exterior coat, because paint applied to damp surfaces does not last.

Kiama painting FAQ

Do I need approval to repaint a heritage terrace in Kiama?

Kiama’s interim policy treats repainting of external walls as minor maintenance under clause 5.10(3) of the LEP, which does not need consent. Listed items and conservation areas can still have extra requirements, so get written confirmation from Kiama Council first.

How much does salt affect paint in Kiama?

A lot on exposed positions. Salt spray from southerly winds settles on walls, frames and gutters and holds moisture against the paint. We wash it off with fresh water, prime bare spots and use exterior coatings suited to the surface.

Can you paint old weatherboard cottages and terraces?

Yes. We scrape loose paint, repair timber, prime bare areas and recoat. On pre-1970 houses we assume lead may be present and use wet methods and dust control.

Is the Kiama Town Centre in a heritage conservation area?

Council has proposed one covering Manning Street and Terralong Street, and endorsed it in 2022. Check with council whether it now applies to your address.

Do you work on holiday rentals and businesses in Kiama?

Yes. We paint cafes, shops, accommodation and rentals and plan the work around trading and changeover days. Call 0434 432 267.

Request your Kiama painting quote

Tell us about your Kiama property. You get a free quote, a fixed price in writing and a licensed, insured local team.

Let Our Paintbrush Do The Talking

At WM Painting, we use only the best equipment and materials to ensure the highest quality workmanship. Our team is committed to delivering excellence in all of our services, and we won’t be satisfied until you are.

Trusted Painting & Decorating Services in Kiama​