Expert tips for painting on a budget

Resene Paint Expert Murdo Shaw shares his top budget-friendly tips for painting and decorating.

When times are tough, budgets and affordability are always front of mind. Resene Paint Expert Murdo Shaw has been in the game a long time and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to efficient and affordable painting. Read on for his tips and tricks for painting on a budget.

Save your pennies

Murdo says that the key way to save money when it comes to painting is to do the job properly the first time! “One of the biggest money wasters in painting is not doing things properly in the first place and having to do the job again, or having the coating fail prematurely,” he says. Aside from the paint, the next biggest investment in a painting project will be your time, so good prep is also crucial. “Preparation is 90% of painting, and skipping this or cutting corners can cost you serious dollars in rework.”

When it comes to buying paint, budget paint is budget for a reason – it doesn’t tend to cover, last as long, look as good and the colours usually fade faster. Quality paint is made to last and includes ingredients like rust inhibitors to help your paint last. It’s also designed to cover with usually two coats. Most of the cost of a painting project is in the time spent painting, so it’s best to choose high quality paint so that you can put it on without needing extra costs or having to repaint too soon.

No leftovers

Overestimating how much paint you need is another way to waste money but luckily there is an easy way to work out exactly how much you need before heading into your local Resene ColorShop. We’ve got a handy paint calculator below which will calculate how much paint you need for your project.

Murdo also recommends reading the product labels or data sheets to check the spread rate for each Resene paint you’re using, as these can vary. “If you’re in-store, you can ask our Resene ColorShop team and they can advise on the amounts you need for your project.”

Make sure you’re putting on the right amount of paint. You can check this by checking the size of the area you are painting and how much of the paint it should use, for example, a space that measures 6 x 2 metres will usually use around 1 litre of paint. If you paint the area and find you have lots of paint left over, it usually means you’ve applied it too thin and will need to put on more to make sure you’ve got the right amount of protection for your surfaces.

Paint helps to protect the surface underneath it. It is much easier and cheaper to repaint than it is to replace weatherboards or walls that have failed because they weren’t well protected.

Using the Resene paint calculator means you can precisely figure out exactly how much paint you need for a project with absolutely no wastage.

How much paint will you need?

If you change data entered into the fields below, ensure you press the calculate button again to re-run the equations and get the new answers.

Height (m)

Length (m)

Surface Area (m2)

Spreading rate (m2/L)

Number of coats

Calculated result: 0 Litres in total

To find the spreading rate of your Resene product, click here.
NB: Porous surfaces and shapes (ie corrugated iron) will require more paint.

DIY savings

Looking to save money by doing a job yourself? The good news is, depending on your experience, energy and time constraints, you can undertake many painting projects yourself. “There are some specialist projects that are best left to the professionals, but on the whole, many painting projects around the house can be tackled by an enthusiastic DIYer,” says Murdo. “If you’re new to painting, start on smaller projects first and build up your experience and confidence as you go.”

Murdo says to start with the basics when buying your painting accessories, but ensure you buy quality and look after them – these will pay you back over the course of your jobs and give you a better, longer lasting finish. “If you’re planning on tackling a few painting jobs, look at adding one or two quality accessories to your painting toolbox for each job and slowly build up your kit.”

When to call in the pros

Some larger projects and specialist finishes are probably best left to the professionals, especially if there’s scaffolding or access on a costly weekly hire, says Murdo.

“Some of the more complex, multi-trade projects also have a narrow window for each trade, and running over on the scheduled time can have a serious knock-on effect for the overall build – not to mention financial penalties,” he says. So a skilled and experienced professional is your best bet here.

Professional painters are also perfect if you don’t have the time or patience to do the project yourself or if the job would be hard to fix if it needs fixing later, such as painting a hard-to-access roof. If you have a professional painter doing one part of your home, they may be able to do some smaller projects at the same time for you, which can work out more budget friendly than doing each job separately and then having to come back multiple times over months.

Budget-conscious, big impact

If you’re strapped for cash but are desperate to change up your space, consider a feature wall. “You can add bold on-trend colour with a feature wall – yes, they are still a thing!” says Murdo. “Some of the popular colours just now are Resene Ravine, Resene Spanish Green, Resene Bandicoot and Resene Paddock.”

Another very cost-effective way to add a splash of colour is to refresh furniture and decor items – think picture frames, lamp bases and old sets of drawers – with your favourite Resene colours. “Not only is it a fun project, but it’s also incredibly satisfying to breathe new life into an old piece of furniture.”

Refreshing your furniture with pain is a simple and afforadble way to add colour to any room. Drawers painted in Resene Lustacryl in Resene Seachange and wall in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Quarter Black White.

Sometimes calling in the pros is the best option, especially if specialist skills are required like airless spray painting. Alan from Resene spray painted this room in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Takaka.

Washing your house annually is the most effective way to protect your investment and extend the life of your paintwork. Use Resene Paint Prep and Housewash for cleaning.

Protect your investment

In terms of both money and time, painting your home exterior is the largest paint project that can be done, so you need to look after it. The best way of doing this is by washing it annually. “I’ve done a few Masterstroke videos and articles about cleaning your house and it’s a really important part of not only keeping the house looking clean, but also extending the life of your paintwork,” says Murdo.

If left on your paintwork, dirt, airborne contaminants, salt and soot can damage the film and lead to premature breakdown, and if moss and mould spores are left unchecked, they can grow and cause serious damage to your painted surfaces. “Annual washing with the recommended cleaner helps keep your investment looking its best for longer.”

Another important part of maintaining your paintwork’s life is looking at paint maintenance after your annual wash. “Part of the nature of buildings, especially timber ones, is that they expand and contract throughout the year, and gaps can appear as the building moves. To stop water ingress and damage to the paint film, check, repair and touch up any areas of movement or damage after your annual wash.”

Top tips for cleaning:

Use Resene Moss & Mould Killer to kill any moss and mould when you see it. Left untreated it will continue to grow and can damage surfaces.
Use Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to instantly clean your painted surfaces. It’s usually best to do this at least once a year. If you are near the sea, a main road or your home is particularly shaded, you may want to do this twice a year.
For a longer clean, apply Resene Deep Clean to areas such as paths, driveways, decks and more. Just spray it on and leave it with the weather to work. It will help keep these areas cleaner. It’s usually best to apply this every 6-12 months. Shaded areas usually need more attention.