Exterior House Painting Parnell: A 1920 Character Home Repainted
How was this Parnell character home repainted?
The House Painters, a Registered Master Painters business, repainted the exterior of a 1920 two-storey character home in Parnell, Auckland. They washed the house, scraped, sanded and filled it, primed the bare timber, and applied two coats of Dulux Weathershield Low Sheen in Black White from full scaffold. The House Painters plan the next recoat in 7 to 10 years.
This exterior house painting project in Parnell, Auckland gave a faded 1920 character home a full repaint. The house has two storeys, four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and is about 410 m².
Paint was failing on the weatherboards, joinery and fascia. The House Painters scaffolded the whole house, prepared every surface and repainted it with Dulux Weathershield Low Sheen in Black White, a Black front door and a Grey Friars block base.
The House Painters, a Registered Master Painters business, did the work with full scaffold access and a Dulux exterior paint system. The same preparation-first approach applies to any villa and character home painting job.
Rear pool-side elevation with scaffolding up before preparation
Rear pool-side elevation after repainting
Before: Faded Paint on a Parnell Character Home
Before the repaint, the weatherboards were dull and faded. Paint had lifted near the windows and joinery, and bare timber showed along some weatherboard edges. That meant the old paint had reached the end of its life, so the house needed proper preparation before any new paint went on.
Worn paint on the window joinery before repainting
After: A Fresh Exterior Finish
The finished exterior is a clean off-white. Dulux Black White on the weatherboards and joinery keeps the detail of the house clear, including its 24 windows. The front door is Dulux Black and the block base is Dulux Grey Friars.
The pool-side elevation, one of the most visible faces of the house, now looks fresh and even.
Freshly painted weatherboards and window, with the scaffold still up
The Challenge: Failing Paint on Weatherboards
Auckland Weather and Weatherboards
Auckland weather is hard on exterior paint. UV fades colour and breaks paint down. Timber moves as temperatures change, which stresses paint that cannot flex. Rain finds weak points such as window frames, weatherboard edges and door jambs, and paint fails there first if the preparation was rushed.
On a two-storey character home, the longer worn paint stays on, the more surfaces fail at once. The job needs flexible paint with good adhesion, applied to a sound surface.
Paint Failure
This character home showed:
- Colour fade and dull surfaces across the weatherboards
- Lifting paint near windows and door joinery, with bare timber exposed. These areas needed mechanical preparation before new paint could go on.
- Flat, faded trim, fascia, soffits and weatherboards, which hid the period detail of the house
- Chalking on the upper-storey surfaces. Chalking needs a thorough house wash and preparation, not mechanical stripping.
- Weak protection at exposed weatherboard edges and window sills
Why Painting Over It Would Fail Again
Bare timber showing through the old paint confirmed it had failed at the bond. UV damage and poor adhesion were working across several surfaces at once.
Painting over peeling, lifting paint traps the old layer under the new one. The new colour looks sharp on the day, then bubbles and separates, and the house needs doing again. The failing paint had to come off first.
The front entrance after repainting, with a dark front door and decorative glass sidelights
Louvred bay window after repainting
Exterior House Painting Parnell: Project Overview
Project Type:
Character home exterior house painting
Location:
Parnell, Auckland
Property Style:
Two-storey weatherboard character home, built 1920
Home Size:
About 410 m², four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Scope of Work:
- Timber weatherboards on all elevations
- 24 windows and window joinery
- Fascia and soffits
- Rear handrails and block base
- 5 doors, including the front door
- Full preparation: house wash, scraping, sanding and filling across the weatherboards and joinery
- Full exterior colour refresh: Dulux Black White, a Black front door and a Grey Friars block base
Completed Outcomes
- New exterior colour scheme: Dulux Black White on the weatherboards and joinery, a Black front door and a Grey Friars block base
- 24 windows and 5 doors painted, including the front door
- Rear handrails painted
- Full preparation: house wash, scraping, sanding and filling across the weatherboards and joinery
- Bare timber primed with a dedicated primer before the topcoat
- Dulux Weathershield® Low Sheen applied in two coats
- Dulux Aquanamel® Semi Gloss in Black on the front door, a non-yellowing, chip-resistant finish
- Dulux Timbacryl® in Grey Friars on block base
- Next recoat planned in 7 to 10 years
Our 5-Step Exterior House Painting Process in Parnell
Every exterior repaint by The House Painters follows the same five steps. All five were carried out on this Parnell character home.
1
Assessment
Before any preparation starts, The House Painters inspect every exterior surface for paint failure, lifting, bare timber and general condition on all elevations. On a two-storey house, that inspection is the only way to know what each surface needs.
Here it confirmed adhesion failure at several weatherboard sections near windows and joinery, with bare timber showing in places. It also found chalking on the upper storey. A preparation plan was explained to the client before work began.
Window joinery checked during the paint assessment
2
Preparation
All exterior surfaces were house-washed first. That removed dirt, biological growth and the chalky residue left by UV-damaged paint. New paint over a dirty surface fails whatever the product, so washing is the first preparation step.
With the house fully scaffolded, The House Painters scraped off loose and lifting paint, sanded the weatherboards back to a sound surface, and filled holes and cracks in the weatherboards, window frames and joinery.
Bare timber, where paint had lifted and adhesion had failed, was marked out and dealt with separately so no failing surface stayed under the new paint.
Bare timber beside a window during preparation
3
Priming and Filling
Bare timber exposed by scraping, sanding or filling was primed and sealed before any topcoat went on.
A self-priming topcoat does not replace this step. The House Painters choose a primer for each surface, because bare timber, sanded paint and fresh filler each need something different. Every bare or repaired area on this house got the right primer before the Dulux Weathershield system went on.
Preparation decides how long the paint lasts, so The House Painters prepare more than the minimum.
Respirator, paint and supplies on the scaffold during priming and filling
4
Topcoat Application
With the surfaces washed, scraped, sanded, filled and primed, the Dulux exterior system went on.
Dulux Weathershield® Low Sheen in Black White went on the weatherboards, fascia, soffits, windows and handrails by brush, roller and spray. Two full coats were applied, and each was checked for even colour and full coverage at weatherboard edges and joinery.
The front door has Dulux Aquanamel® Semi Gloss in Black, a water-based enamel. The block base has Dulux Timbacryl® in Grey Friars.
Brushing the soffit from the scaffold walkway
5
Final Detailing
Before the scaffold came down, every painted surface was checked for finish, paint runs, masking lines and coverage at the window frames, joinery, fascia edges and handrails.
The scaffold and drop sheets were removed, paint waste and preparation residue were cleared, and the property was left clean. The House Painters finished with a walkthrough with the homeowner covering maintenance.
Finished balustrade, eaves and soffit
Products Used
Dulux Weathershield® Low Sheen
Weatherboards, Fascia, Soffits, Handrails, Detailing
Dulux Weathershield® has been specially designed to provide a tough, hard-wearing finish that provides protection from all weather conditions. Formulated with MaxiFlex™ Technology to expand and contract with the surface.
- Long-life protection from all weather conditions
- Eco Choice Aotearoa approved
- Exclusive MaxiFlex™ formulation
- Made in New Zealand
Dulux Aquanamel® Semi Gloss
Windows and Doors
Dulux Aquanamel® Semi Gloss is a non-yellowing, water-based interior and exterior acrylic enamel that dries to a glossy and durable, chip-resistant finish. Aquanamel® Semi Gloss can be used in most areas where traditional oil-based enamels are applied with the time-saving benefits of an acrylic paint.
- Long-life protection from all weather conditions
- Eco Choice Aotearoa approved
- Chip-resistant
- Non-yellowing finish
- Made in New Zealand
Dulux Timbacryl®
Block Base
Dulux Timbacryl® is a flexible, water-based exterior paint designed for timber surfaces, providing a durable, weather-resistant finish. Applied in Grey Friars to the block base of this Parnell character home, it gives the base a hard-wearing finish at ground level and completes the three-colour scheme.
Colours
Black White
Area Used: Weatherboards, fascia, soffits, windows, handrails
Product: Dulux Weathershield® Low Sheen
Code: [#EBE9E5]
Dulux Black White is a warm off-white. It is not pure white and not cream. The slight warmth stops a large exterior looking cold in Auckland’s strong light, and the low sheen finish needs less upkeep than gloss.
Black
Area Used: Front Door
Product: Dulux Aquanamel® Semi Gloss
Code: [#242322]
Dulux Black is a deep black with no grey softening. Against Black White on the walls, the front door becomes the focal point of the entrance.
Grey Friars
Area Used: Block Base
Product: Dulux Timbacryl®
Code: [#4A4D50]
Dulux Grey Friars is a mid-depth charcoal. It separates the light weatherboards above from the ground below. On the block base it grounds the house and hides ground-level wear.
The Result
The House Painters are Registered Master Painters with 25+ years painting Auckland homes, and hold a Master Painters Gold Award (2021 Takapuna heritage home restoration).
This 1920 Parnell character home now has a clean, even off-white exterior. The Black White weatherboards and joinery, the Black front door and the Grey Friars base read as one colour scheme across the whole house.
The preparation before the first topcoat decides how long a finish lasts. The House Painters plan the next recoat in 7 to 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Service area
The House Painters provides professional exterior house painting in Parnell, and character home and villa restoration across Auckland’s central and eastern suburbs. Projects are regularly completed in Remuera, Epsom, Newmarket, Mt Eden, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, St Heliers, Mission Bay, Devonport, and surrounding villa-dense suburbs.
Service areas: Parnell, Freemans Bay, Remuera, Devonport, Ponsonby, Herne Bay, Grey Lynn, Epsom, Mt Eden, Newmarket, Takapuna, Bayswater, Hauraki Corner, Northcote Point.
Get a Quote for Your Character Home
Request a free quote for your home, or contact The House Painters to talk through the job.
- Free quote, no obligation
- Registered Master Painters with 25+ years experience
- Master Painters Gold Award (2021 Takapuna heritage home restoration)
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Parnell House Painters – Interior & Exterior Painting Auckland
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