Not all paint jobs are created equal. Whether you’re a homeowner refreshing your place or a builder managing a deadline, you’ve probably seen a few dodgy finishes in your time — peeling edges, patchy coats, colours that just don’t sit right.

At Jojo Painting, we’ve been fixing and preventing these kinds of headaches since 2015. So here are five of the most common mistakes we see — and how the pros get it right the first time.

1. Skipping the Prep Work

This one’s huge. You can slap on the fanciest paint in the world, but if the surface isn’t clean, patched, sanded and primed properly, it won’t last. Paint will peel, crack, and highlight every little imperfection.

✅ Green Flag: A good painter spends more time prepping than painting.

🚩 Red Flag: If someone’s unpacking rollers within minutes of arriving, run.

2. Using Cheap Paint

We get it — cutting costs is tempting, especially for big builds. But bargain-bin paint often means you’ll need more coats, it won’t cover properly, and it can fade or flake faster than expected.

✅ Green Flag: Ask what brand they’re using. Quality paint like Dulux, Wattyl or Taubmans is a must.

🚩 Red Flag: No clear answer on paint products.

3. Bad Timing Between Trades

Painters often come in toward the end of a build, and a rushed schedule can mean painting over wet plaster, unfinished trim, or dusty walls. That never ends well.

✅ Green Flag: A painter who communicates clearly with the builder or project manager.

🚩 Red Flag: “We’ll just paint around that.”

4. No Protection or Clean-Up

Paint on the floors, overspray on the windows, messy tape lines — you don’t want that, especially in high-end homes.

✅ Green Flag: Drop sheets, clean lines, and a tidy workspace.

🚩 Red Flag: No effort to protect surfaces or clean up each day.

5. Poor Attention to Detail

The difference between a decent job and a great one? It’s in the details — perfect edges, smooth finishes, consistency between coats.

✅ Green Flag: Someone who takes pride in the small stuff.

🚩 Red Flag: “Close enough.”

Why Builders and Homeowners Trust Jojo Painting

Since 2015, Jojo and his Inner West Sydney painting crew have worked with some of the city’s leading builders on architectural homes, renovations, and new builds. We take quality seriously — because we know you do too.

Whether it’s a full exterior repaint or a single feature wall inside, we deliver a smooth, high-end finish that lasts.

Need a reliable crew? Get a builder’s quote or Request a homeowner quote