An office fitout has a lot of moving parts, and painting is one of the few trades that touches almost every surface. Get the sequencing wrong and you either delay the whole project or end up repainting work that other trades have marked.
Here is how painting fits into a fitout, and how to keep your team working while it happens.
Where painting sits in the sequence
On most fitouts, painting happens in two passes:
- First pass, after the build. Once partitions are up, plastering is finished and services are roughed in, walls and ceilings get their sealer and first coats.
- Second pass, after fit-off. Once electricians, joiners and data cablers have finished, the touch-up and final coat goes on to cover the inevitable marks.
Booking only one pass is the most common mistake. Other trades will mark fresh walls, and without a touch-up visit the finish looks unfinished on handover day.
Working around an occupied office
Most fitouts happen while people are still working nearby. Options that keep disruption manageable:
- Zone by zone. Complete one area fully, move the team, then start the next.
- After hours and weekends. Best for open-plan areas and meeting rooms.
- Low-odour products. Low-VOC paints make same-day occupancy far more realistic.
- Clear signage and barriers. Keeps staff and visitors out of wet areas safely.
- Agreed quiet hours. Sanding is noisy; schedule it around meetings and calls.
Surfaces and finishes for offices
| Area | Recommended finish |
|---|---|
| Open-plan walls | Washable low sheen |
| Corridors and breakout areas | Satin or scrubbable finish |
| Meeting rooms | Low sheen, with feature walls if branded |
| Doors, frames and trims | Semi-gloss enamel |
| Ceilings and bulkheads | Flat ceiling paint |
| Kitchen and bathroom areas | Wet-area paint with mould inhibitor |
| Exposed services and ductwork | Direct-to-metal coatings |
Brand colours
If your fitout uses brand colours, supply the exact colour codes early rather than a logo file. Screen colours do not translate directly to paint, and a close match chosen on site rarely satisfies a marketing team. A painter can colour-match from a physical sample, but lead time matters if the product needs custom tinting.
Brand colours usually work best as accents, on a reception wall or a single meeting room, rather than across whole floors.
Practical things to sort early
- Building access, lifts and loading dock bookings
- After-hours security, keys and alarm codes
- Whether the landlord needs to approve colours
- Protection for new flooring, joinery and IT equipment
- Who moves furniture, your team or the contractor
- Make-good obligations at the end of the lease, which may dictate colours
That last point catches people out. If your lease requires you to return the space to a specific colour later, an expensive brand repaint now means paying to undo it at the end.
Coordinating with other trades
Painting is dependent on plastering being finished and fully dry. Chasing plasterers for an early start usually leads to cracking later. Build realistic drying time into the programme, particularly in winter when it takes longer.
Talk to our commercial team
Expert Painting and Renovation is a family-run, Aussie-local company based in Richmond, with more than 9 years of experience. We work to fitout programmes, handle plastering and rendering repairs in-house, and plan the work around how your office actually runs.
See our commercial painting Melbourne service and our plastering work.
FAQ
Can our team keep working during the fitout painting?
Usually yes, with zoned work, low-odour products and out-of-hours scheduling for the noisiest stages.
How long does office painting take?
A small tenancy may take a few days per pass. Larger floors run longer, and remember to allow for the second touch-up pass.
Do we need landlord approval?
Generally yes for anything beyond a like-for-like repaint. Check your lease before choosing colours.
Can you match our brand colours?
Yes, with exact colour codes or a physical sample. Allow lead time for custom tinting.
Related guides
Planning an office fitout? Contact Expert Painting and Renovation to discuss the programme.
About Expert Painting & Renovation
Expert Painting and Renovation is an Aussie-local, family-run company based in Richmond, Melbourne, with more than 9 years of experience in residential and commercial painting and renovation. Our specialists deliver premium workmanship, timely service and durable finishes designed for Melbourne homes.
- Ceiling crack repairs
- Sagging ceiling restoration
- Water‑damaged ceiling repairs
- Cornice replacement
- Full plastering services
- Interior & exterior painting
- Weatherboard restoration
- Deck & timber maintenance
- Roof painting
- Rendering & texture coating
- Commercial Painting
- Plastering Services
- House Painting
Whether you need maintenance advice, a single-room refresh or a full home makeover, our team is just a call away.
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