Exterior House Painters in Napier & Hawke’s Bay
Exterior painting is about more than making your home look good - it’s about protecting it from Hawke’s Bay’s harsh sun, wind, and coastal conditions.
At Bay Decorating, we're exterior house painters who specialise in exterior painting for homes across Napier, Hastings, and the wider Hawke's Bay.
Whether you’re repainting a family home, refreshing weatherboards, or maintaining an older villa, our goal is simple: do the job properly so it lasts.
What’s Included in Our Exterior Painting Service
When you hire exterior house painters for a repaint, you expect more than someone showing up with a roller. At Bay Decorating, our exterior painting service is a full process designed to protect your home long-term.
Our exterior painting service typically includes:
Inspection & assessment
We look at the existing paint, timber condition, problem areas, and access.
Washing & mould treatment
Removing dirt and contaminants, and treating mould properly — water blasting alone doesn’t kill spores.
Preparation & repairs
Scraping, sanding, filling (bogging), sealing gaps, and stabilising surfaces.
Priming
Bare timber and repaired areas are primed so the topcoats can bond properly.
Painting
Careful application using brush, roller, or spray (when appropriate), with attention to edges and details.
Final checks & tidy-up
Ensuring clean lines, consistent coverage, and a tidy site at the end of each day.
Every home is different, so the exact scope depends on the condition of the surfaces — but the focus is always the same: quality prep, correct products, and a finish that holds up.
Exterior Painting Suited to Hawke’s Bay Conditions
Exterior painting in Hawke's Bay isn't the same as painting elsewhere in New Zealand.
North-facing walls take a lot of UV exposure, coastal areas deal with salt in the air, and older homes often have multiple paint layers underneath the surface. All of this affects how paint performs over time.
Our exterior painting process accounts for:
strong sunlight and colour fade
moisture and mould growth
timber movement and expansion
older or failing paint systems
This local knowledge is what sets experienced exterior house painters apart — and it's why your paint job will last beyond the next summer, not just until it.
Is Exterior Painting Right for Your Home?
Not every home needs repainting immediately — and we’re always honest about that.
However, there are clear signs that an exterior repaint may be due:
peeling, cracking, or flaking paint
bubbling or chalky surfaces
exposed or greying timber
moisture getting into joins or weatherboards
severe fading, especially on north-facing walls
In Hawke’s Bay, paint often fails visually before it fails structurally. Addressing issues early can prevent timber damage and reduce long-term repair costs.
If you're unsure whether now is the right time to repaint, we're happy to assess your home and talk through the options. You can also read our guide on how often you should repaint the exterior of your home in Hawke's Bay.
Types of Homes Our Exterior House Painters Work On
Every home is different, and exterior painting isn’t a one-size-fits-all job. We work across a wide range of exterior surfaces and home styles.
Weatherboard Homes
Weatherboard homes are one of the most common exterior painting jobs across Napier and Hastings, and they require careful preparation to get right. Depending on condition, this may involve sanding, scraping, priming bare timber, filling imperfections, and sealing gaps before topcoats are applied.
Plaster & Rendered Homes
Plaster exteriors often show cracking, chalking, or staining over time. These surfaces need thorough cleaning, correct primers, and breathable paint systems to avoid trapping moisture.
Brick & Masonry Homes
While brick itself isn’t always painted, surrounding trims, soffits, fascias, and joinery often are. When brick is painted, correct preparation is essential to avoid peeling and moisture issues.
Villas & Older Homes
Older homes often have layered paint systems, detailed joinery, and more complex preparation needs. These projects take longer but benefit greatly from careful prep and the right approach. If you own a villa or character home, take a look at our heritage home painting page for more detail on how we handle these properties.
Exterior Timber Staining & Natural Finishes
Some homes are better stained than painted — particularly cedar and other natural timber claddings.
Timber staining:
protects the wood while allowing it to breathe
fades more evenly than paint
reduces peeling and blistering
is often easier to maintain long-term
Cedar staining requires different preparation and products compared to painted exteriors. In Hawke’s Bay’s high-UV environment, choosing the right stain system is critical to prevent premature greying or uneven fading.
We’ll assess whether staining or painting is the better option for your home based on timber condition, exposure, and long-term expectations.
What to Expect When You Work With Bay Decorating
We know having work done on your home can feel disruptive, so we focus on clear communication and respect for your space.
You can expect:
clear, detailed quotes
honest advice about scope and timing
tidy work sites and daily clean-ups
realistic timelines that allow for proper preparation
regular updates throughout the job
We don't rush exterior painting jobs just to move on to the next one. As exterior house painters, our reputation depends on every job we complete — and our goal is always a finish that holds up for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Most homes in Hawke’s Bay need repainting every 7–10 years, but it depends heavily on sun exposure, surface type, and prep quality from the previous job.
North-facing walls, coastal areas, and older timber homes often need attention sooner.
Check out our blog on how often you should repaint your house exterior in Hawke’s Bay.
-
Exterior painting costs vary based on house size, access, surface condition, and prep work required. As a rough guide, most full exterior repaints in Napier sit between $10,000–$20,000+.
The biggest cost difference usually comes down to prep, not paint.
We wrote an in depth article on costs to paint your house in Hawke’s Bay here.
-
Yes. We regularly paint older villas and character homes around Napier, Hastings, and Havelock North. These homes often need more detailed prep, including window work, careful sanding, and sometimes lead paint-safe removal methods.
We assess this carefully at the quoting stage so there are no surprises later. Learn more about our heritage home painting approach.
-
If lead-based paint is present, it cannot be sanded safely. In these cases, paint needs to be stripped first before normal prep can begin.
This protects both the household and our team from hazardous dust, and ensures the new paint system is compliant and long-lasting. We have special equipment designed to handle this type of removal safely and efficiently.
We’ll always explain the safest and most appropriate approach before starting.
-
Yes. We provide exterior timber staining, including cedar cladding and feature timber.
Staining requires a different preparation and maintenance approach than paint, and we’ll guide you on whether staining or painting is the better long-term option for your home.
This is especially common on modern builds and architectural homes.
-
In most cases, no. Exterior painting can usually be completed while you’re living at home.
We take care to protect entry points, keep work areas tidy, and communicate clearly if access is needed at any stage.
-
Most exterior paint jobs take 2–4 weeks, depending on:
house size
weather
surface condition
level of prep required
We do our best to build realistic timeframes and won’t rush work just to finish faster.
-
We’re happy to give guidance based on experience, and for more detailed colour planning we often recommend a Resene colour consultation, especially for exteriors where sun exposure and material choice matter.
Get a Free Quote From Exterior House Painters in Hawke's Bay
If you're considering an exterior repaint and want honest advice from experienced exterior house painters in Napier, we'd love to help.
Get in touch for a site visit and detailed quote. We’ll assess your home, explain what’s involved, and help you decide the best approach for your property and budget.