Ask what ‘Dulux included’ means for each surface
A paint range can contain products for different uses. Ask your painter to specify the proposed system by surface instead of listing one brand against the entire house. This also makes later substitutions visible: a change should name the replacement product and explain why it suits the assessed surface.
| Surface | Questions for the quotation |
|---|---|
| Ceilings and cornices | Which ceiling product and finish, and how are stains or repairs treated? |
| Living-area walls | Which wall product, sheen and cleaning requirements apply? |
| Kitchen and bathroom walls | Is the selected system suitable for the room conditions and existing surface? |
| Doors, frames and skirting | Which trim finish and adhesion preparation are included? |
| Exterior timber or masonry | Which complete system suits the substrate, existing coating and exposure? |
Check the current product information
Ask for the exact product name and its current technical information. For example, Dulux publishes a dedicated product page for Wash&Wear Low Sheen; that information belongs to that product and should not be applied automatically to a different wall or trim coating. The specification should connect the chosen product to your room, substrate and intended use.
Read Dulux Wash&Wear Low Sheen product informationKeep preparation separate from the finish coats
Ask what the painter will do to the existing surface before applying the specified finish. Cleaning, local filling and adhesion preparation are different from repairing failed plaster, timber or an active leak. Bare patches and retained coatings can also need different treatment. Dulux's interior preparation guide explains filling, cleaning, masking and undercoating; the quotation should identify the work relevant to your home.
- Name the visible defects and agreed repair allowance.
- Record where priming or undercoating is included.
- Confirm how unexpected surface failure will be assessed and priced.
Confirm what the coat count includes
‘Two coats’ can be ambiguous if the quotation does not distinguish preparation coats from finish coats. Ask which coatings are included at each stage and how the painter will handle a major colour change or inadequate coverage. Do not substitute a universal coat count for the selected manufacturer's system. The written scope should make clear when a different treatment needs discussion and approval.
Approve colour and sheen in the property
Check a representative sample against retained flooring, cabinetry, windows and adjacent rooms. View it under the lighting you actually use. Record the final colour name or code, product and sheen together: a colour choice alone does not describe the finished surface. For connected spaces, identify where the new finish stops so changes in the retained paint do not become a handover surprise.
Distinguish product support from workmanship support
Keep the manufacturer's applicable product terms and the painter's workmanship terms as separate records. Ask who handles a concern, which work is covered and what maintenance is expected. Do not infer accreditation or manufacturer endorsement simply because a business uses Dulux. At handover, retain the product and colour schedule and any labelled touch-up paint supplied; use the selected product's care instructions before cleaning.
Read Dulux paint-care guidanceFrequently asked questions
Does using Dulux guarantee a quality paint job?
The product is one part of the work. Surface assessment, preparation, compatibility, application and site conditions also matter. Review the full written specification and relevant project evidence.
Should my quote name the exact Dulux product?
Yes. Ask for the product and sheen by surface, together with preparation, any primer or undercoat and the finish-coat allowance. A brand name by itself leaves important details unconfirmed.
Are two coats always enough?
A coat count alone cannot establish that a coating system is suitable. Ask how the surface, previous colour, coverage and manufacturer's instructions determine the quoted process.
Can the painter substitute another product?
Agree the process before work starts. Ask for the proposed substitute, the reason and any effect on the finish or terms to be recorded for approval.
Does a paint manufacturer's warranty cover all workmanship?
Do not assume so. Read the product warranty and the painter's written workmanship terms separately, including their coverage, conditions and exclusions.
Sources and further reading
References and further reading
- Interior surface preparationDulux Australia
- Caring for painted surfacesDulux Australia
- Wash&Wear Low Sheen product informationDulux Australia
Planning your Colourway project
For residential interiors, our online tool gives you an initial estimate from the rooms and surfaces selected. Exterior, commercial and strata work is assessed on site so access, preparation and the correct coating system can be confirmed before fixed pricing.