As a strata owner, you may not be on the committee or involved in the day-to-day decisions about how your building is managed. But you have a direct financial stake in those decisions. One of the areas where the consequences show up most visibly over time is building maintenance.
Painting and maintenance are easy to defer. They are not urgent in the way a burst pipe or lift breakdown is urgent. But deferred maintenance has a habit of becoming expensive maintenance. And when costs escalate, it is owners who foot the bill through levies.
What Happens When Maintenance Gets Pushed Back
Paint forms a protective barrier against moisture, UV damage, and general wear. When that barrier breaks down, the consequences escalate quickly:
| If ignored… | If maintained… |
| Surfaces crack and moisture enters the building fabric | Paint barrier stays intact, keeping moisture out |
| Render and concrete deteriorate, leading to corrosion | Small issues identified early and fixed at low cost |
| A routine repaint becomes a repaint plus remedial repairs | Painting cycle stays on schedule and on budget |
| Special levy raised to cover the gap | No surprise levies for owners |
Questions Worth Raising with Your Committee
You do not need to be a building expert to ask the right questions. At your next AGM, or in correspondence with your strata manager, consider raising these:
- When was the building last repainted, and when is the next repaint scheduled? Many buildings operate without a formal painting cycle, which means works only happen when the condition becomes impossible to ignore.
- Is routine maintenance included in the current budget? Regular building washes, touch-ups, and inspections between full repaints extend the life of the paint system and protect the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Has the building been inspected recently? A pre-paint inspection identifies cracking, water ingress, and surface deterioration early. Catching these before they escalate is almost always cheaper than addressing them after the fact.
Why It Matters More Than You Might Think
A well-maintained building holds its value better, attracts stronger sale prices, and gives residents a genuine sense of pride in where they live. The condition of the paintwork is one of the first things prospective buyers notice. It signals whether the building is being actively managed or quietly neglected.
Staying informed and asking the right questions is one of the most effective things an owner can do to protect their investment. You do not need to manage the process. You just need to make sure someone is.
For more information on strata painting and maintenance, contact Premier Painting on 1300 916 291 or visit: www.premierpainting.com.au.
