Painters

On Wells Street, just off Booth Street, Dirk is working through a house in stages. The owners are living on site and moving their belongings from room to room, so Pink Panther Painting tackles one section as time and budget allow. The ornate ceilings are the slow part. From downstairs they can look fine, but once Dirk starts scraping, old paint may lift away and turn a straightforward repaint into a full restoration.

Dirk grew up in South Africa and moved to the Inner West about twenty years ago. He studied personal training after arriving in Australia and kept handyman work going on the side. Demand for painting, carpentry and repairs soon left no room for the gym job, and trade work became full-time again.

His background is in carpentry, although these days he calls himself a “lazy carpenter”. Now in his fifties, he has stepped away from large building projects to concentrate on painting and handyman jobs with a small crew. The Pink Panther name was simply a childhood favourite that rolled off the tongue.

Preparation is where Dirk believes a finish earns its keep. Water-based paint applied directly over old oil-based woodwork can peel within a few years, so identifying the surface, choosing the right primer and doing the slow preparation matters. He generally uses Dulux paints, with specialist primers and Intergrain products where the surface calls for them. Done properly, he says an interior paint job should last 10 to 20 years under ordinary wear.

Quality control is personal. After a subcontractor completed a job below Dirk’s standard, Dirk returned and spent weeks repainting it for a longstanding customer. He no longer sends subcontractors out alone. If extra hands are needed, Dirk works on site with them, checks progress each day and takes responsibility for the result.

Dirk personally visits each home for a free on-site quote and works across Annandale and the wider Inner West. He is quick to answer calls, though texts may wait until he is off the tools at night. Mention the Troll when you call for 10% off.