Auckland's Decorative Finish Specialists
Walls with depth. Painting without compromise.
Venetian plaster, microcement, lime wash and French wash — applied by Auckland's certified specialists. Novacolor certified, Cemher certified, Porter's Applicators Guild. And when you need flawless interior or exterior painting, that's our everyday standard.
Master PaintersMember Novacolor certified Venetian plaster Cemher certified microcement Porter's Applicators Guild $10m insured ★★★★★ Auckland-wide
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Accredited & Trusted
Specialist finish certifications
Novacolor Certified — Venetian Plaster
Certified in Novacolor's Italian lime plaster systems - Marmorino, Tadelakt and the Venetian plaster range. The 10-year product warranty only stands on certified application.
Cemher Certified — Microcement
Cemher's certification is invite-only and hands-on. Their 10-year system warranty is valid only when a certified applicator installs it - and it is the only way to get wet-area microcement signed off.
Porter's Applicators Guild — Lime & French Wash
Guild membership means accredited, ongoing training in Porter's own formulations and application techniques - lime wash, French wash, Fresco and the metallics.
Repair Care Accredited — Timber Repair
Trained in the Repair Care DRY FLEX system - rotten sills, frames and joinery repaired in place to a specified standard, instead of ripped out and replaced.
Trade accreditations
Master Painters Member
Strict standards for workmanship, systems and professional conduct - independently accountable quality.
Resene Eco Decorator
Resene's highest painter accreditation - their own tick of trust in our prep, systems and finish quality.
Site Safe Member
Best-practice health & safety systems on every site - your home, or a commercial floor.
Resene Wash Wise
Trees That Count Supporter
$10m Public Liability Insured
★ 5.0 Client Rating
Novacolor & Cemher 10-Year System Warranties
0Years in Auckland
0Public liability insured
★ 5.0Client rating
0Accreditations & certifications
Signature Decorative Finishes
Venetian plaster, microcement, lime wash & French wash — done properly.
Most painting makes a wall clean. These finishes make a room. Hand-applied, multi-layer mineral finishes with real texture, movement and patina — applied by a certified applicator, because on these systems the certificate is what the warranty rests on.
Novacolor certified
Venetian Plaster
Burnished Italian lime plaster with the depth and movement of solid stone. Marmorino, Tadelakt and the polished Venetian plaster range — plus Porter's Fresco. Feature walls, fireplaces, stairwells and high-end commercial.
Explore Venetian plaster →
Cemher certified · waterproof
Microcement
A seamless, stone-like surface at 3-4mm — no grout lines, no joins, and it goes over existing tiles. Fully waterproof when installed properly, so it works in showers, on floors and across benchtops.
Explore microcement →
Most requested
Lime Wash
A soft, chalky, breathable mineral finish with subtle cloudy movement. Made for villas and heritage homes — and now the look of modern Auckland interiors.
Explore lime wash →
The softest feature wall
French Wash
Layered, cloudy colour that shifts subtly across the surface. A softer feature option than plaster — warmth and character without heavy texture.
Explore French wash →Beyond the four
Beyond the signatures, we're certified across the Novacolor, Cemher and Porter's systems — ask us which finish suits your wall, light and lifestyle.
Find your finish
Which wall are you picturing?
Lime wash — applied by Key Painting
House Painting Services
Flawless painting is our everyday standard.
The same prep discipline and finish quality behind our decorative work, on every interior, exterior and roof we paint across Auckland.
01
Interior Painting
Flawless walls, ceilings and trims — crisp lines, dust-managed, done around your life.
Learn more → 02Exterior Painting
Weather-tough systems for NZ conditions — weatherboard, plaster and brick, prepped properly.
Learn more → 03Roof Painting
Protect and refresh tile or iron roofs — the cheapest insurance your house can buy.
Learn more → 04Gib Fixing & Plastering
Level 4 & 5 finishing — the paint-ready walls every high-end finish depends on.
Learn more → 05Pre-Sale Refresh
Strategic repaints that add more to your sale price than they cost. Fast turnaround.
Learn more → 06Commercial Painting
Clean fit-outs and repaints with minimal downtime — Site Safe systems on every job.
Learn more → 07Timber & Joinery Repair
Repair Care accredited — rotten sills, frames and weatherboards repaired in place, not replaced.
Learn more →Trusted. Accredited. Proven.
Credentials most painters can't claim.
Master Painters Member
Awarded only to painters meeting strict standards for workmanship, systems and professional conduct.
Resene Eco Decorator
Resene's highest painter accreditation — a clear sign Resene trusts our prep, systems and finish quality.
$10m Insured & Site Safe
Full public liability cover and best-practice health & safety on every site. No risk to you or your home.
Novacolor Certified — Venetian Plaster
Certified in Novacolor's Italian lime plaster systems. On these products the 10-year warranty is conditional on certified application — so the certificate is the warranty.
Cemher Certified — Microcement
Invite-only, hands-on certification. The only route to a 10-year microcement warranty and a wet-area install that meets the NZ Building Code.
Porter's Applicators Guild — Washes & Metallics
Accredited membership of Porter's own guild — rigorous training in their formulations and the finishes most Auckland painters simply can't apply.
Repair Care Accredited — Timber Repair
Trained in the DRY FLEX timber repair system — decayed joinery rebuilt in place to a specified standard, saving the original timber.
Our Work
Auckland homes, finished properly.
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How it works
From first look to final coat.
Consult & sample
We visit, look at your walls and light, and talk finishes honestly — including whether a decorative finish is right for the space.
Free · No obligationColour & finish selection
Real sample boards on your wall, in your light. You approve the exact finish, colour and sheen before we start.
Preparation
The unglamorous part that decides everything. Level 4–5 surfaces, masked, sealed and primed to spec.
Application & handover
Hand-applied layers, sealed and cured, site left spotless. A finish you'll still be proud of in ten years.
Know your number first
Get a real ballpark before you commit to anything.
No waiting a week for a quote. No "it depends" with nothing behind it.
Auckland's quickest free painting estimator — an indicative figure in about 60 seconds
Decorative finishes priced properly per m² — finish, coats, prep and substrate all counted
Then a free on-site consult confirms the exact scope. No surprises later.
Free instant estimate
Tell us the room or wall, pick the finish, get your indicative number. Takes about a minute.
Try the estimator → Or book a free consult No obligation · No spam · Just a clear next stepWhat clients say
Loved by Auckland homeowners.
★★★★★ 5.0 rating
★★★★★
"Max has a keen eye for design and is detail orientated. He really listens to your brief and comes back with a beautifully considered result that goes beyond what you asked for. High quality and well priced."
Stacey Power★★★★★
"Fantastic to work with — very professional and over-delivered on their service. They made our dream our reality. I would recommend them to anyone."
Sam Bell★★★★★
"A1 service. Easy to work with and went above and beyond to deliver. Would highly recommend Max and the team."
Josh HearesGood to know
Frequently asked questions
What is lime wash, and why is everyone asking for it?
Lime wash is a lime-based mineral finish that soaks into the surface and dries to a soft, chalky, slightly cloudy look that flat paint can't replicate. It's breathable, ages beautifully, and suits both heritage villas and modern Auckland interiors — which is exactly why it's having a moment.
How much does a decorative finish cost in Auckland?
It depends on the finish, the wall size, coats and prep — specialty finishes are hand-applied and multi-layer, so they're priced per m² rather than like standard painting. A single feature wall is the usual entry point. For a real number, use our free instant estimator or book a free consult and we'll price your exact wall.
What's the difference between lime wash, French wash and polished plaster?
Lime wash is a chalky mineral finish with soft, cloudy movement. French wash is a tinted glaze technique — layered, watercolour-like warmth over a base coat. Fresco polished plaster is built up and burnished into a smooth, stone-like surface with genuine depth and sheen. We'll bring samples so you can see all three in your own light.
Can you apply decorative finishes over existing painted walls?
Usually, yes — with the right preparation. Substrate and prep decide everything with these finishes, which is why we assess the wall first and include Level 4–5 plastering where it's needed. It's also why a trained applicator matters.
Do you work with interior designers and architects?
All the time. Designers and architects specify a finish and need an Auckland applicator who can actually deliver it — that's us. We're happy to sample, price from plans, and work directly with your client or through you.
Do you still do normal house painting?
Absolutely — interior, exterior, roof, commercial and pre-sale repaints across Auckland, plus Gib fixing and plastering. The decorative work is our specialty; flawless everyday painting is our standard.
Let's begin
One wall, done properly, changes the whole house.
Homeowners, designers and architects across Auckland trust Key Painting for the finishes nobody else can do. Start with a free consult — or get your number in 60 seconds.
