Painters and Decorator

• Certificate II in Construction Pathways (Specialising in Painting and Decorating)

Painters and decorators add a certain style and flair to homes, commercial properties and industrial sites by sizing up what's needed to decorate or give a new lease of life to surfaces or objects. Their skills also include knowing exactly how to apply paint or other desired finishes to these surfaces. It's a client's prerogative to ask for a quotation so that they have a rough idea of what the job will cost them. To do this, painters and decorators calculate the amount of materials required for the job at hand, and measure out the surface or object that they will be working on. Once the quote is accepted, the painters and decorators can get down to the real hands on work.

Not quite the career you are looking for? Please try the related course profiles below:

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To become a qualified Painter and Decorator it is a good idea to get the right training. As 50% have a Certificate III or Certificate IV you will need the advantage of a qualification to secure yourself a job. TAFE SA Gilles Plains campus offers a six month Certificate II in Construction Pathways (Specialising in Painting & Decorating) to help you find work in the area. Phone the campus on 8207 1273 for further information.

Still Unsure! Then enrol in a short course. TAFE SA Gilles Plains campus offers several short courses in the painting and decorating trade. For further information contact the campus directly on 8207 1160 or check out the TAFE SA Short Course guide, available at TAFE campuses or at the TAFE SA website http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au.

There are SA Apprenticeships available in this occupation. For further information go to the Traineeship & Apprenticeship website at http://www.employment.sa.gov.au or phone the Freecall number 1800 673 097.

There was a marked decrease in the demand for building and construction tradespersons including painters and decorators following the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax. Although there was some recovery some months later, as people became accustomed to the new tax, there has been another downturn in demand in the construction trades since early 2001. However, painters and decorators appear to be the least affected by this downturn. In general, the demand will always be affected by the level of new homes being built and whether or not people can afford to renovate their existing homes.

Advancement to supervisory positions, technical training or sales work is possible.

Construction

To be updated.

Clearing away the surface first, they remove old paint or wallpaper, and repair any cracked or damaged surfaces. All surfaces must be cleaned before a finish is applied. They then mix and apply paints either by brushing, rolling or spraying on paint, or applying a decorative finish such as colour glazing, stencilling or marbling and lettering. A qualified painter and decorator and field training officer says, he has turned his hand to renovating residential properties. ''Painting and decorating is great because it's an occupation that offers other interesting career paths. I also run a colour consulting company. Clients such as new home buyers or people renovating their homes will get consultants like myself to come in and help them choose home colour schemes. It is a very rewarding career. So you really can do a lot as a qualified painter and decorator.''

As you've probably concluded already, good colour sense and a broad knowledge of different painting and decorating techniques are also a huge plus if you're to do this type of work well. Painters and decorators also require good communication skills when dealing with clients. They must understand the needs of the client to prevent costly mistakes. Basic maths and problem solving skills are very useful in helping to avoid these mistakes. Many of the tasks involved in this occupation can be somewhat routine. Someone considering working in this job should be able to cope with routine, and be able to stay focussed, if they're to find this work satisfying. Physical fitness is also a bonus for carrying those heavy tins of paint, and remember, it can take many hours, days, even weeks, to complete a job. These tradespersons also need to be practical, reliable and punctual in order to do their work efficiently and on time.

Work hazards include some of the products used by painters and decorators like chemicals that give off strong and dangerous fumes. These include paint and a range of other chemical solutions. When undertaking work indoors, protective measures must be taken to ensure that these work areas are well ventilated. Another hazard of the job is using scaffolding, ladders and cradles at great heights. It is essential that all of this equipment is erected safely and correctly to prevent accidents. So, if you are afraid of heights, you'll have to overcome this fear if you want to work in this field. Painters and decorators also use specialised equipment such as spray guns, so they must learn how to use these properly.

For further information, contact:

Master Builders Association of South Australia Inc
47 South Tce Adelaide SA 5000
Ph: (08) 8211 7466
Fax: (08) 8231 5240
Email: buildsa@mbasa.com.au
Internet Address: http://www.mbasa.com.au

Master Painters, Decorators and Signwriters' Association of South Australia
Unit 2, 797 Port Rd Woodville SA 5011
Ph: (08) 8243 1677
Fax: (08) 8243 1077
Email: mpasa@adelaide.on.net
Internet Address: http://www.masterpainterssa.com.au

The starting annual salary for painters and decorators is about $27,000 but this may go as high as $50,000 for those with several years experience and/or for those with their own businesses. The main employing Industry for Painters and Decorators is Construction 96.1%.

For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or email tafeinfo@saugov.sa.gov.au