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Homeowner: Dineth Ekanayake
Location: Reservoir, Melbourne
The project: Painting the exterior of a weatherboard home
The budget: About $2000, which included weatherboards, paint, scaffolding hire, and all other equipment
Dineth’s top tip for renovators: Use a spray gun for painting. “It sped up the process a lot, especially doing the exterior,” he says.
Every experienced renovator knows that a new coat of paint works wonders – it can modernise an older home, freshen up a facade, add a layer of protection and create that all-important kerb appeal.
For homeowner and keen D.I.Yer, Dineth Ekanayake, updating the facade of this weatherboard cottage in suburban Melbourne has changed his life – in many ways.
Originally purchased as an investment property, Dineth and his family ended up moving into the house during COVID, renovating it during lockdown and making it their own. “Both of our daughters were born there, so it turned into more of a personal project,” he explains. “I did a lot of the work during COVID.”
Dineth had done smaller renovations on previous properties they’d owned, but this project was the largest scope of work that he’d ever undertaken and involved a full rework of the house.
“It was the first one where I've done the whole house – inside and outside,” he adds. “We pretty much touched every part of the property, which was really fun. We learned a lot of stuff about renovating.
Obviously, when you are looking at a 1950s weatherboard property, there are lots of things to learn after you start.” “We did a lot of research in Northcote. We loved a lot of the period houses there and wanted to bring some of that inner north style into Reservoir.”
The transformation of the house even became a talking point in the neighbourhood. “The neighbours loved it because it had just been an old, ugly green house on the corner,” he says. “As it started transforming, people would stop us on the street and ask us questions. It became like a community project. It was really cool.”
When it came to the facade, most of the work was done by Dineth over weekends and evenings, except for the roof restoration and the construction of a new front fence, which were done by tradespeople.
The front yard was completely reworked, with the old chicken-wire fence removed, ground levelled, turf laid, as well as installing a new front fence and gate. The existing weatherboards were restored, replaced where necessary, and repainted.
“I had a bit of help from my wife, but she was looking after two kids, so her time was limited,” says Dineth. “I'd say probably 70 per cent of the work was done by me. I just got stuck in and did it, from the landscaping, restoring the weatherboards, to constructing the deck.”
Because the painting area was so large – the complete house inside and out – he used a spray gun to complete the task. He says that the painting was much more efficient because of the spray gun. “It was actually the first time we used a spray gun, and we used it everywhere inside and outside,” he explains. “It sped up the process a lot, especially doing the exterior. A brush for that would've taken me probably at least 10 times longer.
“The weatherboards overlapped, so they received more even coverage with the spray gun. It uses a bit more paint, but it's just a better finish. And we used it on the fences too, the deck, the gutters, everything. We used the spray gun as much as possible.”
The final result won lots of praise from the Bunnings online community and opened up a new career direction for Dineth, he says, where he helps others renovate their homes. “It became the catalyst for a life-changing passion,” he explains. “I discovered not just how to transform properties, but how deeply rewarding it is to bring life back to forgotten spaces.”
He established a new business, where he guides customers through property purchases and renovations. “Today, my greatest reward comes from helping people, one-on-one, seeing the excitement and confidence in their eyes as their vision becomes reality,” he says.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
