Painting Services – Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Cote Decorating

1. Acceptance

1.1 These Terms and Conditions apply to all work carried out by Cote Decorating (“we”, “us”, “our”).

1.2 By accepting our quote, paying a deposit, or instructing us to begin work, the customer (“you”, “the client”) agrees to these Terms and Conditions.

1.3 Quotes are valid for 30 days unless otherwise stated.

1.4 Any changes to these terms must be agreed to in writing by both parties.

 

2. Scope of Work

2.1 The works to be completed will be as outlined in the written quote or proposal provided by Cote Decorating.

2.2 Any work not specifically included in the quote will be considered additional work and may incur additional charges.

2.3 Work is normally carried out Monday to Friday during standard working hours.

2.4 If the customer requests work outside these hours, additional charges may apply.

 

 

3. Deposits & Payment Terms

3.1 For residential projects, a deposit may be required before work begins.

3.2 Deposits will comply with Queensland QBCC requirements, which generally limit deposits to:

  • Maximum 10% deposit for contracts under $20,000
  • Maximum 5% deposit for contracts over $20,000

3.3 Progress payments may be required for larger jobs.

3.4 Unless otherwise agreed, invoices must be paid within 7–14 days of issue.

3.5 Cote Decorating reserves the right to pause work if payments are overdue.

3.6 Late payments may incur interest or recovery costs where permitted by law.

 

4. Customer Responsibilities

4.1 The customer must provide safe and reasonable access to the work areas.

4.2 The customer must ensure that:

  • Furniture and valuables are removed or protected
  • Pets are secured
  • Access is available during agreed work times

4.3 Cote Decorating will take reasonable care, but we are not responsible for items left in work areas.

4.4 If access to the worksite is delayed or restricted, additional charges may apply.

 

 

5. Surface Conditions & Preparation

5.1 Quotes are based on visible surface conditions at the time of inspection.

5.2 If previously hidden issues are discovered (including peeling paint, moisture damage, mould, timber rot or substrate failure), additional preparation work may be required.

5.3 Any additional preparation will be discussed with the client and may result in a variation to the quote.

 

6. Weather Conditions

6.1 Painting work is weather dependent, particularly for exterior work.

6.2 Work may be delayed due to:

  • Rain
  • High humidity
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Wind
  • Unsafe working conditions

6.3 Weather delays are not considered a breach of contract, and completion dates may be adjusted accordingly.

 

7. Variations & Additional Work

7.1 Variations include:

  • Customer requested changes
  • Additional preparation required
  • Colour changes after work begins
  • Unexpected surface issues

7.2 Variations will be priced and agreed before proceeding whenever possible.

7.3 Variations may affect project cost and completion time.

 

8. Hazardous Materials (Including Asbestos)

8.1 The client must inform Cote Decorating if the property contains asbestos or hazardous materials.

8.2 If asbestos or other hazardous materials are discovered, work will immediately stop until the issue is safely resolved.

8.3 The safe removal of asbestos is the responsibility of the property owner.

 

9. Completion & Defects

9.1 Upon completion, the client should inspect the work.

9.2 Any concerns must be reported within 7 days.

9.3 If workmanship issues are confirmed, Cote Decorating will rectify them within a reasonable timeframe.

 

10. Warranty

10.1 Cote Decorating warrants that all work will be carried out with reasonable care and professional workmanship.

10.2 This warranty does not cover defects caused by:

  • Structural movement
  • Moisture or leakPoor building conditions
  • Normal wear and tear
    Damage caused by third parties

10.3 Manufacturer warranties apply to paints and materials used.

 

11. Colour Variations

11.1 Paint colours may appear different due to:

  • Lighting conditions
  • Existing surfaces
  • Surrounding colours
  • Manufacturer batch differences

11.2 Minor colour variations or sheen differences are not considered defects.

 

12. Cancellation

12.1 If the client cancels the job after accepting the quote, Cote Decorating may charge reasonable costs incurred including:

  • Materials already purchased
  • Time spent preparing the job
  • Scheduling losses

12.2 If cancellation occurs after work has begun, the client must pay for:

  • Work completed to date
  • Materials ordered
  • Any reasonable demobilisation costs.

 

 

13. Limitation of Liability

13.1 To the maximum extent permitted by law, Cote Decorating is not liable for indirect or consequential loss.

13.2 Our total liability is limited to the value of the work performed.

 

14. Suspension of Work

Cote Decorating may suspend work if:

  • Payments are overdue
  • The site is unsafe
  • Hazardous materials are discovered
  • Access to the site is restricted

Work will resume once the issue is resolved.

 

15. Australian Consumer Law

15.1 Nothing in these terms excludes rights available under the Australian Consumer Law.

15.2 Customers are entitled to remedies where services fail to meet consumer guarantees.

 

16. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia.

 

 

17. Acceptance

Acceptance of a quote, payment of a deposit, or instruction to begin work confirms that the customer has read and agrees to these Terms and Conditions.

Additional Professional Contractor Clauses

Cote Decorating

18. Lead Paint (Pre-1970 Properties)

18.1 Properties built before approximately 1970 may contain lead-based paint.

18.2 Unless specifically included in the quote, lead paint removal or encapsulation is not included in the scope of works.

18.3 If suspected lead paint is discovered during preparation, work may be paused until the appropriate safety procedures are agreed upon.

18.4 Any additional safety requirements or specialised preparation required will be treated as a variation to the contract.

 

19. Mould and Mildew

19.1 Quotes do not include mould remediation unless specifically stated.

19.2 While Cote Decorating may clean minor mould during preparation, we do not guarantee mould will not return as mould growth is typically caused by moisture, ventilation or environmental conditions outside our control.

19.3 Where mould is present, the client may be advised to arrange professional mould treatment before painting.

 

 

20. Water Damage & Moisture Issues

20.1 Cote Decorating is not responsible for paint failure caused by:

  • Water leaks
  • Rising damp
  • Roof or plumbing issues
  • Structural defects
  • Moisture within substrates

20.2 Any underlying moisture problems must be repaired before painting begins.

20.3 If such issues are discovered after work has started, additional repairs or preparation may be required and will be treated as a variation.

 

21. Surface Failure & Existing Coatings

21.1 Painting over existing surfaces relies on the integrity of previous coatings and substrates.

21.2 Cote Decorating cannot guarantee the performance of paint applied over:

  • Previously painted surfaces with unknown coatings
  • Surfaces previously painted with oil-based or incompatible paints
  • Surfaces with existing peeling, cracking, chalking or flaking paint

21.3 If existing coatings fail after application, Cote Decorating is not responsible for failures caused by underlying coating defects.

 

 

22. Customer Supplied Paint or Materials

22.1 If the client chooses to supply paint or materials:

  • Cote Decorating cannot guarantee the quality, coverage or performance of those products.
  • Additional labour may be required if the materials supplied are unsuitable or require extra coats.

22.2 Cote Decorating provides no warranty on customer-supplied products.

 

23. Scaffolding, Ladders & Access Equipment

23.1 Quotes are based on reasonable ladder access unless otherwise stated.

23.2 If scaffolding, elevated work platforms, boom lifts or specialised access equipment are required but not originally quoted, this will be treated as a variation.

23.3 The cost of hiring such equipment will be added to the project cost.

 

24. Protection of Property

24.1 Cote Decorating will take reasonable care to protect surrounding surfaces including floors, fixtures and landscaping.

24.2 Due to the nature of painting work, minor paint splatter or dust may occasionally occur despite reasonable precautions.

24.3 Clients should remove or protect:

  • Vehicles
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Decorative items
  • Fragile belongings

from work areas.

 

25. Trades and Third-Party Damage

25.1 If other trades perform work after painting has been completed and damage painted surfaces, touch-ups or repairs will be charged separately.

25.2 Cote Decorating is not responsible for damage caused by:

  • Other contractors
  • Moving furniture
  • Building works after completion

 

26. Touch-Ups

26.1 Touch-ups requested after job completion due to:

  • Lighting differences
  • Minor roller marks
  • Previously unseen surface defects

may incur additional charges unless caused by clear workmanship issues.

 

27. Storage of Materials

27.1 Any leftover paint may be left on site for future touch-ups unless otherwise requested.

27.2 Cote Decorating is not responsible for storage or future condition of leftover materials once the job is completed.

 

 

28. Photography & Marketing

28.1 Cote Decorating may take before and after photos of completed work.

28.2 These images may be used for portfolio, website or marketing purposes, provided no personal or identifying information about the client is disclosed.

 

29. Entire Agreement

29.1 The written quote, together with these Terms and Conditions, represents the entire agreement between the parties.

29.2 Any changes must be agreed to in writing.

 

COTE DECORATING

ABN # 32 933 502 769