What Does Dulux Accredited Mean for a Body Corporate, and What Does the Warranty Cover?

When a body corporate or owners corporation collects quotes for a repaint, "Dulux Accredited" appears on a lot of them. It sounds reassuring — but what does it actually mean for your building, and what does the warranty behind it really cover?

In short: Dulux Accredited means the painting contractor has been assessed and recognised by Dulux, and can access Dulux's technical support, specifications and warranty programs. The warranty that protects your building, however, depends on which warranty you're given, the coating system used, and whether the work follows the manufacturer's specification and the relevant Australian Standards. This guide explains how to read the difference.

What Does Dulux Accredited Mean?

Dulux runs an accreditation program for painting contractors. Accredited painters are assessed by Dulux before they're recognised — the assessment typically considers factors such as trade licensing, insurance, experience and the quality of past work. Dulux's current criteria are published on the Dulux website, which also has a Find a Painter tool you can use to confirm a contractor's accreditation.

For a body corporate, accreditation gives you three practical benefits:

• A vetted contractor: An independent manufacturer has checked the contractor before you have to.
• Access to Dulux technical support: Accredited contractors can draw on Dulux's technical team for system selection and specifications on complex substrates — render, concrete, metal and previously coated surfaces.
• Access to warranty programs: Some Dulux warranties and specified-system programs are only available when the work is carried out by an accredited applicator.

What accreditation does not do on its own is guarantee every project. The warranty you actually receive needs to be confirmed in writing for your specific job.

Understanding Paint Warranties: Three Different Things

"The Dulux warranty" is often used loosely in quotes. In practice, a commercial or strata repaint can be covered by up to three different warranties:

1. Product warranty (from the manufacturer)

Covers the paint product itself — for example, a Dulux Weathershield or Acratex product — against defects in the product, provided it was applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. Product warranties generally don't cover poor preparation or application.

2. System or project warranty (from the manufacturer)

On larger commercial and strata projects, a manufacturer may issue a project-specific warranty for a full specified coating system — for example, an Acratex render and membrane system on a rendered facade. These usually require a written specification, an accredited applicator, and sometimes manufacturer inspections at key stages. This is typically the strongest form of cover for a body corporate.

3. Workmanship warranty (from the contractor)

Covers the contractor's application — preparation, film build, coverage and finish. This is issued by the painting contractor, not by Dulux, so its strength depends on the contractor standing behind it. Ask for it in writing and check the duration and conditions.

What Does a Paint Warranty Typically Cover?

Terms vary by product and project, so always read the actual warranty document. As a general guide, paint warranties typically cover:

• Flaking, peeling or blistering caused by product or application failure
• Loss of adhesion to a properly prepared substrate
• Premature coating breakdown beyond what is expected for the system

What Paint Warranties Usually Exclude

This is where body corporates are most often caught out. Common exclusions include:

• Substrate failure: Concrete cancer, cracked or drummy render, old timber, rising damp and structural movement are not coating failures. If they cause the paint to fail, the paint warranty usually won't respond. This is why defects should be repaired before repainting — see our guide on why you can't paint over concrete cancer.
• Lack of maintenance: Many warranties require periodic washing or inspection. A building that's never cleaned may not be covered.
• Mechanical or accidental damage: Impact, vandalism and damage from other trades.
• Normal weathering: Gradual colour change and chalking within expected limits.
• Work not to specification: Shortcuts on preparation, fewer coats or substituted products.

Why This Matters for Body Corporates

Each state's strata legislation — the Owners Corporations Act 2006 in Victoria, the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 in NSW and the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 in Queensland — places a duty on the owners corporation to maintain and repair common property. A clearly documented, warranted repaint helps your committee:

• Show it has met its maintenance obligations
• Plan the next repaint accurately through the maintenance fund (VIC), capital works fund (NSW) or sinking fund (QLD)
• Make a claim if the coating fails early
• Provide warranty records to future owners, managers and committees

Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Painting Contract

• Are you Dulux Accredited?
• Which coating system is specified for each surface — render, concrete, metal, timber?
• Which warranties will we receive — product, system or workmanship — and who issues each one?
• How long is each warranty, and what are the conditions and exclusions?
• What maintenance (such as washing) is required to keep the warranty valid?
• Will defects like concrete cancer or cracked render be repaired before painting?
• What documentation will we receive at completion?

Avello Group: Dulux Accredited Commercial and Strata Painters

Avello Group is a Dulux Accredited painting contractor delivering commercial exterior painting, strata repainting and remedial repairs across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. We specify coating systems to suit each substrate and exposure, repair defects before recoating, and provide a full completion pack — including warranty documentation, product data sheets and colour schedules — for your building records. You can read our full warranty statement here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dulux Accredited mean?
Dulux Accredited means a painting contractor has been assessed and recognised by Dulux, giving them access to Dulux technical support, specifications and warranty programs. You can confirm a contractor's accreditation using the Find a Painter tool on the Dulux website.

Does using a Dulux Accredited painter mean the job has a Dulux warranty?
Not automatically. The warranty depends on the product or system used, the project specification and the warranty actually issued. Always ask which warranties apply — product, system or workmanship — and get them in writing.

What does a Dulux paint warranty cover?
Paint warranties generally cover coating defects such as flaking, peeling or loss of adhesion on a properly prepared surface, when the product is applied to the manufacturer's specification. Exact cover depends on the product and warranty terms.

What can void a paint warranty?
Common reasons include substrate failure such as concrete cancer or cracked render, lack of required maintenance, mechanical damage, and work not carried out to the manufacturer's specification.

Which Australian Standard applies to painting buildings?
AS/NZS 2311:2017 Guide to the painting of buildings is the main standard, covering surface preparation, coating selection, application and inspection. AS/NZS 2312.1 applies to protective coatings on structural steel.

Planning your building's next repaint?

Get in touch with Avello Group for a strata-ready scope, specification and warranty at:

P 1300 283 556
E info@avello.com.au