Pacific Hills Christian School

Education painting

Project Value: Varies annually
Duration: Completed during school holiday periods
Status: Ongoing partnership (6+ years)

Dukes has partnered with Pacific Hills Christian School for more than six years to complete annual repainting and maintenance projects across the entire campus. Each program is delivered during the school holidays to protect learning time and maintain a consistent standard of presentation across the school’s buildings.

Project Overview

The annual repainting and maintenance program encompasses a wide range of works across the school’s buildings and facilities, and is developed in consultation with the school’s Facilities Manager. Each year, we undertake internal and external painting, metal restoration, and maintenance coatings for classrooms, offices and shared spaces as part of a rolling schedule.

Our focus is on ensuring the campus is in excellent condition at all times through consistent, high-quality work. Individual projects are planned around the school’s maintenance priorities, always using low-VOC products that meet environmental standards and support healthy air quality. By repeating this process year after year, the school preserves its assets and minimises future repair costs.

Access Methods

Various access methods are used for this client, including mobile scaffold, ladders and an elevated work platform (EWP) to work safely on façades and other high areas. Work zones are clearly signed and isolated to maintain compliance while on school grounds. A sequenced workflow allows the team to move efficiently across multiple campus areas within the limited holiday period.

Challenges

Painting projects in schools often come with additional considerations, particularly when works take place across large and constantly populated (to some extent) sites. For Pacific Hills Christian School, these included:

  • Tight timeframes – each stage is planned and delivered within the school holidays, which often requires extended work hours.
  • Multiple work locations – coordinating teams across several areas of the campus relies on efficiency and clear logistics.
  • Weather dependency – external coatings are scheduled with flexibility to accommodate any climate conditions.

“Our long partnership with Pacific Hills Christian School comes down to trust. They know we’ll deliver quality work every year without disrupting the campus — just consistent results and a smooth process from start to finish.”

Project Sentiment

The school’s Facilities Manager has continued to express confidence in our work, noting the reliability and consistency delivered each time. Our team’s attention to detail, strong workmanship, and proactive communication have built a trusted working relationship that ensures everything runs smoothly. This ongoing collaboration reflects mutual respect and a shared commitment to maintaining the school’s presentation and standards.

Communication

Strong communication is the foundation of every successful project as it keeps all parties aligned, informed and allows challenges to be managed early. For this client, we conduct pre-start and progress meetings with the Facilities Manager before and during each project. The planning process is highly collaborative in order to align budgets, priorities and surface condition assessments. We also provide clear and transparent reporting and sign-offs at each stage to maintain accountability.

Coating Systems & Materials

Dukes used low-VOC Dulux coating systems throughout the project to maintain a safe and healthy environment for students and staff.

Metal balustrades were treated with a two-part epoxy and polyurethane system to provide long-term corrosion resistance.

Walls and trims were finished with Dulux Wash & Wear Low Sheen and Enamel coatings, chosen for their durability and easy maintenance.

All products were applied in line with AS/NZS 2311:2017 – Guide to the Painting of Buildings, ensuring quality, compliance and longevity.

Outcome

Our long-term collaboration has delivered clear results across the Pacific Hills campus. Each project is completed on time, within budget and without incident, with a high-quality finish that improves both appearance and longevity. Through consistent care and the right materials, the school has reduced future maintenance requirements while keeping its facilities in excellent condition.

Project Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you minimise disruption during school painting projects?

Where possible, education painting works are scheduled during school holiday periods to avoid interrupting teaching and learning. This allows major work to be completed while the site is quieter, ensuring everything is ready when staff and students return.

How do you manage safety on school sites?

Strict site controls are in place from start to finish. This includes exclusion zones, clear signage, and compliance with all relevant regulations. For projects involving hazardous materials such as lead paint, additional containment measures are used to protect everyone on site.

How is a long-term painting program managed for a school of this size?

The program is planned in consultation with the school’s Facilities Manager each year. Work is scheduled in stages during the holiday period, allowing us to move efficiently across different buildings while keeping disruption to a minimum. This structured approach keeps the campus consistently maintained without the need for large, one-off projects.

What coatings were used to make the finishes more durable?

We used low-VOC Dulux coatings throughout to support a healthy environment for students and staff. Metal balustrades were treated with a two-part epoxy and polyurethane system for corrosion resistance, while walls and trims were finished with Dulux Wash & Wear and Enamel for durability and easy upkeep.

How does this approach help reduce maintenance costs over time?

Because the painting and maintenance program is repeated every year, the school can stay ahead of wear and tear rather than letting it build up. This consistency protects the campus assets, extends the life of surfaces and significantly reduces the need for expensive repairs later on.