Commercial buildings need paint and other coatings to protect them from the weather. Harsh UV rays, rain, snow, and ice can all damage exterior surfaces allowing pests, insects, mold and rot to develop. Repainting commercial building exteriors on a regular basis protects them from the elements, improves their appearance, and increases their value.
How Often Should You Paint a Commercial Building?
High-quality paint has a long life and is weather-resistant but even the best paint requires maintenance and touch-ups. Cleaning exterior surfaces regularly helps prevent premature paint degradation, but if your property is blistering, cracking, bubbling, or fading, it may be time to repaint.
How often your commercial property needs to be repainted depends on several factors. A high-quality exterior paint that is professionally applied will usually last between five to seven years. Harsh UV rays, rain, snow, humidity, and other environmental factors all impact how often exteriors need to be repainted.
Most commercial interiors should be repainted every two to three years. Properties with heavier use may need to be repainted more frequently to maintain a fresh appearance. Interiors in busy commercial properties need frequent touch-ups or repainting. Sunlight, humidity, and the amount of use a space receives all take a toll on interior paint jobs. Hallways, elevator lobbies, and busy reception areas often need frequent touch-ups.
Considerations for Painting Your Commercial Property
When it’s time to repaint your commercial property, you’ll need to plan appropriately for the best outcome. Below are some tips on getting the most out of your commercial paint job with minimal hassle.
1. Figure Out the Scope of Project
Which parts of your building need to be repainted? Is it a job your onsite maintenance team can handle or do you need to hire a professional painting crew? When is the best time to do the work? If the exterior of your building needs repainting, business operations may be minimally impacted. However, when interior spaces are being painted, scheduling around tenants, employees, and customers becomes an important consideration.
2. Choose the Right Colors
The colors you choose should complement your brand. Color has been demonstrated to impact employee mood and productivity as well as customer purchasing decisions. Each color has its own reported benefits, so select the best colors for your type of business. For example, restaurants often use red because it stimulates appetite, while medical buildings generally use neutral palettes with soft natural tones for a more calming effect.
3.Choose the Right Products
Exposure to paint fumes can cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness for certain people. Low- or no-VOC paints can minimize these reactions. Health care facilities, daycares, restaurants, and other commercial properties can choose antimicrobial products that resist bacterial growth and are easy to clean. There are a wide variety of industrial coatings designed for use in commercial buildings that offer numerous benefits.
4. Inform Employees and Customers
Employees, customers, and tenants all need advance notice of painting projects. If parts of your facility will be closed to customers, notify them well in advance. Tenants in an office building or apartment complex also need sufficient time to prepare, especially those that are sensitive to paint fumes and who may need to vacate areas being painted.
5. Prepare the Exterior
Prepping the exterior surface of your commercial building will help the paint go on smoothly and result in a better finish. Exteriors should be pressure washed to remove dirt and mildew. Scraping off old paint, caulking, and making any necessary repairs before painting begins will speed up the project and result in a longer-lasting finish.
6. Prepare the Interior
Small holes and cracks in walls should be repaired before paint is applied. Paint adheres better to clean surfaces so it’s important to remove dust, dirt, and stains that build up on walls over time. Sweep, vacuum, or mop the floors to ensure that dust is minimal and doesn’t end up in the new paint job.
7. Protect Your Belongings
The rooms to be painted should be cleared as much as possible. Move cabinets, desks, and other furniture away from walls to the center of the room. Remove photos, mirrors, wall decorations, curtains, and blinds. Fragile items and computer equipment should be removed from the space altogether, if possible, to prevent accidental damage.
8. Choose the Right Contractor
Painting a commercial building can present numerous challenges. Commercial properties often have a variety of surfaces including wood, concrete, metal, and plastics. Choosing the right product for each surface type is important.
Safety concerns and equipment usage are also important considerations. Painting large commercial properties involves using complex equipment including power washers, sandblasters, paint sprayers, scaffolding, and aerial lifts, which require additional training and expertise to operate safely. Hiring an experienced commercial paint contractor who is licensed, insured, and follows OSHA regulations is the best way to ensure your project is completed safely and on time.
When It’s Time to Repaint, Contact the Experts
When it’s time to update your property’s paint job, call Adam Roe Painting at (208) 306-4240 to discuss your needs. Our team of skilled professionals has been painting commercial and industrial facilities in Boise and surrounding areas since 1985.
Adam Roe Painting provides the highest quality results and best customer service in the industry. We offer custom color matching, a residential exterior warranty of 5 years, and a one-year warranty on commercial and industrial projects. We look forward to working with you.
