Did you know that according to Grand View Research, the US paints and coatings market is expected to reach the value of $202.7 billion by 2027? It’s a big industry in the US that many business owners work with.
If you’re thinking of starting a commercial painting project, to make your commercial business more attractive to customers, then you probably have many questions about your painting. project. You might be wondering:
“How do I find the right contractor?”
“How much will I have to save up to get my commercial space painted?”
“Are there any issues I might have to deal with when having my space painted?”
“How will painting my commercial space affect my employees and customers?”
There’s a lot to consider when dealing with a commercial painting project in your business space. You might be feeling overwhelmed or confused, thinking about all this. That’s why we’ve put together this guide.
By helping you understand the ins-and-outs of hiring the right contractor and the process of painting your commercial space, you can focus on what matters: running your business and making money. Read on to learn more.
1. Find the Right Contractor
The first thing you need to do, when planning your commercial painting project, is find the right contractor. To find the right contractor, you need to know what services the contractor offers, and what features they have.
Commercial Painting Projects
When looking for the right contractor, you must know that they can help you with the requirements of your project. So, sit down, and think about what will be involved in the project itself. Ask yourself questions such as:
“How long do I envision the project lasting?”
“How many buildings will be painted? What parts of the buildings will be painted?”
“When does it make the most sense for the painting project to happen?”
In addition to these more general questions about the project, you need to think about specific services you might need. In addition to painting, your project might require other services such as restoration work, stripping and sanding, caulking, and pressure washing.
There’s also prep work involved, such as siding and wood replacements. Concrete repairs might also be necessary, and it’s smart to get pressure washing done regularly once the painting has been done so that you don’t have issues with mildew and dirt.
When choosing the right commercial painter for you, ensure that they offer all these services. If they don’t, then you should go with a different commercial painter.
The Right Contractor’s Features
In addition to offering the right services, a good contractor will also have the right features. You need to hire a contractor who has extensive experience in commercial painting projects, so when looking to hire, ask them how many years they’ve been doing this work for.
The contractors representative should be experienced and understand and not only understand the technical requirements of the work but should be able to prepare a proposal and contract that is fair and minimizes misunderstandings and disputes.
Additionally, the right contractor needs to be bonded and licensed. If they are, then you can be sure that they’ll complete high-quality work in the right amount of time without overcharging you.
They’ll also know exactly what steps are needed to complete the project and will understand what your needs are when it comes to additional services.
Why Pro-Spec?
Pro-Spec meets both of the requirements covered above. They offer all the different services that you may need during your next commercial painting project, and they also have all the right features, with bonded and licensed professionals doing all the work.
Additionally, Pro-Spec has been in the business for 40 years, so they really are the experts to go to. They’re fully insured, which means that you can trust that nothing will go wrong with your project—though, if it does, you’re covered.
We specify the PDCA industry standards in all of our contracts which assures the work meets the professional quality standards of the industry while and helps avoid disputes and misunderstandings.
Visit Pro-Spec’s about page to learn more about why they’re the right choice for your next commercial painting project.
2. Budget and Scheduling
Once you’ve chosen the right contractor for your next commercial painting project, you need to plan how you’re going to carry out the project, both in terms of budget and scheduling. So first, sit down with your team or business partner, and take a look at what you can afford.
To budget properly, take a look at how much you usually spend on your business. Compare this to how much money you usually make, and what your projections will be of business doing better because of your commercial painting project.
Given how many ups and downs there have been in 2020 because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, you’ll want to calculate for potential ups and downs when thinking about how much you expect to make.
Once you’ve done all this, keeping in mind your yearly costs and earnings as well as those that are from month to month, you should have an idea of how much you can afford to pay for your commercial painting project.
In terms of budgeting for the specific project, you’ll want to consider services offered as well as costs of the job being done after hours, and whether there are any additional costs such as hourly labor.
When contacting potential contractors, put together a spreadsheet of all the different costs you might incur, including unexpected ones. Once you’ve spoken to several companies, you’ll have an idea of how much costs are likely to add up to by averaging these numbers.
Impact on Schedule
Expected costs will have an impact on the schedule of the project. For example, if you don’t want to lose customers because of the noisy construction sound, then you’ll have to pay a contractor for after-hours work, which often costs a little more.
Keep in mind, too, that getting a painting project done during the winter months is often cheaper than doing it during the summer. Many companies offer discounts during this time of year, and you’re less likely to scare off customers, who are more likely to come in in summer.
However, if you live in a colder area, this might not be possible. For paint to set properly, painting jobs must be done within certain temperature limits.
A good contractor will be able to put together a schedule for you, keeping in mind yearly weather conditions, when you plan to have the construction finished, and your budget needs.
3. Choose the Right Color and Finish
Once you’ve chosen the right contractor and determined your budgeting and scheduling for the painting project will be, it’s time to think about the right color and finish for when the project itself is being completed.
To choose the best color for your building, you need to think about two things: branding and your customer needs.
When it comes to your commercial painting project, the paint you choose has to match your brand. In the same way that you might design your storefront sign with specific colors or fonts, or print off your logo on store gear, the color of your painting has to go with that brand.
Your contractor should provide you with color cards that include color matched schemes to make your color selection and theme professional and appealing.
You also need to think about your customers. Are there any garish colors that will completely turn them off? Are there others that will make your building bland, making them far more interested in other stores nearby?
If you aren’t sure, do some market research. Drive around, seeing what colors other stores in your industry are using. Survey your customers and find out what colors are most appealing to those in the niche you market to the most.
The fact is, if you choose the wrong color, your business could be negatively impacted financially. So, if you still don’t know what color to go with, speak with a color consultant, who can help you understand current trends, color psychology, and paint development.
4. Inform Employees and Customers
When completing your commercial painting project, you also need to inform your employees and customers. When it comes to employees, if any of them have any allergies related to the painting project, informing them in advance can help you avoid HR issues.
As for customers, informing them about the painting project with signs and in your email newsletter will make them feel that you care about them while the project is going on.
Use the right signage as well inside the commercial building in case the usual ways people walk around are affected.
If you don’t do this, then customers may get confused and frustrated during their shopping experience—which is the last thing you want when you’re already spending so much money on this big project.
5. Adhere to High Standards of Safety
In addition to informing your employees and customers about the painting project itself, you need to ensure that you adhere to high standards of safety so that you aren’t endangering them—or your business, with a lawsuit.
When selecting the paint, use a non-toxic paint that won’t cause any health problems for customers or employees, and, if possible, one that won’t be irritating so that it interrupts a pleasant shopping experience.
During the painting project itself, check with the contractor that they’re meeting all safety requirements legally, such as where they are placing construction items and how they are securing any workers who are using ladders or high up above the ground.
6. Conduct a Final Walkthrough for Your Commercial Painting Project
Before you start the project, you’ll want to do a final walkthrough with the contractor you choose to ensure that you know exactly what work will be happening, where. Otherwise, you may end up with unexpected costs later in the project.
Or, worse, the project may take longer than expected, which may frustrate customers who expect your store to be open or back to normal before you’re ready to let them back in.
Additionally, don’t forget about the importance of cleaning up the space and prepping it before painting begins. If there’s residue or dust on the walls, and you paint them without cleaning it off, you’ll end up with a shoddy paint job, or paint that peels off easily.
If you aren’t sure whether you’ve cleaned properly, have your contractor take a look before painting gets started, so even the smallest of nooks and crannies get cleaned.
7. Use Your Online Presence
While your building is getting a makeover, use your online presence to show your customers all about the process. This will get them excited about the way your store will end up looking, and it will also help them be more patient if they have to deal with inconveniences while shopping.
Additionally, it will give new customers an opportunity to really get to know your business when there’s not much to see during the painting project.
They’ll be able to read reviews and learn about your products so that it’s worth going in even if your space is slightly busy with construction.
Need More Tips?
Do you need more tips on how to prepare for your next commercial painting project? Perhaps you have additional questions about how to budget or schedule your project, or you’re looking for the right contractor to work with.
If you’re looking for the right contractor, then you should consider working with Pro-Spec. We know the ins-and-outs of painting projects, and we are the highest quality interior and exterior commercial and industrial painting contractor in Delaware Valley.
To request an estimate for Commercial painting projects with us, visit our request estimate page here.