6 Major Challenges Of Commercial Exterior Painting

Commercial exterior painting is an essential part of making most places of business look good. If you're going to hire a commercial exterior painter for a project, you should understand the challenges that'll come with it. These six issues appear in many projects.

Debranding

If you're taking over an existing building from another company, there's a good chance you're going to have to get its branding off of the structure's exterior. The key to thorough debranding is to use high-quality primers and paints. A couple of thick layers of good paint will ensure that little leftovers of the previous branding, such as the outline of the previous occupant's signs where the paint weathered differently, won't be visible.

Disruption

Generally, commercial exterior painting projects are more focused on the public-facing parts of a building. However, these areas also tend to be the ones with the most traffic. Consequently, the painting work can be highly disruptive. If you're lucky, you can start the work on Friday night and have it over by Monday morning. Many 24/7 businesses, though, need to set up safety zones to reduce liability risks and prevent customers from coming too close to the work area.

Surface Preparation

Particularly with older buildings that have suffered some rough weathering, surface preparation is important. For example, pollution from nearby streets can soak into the old paint. A commercial exterior painter will need to scrub, wash, and treat the surfaces to get as much grime and peeling paint off as possible. Companies often use pressure washers or sandblasters, but some work may be more hands-on. Also, the crew will need to remove and dispose of any debris.

Access

Some commercial buildings don't have highly accessible exteriors. This is more common with multistory structures, irregularly shaped ones, and ones with courtyards. Depending on the situation, a commercial exterior painter may need to bring additional equipment to access certain areas.

Heights

Unsurprisingly, tall buildings present numerous safety issues. Even one-story buildings like big-box stores often have very high roofs, though. A commercial exterior painter will once more need additional equipment to operate safely at these heights.

Permits and Regulations

Painting the exterior of a structure is a highly visible activity. You should expect the local government to take an interest. Especially in historical preservation areas, there may be limitations on the use of particular colors. Reach out to compliance officials before you begin so you can verify what the rules are.

Speak to a commercial exterior painting service to learn more.