5 Tips for Surface Preparation for Commercial Buildings
A paint job is only as good as the preparation that precedes it. Indeed, surface preparation is at least half the battle of achieving beautiful and durable paint outcomes. Of course, proper preparation requires significant time and effort, and plenty of obstacles can get in the way, especially when it comes to commercial buildings. Still, this prep work cannot be overlooked, so commercial painters must be deliberate in their approach to the project. Here are five surface preparation tips for painting commercial buildings.
How to Prepare a Commercial Building for Painting
1. Inspect Surfaces Closely
Investing in a new coat of paint for your commercial building is the perfect opportunity to take stock of the condition of your surfaces. While paint protects surfaces from further harm, painting over damaged surfaces only prolongs your structural problems and may even exacerbate them. This is why inspection is an essential aspect of surface preparation. Check for fracturing, mold growth, rot, pest damage, and all other forms of deterioration, and then make the necessary repairs before moving on. These measures will help ensure that your commercial building stays in good shape and that the ensuing paint job goes on evenly and adheres strongly.
2. Schedule Strategically
Scheduling is an important part of both residential and commercial painting projects to minimize interference and ensure that all painted surfaces properly cure and dry. Of course, commercial buildings tend to deal with more activity and foot traffic, making scheduling more important and more challenging. Concrete floor prep for epoxy paint, for instance, often renders all or a significant portion of a floor off-limits for several days, which can slow down operations. When it’s time to paint any part of your commercial building, try to schedule these tasks in such a way that won’t greatly interfere with your workflow. If your facility will undergo a scheduled shutdown, for instance, this may be the perfect opportunity to invest in commercial painting.
3. Consider Weather Conditions
It’s well understood that the weather can negatively affect an exterior paint job, but note that bad weather can get in the way of exterior surface preparation as well. Tasks like paint removal, sanding, pressure washing, and more, cannot be effectively performed when it’s windy, rainy, too hot or too cold, and so on. So, just as Raleigh painting professionals carefully check the forecast before painting, they do the same for preparing those surfaces.
4. Ensure Proper Airflow
As you prepare surfaces for painting, you should also prepare the area itself for efficiency and safety. More specifically, proper ventilation is important for interior building painting. During the preparation process, make sure the room has adequate airflow to minimize odors and disperse potentially toxic fumes. Inspect HVAC systems, insulation, doors, windows, etc., prior to painting.
5. Prime As Needed
Applying primer to a surface is often the final step in surface preparation. That said, priming isn’t always necessary (though it’s never a bad idea). Surfaces that have been previously painted and aren’t showing signs of deterioration (i.e. peeling or chipping paint) can typically be painted over directly. On the other hand, new surfaces and surfaces that have been stripped of old paint, sanded down, etc. usually require an initial coat of primer to create a buffer between the surface and the ensuing paint. Doing so protects the surface from harm, aids in paint adhesion, and helps achieve a smoother, more even coat.
Routine commercial painting is an essential part of commercial building maintenance and enhancement. But without proper surface preparation, said paint job won’t look or perform its best. This is why it’s important to team up with reliable commercial painters like Anderson Painting contractors when it’s time to give your building a facelift.
To learn more about Anderson Painting and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
