Commercial Painting – DIY or Hire a Professional?​

If you’re a business owner or property manager, maintaining your buildings is a priority. Painting the interior and exterior of those structures is something that needs to be done on a regular basis in order to keep the property looking clean and professional.

You may be looking to save some money on these painting projects by doing the painting yourself, especially if the building is a smaller one. However, you need to weigh all the pros and cons of this decision. You just may be biting off more than you can chew.

5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Painting Contractor

1. Time

You may think you can afford the time it takes to paint your commercial property, but you may not be factoring in all the other things on your plate. After all, isn’t your primary job to run the business?

Do you really want to spend days away from your real job to tackle painting the building? And how about your personal and family life? Is it worth it to forgo those other more profitable or enjoyable activities?

Oftentimes you simply can’t put your business or personal life on hold during the entire painting process. You’ll need to start and stop the painting project while you attend to your company, employees, customers, family or other priorities. That simply extends the duration of the overall paint project. The area that is being painted will be unusable for a prolonged period of time.

Professional painting contractors paint for a living—it’s what they do. They concentrate on getting the job done quickly and efficiently so your business can return to full operations with minimal delay.

2. Quality

You may have done painting in the past and think you’re pretty good at it. You may be better than some, but let’s face it—an amateur painter produces amateur results. Painting is more than just rolling paint on a wall. If you try to do it yourself, you’ll inevitably end up with uneven painting in certain areas, missed spots, drips and other elements that will make it clear to everyone you did it yourself.

Professional painting contractors are trained in the proper techniques to ensure the results are flawless. They have the right tools and materials to get the job done right. The right application technique is important to get the quality effects and coverage for the painting surface. Professionals know the right type of brush or roller to use or if a paint sprayer is preferable. Don’t forget other important factors like straight edges and neatly painted ceilings—these can be tricky.

Experienced, professional painters know how to achieve the highest quality finish. Proper preparation of surfaces is key to getting the best possible and most durable results.

The professionals know what materials and methods to use for all types of surfaces.

Some surfaces will need to be scraped and sanded to remove loose paint and built up debris and dirt. Professionals know what exterior surfaces can be power washed and which can’t due to their structure. Proper priming before painting will ensure that the paint will properly adhere to the surface and last longer.

Choosing the right paint and primers for the job is important, too. Professional painting contractors are familiar with all types of paint products and what works best for your space and purpose.

The paint job you’ll get from a professional will not only look better initially, it will last longer. Your commercial property will look great for years to come because of the expertise used in the process.

Most reputable painting contractors offer warranties on their results. This gives you peace of mind knowing that the job they do will look great longer or they’ll remedy it.

3. Cost

You may think that painting your commercial building yourself will save you money; however, there are costs you probably aren’t aware of.

• Materials and Tools

  You likely know you’ll need paint, paint brushes and rollers to paint your interior or exterior. But have you considered ladders, buckets, drop cloths, tarps, paint sprayers, tape, caulk, cleaning solutions and other necessities to do the job right? And what about safety equipment for the painters? Protective gear like safety masks and glasses, coveralls, gloves and other apparel are advisable.
  
  Professionals already have these items, but you’ll have to buy them if you DIY. And when you’re done painting, what do you do with these tools and materials? You’ll have to find a place to store them if you plan to use them again in the future.

• Amount of Paint

  Professionals are experts at gauging the amount of paint they’ll need for a project. They only buy what they need to get the job done. Conversely, you may buy more than you need and get stuck with the unused portion. Paint is expensive, so buying only what you need will save money.

• Accurate Estimate

  Most professional painting contractors will provide you an estimate for the entire paint project. You’ll know what it will cost from the start—no guessing or overruns. You’ll be able to budget for the project accurately.

4. Disruption and Cleanup

If you’ve tackled a paint project before, you know how disrupting it can be. The area where painting is being done needs to be protected from spills, splatters and breakage. It’s a good idea to either remove furnishings and other items from the area, or to cover them with protective tarps.

Unless you plan to close down your business during the painting project, you’ll need to consider how it affects your ongoing business operations. The painting area should be cordoned off during the project and noise kept to a minimum. Professionals know that this is important in commercial painting and will take measures to minimize disruption.

Sometimes cleanup is more work than the actual paint job. Restoring the area quickly to its pre-existing condition is important to business functionality. Because the professional painting contractors focus on getting the job done accurately and in a timely manner, your business can resume to normal operations quicker.

5. Safety and Liability

Professional painting contractors know the proper procedures to ensure safety on the job. They use protective gear to avoid dangerous exposure to chemicals and other debris. They are trained in the safe use and operation of equipment to avoid injury or malfunction.

No matter how cautious you are, accidents happen. When you’re climbing up and down ladders, using equipment and tools you’re unfamiliar with or doing physical labor you’re not used to, you can suffer injuries. If you are injured during the DIY painting project, it not only affects your health and well-being, it can impact your company’s bottom line. Who runs the company if you’re incapacitated?

Professional painting contractors will have the proper insurance to protect you and your property from liability. If they are injured on the job, you are not responsible. If your property is somehow damaged during the project, their insurance will cover reparations.

Choosing the Right Commercial Painting Contractor

If you’re convinced that hiring a professional is the way to go for your commercial painting project, you need to make sure the company is the best. In order to do this, you should research those contractors in your area. Some specifics you should consider:

• How long have they been in business? New businesses can certainly be credible, but you’re taking a chance that they aren’t.
• Are they trustworthy? Check out any online reviews and testimonials.
• Do they provide free estimates or consultations?
• Are they active in the community? This ensures they care about the area.
• Do they have any special accreditations or awards that certifies their quality and service?

Choose The Painting Pros for Your Commercial Painting Project

The Painting Pros has been in business since 1978, serving the Silicon Valley. We offer residential and commercial interior and exterior painting services. You can count on us to do the job right and on time. We place a high priority on outstanding quality and customer service.

Cleve Dayton founded the company and continues to run it to this day. He is an active member of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; he was President of the Silicon Valley PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America) from 2016-2017 and has served on the Painting and Decorating Contractors of California Board of Directors.

The Painting Pros is highly rated and recommended by customers on Angie's List, Google, Yelp, HomeAdvisor, Yahoo and more. We are an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.

Our company has earned the prestigious Diamond Certified Award. This achievement involves a rigorous vetting process whereby a random sample of typically 400 past customers is collected from all customer files of the applicant’s company. Only companies receiving a score of 90% or above in quality and expertise qualify for the award.

We also care about the environment and employ safe and environmentally responsible practices and procedures. We were the first painting company in Silicon Valley to be “certified green” by Green America. We are recognized as a green business by both the Green Business Engagement National Network and the Santa Clara County Green Business Program.

When it’s time to paint your commercial property, don’t DIY. Hire the pros at The Painting Pros for the best results.