One of the most cost-effective ways to give an office a new look is to apply a fresh coat of paint. Most offices and facilities require the usual prep, cleaning, priming, and painting. Medical offices need special attention due to the services provided in them.
A commercial healthcare facility painter can’t use the same approach as if they are painting a house or other type of business office. Medical facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, or other medical treatment facilities require expertise in the choice of paint used. The health of patients seeking medical attention in these facilities must always be the main concern.
Being awarded the opportunity to paint a medical office is a great business endeavor. However, the details involved to complete a successful healthcare paint project should not be taken lightly.
Proper ventilation, usage of the facility, and air quality are a few of the concerns that must be addressed before the painting project begins. Thorough communication with the office or facility manager and medical staff is important as well. They should be kept well informed of the products used, the amount of time to complete the project, and any obstacles that may arise during the project.
Special Care Required for Medical Facilities
Compared to other commercial paint projects, painting a medical facility requires special attention and expertise. Hospitals and medical buildings of all types must keep in mind the types of daily activities that are going to be taking place during the project.
Types of Medical Facilities
Medical facilities consist of large hospitals in major cities or a small clinic on the outskirts of town. Either way, experience in painting these buildings is important for all that use and work in them.
- Hospitals
- Assisted Living Care Facilities
- Medical Offices
- Dental Offices
- Nursing Homes
- Rehabilitation Facilities
- Doctor Offices
- Diagnostic Facilities
- Clinics
- Pharmacies
- Residential Health Facilities
- Urgent Care Centers
A hospital will schedule surgeries, operate laboratory facilities and other ongoing procedures. Trying to fit painting the interior or exterior of the building into this schedule can be a very complex undertaking.
Some considerations that must be factored into the project include:
Air Quality
Paint odor and fumes must be considered when painting any medical facilities. You don’t want the patients or the medical staff to get ill. Experienced and professional painters will know how to deal with this issue while painting a medical facility.
Ventilation in a medical facility is important, especially when other offices and patients’ rooms often share the same ventilation system. If paint fumes leak into another room, you are endangering the air quality of other patients. Blocking vents and wall gaps will help with this issue. Increasing the airflow can also aid good ventilation for everyone.
A great way to minimize the effects of paint on staff and patients is to use low-VOC or no-VOC paints. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds that are emitted by products such as paint, cleaners, sealants, and adhesives. VOCs are photo-chemical and react when they are exposed to the air. Exposure to VOCs, whether short-term or long-term, can have adverse health effects, for example:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Difficulty breathing
- Eyes, nose, and throat irritation
- Worsening of respiratory-related issues
- Cancer
Paints that are low-VOC or no-VOC are the better choice for painting medical facilities.
Flexible Scheduling
Providing medical attention to individuals is critical and time-sensitive. Hospitals and many urgent care facilities are open 24 hours a day and will require a very flexible painting crew to get the job done.
Minimizing the risk of paint fumes harming patients is best when painting can be done in the evenings, on weekends or during holidays. If the practice is only open certain days of the week, working on off days is recommended.
It may also be necessary to paint certain rooms or areas one at a time. This may take longer and require more effort, but it’s important to keep operations flowing. Minimal disruption and keeping the work area clean are signs of good service to your healthcare customers.
Painting Flooring and Special Wall Coatings
Medical facilities also require special coatings on their floors. Non-slip and epoxy coatings are crucial to combat the daily wear and tear these facilities experience. The types of flooring, non-slip safety, and epoxy must be considered as well. Emergency rooms, operating rooms, and surgical suites must be sterile to safeguard the health of patients.
Special wall coatings are required in sterile rooms – this includes semi or high gloss paints and usually epoxy or polyurethane because these coatings will last through vigorous scrubbing.
Paint Selection
Paint manufacturers have developed new paint products that can kill certain types of drug-resistant bacteria such as E. coli, VRE, and Staph infections. This advancement in paint technology has also garnered products that inhibit the growth of common germs and stop them from spreading in healthcare facilities.
Medical facility commercial painters must be very knowledgeable about the paints they use in these types of spaces. Choosing paints that are designed to be unharmful and eliminate risk to patients and staff should be a top priority. Paints chosen for medical facilities should be durable and easy to clean. You can find them in the following options:
- No-VOC
- Low-VOC
- Antimicrobial
- Microbicidal
Low or no-VOC paints do not give off fumes and odors that may be harmful to patients and the environment. Such products like EcoSpec from top paint brand Benjamin Moore are widely used in medical offices.
Antimicrobial paints are additives added to paint during the manufacturing process to make it resistant to microbes. Microbicidal paints are made to kill infection-causing bacteria. 4 in 100 patients contract at least one healthcare-associated infection during their hospital stay. Opting for microbicidal paint is one of the best decisions a painter could make.
Sherwin Williams created the product Paint Shield, another microbicidal paint. It is certified by the EPA and continuously kills bacteria after two hours of exposure.
Choosing the Right Colors
Researchers are convinced that colors affect the human body and health. Colors can express emotions ranging from calmness and happiness to opposite feelings of fear and sadness. When choosing colors for a medical office or facility, careful research and planning are key.
How do you choose the right color for your medical office? All medical providers want their patients to be healthy. Choosing colors that promote cheerfulness can work wonders in a healthcare setting. A carefully planned color palette makes a big difference in hospital waiting rooms or patients’ rooms.
Purpose of the Room
The color chosen to paint each room in a medical facility should suit that purpose. Knowing this will make color selection easy. Also, consider the tone of each color you use to paint with.
- Waiting Rooms: Include more vibrant colors or an accent wall.
- Pediatric Office: Incorporate color with toys, art, and accessories.
- Surgical Suites: Blues and greens give a calming effect.
- Treatment Rooms: Soft colors like yellow or sage green are also calming.
- Consultation Rooms: Blues and blue-green paint colors are good choices.
- Facility for the elderly: Choose warm colors like beige or a creamy white.
A Great Patient Experience
When a patient is admitted into a medical office or hospital, it is not always the most relaxing experience. In most medical facilities, patients young and old lie on their backs, which means the ceiling gets all the attention. Making sure the ceiling in every room is freshly painted will give the patient a calm feeling while being attended to.
Decor plays a great role in providing a good experience for patients. Medical facilities are responsible for patient care and satisfaction. Professional healthcare facilities painters assist in making sure the environment is safe and relaxing.
What You Can Expect from Commercial Healthcare Painters
A professional healthcare painter should be knowledgeable and experienced in choosing and using specially formulated paints for these types of jobs. Their communication and commitment to industry standards should also be considered before hiring them to do the job. Here’s how you know you’ve hired the right team.
- Experienced in hospital interior and exterior painting services
- Knowledgeable about highly durable coatings and color selections
- Flexibility to provide services during off-hours
- Color matching so that you stay within uniformity
- Skilled in working with property managers
- Avoidance of disruption to the care that you provide to your patients and staff members
- A thorough clean-up at the end of each working day
- Highly durable coatings for all entrances, your high traffic areas, and hallways
- Use of paint product coatings that are low- or no-VOC as well as being green
- Fully licensed with workman’s compensation and liability insurance so that you, your staff and patients are 100% protected.
- Follow and adhere to PDCA work standards
Choose an Experienced Commercial Painter
Painting a hospital or medical facility is a sensitive project that requires a skilled and knowledgeable painting contractor. The Painting Pros offer extensive experience in industrial and commercial painting. We have the expertise to paint in demanding environments, including surgery and consultation rooms, offices, laboratories, and medical facility cafeterias.
Our approach to commercial healthcare painting services is organized around accommodating your schedule and minimizing disruption of care to your patients.
We deliver high-quality interior and exterior painting services, from long-term assisted living facilities, walk-in clinics, outpatient care facilities, and diagnostic facilities. Contact us today for a consultation.