1. Maintenance

With all the products and equipment used in a warehouse, it is sure to get its fair share of dents and scratches. Forklifts, chemicals, and other equipment can cause the paint on warehouse walls to crack or fade. Getting a warehouse back to a fresh clean look is important to extending the life of the building.

2. Motivate Employees

The morale of employees can be affected by their work environment. A warehouse that is run down with paint peeling everywhere will reflect in the productivity levels of employees.  A fresh paint job shows that the owner cares about the company and the type of message it conveys to the people who keep the business going.

Updating a warehouse reassures employees that their company is committed to having a quality work environment.

3. Inspections

Controlling the quality of a product and reducing costs are benefits to performing inspections in some industries. When most people hear the word inspection, they think of the food industry. Food warehouses should always appear in top shape. Inspectors don’t want to see chipped paint when walking around a warehouse. Hefty fines are given to those who do not meet certain standards. Repainting a warehouse will help prevent negative points in the inspection report due to negligence.

4. Safety Improvements

Warehouses are usually busy and contain some hazardous components. Managers are tasked with different challenges from overseeing productivity, efficiency, and safety issues. Safe working conditions should be a priority for any business owner, especially those with warehouses or manufacturing facilities. Major improvements to a warehouse come from safety painting.

Strategic color combinations are used to improve protection for employees, the equipment used, and the products made. Warehouse and facility managers can reduce the number of accidents and injuries by updating the warehouse with a fresh coat of paint in some areas. Employees will pay attention to newly painted floor lines or hazard symbols.

With clear pathways to follow, all employees have increased awareness to ensure a safer workplace. Some of the safety items painted include:

• Warehouse ceilings
• Floors
• Floor Markings
• Pedestrian Walkways and Aisles
• Non-slip Flooring

Warehouse ceilings can be updated with paint that gives greater light refraction. This directly improves overall lighting without spending extra money on new light fixtures.

Warehouse Paint Colors

Facility and warehouse managers may need guidance with color selection from the commercial painting contractor that is doing the job. The colors chosen should coordinate and flow with the overall palette.

There are specific colors used for certain areas in a warehouse setting. Recommended colors and corresponding areas involve:

Warehouse Safety:

• Yellow. Draws attention to physical hazards that may be caused by low beams, railings, cranes and material handling equipment
• Blue. Compressors, dryers, ovens, and electrical controls
• Green. First aid kits and gas masks
• Purple. Disposal cans and containers, contaminated equipment used for radiation hazards
• Orange. Identifies safety start buttons, gears, and dangerous machine parts
• Red. Fire protection equipment such as extinguisher and alarm boxes. Red is also used for emergency buttons and switches.

Pipe Color Coding:

• Red: Sprinkler systems and fire protection equipment
• Yellow: Hazardous materials that are toxic, corrosive, poisonous, and flammable
• Blue: Materials used for reducing or preventing hazards
• Green: Non-hazardous materials such as water and glycols

If a warehouse has equipment or fixtures made of stainless steel, galvanized steel, and iron, they should not be painted. Galvanized metal resists the adhesion of most paints. Due to the design of stainless steel, this metal is made to be easy to maintain.

Signs Your Warehouse Needs a Fresh Paint Job

The longevity of industrial paint coatings in a warehouse depends on the operating conditions and work environment of that particular facility. A reputable and knowledgeable commercial painting contractor will assess these five elements before the paint job begins.

1. The Overall Condition. Warehouses are often affected by chemicals, humidity, and pollutants that lead to the deterioration of the coats of industrial paint. Cracking, peeling, and fading colors are visible signs that a new coat of paint is needed. When paint is deteriorating, the level of protection weakens and leads to other damage.

2. Faded Floor Markings. Floor coatings are used on the floors of warehouses to organize, promote safety, and improve the aesthetics of the facility. Updated floor markings are required when the paint begins to crack or flake.

3. Breakdown of Exterior Surfaces. If peeling or cracking paint on the exterior is left untreated it could lead to water infiltration, mold growth, or pest infestations. Call a professional to inspect any underlying issues to prevent costly damage down the road.

4. Water Stains. Condensation and moisture buildup inside warehouse walls can lead to water damage. Paint failure is a result of water damage. An experienced commercial painting contractor will check for leaks or drips before applying paint to any surface. All issues identified must be fixed before the area is prepped for painting.

5. Corrosion. Some warehouses are constructed with metal siding. Signs of corrosion or rust can occur. These issues can be resolved with proper preparation and painting by a reputable commercial painting professional.

Preparing to Revitalize a Warehouse

Facility managers should know what information is needed by a professional commercial painter. Before any paint is applied, potential warehouse painters should be allowed to visit the facility and give the managers feedback on what the project will require. A proposal is put together with details on all the work materials needed.

Following these steps will produce the best results from your warehouse paint project.

• Choose the Right Commercial Paint Contractor.  A professional painting contractor should be licensed and insured. They should know about paint and coating products specific to industrial settings. A detailed proposal and timeline of the project should be given to the warehouse manager.

• Communication. Open lines of communication are important to ensure any successful commercial paint project. A project manager or foreman on both sides should be assigned as the main point of contact to maintain clarity at every stage of the process.

• Move Equipment. Any equipment or storage containers that are in the way of walls and other surfaces to be painted need to be moved to another location.  You should not expect the painting contractor to move the equipment, as they do not know how to operate it. Some items can be covered up with plastic sheets as protection from paint once the project begins.

• Inform Employees. With any project that a company takes on, reorganizing or shutting down some operations must take place. Actions that might be necessary can be employees entering the building from another location, changing routines, or moving employees to different departments or locations. All affected employees should be informed of the changes that will take place before the project begins.
  
  The safety of employees should always be a priority for any business owner. An experienced commercial painting contractor should know which type of paint to use to minimize exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are found in some paints. Paint fumes can trigger headaches, nausea, and cause breathing difficulties. There are low- or no-VOC paints available on the market. Discuss these with your painting contractor. 
  
  Follow-up announcements will be required if the painting project is longer than expected or another issue arises. 

• Give Contractors Access to Facilities. If the painting contractors are doing the painting during off hours, they will need access to enter the building. If an employee or manager isn’t present during the painting, keys or entry codes must be issued to the contractor’s project manager.
  
  Even if the painters are working during normal working hours, they will still need access to bathrooms, water, and dumpsters. It will save the painting contractor time if these facilities are made accessible to them.  Securing other equipment such as a water tanker for pressure washing, an air compressor for painting equipment, or a portable bathroom can be costly.

• Prep Work. If there are any moisture or mold problems, they should be remediated prior to the painting project. Employees should never be exposed to potential health hazards. If a warehouse has not been painted in a long time, make sure lead paint was not used. If so, it must be removed properly. The amount of prep work can affect the schedule and projected finish date.

Need A Professional?

The Painting Pros has the knowledge, experience, and skills take on an industrial paint project. We know that protecting your employees and the bottom line is extremely important.  It’s our goal to minimize downtime and interruptions to help keep your customers satisfied.

We are certified in handling lead-based paint to avoid any health hazards. We’re also available to work off-hours to avoid any disruption in your normal work schedule.

Contact us today for a free consultation.