Commercial painting requires a number of painters who work together as a team to complete large-scale painting projects. Like how the paint outside of an office building looks? Thank a commercial painter. Commercial painters are constantly learning new tips and tricks from each other to improve the services that they offer to clients. It really is more than just picking up a paintbrush and dipping it into the paint. So how can you improve your commercial interior painting services? Most painters will tell you that it can be broken down into the “three P’s.”
The Three P’s – Prep, Prime, and Paint
Depending on the size of the project, the time it will take from start to finish can vary from a few days to weeks. One thing that every project has in common is the phases of the project, or the three P’s – prep, prime, and paint.
Every step has its significance to a commercial paint project. That is the difference between using a professional and using a novice commercial painter – the attention to detail. When a phase is not completed correctly, the following phases will suffer. The paint will not look smooth or professional.
Prep
In commercial painting, the foundation of a great paint job is the prep done before the priming and the painting. If not done meticulously, priming and painting won’t be able to carry their weight in the project, and it will fall apart.
Surface preparation can be a time-consuming part of the project. You begin by putting down the drop cloths and painter’s tape to keep paint off of areas it shouldn’t be. Precision has to be used to tape off areas like light switches, molding, and other areas where the paint is not wanted. The tape matters too. Using a cheaply made painter’s tape could result in paint bleeding through and onto the area where it was never supposed to go in the first place.
Once the taping has been completed, preparing the painting area is next. Using scrapers, any old caulk, peeling or chipping paint, or wallpaper must be removed. Painting over peeling paint does not fix the problem. It only causes a bigger one.
If there is any damage to the walls, commercial painters will use this time to fill them in. For cracks, they use caulk or putty, and they fill in drywall damage, sanding the smooth areas so that the paint will adhere to the surface.
After all the surfaces have been sanded and fixed, it is time to clean up. All of the painting surfaces need to be clear from any dust, dirt, or debris. Vacuuming up the area and even blowing away dust from the wall can help ensure that the paint will have even coverage.
Prime
Priming is the next step once a commercial painter has prepared the area they intend to paint. Primer can be used to hide imperfections to provide even paint coverage. For example, after fixing the drywall, the area will be white, but the surrounding area is a darker color. A primer can be used to make the area neutral. Primers can also have properties that include stain-blocking seals, keeping anything from coming through to the paint layer.
When are primers most often used?
- Covering bright or bold-colored paint – Some colors are harder to cover than others. Bright shades of red, blue, and green often require more than one coat of primer before another color can be added over it. Darker shades can require the same type of priming if going to a lighter color. The darker, brighter, and bolds shade can bleed through to the newest layer of paint without primer present.
- Painting over a higher sheen – Higher sheen paint may not allow for the paint to adhere to the wall’s surface, requiring the use of a primer before putting the new paint on top of it. The preferred method would be to sand the higher sheen paint with fine sandpaper and cleaning the surface before using the primer and the final paint color.
- Painting a new unpainted surface – After new construction or repairs, a primer reduces the number of layers required for the final paint color. The more paint used in the process, the more expensive the project becomes.
- Covering up discolorations – In some commercial areas, like schools, office buildings, and other areas, there may be stains or other markings on walls. Using a primer can reduce the layers of paint required to cover them up. A primer can also protect against the discolorations from bleeding through.
Primers come in latex-based, oil-based, and shellac. Part of being a knowledgeable commercial painter is knowing which type of primer is required for the surface and the paint that will go over it. Once the primer has been placed on the areas to be painted, it must be allowed to dry completely before the painting takes place.
Paint
The process of painting is more than just applying paint to a wall. Commercial painting projects require a fine touch and attention to detail. Painters have the experience and training to complete these projects quickly and correctly every time.
Commercial painters have the right tools for their trade. They come with rollers, brushes, and sprayers as needed for the job at hand. In most interior situations (depending on the size), nine-inch rollers and brushes are used for painting walls. Rollers cover the majority of the area, while the brushes are used for edges and corners. If the area is large, painters may use a sprayer to cover the area.
Even though clients are the ones who pick the colors of the paint they want for their commercial property, professional painters are the ones who make the suggestion as to the type they should use. Not all paints are created equally. This means that the professionals know exactly the type needed to make your area the best it can be.
They Ensure that the final coat of paint dries before the area is opened back up to the public. This can help protect it from being damaged in the process. Fingerprints, scrapes, or smudges are not what the final paint product is intended for.
ProGroup Commercial Painting Services
With services available for commercial interior and exterior painting, re:fab has over 25 years of providing satisfaction in the industry. re:fab management teams offer our clients full support every day until their project is completed, and they are completely satisfied with the work done by our commercial painting contractors.
re:fab’s process consists of three steps. In the first step, we look at your goals and requirements. We also begin looking at schedules for the project and the budget. The next step includes working with our transparent project management team. The delivery process is done to ensure your project is done on time and on budget. At the end of the project, we aren’t done until you have reviewed and signed off on our work with the Quality Assurance Review.
For more information about what re:fab can do for your commercial painting project, begin the process by getting an online quote.
