Today’s business environment is more competitive than ever! For owners of a commercial building, no matter how great your location is, you need to make sure your property has every possible competitive advantage. That means keeping up its appearance with a fresh coat of paint. Whether your building is a multi-tenant or single-tenant property, painting the exterior is a worthwhile investment in several ways.
Improves the Image of Your Business and Encourages Foot Traffic
As the old adage goes, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression! Whatever type of commercial building you own, it needs to stand out in a positive manner.
Multi-tenant office building – A freshly painted, well-maintained office building helps retain and attract quality tenants, allowing you to maintain a consistent revenue stream. Professionals want to have their business or medical practice in an attractive building that helps to elevate their own image and inspire confidence in their customers, clients or patients that they’re trustworthy, conscientious and successful.
Single-tenant office building – Whether it’s your own business or that of a tenant business, new paint plays a significant role in branding. Your building represents your enterprise and the reputation and brand values it stands upon. In addition, if you’re rebranding, painting your building’s exterior in the new brand colors is an effective way of establishing the new brand identity.
Multi-tenant retail building – Unfortunately, it’s easy for so-called “strip malls” to get a bad reputation for being shabby and run-down. Keeping your property painted can go a long way in creating an uplifting retail environment in which shoppers feel welcome and safe. Allowing your property to get rough around the edges will set a downward spiral in motion. Fewer shoppers result in more stores closing and relocating, which results in empty storefronts and even less foot traffic. Such conditions also tend to attract criminal activity.
Single-tenant retail building – The basic benefits of repainting a single-tenant office building apply here, assuming your business isn’t a franchise or chain enterprise – in which case you’d need to follow brand specifications for paint colors. An independently owned business has the advantage of being able to make a bold statement through color – although be sure its pleasing and not garish – which would make your building an eyesore – nor too trendy to avoid quickly becoming outdated.
Whatever the type of property you own, keeping it well-painted and maintained sends a positive message to potential customers. As Colorado Paint points out, “A dirty or neglected exterior may make them wonder how much care and attention you give to other aspects of your business.”
Also consider that the first look many people get of your building is on Google. When those searching online for your business or that of one of your tenants enter the name of the business, Google produces a photo of the building’s exterior. A photo showing a run-down exterior won’t inspire confidence, and searchers may just keep searching!
So how frequently should you paint? According to The Painting Pros, the general rule is to repaint every five years. However, the frequency also depends on what the building is used for. A busy warehouse might need painting more often than a typical office space.
Protects the Building From Environmental Damage
Central Florida’s intense climate is tough on the exterior of commercial buildings. Using a high-quality paint provides a good line of protection from intense sunlight and heat, as well as moisture intrusion from heavy rains during hurricane season. For newcomers to The Sunshine State, even a relatively quiet hurricane season (June 1 through November 30) still includes our summer rainy season, during which almost daily afternoon thunderstorms occur.
In general, Harrison Contracting Company points out, “Regular exterior painting is an essential aspect of preventative maintenance. Painting your commercial property is a cost-effective investment. It protects the outer surface of your building from deteriorating. This can save you from having to pay for expensive damages later. You may not notice these issues right away, but repainting before they become worse will protect your property from future damage.”
Improves the Property Value
Whether your company outgrows its current building or you sell the business entirely, a well-maintained building has a much higher market value. Just as a high-quality recent paint job makes a good impression on potential tenants and/or customers, it can also achieve the same benefit as an excellent investment in your building’s future resale value.
There’s another aspect at work here. Your building is part of the larger community. Keeping it in top condition improves the overall quality of life, and shows that the area is economically healthy and thriving. Showing pride through a well-maintained building inspires surrounding business owners to do likewise, creating an elevating effect.
The Importance of Proper Prep Work
Painting your commercial building isn’t as simple as just applying a new coat. Hiring a professional painting contractor whose services include commercial properties is essential to achieving a professional result. This is obviously not a DIY project, but it also isn’t one that a couple of jack-of-all-trades types can perform effectively. Ask the painting contractor the following questions while you’re doing the walk-around on the property:
- What kind of paint will you use? The contractor should be specific about the type of paint – for example, whether it’s acrylic latex, elastomeric, or another formulation.
- What prep work will you do? This will most likely involve cleaning the entire exterior of the building to remove dirt, grease, and mold by power washing, scraping and/or sandblasting. After cleaning, minor repairs – such as re-caulking and filling small cracks – should be made. A conscientious contractor will point out these areas. Good prep work will leave a smooth, even finish that allows the paint to adhere better and have an attractive, professional appearance.
The Take-Home Message
As another old adage goes, any job that’s worth doing is worth doing right! Your commercial building is a big investment, so improve and maintain its value with a professional paint job by a professional painting contractor.
By the way, the photo featured on our blog post is the office of Van Dingenen Law, Winter Park, FL, which we painted in 2023! The Paint Manager has been proudly serving Central Florida for more than 20 years with experienced, dedicated and professional services that include full-service commercial painting, exterior and interior house painting, roof repair and cleaning, drywall repair, popcorn ceiling texture removal, cabinet refinishing and so much more!
Plus, become a member of The Paint Manager to receive a 15% year-‘round member’s discount. Contact us to learn more about our services and membership discount offer. We look forward to meeting you!