What Is Commercial Painting? Residential vs Commercial Painting Explained
What is commercial painting? Isn’t it the same as painting a house? Do commercial painters use different paints or tools? These are some of the most common questions we hear around the painting industry, coming from business owners who aren’t quite sure why they would need commercial painting — or why it’s even different from residential painting.
First, it’s essential to recognize that a business has a different mission and purpose than a house—though that may seem obvious. When you own a business, you want to attract customers, reflect your brand’s identity, and keep your space functional and compliant. And if you don’t have the right environment to support that, it’s going to be pretty hard to make it happen.
That’s the whole idea of commercial painting because, believe it or not, the way your walls, ceilings, and exteriors look can say more about your business than your actual words ever could. Peeling paint, mismatched colors, or faded finishes may not seem like a big deal until a customer walks in and makes up their mind about your brand in the first 10 seconds.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what commercial painting involves, why it matters, what makes it different from residential painting, and how to choose the right partner for your project.
What Is Commercial Painting?
Commercial painting is a specialized branch of the painting industry that focuses on coating, protecting, and beautifying commercial properties—spaces where business happens.
It goes far beyond the simple act of applying color to walls. It’s about planning and executing a painting project that supports a company’s operations, enhances its brand, and meets safety and regulatory standards.
When we talk about commercial painting, we’re referring to painting services carried out on properties such as office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, warehouses, schools, hospitals, and more. These projects are typically larger in scale than residential jobs and come with additional complexities: coordinating schedules to avoid interrupting business hours, meeting strict safety requirements, and using high-performance coatings suited for specific needs.
Commercial painting also requires a broader skill set and specialized equipment. Painters must be familiar with industrial-grade paints, surface preparation techniques for materials like concrete, metal, or drywall, and tools like sprayers, lifts, and scaffolding. It’s a job that demands not only technical precision but also strategic planning.
Let’s look at how commercial painting applies across different environments:
- Offices often require low-odor, fast-drying paints that won’t disrupt work. Neutral colors with pops of brand tones are common to support productivity and reflect the company’s identity.
- Retail centers focus on creating an inviting atmosphere to attract customers: bright, clean, and eye-catching. Durability is key, especially in high-traffic areas.
- Hospitals and clinics need paints that are antibacterial, easy to clean, and free of harsh chemicals, and colors are often chosen to promote calmness and trust.
- Warehouses and industrial buildings use heavy-duty coatings that resist stains, corrosion, and moisture. Also, floors may require epoxy or concrete sealers for safety and durability.
- Schools benefit from washable paints in hallways and classrooms, often in vibrant but balanced colors that create an engaging, positive space for students.
But we said commercial painting isn’t just about looking good. It’s about long-term protection, smart investment, strategic application, and creating an environment that’s as professional as the services you offer. From retail storefronts to healthcare facilities, the approach, materials, and techniques used in commercial painting are designed specifically for the challenges and goals of business spaces.
At its core, the purposes of commercial painting are both functional and strategic:
- Enhancing aesthetics and creating visually appealing environments
- Representing brand image and professionalism through colors, finishes, and attention to detail
- Protecting surfaces from wear, moisture, chemicals, and weather damage
- Improving usability and experience for employees, customers, and visitors
- Ensuring compliance with safety codes or industry-specific regulations (e.g., cleanroom standards, anti-slip coatings, ADA color contrast requirements)
Commercial painting is an investment that goes well beyond the surface — and when done right, it works silently in the background to support everything a business stands for.
Understanding what commercial painting is — and where it applies — gives us a solid foundation. But let’s get even more practical. Why does it really matter for your business? What are the tangible advantages beyond the visual upgrade?
When done professionally, commercial painting offers a wide range of benefits that protect your investment, elevate your brand, and contribute to the daily function of your space. Let’s break down the key reasons why it’s worth prioritizing.
Key Benefits of Commercial Painting
A fresh coat of paint does more than make a space look good. In commercial settings, it can directly impact how customers feel, how employees perform, and how well the building holds up over time.
Here are the most important benefits you should know:
Durability That Withstands Daily Wear and Tear
Commercial spaces take a beating. Hallways see hundreds of footsteps daily. Warehouse walls, for example, endure bumps from forklifts. Restaurant kitchens face constant humidity and heat. Standard residential paint simply isn’t designed for this level of stress.
That’s why commercial painting uses high-durability coatings tailored to each environment. For example, in a school hallway, scuff-resistant paints reduce the need for constant touch-ups. In a hospital, antimicrobial coatings hold up to daily cleaning and disinfection without degrading. These aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re practical choices that help businesses save on maintenance and downtime.
Protection from the Elements, Chemicals, and Time
Whether it’s harsh sunlight, winter freeze-thaw cycles, industrial fumes, or moisture in a food prep area, commercial buildings are exposed to elements that wear down unprotected surfaces fast.
The right paint system acts as a shield. For instance, an exterior warehouse wall treated with elastomeric paint can flex and move with temperature changes without cracking. A factory floor coated with epoxy resists oil spills and chemical stains that would destroy standard flooring.
Think of paint as the armor your building wears: without it, deterioration sets in much faster.
Brand Appeal That Makes a Statement
Ever walked into a boutique where the colors, textures, and finishes instantly told you what kind of brand it was — even before talking to a single staff member? That’s intentional design, and paint plays a big role.
With commercial painting, you can align your interior and exterior visuals with your brand personality. Whether it’s the sleek matte black walls of a modern tech startup, the calming blues of a dental clinic, or the cheerful colors of a daycare center, paint becomes a brand language.
Color psychology is also real. People react to colors instinctively. Warm tones may invite customers to linger in a café. Clean whites and cool tones in a law office can evoke trust and clarity. When we think about this, paint helps communicate professionalism, stability, and attention to detail without saying a word.
Improved Customer Perception and Experience
First impressions matter, and in business, they’re often made in less than 10 seconds.
A clean, fresh-looking environment builds immediate trust. On the other hand, chipped paint, dingy walls, or mismatched colors can make your space feel neglected, even if your service is great.
Imagine walking into a bank where the interior looks like it hasn’t been touched in 15 years. Would you still feel confident handing over your money? Now compare that to a recently repainted branch with crisp lines, modern tones, and clean finishes. The difference in customer perception is massive.
Increased Property Value and Longevity
Commercial painting isn’t just cosmetic — it’s an investment in the building itself.
A well-maintained paint job can extend the lifespan of materials like stucco, wood, or metal, reducing the need for costly replacements. It also plays a role in real estate value. If you’re leasing, selling, or trying to attract premium tenants, a sharp, professional finish makes your space stand out.
Think of it as staging a home, but for businesses—this staging lasts for years and protects your property in the process.
Employee Morale and Productivity
The look and feel of a workspace can directly influence how people feel at work. Studies show that color, lighting, and cleanliness can boost employee satisfaction and focus.
A software company in Wichita recently updated its office with a soft gray-and-green palette, and employees noted feeling more relaxed and energized during long days. It’s a small investment that can create a big ripple effect across productivity and team morale.
Commercial painting is more than just a surface-level upgrade. It’s a strategic move with real, measurable benefits that affect how your business is seen — and how it performs — from the inside out.
Now that we’ve covered the value and benefits of commercial painting, a natural question comes up: Isn’t painting just painting? Not quite. While the basic concept might seem the same — brushes, rollers, and paint on a surface — the reality is that commercial and residential painting are two very different worlds.
From the materials and equipment to the level of planning and regulation involved, the differences run deep.
Residential and Commercial Painting: The Differences That Matter
If you’ve ever asked yourself what is commercial painting, the answer becomes even clearer when you compare it side by side with residential work. On the surface, both involve paint, brushes, rollers, and the goal of transforming a space.
However, beneath that, there are fundamental differences between residential and commercial painting that make each type of project unique — requiring very different expertise.
Here’s a closer look at the key distinctions between residential and commercial painting, and why they matter so much to your business.
Size and Scale
One of the most “obvious” differences between residential and commercial painting is size:
- Residential projects typically involve single-family homes, apartments, or condos. You’re dealing with one kitchen, a few bedrooms, and manageable wall space.
- Commercial projects are a different beast: warehouses with 40-foot ceilings, sprawling office buildings, school campuses, retail centers, and medical facilities. You might be painting dozens of rooms, corridors, ceilings, loading docks, stairwells — all within a tight deadline.
The sheer scale demands more manpower, greater logistical planning, and tools that go well beyond a step ladder and roller. A residential painter might finish in a few days. A commercial crew might be working in coordinated phases over several weeks.
Materials Used
Commercial environments require more than just good-looking paint — they need durable, specialized coatings designed to perform under pressure.
- In residential painting, homeowners typically choose paints for color, comfort, and aesthetics — like low-sheen finishes or warm neutrals.
- In commercial painting, the requirements go deeper. A hospital might need antimicrobial coatings for sanitation. A restaurant kitchen needs washable, heat-resistant finishes. A warehouse may require epoxy on floors to resist chemical spills and forklift traffic.
Commercial paints must also meet specific safety and performance standards that go far beyond residential needs — including low-VOC regulations, fire-retardant properties, or moisture resistance. The cost per gallon may be higher, but so is the long-term performance.
Equipment & Techniques
Commercial painting is not just about what you paint; it’s how you paint it.
- Residential painters usually work with brushes, rollers, and ladders.
- Commercial painters often rely on high-powered sprayers, scissor lifts, boom lifts, industrial scaffolding, and special safety harnesses to reach and coat vast or hard-to-access areas. The techniques used must match the scale and material of the surface being treated — which could be concrete, metal, stucco, exposed ceilings, or steel beams.
Plus, speed and uniformity are essential in commercial projects. Spray techniques are often used for large areas to ensure consistent finishes, especially on ceilings or exteriors.
Project Scheduling & Management
This is where the complexity really shows.
- A residential project can usually work around the homeowner’s schedule.
- A commercial painting job requires precise coordination, especially when the business needs to stay operational.
For example:
- A medical clinic cannot shut down for painting; the crew might need to work after hours or on weekends.
- A warehouse might need a phased approach: paint one zone while others stay functional.
- A hotel may require touch-ups during specific off-seasons or low-occupancy periods to avoid disturbing guests.
That means detailed project management, multiple crews working simultaneously, and daily progress updates — all while minimizing disruption to staff, customers, and operations. At Koehn Painting, we treat this as a science. Planning is part of the craft.
Compliance and Safety Standards
Another major distinction is the legal and safety framework surrounding commercial painting.
- Residential painting typically follows local building codes but doesn’t usually involve intense regulation.
- Commercial painting, on the other hand, must comply with a broad set of industry-specific and federal safety standards.
This includes:
- OSHA compliance for worker safety
- ADA color contrast guidelines (e.g., ensuring visibility for visually impaired individuals)
- Low-VOC or no-VOC coatings in certain industries like education and healthcare
- Fire-resistant coatings where required
- Proper signage, ventilation, and protective barriers
Commercial painting also comes with greater liability risks. If a paint job leads to a slip hazard, poor air quality, or fire code violation, the consequences can be serious — both legally and financially. That’s why commercial painters must carry full insurance, be properly licensed, and work under strict safety protocols.
So Why Does All This Matter?
Because the stakes are higher in commercial settings, painting is functional, regulated, and business-critical. When you hire a professional for residential work, you’re trusting them with your home. When you hire for commercial work, you’re trusting them with your brand, your employees’ safety, and your customers’ experience.
And that’s why choosing the right partner — one specializing in commercial projects, like Koehn Painting — makes all the difference. We understand that what is commercial painting is not just a question of scale, but of strategy, compliance, and long-term performance.
Types of Commercial Painting Services and Which One Could Be for You
When people first ask what is commercial painting, they often picture a simple office refresh or a coat of paint on a storefront. However, commercial painting services encompass a wide range of environments, goals, and technical requirements, from enhancing the ambiance of a retail space to protecting industrial floors from chemical spills.
The type of service that’s right for your property depends on several factors: what kind of business you run, how your space is used, and what kind of wear and tear it faces. A dental clinic and a distribution warehouse both need painting, but the process, products, and priorities couldn’t be more different.
Understanding the different commercial painting services available — and how they apply to real spaces — helps you make better decisions, avoid unnecessary costs, and choose the right professionals for the job. Below, we break down the major categories, what they involve, and who they’re best suited for.
Interior Commercial Painting
From high-rise offices to independent clinics, interior commercial painting focuses on creating professional, clean, and brand-aligned environments that function well for both customers and employees.
Common spaces painted:
- Offices: Calm, professional colors that reflect brand tone and boost focus. Lighting matters — paint choices should match natural and artificial light.
- Retail Stores: Eye-catching palettes that match product positioning and guide customer movement. Fast-drying paints and quick turnaround times are key.
- Restaurants: Warm tones for comfort or bold accents to create energy. Easy-to-clean, stain-resistant finishes near food areas.
- Medical Facilities: Low-VOC paints exhibit antimicrobial properties. Controlling odor is crucial. Colors are frequently selected to alleviate anxiety and foster calmness.
- Educational Centers: Durable, washable paints. Bright but non-distracting color schemes to stimulate learning without overwhelming.
Key considerations:
- Odor control is especially important in operational spaces.
- Low-VOC or zero-VOC products help maintain indoor air quality — especially essential in schools and healthcare settings.
- Strategic scheduling ensures minimal business disruption, with many painters working after hours or during off-peak times.
Exterior Commercial Painting
The exterior of a business says a lot before a single customer even walks in. Whether you manage a hotel chain or a corner store, exterior paint plays a crucial role in curb appeal, branding, and protection.
Ideal for:
- Storefronts and shopping centers: Clean, attractive facades improve walk-in traffic and reinforce brand consistency.
- Multi-unit buildings and apartments: Require uniform finishes across large surfaces, with color plans that remain visually appealing for years.
- Warehouses and distribution centers: Often need protective coatings to handle temperature shifts, rain, snow, and UV rays.
- Hotels and resorts: Must maintain elegance while standing up to constant guest turnover and weather exposure.
Techniques and challenges:
- Weatherproof coatings defend against peeling, fading, and water intrusion.
- Scaffolding and safety equipment are often required to access high or complex surfaces.
- Weather conditions must be closely monitored — temperature and humidity can affect drying times and adhesion.
If you’re not sure how residential and commercial painting compare when it comes to exteriors, think of it like this: commercial painters aren’t just painting a house; they’re painting a brand.
Specialty Commercial Painting Services
Many commercial properties require specialized coatings and surface treatments that go far beyond standard wall paint. These services are often industry-specific and involve advanced products, techniques, and equipment.
Common specialty offerings:
- Epoxy Coatings: Ideal for high-traffic or industrial floors. These heavy-duty coatings resist chemicals, abrasions, and stains — great for warehouses, kitchens, and manufacturing plants.
- Power Washing & Sandblasting: Critical prep steps to remove grime, mold, old paint, or rust before repainting. Ensures adhesion and long-term durability.
- Concrete Floor Sealing: Protects floors from moisture damage, staining, and wear. Often paired with safety striping or anti-slip additives.
- High-Performance Coatings: Utilized in food processing, laboratories, and healthcare environments. Features may include anti-microbial, fire-resistant, or chemical-proof properties, based on industry requirements.
- Wood Staining & Refinishing: Elevates visual appeal in spaces like restaurants, hotels, and churches while protecting natural wood from humidity and decay.
- Digital & Vinyl Wall Coverings: Popular in modern offices and retail — custom graphics or branding elements applied seamlessly across walls.
- Dryfall Painting: A technique often used in warehouses, factories, and gyms. Paint overspray dries before hitting the ground, simplifying cleanup when painting high ceilings.
These specialty services are often what sets expert commercial painters apart from general contractors. They require advanced skill, the right materials, and in many cases, compliance with highly specific codes and safety standards.
If you’re still unsure which type of commercial painting service fits your needs—or how commercial painting is done in your industry—Koehn Painting can help you navigate options based on your space, usage, and timeline.
Whether you need sleek vinyl graphics for a corporate lobby or industrial-strength epoxy for your workshop floor, our team brings decades of experience and solutions tailored to your goals.
The Commercial Painting Process: Step-by-Step
Commercial painting is a structured, technical process designed to maximize durability, safety, and visual impact. When executed by professionals, it blends precision with project management, minimizing disruption while delivering long-term value.
At Koehn Painting, we’ve fine-tuned our approach over decades of work across offices, warehouses, medical facilities, and more. While every project is unique, the commercial painting process generally follows these key steps:
Step 1: Surface Preparation
Before any paint touches a wall, proper surface preparation sets the foundation for a successful, long-lasting finish.
- Cleaning: Dust, dirt, oil, or mildew can prevent paint from adhering properly. Depending on the space, this may involve basic wiping or full power washing for exterior surfaces or heavily used interiors.
- Repair Work: Cracks, dents, and surface irregularities are repaired to ensure a smooth, professional appearance. This can include patching drywall, filling expansion joints, or replacing damaged trim.
- Priming: Once surfaces are clean and smooth, the right primer is selected based on both the material (concrete, drywall, metal, etc.) and the paint to be used. Priming ensures better adhesion, more even coverage, and longer-lasting results — especially in high-moisture or high-traffic areas.
Bypassing this step—or hurrying through it—can result in flaking, bubbling, or early paint failure. In commercial environments, that’s not only an eyesore; it’s also a liability.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Paint and Materials
Not all paints are created equal — especially in commercial spaces.
- Durability First: Depending on the environment, the paint must resist UV rays (for exteriors), moisture (in restrooms and kitchens), or high wear (in hallways and warehouses).
- Eco-Friendly Options: Many businesses now prefer low-VOC or zero-VOC paints, which release fewer chemicals and are safer for both painters and occupants. Some brands also offer sustainable packaging and formulations certified for schools or healthcare settings.
- Finish Selection: The right finish depends on both design and function. Matte can hide surface imperfections but isn’t always easy to clean. Semi-gloss and gloss are more durable and washable, perfect for trim, doors, or bathrooms. The paint’s sheen can also affect how light behaves in a room — making smart selection essential for mood, energy use, and visual comfort.
This step is where aesthetics meet strategy. The right paint elevates your space and performs well over time.
Step 3: Application Techniques
Once everything’s prepped and planned, it’s time to bring the vision to life.
- Spray Painting: Often used for large, smooth areas like ceilings, warehouse walls, or exterior facades. Sprayers ensure even coverage and fast application.
- Rolling & Brushing: These traditional techniques are essential for detail work, corners, trim, or surfaces that require more control. Brushing may be used for wood finishes or when working around sensitive equipment.
- Cutting In, Masking, and Layering: Professional painters take the time to protect surfaces (using tape, drop cloths, and plastic) and layer paints properly, ensuring color uniformity and sharp edges. “Cutting in” — carefully painting along edges and borders — is an art that separates pros from amateurs.
These techniques are selected and adjusted based on the surface type, environment, and timeline. No two spaces are exactly the same — which is why experienced painters make all the difference.
Step 4: Final Touches and Quality Inspection
A great commercial paint job ends with more than just putting away the brushes.
- Inspection: Once the paint is dry, a thorough walkthrough is conducted to check for missed spots, streaks, uneven finishes, or inconsistencies in color.
- Touch-Ups: Any minor issues are corrected immediately to ensure a flawless finish.
- Clean-Up: The crew removes all protective coverings, equipment, and debris — leaving the space clean, safe, and ready for use.
- Client Walkthrough: Before final sign-off, clients are walked through the finished job to review work, discuss maintenance, and ensure satisfaction.
This attention to detail is where long-term trust is built — and it’s something Koehn Painting takes seriously on every project.
Step 5: Maintenance Plan Proposal
For many businesses, a one-time paint job isn’t enough. That’s why some commercial painting companies (like Koehn) offer maintenance plans to keep your property looking sharp year-round.
These plans may include:
- Scheduled inspections and minor touch-ups
- Power washing for exteriors
- Recoating high-traffic areas
- Seasonal weatherproofing
Maintenance programs are especially valuable for schools, healthcare facilities, and customer-facing retail — where visual appearance and cleanliness are directly tied to reputation.
A commercial painting project is more than a checklist. It’s a coordinated process that combines experience, material science, project planning, and craftsmanship — all tailored to your business’s needs.
What Affects the Cost of Commercial Painting?
If you’re planning a commercial painting project, one of the first questions that comes up is, “How much is this going to cost?” And while the answer isn’t always the same, understanding the main pricing factors can help you set a realistic budget and avoid surprises.
Unlike residential painting, which often has a more standardized cost range, commercial painting varies widely based on the size and complexity of the job, and the stakes are higher. Below are the key elements that influence pricing in commercial painting projects.
Labor and expertise
Labor is one of the biggest cost drivers, and for good reason. Commercial painting requires a skilled, experienced crew trained to handle large-scale projects, safety protocols, and complex surfaces.
When you hire a professional commercial painting team, you’re not just paying for people with brushes. You’re paying for:
- OSHA-compliant safety training
- Equipment handling (lifts, scaffolding, sprayers)
- Project management and team coordination
- Experience with business-critical environments like healthcare or retail
Hiring inexperienced or underqualified painters to cut costs may lead to delays, poor results, or even code violations — which can end up being far more expensive in the long run.
Materials & Paint Quality
Not all paint is created equal. Higher-grade paints and coatings may cost more upfront, but they offer superior performance, longevity, and protection, which means fewer touch-ups and repaints over time.
For example:
- A high-performance epoxy floor coating may cost more than standard latex paint but can last years longer under forklift traffic or chemical exposure.
- Low-VOC or antimicrobial paints may be required in schools or medical facilities, and while they cost more, they provide essential health and compliance benefits.
- Specialty coatings for exteriors (UV protection, waterproofing, anti-graffiti) add cost but protect your investment from environmental damage.
Ultimately, material selection is where long-term savings can be built into your project.
Project Complexity
The more complicated the job, the higher the price.
Factors that increase complexity include:
- Surface types: Painting brick, stucco, metal, or ceilings requires different prep and techniques.
- Height & access: Multi-story buildings require lifts, scaffolding, and additional safety equipment.
- Design intricacy: Custom designs, multi-color schemes, or detailed branding elements require more time and skill.
- Repairs needed: If there’s drywall damage, rust, or mold, those repairs must happen before painting can begin.
Complexity doesn’t just add hours — it also increases the level of planning, skill, and risk involved.
Timeframe and Accessibility
In commercial spaces, when the work gets done is often just as important as how.
Painting a school during summer break is one thing. Painting a busy restaurant overnight — without disrupting service hours — is another matter entirely.
Night work, weekend shifts, and holiday deadlines often come at a premium because they require flexible staffing, rapid turnarounds, and precise coordination.
Accessibility also matters — hard-to-reach areas, tight interior corridors, or sites with strict building access rules (like hospitals or government buildings) can slow down progress and increase costs.
Surface Preparation Requirements
As covered in the painting process, surface prep is the most important part of a long-lasting paint job — and it can be one of the most time-consuming.
- Heavy staining, peeling paint, mold, or graffiti all require extra cleaning or stripping.
- Uneven surfaces need sanding, patching, or caulking before primer goes on.
- Some substrates, like exposed metal or previously painted concrete, may require special primers or sealers, which increases both material and labor costs.
More preparation leads to increased labor, and more labor results in a higher quote. However, it also helps prevent paint failure months after completion.
In summary, although the costs of commercial painting can vary, they are influenced by logical and measurable factors. A trustworthy contractor like Koehn Painting will guide you through every aspect of your estimate, ensuring you understand where your money is going and how each decision impacts long-term performance.
Transparency, experience, and a commitment to quality are what protect your investment, not just a low number on a bid.
Choosing the Right Commercial Painter
When it comes to commercial painting, whom you hire matters just as much as what paint you use. A successful project relies on experience, professionalism, and the ability to accommodate your business’s unique needs, without cutting corners or causing disruptions.
Experienced commercial painters bring planning, safety awareness, and specialized knowledge of materials, finishes, and compliance requirements. Believe us, you want a team that understands your industry and treats your space with care.
Tips for finding a reliable commercial painting contractor:
- Ask about past commercial projects in similar industries
- Review before-and-after photos and case studies
- Check for proper licensing and insurance
- Read client testimonials and online reviews
- Request a detailed, written estimate with a clear timeline
- Ask how they handle safety, after-hours work, and site protection
At Koehn Painting, we’ve built our reputation by delivering consistent, high-quality results backed by decades of experience throughout Kansas. Our crews are trained to work efficiently, communicate clearly, and adapt to your schedule, allowing your business to stay operational while we handle the rest.
From minor touch-ups to full-scale transformations, the right painter becomes a partner, one who understands that in commercial painting, every detail reflects your brand.
Maintenance Tips for Commercial Painting
A fresh commercial paint job is an investment — and like any investment, it pays to take care of it. With regular maintenance, you can extend the life of your paint, keep your space looking sharp, and avoid costly repairs down the line.
Keep Surfaces Clean
Dirt, grease, and grime can wear down paint finishes and make a space look older than it is. For interior walls, a gentle wipe-down with a damp cloth or soft cleaner every few weeks can go a long way. For exteriors, consider power washing every 6–12 months to remove buildup, especially after winter or rainy seasons.
Inspect for Damage Regularly
Walk through your space every few months and look for signs of trouble — peeling, bubbling, cracks, or discoloration. Catch issues early, and they can usually be repaired with a quick touch-up before they turn into larger problems.
Repair Promptly
If a wall is scratched, dented, or stained, don’t wait to fix it. Quick repairs not only restore the look — they prevent the damage from spreading and reduce the risk of needing a full repaint.
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Harsh chemicals can degrade paint over time. Opt for non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners that are safe for painted surfaces and better for your indoor air quality.
Ask About Maintenance Plans
Many professional painters, such as Koehn Painting, provide ongoing maintenance plans. These plans include scheduled inspections, touch-ups, and seasonal upkeep to keep your space looking professional all year round.
What Is Commercial Painting and Other Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re still wondering what is commercial painting and whether it’s the right investment for your space, keep reading. Below are some of the most common questions business owners ask before starting a project, answered simply and clearly.
What’s the difference between residential and commercial painting?
Commercial painting involves larger spaces, stricter safety regulations, industrial-grade materials, and more complex scheduling. It’s designed for business environments, while residential painting focuses on private homes and comfort.
What services do commercial painters provide?
Commercial painters offer interior and exterior painting, surface preparation, specialty coatings (like epoxy or anti-microbial), power washing, concrete sealing, and more. The services are tailored to business needs, industry standards, and building types.
How often should a commercial space be repainted?
It depends on the surface material, foot traffic, and exposure to elements. In general, interiors should be repainted every 3–5 years, while exteriors may last 5–10 years with proper upkeep.
How do you budget for a commercial painting project?
Start with a professional site walkthrough to assess the space. Include surface prep, materials, labor, and a buffer for unexpected issues — and always request a detailed, itemized quote.
Can commercial painting be done without disrupting business hours?
Yes. Many commercial painters offer flexible scheduling, including overnight, weekend, or holiday work to minimize disruption.
Are there eco-friendly commercial paint options?
Absolutely. Many commercial-grade paints now come in low-VOC or zero-VOC formulas, designed to protect both people and the environment.
