If you own a commercial building made of metal, you must make regular repainting a priority. When a building is repainted, it will last longer, and it will look better, and even though these buildings are tough, chipping and flaking paint can create a safety hazard.
A repainted structure will also retain its value much better than a similar structure that is not recently painted. This is why homeowners will opt to repaint their homes, even without requiring it for post-renovation treatments.
If you are looking to have your building repainted sometime soon, here’s what you’ll need to do:
1. Inspect Your Building
Be sure to watch for rusting, peeling paint, and water damage. Look for rusting anywhere steel meets steel, as well as on the underside of the roofing. If you see rust, you should have the problem area patched. Make sure to do all this before you get on with the painting process.
2. Choose the Right Paint Colour
A general colour scheme is usually best since metal buildings are usually used to house industrial equipment. Go for light colours to reflect sunlight and help your building conserve energy.
3. Prep the Surfaces
Generally, any loose paint should be scraped away before primers and topcoats are applied. This will help your new coat of paint last longer and prevent it from chipping with the older layer. Be sure to sand the areas that will be painted before you proceed to step three.
4. Check the Weather
While painting a commercial building, be sure to check the weather forecast. Don’t paint on rainy days since wet surfaces caused by recent rainfall can compromise the integrity of your paint job. Predicted high winds are also a problem, so you should reschedule your painting project if the wind is expected to be too strong.
5. Apply a Primer
Primers are the first coat to be put on a surface, as they are the base coat that new layers of paint are applied to. For your building, you’ll want to use an epoxy primer. This type of primer is more resistant to rust, and even if the metal underneath is rusted completely through, an epoxy primer will not allow water in. Make sure to let the primer set for at least 24 hours.
6. Apply the Paint
Use acrylic paint, as it’s best for metal surfaces, and consider using a spray gun for efficiency. Give your primer at least 24 hours to set, after which your second coat of paint can be applied. Make sure to apply enough paint so that it covers the surface completely.
Conclusion
A commercial building that is in disrepair is going to make your business look bad, and in the end, it’s going to cost you more money. Don’t let your building start to look old and dingy, and don’t wait until it’s too late to have it fixed. Follow these steps, and you’ll have a fresh-looking metal building with higher value in no time.
We are a painting company in Surrey, that can help you achieve the look you want for your building. Check out our services, and decide which you think would be best for your building, or schedule a consultation, and we’ll tell you what we think!