Are commercial painting and industrial painting the same? While industrial painting and commercial painting may seem similar on the surface, the actual processes are quite different. Knowing the key differences between these two types of painting can help you decide which one is right for the needs of your business. Let’s take a look at the main differences between industrial painting and commercial painting.
What’s the Difference Between Industrial Painting and Commercial Painting?
The main difference between industrial painting and commercial painting is that commercial painting is primarily for looks, while industrial painting is concerned with function. Industrial painting requires the use of more durable, long-lasting coatings, while commercial painting most often uses colored paints. Many industrial coatings are colorless, although they can refresh the appearance of a facility.
What is Industrial Painting
Industrial painting refers to the process of applying specialty coatings to an exterior or interior surface. Specialty coatings are high performance paints that are formulated with properties like anti-corrosion or fire resistance. Specialty coatings can be applied to protect the underlying surface, improve its appearance, or both.
Industrial coatings can also be used for:
- Fireproofing
- Waterproofing
- Rust prevention
- UV ray protection
- Asset Preservation
Industrial painting is often used in factories, warehouses, and other industrial settings. These workplaces are typically subject to more intense conditions than standard businesses, such as harsh chemicals, persistent moisture, or extreme temperatures. As a result, the coatings used in industrial painting need to be much more durable and longer-lasting than regular paint. They must be able to withstand harsh environmental factors that industrial settings often face.
Industries Served
Industrial painting is used in any industry where high temperatures or caustic chemicals are present. This includes factories, auto manufacturing, the aerospace industry, offshore drilling, and oil and gas refineries.
Benefits of Industrial Painting
Industrial painting provides several benefits like increased durability, corrosion prevention, improved safety, energy efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs.
Increased Durability
Industrial coatings create a protective barrier that defends the underlying surface, increasing durability and preventing damage.
Corrosion Control and Prevention
Industrial coatings are formulated to prevent and control corrosion from persistent humidity, harsh chemicals, and high temperatures.
Improved Workplace Safety
Non-slip surfaces like epoxy flooring can improve workplace safety and help prevent injuries to employees or visitors.
Energy Efficiency
Industrial coatings can actually save money on a facility’s energy bill. Coatings act as an insulator, reducing a facility’s heat loss. This makes the building more energy efficient.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
Because industrial coatings prevent corrosion and protect surfaces from damage, it reduces the need for maintenance, saving the business owner money.
Challenges of Industrial Painting
Industrial painting projects have their own unique set of challenges. These include quick turnaround times, large surface areas, harsh environments, and adequate surface preparation.
Proper Surface Preparation
For industrial coatings to adhere properly the surface must first be prepared. This includes cleaning, sanding, and priming the surface before it can be painted.
Large Surface Areas
Industrial facilities are much larger than most residential or commercial properties. The sheer amount of square footage to be painted on some industrial projects is a challenge. Painting contractors have to dedicate large teams to complete the project.
Harsh Environments
Industrial coatings are suited for harsh environments, but painting in that same environment represents a challenge for the industrial painters themselves. Factors like high temperatures, the presence of corrosive materials, and humidity can make adhesion difficult. Teams need to prepare for adhesion issues and know the challenges of work in high temperatures to ensure the job can be completed efficiently.
Quick Turnaround
An industrial facility will have to shut down either partly or completely to allow for the painting crew to work. To minimize this downtime, the painting team will need to finish their work as quickly as possible so the facility can return to normal productivity. This can mean larger painting crews or painting at odd hours of the evening.
What is Commercial Painting?
Commercial painting, on the other hand, refers to the process of applying paint or other finishes to an interior or exterior surface. This can be done for many reasons, including:
Aesthetics – to enhance the appearance of a building
Protection – to protect the surface from weathering or other damage
Marketing – to create a certain impression for customers or clients
Commercial painting is often used in office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and shopping malls. Because these types of businesses aren’t subject to as intense conditions as industrial settings, the coatings used in commercial painting don’t need to be as durable.
Industries Serviced
Commercial painting is used in commercial real estate, apartment buildings, hospitals, schools, retail, and the hospitality industry.
Benefits of Commercial Painting
Apart from simply an aesthetic improvement, commercial painting provides several benefits to a property. These include improving the overall optic of your facility, increasing the property’s value, and easier maintenance and cleaning.
Improved Curb Appeal
A freshly-painted building is much more appealing than a building with cracked and faded paint. Commercial painting helps your property create a more professional optic for clients and board members.
Increased Property Value & Asset Preservation
Investing in a new coat of paint for your property can make a big difference when it’s time to sell. A property appraisal is going to take the exterior into account, so having a well-painting building can help increase the asking price for your property.
Easier Maintenance and Cleaning
Cracked, chipped, and flaking paint makes surfaces tougher to clean. Not to mention the extra work involved in picking up flaking paint chips from a property. A new coat of paint helps cut down on both maintenance and cleaning, saving you money.
Challenges of Commercial Painting
While not quite as complex as industrial painting projects, commercial painting has its own set of challenges. These include time constraints, large surface areas, complex surfaces, and abnormal schedules.
Complex Surfaces
Commercial buildings can have high ceilings and complex architecture that makes painting the surfaces a challenge. Scaffolding and/or aerial work platforms may be required to paint hard-to-reach areas.
Time Constraints
Business owners want to minimize the amount of time they need to be closed to allow for commercial painting. That means completing a project within a very short time frame, which can be a challenge for commercial painters.
Abnormal Schedules
In addition to time constraints, sometimes commercial painting projects need to take place in the evening, on weekends, or even during holidays to avoid disrupting the business. This represents a challenge to staff a painting team to work into the evening or on weekends.
Large Surface Areas
Buildings that are several stories high represent a logistical challenge. Adequate staffing and specialized equipment like aerial work platforms are required to paint large buildings quickly.
Is Commercial Painting or Industrial Painting Right for My Business?
The answer to this question depends on the needs of your business. If you need a long-lasting, durable coating that will provide protection from environmental factors, then industrial painting is the right choice. If you are mainly concerned with aesthetics and making a positive impression on your customers or clients, then commercial painting may be a better option.
Contact Us for Your Industrial or Commercial Painting Project
If you’d like to learn more about our painting services, then contact us via phone or email today. Our team at Alpine Painting & Restoration would be happy to answer any questions that you may have and offer an estimate for your service. We look forward to enhancing your commercial or industrial facility.
Editors Note: This post was originally published in August 2022, and has been updated for comprehensiveness
