Are you noticing that your commercial warehouse facilities are looking run down and in a state of disrepair? Is the exterior paint faded, cracked, and peeling? Whether you realize it or not, your warehouse is making an impression on everyone that sees it. A warehouse that’s in disrepair, with cracked and faded paint tells a story to potential customers and business partners before they’ve even set foot inside.
There are a number of great reasons to repaint your warehouse which will save your business time, money, and help you avoid future repairs. The team at Alpine Painting & Restoration have compiled the fifteen top reasons that you should repaint your warehouse today.
Warehouse Painting Saves You Money
Painting your warehouse is an investment that pays dividends. From reducing your energy bills, improving employee morale and safety, avoiding costly fines, and preventing the need for expensive repairs, painting your warehouse saves you money.
1. Reduces Utility Bills
Repainting your warehouse can actually reduce your monthly utility bills. Having a white “cool roof” absorbs less sunlight, meaning your building will be cooler inside. Likewise, selecting reflective colored paints will mean the building will absorb less heat. In cold climates, paint works as an insulator, so repainting and fixing cracked or chipped paint means the inside of the warehouse will stay warmer, reducing the need to heat the building.
2. Prevents Costly Repairs
Painting your warehouse can also save you money on repairs. High-quality industrial paint keeps mold and mildew from growing, along with keeping metal surfaces from rusting. It’s expensive to demolish a rusty metal staircase, or tear down rotting wooden support beams when a nice coat of paint could have prevented the decay in the first place. Painting also helps you discover mold or cracks in hard-to-reach areas so you can address the issues before they get worse.
3. Increases Safety
Commercial warehouses have a unique mix of traffic that includes pedestrians, forklifts, and aerial work platforms. When you combine this with heavy machinery and other types of hazards, any collision in the warehouse could result in serious injury. Warehouse painting increases safety by indicating where to walk, where to drive, where to stand, and where to avoid. Having well-painted floor markings and safety striping keeps employees out of harm’s way.
4. Improves Employee Morale
Your company’s employees will spend several hours each day inside your warehouse. A drab, dull environment with faded or peeling paint can have a negative impact on employee morale. A brightly-painted workspace that’s in good repair shows that you care about your employees and your business. In terms of safety, having well-painted floor markings that are easy to follow will help keep your employees safe and productive.
5. Increases Resale Value
First impressions count. When you put your warehouse up for sale the first thing that a potential buyer will see is the exterior. Having a well-painted building increases the curb appeal and shows potential buyers that the building has been maintained. A recent paint job also indicates that the building will be in good repair structurally as industrial paint jobs protect against mold and rot, along with keeping out insects and rodents.
6. Industry Regulations
To protect warehouse workers and avoid injury, OSHA requires warehouses to have visible floor markings to indicate safe walkways, vehicle paths, and hazardous areas. Each industry has a different set of legal requirements for floor markings in order for them to be OSHA-compliant. In instances where floor markings are not present or have been worn away, the business owner could receive a fine.
How Painting Protects Your Warehouse
A new coat of paint is aesthetically pleasing, but it goes a step further to actually protect your warehouse. Because industrial paint acts as a protective coating, newly-painted warehouses are more resistant to wear and tear and are easier to maintain, allowing you to avoid surface damage that can be expensive to fix.
1. Improves Durability
Industrial paint is formulated to be durable, and applying it to floors and walls in your warehouse actually protects the building itself. The paint can help protect walls and floors from stains, scratches, water damage, and corrosion.
2. Prevents Damage
As paint peels off and chips away, it exposes the surface underneath. When the surface is exposed, the next accident will damage a wall instead of just the paint. That new coat of paint is actually protecting the walls and floors, and prevents damage to the warehouse itself.
3. Makes Maintenance Easier
New paint makes cleaning your warehouse easier because the paint coating creates a smooth surface that can be easily wiped down. Dented and scratched surfaces collect dust, dirt, and microbes, allowing the warehouse to get dirtier, and making cleaning it more difficult.
Signs Your Warehouse Needs to be Repainted
There are a handful of telltale signs that your warehouse is ready to be repainted. You know your warehouse needs an update when you see cracked or faded paint, but there are other indicators, too
1. Faded Paint
The most obvious sign that your warehouse needs to be repainted is that the external paint has become faded. Did you know that high quality industrial paint actually protects your buildings? When the paint is visibly faded, it means that your warehouse isn’t fully protected and could potentially become damaged. Sunshine will cause paint to gradually fade over time, giving you a clear indication that it’s time for your warehouse to be painted again.
2. Peeling Paint
Over time, heat and moisture will cause paint to crack and peel. As the paint peels off, the structures underneath become exposed to any corrosive elements inside the warehouse. If the peeling paint isn’t addressed quickly, this can result in expensive repairs or replacements. As for warehouse floor markings, as this paint peels off it can represent a hazard for employees and visitors.
3. Corrosion or Rust
Industrial paint shields metal surfaces like equipment, staircases, and railings from rust and corrosion. When the paint chips off these surfaces they become exposed and can begin to rust or degrade. This can be caused by the presence of persistent moisture or harsh chemicals in an industrial setting. Repainting metal surfaces ensures they’ll be protected from corrosive elements and last for years to come.
4. Cracked Caulking
Caulk closes up small gaps that exist between windows, doors, and other parts of a structure. When caulking begins to crack, it can let dirt, insects, and moisture into your warehouse. A new coat of paint on top of the cracked caulking can help eliminate these small gaps and keep pests and debris out. Because caulk is generally applied the same time as a building was painted, the existence of cracked caulking may be an indicator that it’s also time to repaint your warehouse.
5. Worn Away Floor Markings
OSHA uses a standardized floor marking system to keep employees away from dangerous areas and indicate where they can safely stand, walk, or work. These markings include stripes, dots, and symbols that direct traffic and help employees avoid hazardous areas.
When these floor markings begin to crack or peel – making them hard to read – the business owner could potentially be fined for violating OSHA regulations. Repainting floor markings is important to maintain a safe working environment and avoid costly fines.
6. Water Stains or Mold
A new coat of paint actually protects your building from moisture and mold. Cracked or flaking paint doesn’t help nearly as much, and can allow moisture buildup or mold growth to damage your building. Over time, the presence of water and mold can damage the structure and result in costly repairs. Having a solid coat of paint on a building will prevent condensation, water stains, and mold growth from quietly causing damage to your warehouse.
Preparing Your Warehouse for Painting
Getting your warehouse prepped before painting is important. To get the results you want the first time, your warehouse needs to be cleaned up, covered, taped off, and cleared out before painting can begin. These are all of the steps that need to be completed before painting can start.
1. Clear the Area
The first step of preparing your warehouse for painting is to clear the area of any inventory or equipment. Nearly all painting methods result in overspray, and you want to avoid applying paint to any merchandise or machinery. Anything that is too difficult or impractical to be moved should be covered with a tarp to prevent it from being painted.
2. Clean and Repair Surfaces
You need to have a clean, smooth surface to apply paint. Dust, dirt, and debris are going to interfere with the painting process and prevent it from adhering evenly to the surface. Likewise, any cracked or damaged surfaces should be repaired prior to being painted. Warehouses are typically washed down with a power washer to remove dirt and dust when they are prepped for painting.
3. Cover Flooring and Outlets
Like any painting project, you want to cover up the floor and nearby electrical outlets to avoid painting them. Laying out a protective covering on the floor and covering outlets with tape or plastic will prevent them from being accidentally painted. Afterward the paint-splattered floor covering can be pulled up and thrown away.
4. Choosing the Right Paint
Each part of an industrial warehouse requires a different type of paint to get the job done right. From painting the ceilings and floors, or the interior and exterior, there are particular paints that have been shown to work the best for each section of the warehouse.
Warehouse Exterior
Warehouse exteriors call for durable exterior acrylic paints. Because of its exposure to the elements, the paint used for a warehouse’s exterior will be treated for UV protection to reduce fading. Likewise, the paint will also be moisture resistant.
Warehouse Interior
Warehouse walls are generally painted with quick-drying acrylic or latex paint. The latex paint is easy to clean and bright colors can be used to improve the experience for employees.
Warehouse Ceilings
Don’t forget to paint the ceiling! Paint for ceilings will be formulated to be a bit thicker and dry more quickly than regular paint. Most warehouse ceilings are painted with flat white acrylic paint. The matte finish of ceiling paint prevents it from reflecting too much light.
Warehouse Floors and Floor Markings
Because of the high foot traffic, vehicles, and presence of harsh chemicals, warehouse floors need to be coated with epoxy paint. Epoxy paint provides chemical resistance for extra durability and may also include slip-resistant additives to help avoid accidents. The colors used to paint floor markings are typically dependent on industry specific regulations.
Why Should You Choose Alpine to Paint Your Warehouse?
Alpine Painting & Restoration is ready to tackle your warehouse repainting job. Our three decade reputation has been built on the high-quality work we’ve provided to Philadelphia, Pennsylvanie, and businesses in the Tri-state area. Painting a warehouse is an important investment that saves you money over time, and we’ll make sure that from the ceilings, to the floors, to the walls, the job is completed with the highest levels of safety and professionalism.
Contact Alpine Painting Today
With all of these benefits don’t you think it’s time to repaint your warehouse? Contact Alpine Painting & Restoration today to discuss your warehouse painting project and to receive a free quote.
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