Whether it’s sun, wind, water, freeze, or thaw, Mother Nature will do a number on the exterior of your facility or the facility you manage. We’re talking big bucks here to repair or replace exterior damage which can be avoided with a little planning and preparation. Take a look at five maintenance painting steps you should be taking to avoid costly issues.
1. Pressure Wash
If you’ve ever watched a clip of someone using a pressure washer, you know how soothing it can be to see it cleanly remove gunk and grime. However, pressure washing your painted commercial surface is more than just satisfying to watch; it removes mildew, algae, and fungus that could be growing on the surface of your paint.
These plant-based pests hold moisture and degrade both wood and concrete blocks. That’s not to mention the certain types of molds that can be incredibly hazardous or even deadly.
2. Caulk
If surfaces aren’t meeting at a perfect joint, use caulk to fill them. Not only will this enhance the look of your surface by offering a smooth finish, it provides a seal between the two surfaces to keep water from getting in between and potentially ruining your property.
Open joints in surfaces which allow moisture to get in can end up causing paint failure, freezing inside masonry, and creating a host of other issues that will end up costing money.
3. Treat Rust
Do you remember those SAT analogies that everyone hated? We’ve got one for you: rot is to wood as rust is to metal.
Your commercial equipment, tanks, and any other metal surfaces are susceptible to rust, which is simply the process of degrading metal. Repairing high-value metal surfaces and equipment can be incredibly costly, and the downtime it causes won’t do your bottom line any favors either.
At the first sight of rust, use a rust inhibitor product so that you can mitigate the damage. Rust will never get better on its own, so if you see it, treat it.
4. Prime and Paint Wood
Make sure you prime and paint all your exterior wood surfaces. Once again, moisture is a menace to your commercial surfaces. Unpainted wood surfaces will be damaged by water, creating unsightly stains, cracks, and swelling.
That’s not the look you want to give to your guests and team members. A potential client might even take your shabby exterior as a sign that they shouldn’t work with you.
5. Coat Your Natural Wood Finish
If you like the look of a natural wood finish, that’s great! Just be sure to coat it on a regular basis. Sun damage could bleach the look of your natural wood finish, leaving it faded and damaging its fibers.
When it comes to commercial maintenance painting, it’s a process. Exterior painting is never a one and done kind of project. This all may sound like a lot to handle for your facility, but we can guarantee if you don’t stay on top of it, it will end up costing your organization a lot more than an extra can of paint.
If you need assistance maintaining your facility’s painting, contact Connor Fine Painting today. We’re more than just painters, we’re part of your building maintenance team.
