What is Construction Painting?
Construction painting is one of the last steps in the building and renovation process. It’s also one of the most important. In addition to giving you the joy of creating your own unique aesthetic for your space, painting is key to protecting your investment. Once your home is built — or your long-awaited remodeling project is completed — paint seals all the surfaces, protecting siding, trim, interior walls, doors and windows from damage.
If you’re at the point in your project where it’s time to select your painting contractor and work on choosing colors, then construction painting is already top of mind. We’re here to answer some of the more common questions about the service, plus offer some tips and tricks for ensuring you’re satisfied with the final results.
What is the Difference Between Construction Painting and Regular Painting?
The most common question about construction painting is how it differs from a traditional painting project. While the tools, application methods and materials are essentially the same, the difference lies in the process itself, including the timing, coordination and levels of application required to prepare and paint a space that has never been painted before.
Scale of Project
The scale of a construction project can be more complex than a traditional paint project. That’s because construction painting covers so much more than the walls of a few rooms. Contractors must coat broad areas with even layers of primer and paint that ensure the surface isn’t marred with drips or faded spots. Ceilings, doors, trim, closets, hallways, alcoves and every other surface inside and outside of the home need paint to protect your space because you’re building something entirely new.
Timing
Construction painting typically occurs before the space is occupied. Painters will usually begin interior painting following installation of the drywall and trim. Exterior painting usually follows installation of the siding, pending weather conditions or other factors. Speaking of other factors, construction painting also requires another important step that isn’t part of regular house painting …
Coordinating with Other Contractors
Delays can cause chaos during a construction project. Construction painters must be diligent about communicating with other contractors about any phase of the project that impacts painting. Painting contractors need to be able to work quickly without sacrificing quality in order to ensure the painting process does not delay other parts of the project.
Specialty Materials and Preparation
Construction painting may involve specialty paints and preparation. For example, painters may need to apply fire-proof coatings or anti-corrosive sealants. Commercial painting projects often require anti-graffiti paint for exteriors or epoxy coatings that stand up to high-traffic. Some surfaces even need specific primers in order to ensure that paint will bond and stay bonded.
Projects that Require Construction Painting
- New home builds
- Multi-family housing
- Commercial buildings
- Residential remodels/renovation
- New additions
- Office buildings
- Restaurants
- Industrial buildings
- Commercial buildouts/tenant improvements
What is the Construction Painting Process?
Every project is different, but here are the basic steps you can expect a reliable, experienced painting contractor to take throughout the process.
Preparation:
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- Pre-paint coordination with the general contractor. Your painting project manager should perform a site walkthrough and discuss the surfaces to be painted. While these are covered in the scope of the project proposal, it’s still important for anyone overseeing the project to visually confirm the work required and establish a plan for set-up, work and clean-up.
- Prep the site. Construction sites are dusty places with a lot of debris that can interfere with paint application and bonding. Any holes or damage must be repaired and sealed and all non-paint areas should be protected.
- Prime the surface. Professional painters apply a high-bond primer to bare surfaces to create the essential base for all future paint applications. Your primer should be specific to the project and applied with precision.
Application:
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- Apply paint. The next phase of the project is the one that gives your space its personality. It’s where you shine through and make your house your home. This part of the process requires two coats of paint. Painters will apply any additive protectants or coatings during this phase, in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
- Touch-ups, detailing and cut-ins. Once the paint has been applied, painters will move on the painting trim, touching up any areas that need extra attention and creating clean, precision edges.
Clean-up and Walkthrough
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- Clean-up. AMC Painting maintains a neat, professional job site at all times. Our painters clean up at the end of the day and at the end of the project. That includes removing all of our discarded materials, tidying up the space and leaving it better than we found it whenever possible.
- Final walkthrough. Your project manager should reconnect with the general contractor and address any issues that need attention. Once any punch list items are complete, the job is done and you’ll be one step closer to enjoying your brand-new paint in your brand-new home.
What About New Home Repaints/Repainting a New Build?
Sometimes your new home comes with a standard, generic paint finish that you instantly want to cover. Other times, your builder may not catch imperfections or defects with your paint that you need to address immediately. When deciding to book a repaint for a failed paint job, it’s really important to pick a professional painting contractor. Inexperienced painters may make issues like sagging, cracking or peeling paint worse if they simply try to spray over the damage.
If possible, try to book your repaint before you move in. It will make life a lot easier and minimize the disruption to enjoying your new home. If not, your painting contractor will treat your project like any other paint job and work to protect your belongings and take good care of your space.
Tips for Selecting the Right Construction Painter
After nearly two decades in the home services industry, we know what it takes to ace a construction painting project. Here’s what to look for in a construction painter:
- Licensed and insured, no exceptions.
- Past experience with new construction and a portfolio or recommendation to back it.
- Complimentary estimates; don’t pay for someone to earn your business.
- Zero-dollar deposit for peace of mind.
- Reliable, transparent and trustworthy.
- Available for the timeline and flexible with construction challenges.
- Positive online reviews.
- Good standing with the community — reputation matters!
Trust AMC Painting with Your Next Construction Painting Project
We hope this will help you have a better understanding of construction painting. If you’re looking for a painting contractor that specializes in working with new construction, renovations and build-outs, give us a call. We can provide a complimentary estimate to help you determine your goals for painting your new space and show you why AMC Painting has been a trusted Colorado company since 2006.
