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Did you know that the quality of the finishes on your building can impact the productivity and health of your staff? Yep, a fresh coat of paint isn’t just about keeping your commercial property presentable, it also impacts your staff and prospective clients.
So, what sort of costs are involved in freshening up your commercial buildings look? To get a basic estimate of what a commercial paint job will cost, you should consider the following factors:
- How much paint will you need?
- The amount of labour it will take.
- What condition the building is in.
- Accessibility of the property to be painted
- Qualifications and reputation of the company you choose
How Much Paint Is Needed
Calculating the amount of paint required isn’t difficult. First, determine if you want just the walls painted or the ceiling and any trim as well. Multiply the length of each wall by its height and then add them together. Do the same for any doors and windows and subtract this figure from the wall space to get the total square meterage of wall space.
If you want to paint the ceiling, then you’ll need to multiply the length of the room by the width to get the gross ceiling area. Add this to the total square meterage for the wall space.
Labour Costs
Labour costs are generally charged on an hourly basis, and you can expect to pay around $100 – $150 per hour on average.
However, it is not just the painting time, there is also the preparatory work that must be done before the painting can commence. This may include washing, caulking, scraping, and priming. Clean up after a job is also an important part of the process which needs to be factored into the time taken.
Most painters will include minor cracks and nail holes in their standard preparation and price, but any major prep work, such as large cracks or holes or warped drywall will cost more for labour.
The Condition and Accessibility of the Building
We all dream of the perfect job with no hidden issues, however, there are certain physical elements that can cause significant fluctuations in price. These elements cover the height, structure, and operational hours of the occupants just to name a few.
Textured walls can also cost more, not only for the extra paint needed to cover them but in labour if it needs repairing to look even and consistent. You may also be charged extra if there is heavy lifting involved to clear access to walls.
So, Why do Qualifications and Reputation Matter?
Sure, you can get Uncle Joe to paint your walls and ceilings for you and potentially save yourself money in the short term. However, does he know how to prep the area? Will he make sure that any damage, mould, or mildew are treated prior to painting? Probably not.
What this means is that you will be up for bigger costs in the long run.
What you can expect as an ‘Average’ Painting Cost
Now that you know what factors are considered when determining paint and labour costs, you can understand how a painting contractor determines the cost per square meter.
So, for a property of 15,000 square meters, in good condition, with a typical brush-and-roll two-coat paint system you’re looking at an average of $5,000 – $10,000. Which can be broken down to .33 to .67 cents per square meter for the walls and ceiling.
Summary
If you are looking at repainting your commercial building, ask yourself if you can really afford the DIY options?
