Like house paints, paints for commercial buildings come in various types. Since commercial properties are more prone to abuse and pollution (as they are typically located in urban environments), there’s a constant need to protect these buildings from the elements, as well as beautify them to attract new customers.
Commercial painters in Fremont know the importance of paint for commercial buildings, so they are trained to use the right paint products to protect, maintain, and beautify the surfaces.
Commercial properties are investments, so business owners look for a painting service company who will give them the biggest bang for their buck. One of the qualities of the best painting contractor near me is that they should be well-versed on the different types of paints typically used for commercial buildings.
In choosing paints for both interior and exterior surfaces, aesthetics is also a vital factor. Professional painters can help you choose the right paint color and finish. Different finishes can affect the appearance of color, as well as the paint’s ability to hide imperfections, protect the surfaces from the elements, and stand up to cleaning and scrubbing.
If you happen to plan your next painting project for your business, office, or facility and still don’t know which paints to choose, this article guides you to the different types of paint used for commercial buildings:
Oil-based paints
Oil-based paints are paints that use natural or synthetic oils as a liquefying agent. The oils can be natural (usually linseed oil) or synthetic (alkyd).
Oil-based paints are a popular choice for painting commercial buildings as they are affordable, have an excellent flow from the can to the surface, and durable. They tend to go on smoothly and produce a hard finish that is easy to clean.
One of the advantages of oil-based paints is also one of its drawbacks: its slow drying time. Oil-based paints may take 8 to 24 hours to dry. This means it allows you more time to work on the painted surface and correct some errors before they have the chance to dry. On the other hand, this factor also prevents you from applying a second coat (if needed) on the same day. The paints’ slow drying time also means care must be taken to prevent dust or anything else from making contact with the wet surface. Because they dry slowly, oil-based paints don’t work well in humid weather.
When working with oil-based paints indoors, make sure that the areas have proper ventilation. The strong odor of these paints is quite bothersome. It can cause irritation and dizziness and trigger allergic reactions such as asthma.
Oil-based paints can be applied to any surface where you want the finish to last long or if you’re not planning to change the color very often. Due to their durability, oil-based paints are applied to various surfaces, including interior and exterior walls, door and window trims, kitchen and bathroom walls, cabinetry, and metal surfaces.
Enamel paints
Enamel paints can be water-based or oil-based. Once dry, these paints provide the surface a hard and usually glossy finish that is incredibly easy to clean. Enamel paints are used outdoors and in other areas subject to heavy wear and tear or extreme temperature changes.
Enamel paints are resistant to moisture and chemicals, making them ideal for painting walls, flooring, metals, even glass and masonry.
Elastomeric paint
Elastomeric paints are high-build coatings designed to waterproof masonry surfaces, such as brick and building stones (adobe, cast, concrete, glass, granite, limestone, and marble). They can be also used on metal, wood, vinyl, and any other type of surface.
While elastomeric paints can also be used for residential painting, they are more common in commercial and industrial applications. These paints are durable but flexible as they expand and contract on the surface when exposed to heat and cold. Elastomeric paints’ unique elongation properties enable them to bridge and repair hairline cracks.
Emulsion paint
Emulsion paints consist of tiny polymer particles containing pigments. These particles are suspended in water. After the paint dries, the particles combine and then form a hard film of paint on the wall. The end result is a durable finish with excellent color retention, as well as great resistance to alkali.
Emulsion paints are available in a wide array of colors that you can find almost every hue or shade you want for your painting project. They can be applied indoors or outdoors.
Plastic paint
As indicated by the name, plastic paints are thick, oil-based paints that gives the surface a plastic-like appearance. Plastic paints contain higher amounts of plastic than emulsion paints. The higher the amounts of plastic in the paint, the smoother the finish. They can be applied to ceilings, slabs, decks, and walls in high-traffic areas.
Choose the best paints for your commercial property
These are only a few examples of different paints used for commercial (and also industrial) applications.
It pays to invest in premium paints that can save you time and money, as well as extend the life of your commercial building. Professional painters in Fremont can recommend paints that work best for your commercial property. The best paints offer excellent resistance to elements while bringing a big plus to your commercial property’s aesthetic appeal.