Signs Your Facility Needs To Be Painted – And What Will Happen If You Put It Off

City Wide Facility Solutions
Published on April 26, 2022

A fresh coat of exterior paint will do more for your commercial facility than boost its curb appeal. High-quality paint applied by experienced professionals will protect your facility’s exterior from weather damage, deterioration, rot, mold, and mildew. It will also provide a good first impression to potential customers and tenants as they arrive. 

The lifespan of your facility’s paint job depends on a number of factors, including:

  • Climate/weather
  • Quality of the original application
  • Quality of the paint
  • Sunlight exposure

No paint job lasts forever, and those responsible for facility maintenance need to regularly check their exterior paint for signs of degradation. Here are the signs your facility needs to be painted and what will happen if you put it off for another year. 

How old is your facility’s exterior paint job? 

The industry standard for painting the exterior of a commercial building is every 3 to 5 years. Do you know how old your facility’s exterior paint job is? If you do, you also need to consider the weather and climate around your facility before determining if it is time to repaint. If your building is exposed to intense UV rays from the sun or  is in a humid climate that sees heavy rain, then your exterior paint’s lifespan can be shortened significantly.

If you do not know the age of your facility’s exterior paint job, then you need to inspect it for these signs:

Fading color

One of the best ways to tell if it is time for a new paint job is by looking at the color. Take a sample of your facility’s original color and compare it to how it currently looks. Intense sunlight will fade paint color over time, which is a sign of degradation. If the current color of your exterior paint is a few shades lighter than the original, it is time for a fresh coat of paint.    

Visible damage

Exterior paint is an important barrier between your building and the elements. Any visible damage to this safeguard leaves your commercial building vulnerable to damage caused by heavy rain, snow, ice, and wind. Look for these signs of visible damage to exterior paint:

  • Chipping paint
  • Peeling paint
  • Mold
  • Mildew
  • Bubbling
  • Water damage
  • Cracking

If you notice any of these signs of visible damage to exterior paint, then you should contact a professional for a consultation. Your City Wide Facility Solutions FSM can help with that. Putting this off for another year can have consequences like causing structural damage and then you will be stuck with the cost of those repairs plus a new paint job. 

Pressure washing is can only do so much

Scheduling a pressure washing service at your facility is a great way to clear away dirt and grime that can damage the exterior paint of your commercial building. But if you notice pressure washing no longer is working to refresh the look of your exterior paint, then you can be sure the staining is ingrained in the paint itself. The only way to remedy this is by applying a fresh coat of paint. 

Don’t put off repainting your facility another year

None of the problems with exterior paint listed above will improve over time. Sunlight will continue to fade paint color, mold will continue to grow, the elements will continue to damage your paint leaving your building vulnerable to damage. The time is now to schedule a professional paint job for your commercial building’s exterior. 
City Wide Facility Solutions is the partner you need to find the best commercial painter for your facility. We can also help with your janitorial and disinfecting needs, along with more than 20 additional facility services. You can locate the City Wide office nearest you and call directly or submit our online form to learn more and schedule a consultation.