How to Choose a Commercial Painting Contractor – A Comprehensive Guide

Arguably the most important aspect you should look for when searching for a contractor to paint your commercial building is a company that understands the value of providing top notch customer service, especially in situations when they are working around an occupied facility. It’s important to feel like you’ve made the right decision when hiring a commercial painting contractor. If you don't feel good about a contracting company after your initial phone call or walk through meeting, that is probably a company you should cross off your list.

It is important to recognize that customer service goes beyond pleasantries. A very important aspect of customer service is relationship building. It’s essential to ensure that you choose a painting contractor with which you can build a good working relationship. The contractor is the expert; however, as the client, you should feel comfortable asking your painting contractor questions, and making suggestions about what you would like to see done with your property. For example, our professionals here at Major Painting always put our clients first and take the time to listen to our clients’ needs and concerns to ensure we are providing the correct solutions for their problems and needs. If our clients make a suggestion about a technique or service, we try our hardest to accommodate them.

Also, keep in mind that it’s always possible that mistakes or miscommunications occur. As a result, it’s important that you can trust the painting contractor’s customer service to always make the situation right.

One of the best ways to find a reliable commercial painting contractor near you is through word of mouth by asking your peers and coworkers. Get a referral from a close acquaintance that has used the company on a project that is similar in size and scope as yours. Friends and fellow business owners may have excellent suggestions, and if you end up visiting their commercial space, you'll have the advantage of seeing the quality of work already done.

Another good option is to contact your local paint store. Places like Sherwin Williams, Spectrum Paint, and PPG can provide valuable information about a good painting contractor near you. Tell the store manager about your project and see if they have 2-3 contractor names to recommend for the job.

Online searches are convenient and abundant, but riskier, so choose companies with a robust online presence. Search using keywords like "commercial painting contractor kansas city" and look over their website for details on what they do and browse their past projects. Finally, look over their customer reviews on Google to assess customer satisfaction and learn about the company before you invest your time in meeting with them. Read both positive and negative reviews. Pay close attention to how the painting business responds to any negative reviews as this can be an indicator of customer service quality.

Like with any job, you want a painter that knows the specifics, but also has the education, licensing, and certifications to back them up. Painting contractors must know which paint works well for the project, what is the best approach, and how they should organize the operation. When possible, choose a company that has had at least 5 years in business, as any less could result in poor work from inexperienced contractors or operational issues.

See if the painting company has all the right legal forms set in place, like insurance information, city licenses, and other documentation. Then ask about the training of their painters, whether they have been through safety courses like OSHA 10, aerial lift training, lead training, or other programs.

Also, meet with the painting contractor in person to review the project and qualify their character. Are they someone you trust and want to do business with? Make sure that you and the painting contractor are on the same page when it comes to your project. Let them know what type of colors and finishes you want and what areas need to be completed, so they know exactly how to price the bid.

Before you pick a company, don't forget to compare estimates to see who is able to give you the best price for the job. The bid should be well presented and should be thorough and accurate in the scope of the job. Estimates should be all encompassing, including the material and labor to complete the full scope of the job.

Some companies will charge differently for variable parts, so ensure you've asked for at least three estimates before making a final decision. If you have three quality commercial painting contractors, you will generally get a solid idea of what the project price should be. You could ultimately save yourself from a higher price simply by inquiring from multiple sources.

That said, keep in mind that comparing painting contractors is not always comparing apples to apples. Some painting contractors may be more expensive purely based on a higher quality output. If you have a more expensive estimate, inquire what they do differently to evaluate whether or not the boost in quality is worth the added cost.

Watch Out for Hidden Fees

When you are looking for a painting contractor, you should look for one who gives you a clear and detailed estimate. The company lobbying for your business should present you with a detailed description of what they propose to do and be clear about how much it will cost. At Major Painting, we understand our customers are working with a budget, and a part of our job is making sure we provide an honest and upfront quote so that our customers are not caught off guard at the end of their project.

You should look for a painting contractor near you who respects your business and who will work to reduce impact on your business operations. When hiring a painting contractor, be sure to ask about off-hours scheduling options, extra fees for off-hours scheduling, and how quickly the project will start and conclude. To avoid surprises, be sure to finalize scheduling options with your painting contractor before project approval.

Improperly discarded sundries, paint spills, poor disposal of paint and equipment, and other clean up mishaps can ruin a quality project. For many painting contractors, project clean up is an afterthought. When searching for a painting contractor near you, be sure to ask about their project clean-up procedures, as clean up can make or break the quality of your project.