You’ve decided to pursue a career as a painter but now must decide whether you want to focus on the residential market or the commercial side. While both have common skills sets –painting – they are different in many ways:
- Commercial painters need to consider the size of the project which are often large and requires that they work in teams.
- Schedule flexibility is important as business disruptions can cost money so commercial painters may need to work at irregular times.
- Commercial projects speak to different customers so commercial painters need to consider not only how it looks but also how long the paint lasts over time in order to avoid having to come back to reapply it.
Let’s look at a few examples of commercial spaces and what may typically drive their painting priorities.
Settings Commercial Painters Work In
Being a commercial painter is unlike residential painting and that is mostly because of place. While residential painting can be based on the personal tastes and direction of homeowners, commercial painters are more often involved in larger projects. Commercial painters must consider who uses the spaces. Unlike residential painters who can work around homeowners during business hours, commercial painters may often work in teams due to the size of the area being painted, and they need to consider what will cause the least amount of disruption and inconvenience to businesses using the space. They may be working in hospital, universities, corporate businesses, or hotels. Each of these place categories may have different requirements.
- Hospital: settings are mostly stark. Spending is directed to taking care of patients and not sprucing up the environment. Yet some hospitals have focused on transforming health care areas or even the building exterior with inspiring colour treatments. Either way, commercial painters working in hospitals may be more focused on using durable, low odour, zero VOC coatings to limit any unwanted interactions where keeping people safe is a priority. Painting is also used to disinfect the room or area.
- Educational Institutions: Students and faculty in college or even school settings want to learn in an inspiring place that allows creativity to flow. Colors can be used to help students have a positive and happy feeling. Learning institutions also want to promote their brand and attract new students. Commercial painters can assist in helping them achieve these goals. Depending on the architecture and design, commercial painters in universities, for example, will be called upon to support that vision.
- Corporate: Each business has its own character and brand. Part of brand speaks to how it is represented to others in terms of design and colour. Workplaces also want their employees to enjoy coming in and feel inspired and motivated to work productively. Commercial painters help create environments that support workers and staff when they apply paint that promotes.
- Hotels are places that can be exquisite in their design with large atriums and special features that display grandeur and impress people who visit them. Wallpaper and vinyl can also be used to create a cozy feeling. Commercial painters who work in hotels have an opportunity to apply their craft more delicately and with greater finesse.
Start Your Career As A Commercial Painter
Starting a career as a commercial painter can offer you variety in scheduling and in the types of projects that you work. Whether you’re painting a hotel, a school, or an office, you’ll be focused on painting spaces that need long lasting, inspirational or safe applications. By joining a union painter’s union, you’ll get the opportunity to train, develop your skills, earn competitive wages, and gain job security. Find out more by contacting us today.
