How Much Should Commercial Painting Cost Per Square Foot?
If you own a commercial or industrial building, you want to keep your property looking its best. With a fresh coat of paint, you can maintain the building’s appearance and make a good impression on those in the community.
In fact, your building says a lot about your business. A great appearance shows that you care about the details, while an unmaintained property could signal a lack of focus for your company. Along with that, a freshly painted building creates a happier environment for your employees, leading to more productivity.
Now that you understand some of the benefits, you are ready to hire a team to paint your commercial space. However, may first want to estimate the cost per square foot of this commercial painting job. These expenses can vary depending on the type of paint used at your site, the number of professional painters needed for the job, and a few other factors. With a bit of extra planning, you can stick to that budget while still getting a professional and high-quality painting job that will last for years.
Cost To Paint an Interior Commercial Building
If you want to get an estimate for your commercial painting job, you need to consider these factors:
- The amount of paint needed
- The amount of labor to complete the job
- Your building’s condition
After you have those figures, you can start to plan your project. Here is a closer look at these factors that you’ll need to plug into your calculator.
Amount of Paint Based on Square Footage
Your commercial painting contractor should be able to figure out this amount for you. However, calculating the amount of paint is easy. You need to decide whether you just want the walls painted or include other places, like the trim and ceiling. Once you have that, multiply the length by the height and add the totals together. For those doors and windows, subtract those numbers from the wall space to get the total square footage.
For those who want a painted ceiling, you will have to multiply the room’s length by its width for the gross ceiling space. Add this figure to the total square footage for your wall space.
With all those measurements, you can find out your commercial painting cost. As a general rule, one gallon of paint will cover about 300 square feet of wall. If your contractor uses professional-grade, high-quality color, you can expect to pay around $50 to $75 per gallon.
If that is a little complicated, reach out to a professional commercial painting contractor. These professionals use a commercial painting cost estimator to make sure you have enough paint for your project.
Add Labor Costs to The Calculation
Next, you will have to figure out your labor costs. These prices can vary depending on your particular area of the country. In some spots, the labor can be a bit higher. A professional painter can cover about 150 to 200 square feet in an hour for an average job. Most painting costs per square foot of a commercial building are based on an hourly rate.
Typically, you can expect to pay about $60 to $100 per hour, but some places could have a higher or lower rate. You can also expect to pay for any prep work. If your building is old or damaged, the painters might have to spend a few hours cleaning or repairing the surface. Some of these additional labor tasks could include:
- Scraping
- Power washing
- Caulking
- Priming
You should also ask about the type of tools used for the job. A paint sprayer will work faster, but a brush and roller might be the better choice for your building.
Along with that, the painters will charge for cleaning up the job site. No professional company paints and leaves without picking up after themselves. These painters will remove all the tarping, clean their tools, and ensure your property is cleaned from top to bottom. With that, you need to factor that time into your costs.
Factor in The Condition of the Building
Painting seems like a straightforward process, but it can run into plenty of hassles. The type of building can add to your costs, especially if the painters need special tools or skills to complete the job. If your building remains open during the project, the contractor will need to adjust their schedule to avoid disruptions to your business and avoid hazards to your employees and clients.
If you are trying to figure out your commercial painting cost per square foot, most painters include repairs to nail heads and minor cracks in their estimates. However, if there is a need for significant prep work, like warped drywall or large holes, then you expect to pay more for their time and labor.
Your wall type is another concern. Flat walls are easy to paint, but those textured surfaces could require more layers of paint. You could be charged more if the painters have to move any large objects to access the wall.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Commercial Building?
With all these factors, you can calculate the labor and paint. You can get a general estimate for your painting cost per square foot. These figures often work out to:
- Paint: $2,000 – $3,000 total
- Labor: $5,000 – $8,000 total
If you have a property that is 15,000 square feet and in great condition, you might only need brushes and two coats of paint. That average painting cost will run around $5,000 – $10,000. However, if the property requires extensive prep work or the ceiling needs to be painted, it could be a little higher bill for your project.
Whether you have considered the cost to paint an interior commercial building or need a few touch-ups on the exterior, these tips can help you find a general estimate for your project. If you are looking for a more detailed expense list, reach out to a commercial painting contractor. They will be able to give you an accurate estimate for your next project.