If you are a property owner or facilities manager looking to freshen up your building or protect it from the elements, you need a professional, experienced, and dependable commercial painting contractor.

But, how do you choose the right commercial painting contractor for your business?

While price is always an important variable in business, it is only part of the equation. Make sure the commercial painting contractors in Phoenix you talk to have the experience and credentials to do the job.

Here are a few of the key things you need to know before you make a decision.

Ask Questions (Lots of Them)

Choosing commercial painting contractors is a big investment, so you want to make sure you are comfortable with the company you choose. It is OK to ask a lot of questions to make sure you understand exactly what you are getting.

Here are some of the questions you should ask:

  • How much commercial painting experience do you have?
  • Do you specialize in specific types of commercial facilities?
  • Have you done a job like mine before?
  • What equipment and materials do you use?
  • Once a contract is signed, what prep work do you do before painting begins?
  • Do you work with specialty coatings or applications?
  • How long would you anticipate a project of this size to take?
  • Will you work around our work schedule?
  • Will you do an on-site visit and get me a free estimate quickly?
  • Can you provide renderings so I can see what the finished project will look like?
  • What does your warranty cover and how long does it last?
  • How do you protect workers, visitors, and work crews while on-site?
  • What types of commercial painting services do you offer?

Another important question is to find out who will do the work at your site. While some specialty work might need to be outsourced (such as building repairs found during prep work), you want to work with commercial painting contractors in Phoenix that use their own trained and vetted employees rather than subcontractors whenever possible.

Any work crews should be trained and experienced with your type of facility, the paints and coatings that will be applied, and have completed OSHA safety training.

Ask for References

Don’t just Google commercial painting contractors near me and hope for the best! Ask for references for similar projects and follow up with building owners or facility managers. If possible, visit the location yourself so you can how it looks. Check for both the aesthetic quality (does it look good?) and how the finish is holding up over time (durability).

Some questions you might want to ask references include:

  • Would you recommend the commercial painting contractor to others?
  • Did you run into any problems during the job and, if so, how were they addressed?
  • Did the job get finished on time and budget?
  • Did your contractor do everything they said they would do?
  • Did the work crews show up on time, work efficiently, and act professionally?
  • How was the cleanup after the project was completed?

Check Industry and Online Reviews

People are not shy about sharing any problems they have about contractors online. Check out what others are saying about any company you are considering.

  • Search for “[Name of Company] complaints”
  • Check with the Better Business Bureau and local Chamber of Commerce
  • Check Google My Business, Facebook, Yelp, or Angi (formerly Angie’s List)

Check Licensing and Insurance

Working with unlicensed, uninsured, or underinsured contractors puts your business at risk. Not only can it lead to poor quality work, but it may leave you liable in case of any incident. Only work with licensed commercial painting contractors.

You can check on a commercial painting contractor’s license at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

Ask to see a copy of the contractor’s insurance. You may want to check with your insurance carrier to make sure the coverage is enough to meet your needs. Another good idea is to check with the commercial painting contractor’s insurance carrier to verify coverage and ensure policies are still current.

Get Everything in Writing

No matter what commercial painting contractors tell you, make sure you get everything important to you in writing. The contract should include:

  • Price
  • Anticipated duration
  • Payment terms
  • Scope of project
  • Materials being used
  • Prep work needed
  • Permit responsibility
  • Insurance
  • Warranty coverage
  • Performance
  • Change orders
  • Damage

Depending on the scope of the project, you may want to have your legal counsel review the contract and associated documentation. If you are not sure about something in your contract, ask more questions until you are satisfied with the answers.

Ghaster Painting and Coatings

Ghaster Painting and Coatings has 45 years of experience as industrial and commercial painting contractors in Phoenix. When you work with Ghaster Painting and Coatings, you get a beautiful and durable finish from a responsive and responsible partner you can trust to get the job done right.

For more information, contact Ghaster Paintings and Coatings at 602-932-2397 or request a bid online.