Choosing the Right Commercial Wall Paint

Your Michigan commercial property is an important investment, which is why constant maintenance is required to ensure it always looks good. If you're thinking of repainting your commercial property, remember, the finish you choose is just as important as the color. The various types of paint not only affect how a color looks, but also how well it covers imperfections and cleans up.

If you're not sure of what paint finish is best for your commercial property, this article will show you how different paint finishes affect the overall look of your building.

Flat (or Matte)

Flat paint is generally not recommended for commercial environments. Typically used in areas and on surfaces that receive minimal use (e.g. ceilings, storage areas, etc.), flat paint is non-reflective and is not washable. The one advantage to using flat paint is that it tends to hide imperfections and usually touches up well. It is also good for high turn-over properties such as apartments.

That said, there are high-end mattes on the market that are great for most any room or area. One such product is O’Leary Paints Ceramic Matte. Other manufacturers may offer similar products. If a finish is desired with a very low sheen (i.e., shine) and high washability, this is an ideal one.

Eggshell

Eggshell finishes are T. L. Hart's go-to product for almost every commercial paint situation. Offering a modest sheen, this finish is more durable compared to flat and is easier to clean. Eggshell paints provide a pleasant, non-glare appearance, overall good washability, and can be touched up. They are not, however, good for high-traffic areas and are not recommended for use on trim and doors.

Satin

Satin paints are products with a sheen in between eggshell and semi-gloss finishes. Popular because they are generally easier to clean and more durable, they are a great alternative to the shinier semi-gloss.

One thing to keep in mind for all products is that they come in varying degrees of quality. There are both low and high-end paints in all types of finishes. In the satin line, for example, there are latex products, and there are acrylic products. The latter is always more expensive--and is a better paint, than the former.

Good quality, acrylic satin finishes are well suited for wood or metal trim and doors. They are also good for use in high-traffic and ‘wet’ areas (i.e., restrooms). As they are less shiny than semi-gloss paints, they make for good products in homes and other high-end properties.

Semi-gloss

Semi-gloss paints are the commercial standard for restrooms, high-traffic areas, and industrial settings. Significantly more durable and washable, semi-gloss finishes are also the usual product used on windows, doors, and trim. Shinier than all the other products, the end-user should consider carefully before using on walls in offices or other low-use areas, as they are not only highly reflective, but they highlight imperfections and can be somewhat gaudy.

Again, as mentioned above, there are varying grades of quality in this finish line. Less expensive semi-gloss paints can be rubbery, even somewhat ‘sticky’ once dried. Low cost semi-gloss, for example, should never be used on horizontal surfaces such as cabinets or shelving. In general, and depending on usage, T. L. Hart, Inc. recommends a good quality acrylic paint if semi-gloss is the choice of products.

Gloss

Rarely used in interior commercial situations, high-gloss finishes typically offer maximum durability and cleanability. Common usages include restrooms, labs, and other potentially wet areas. Gloss products are also typical to floor coating paints. Other applications include structural steel and protective components such as guard posts, columns, stair steel and railings, etc. Generally, gloss finishes are either oil-based, acrylic or epoxy products--epoxies being the hardest and most durable. In general, high-gloss paints are not recommended for walls except as noted.

When it comes to painting and choosing the ideal finish for your commercial property, you need a quality painting contractor that can advise you . Call T. L. Hart, Inc. today for a recommendation on what paints to use as well as a free painting estimate.

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Three Keys to Prospering in Your Work

By Terry Hart • January 13, 2023

“And every work that [Hezekiah] undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). There are here in this one verse three keys to prospering in your work. One, whatever you do should be in accordance with the word of God. God’s will is revealed in his word; it is to be found in no other place. I realize the Bible does not tell us whether we should be a carpenter or a financial advisor, a realtor or a nurse, but it does tell us to do what we do as unto the Lord. So if what you are doing can be so done, it is well and good as far as God is concerned. Better yet, find out what God wants you to do, and do that. I teach that a person should get a word from God as to his occupation. It could be that God puts a certain thing on your heart, to be and do such and such a thing. This is also good in God’s sight, as he gives us the desires of our hearts. He is in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. That said, let it be “in accordance with the law and the commandments.” Two, seek God. He is a rewarder of them that seek him. Jesus taught, “seek and you shall find.” Having sought God as to what he wants you to do, keeping seeking him as to how to do it. This is a never ending endeavor. There is a verse in Scripture that goes like this: “As long as he sought the Lord, he prospered” (see 2 Chronicles 26:5). So if you are seeking God and prospering, if you want to continue to do so, keep seeking God. Three, do what you do with all your heart. The Bible says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). What is to be noticed here is who you are working for. You may think you are working for the government, or the auto-maker, or the real-estate broker. Or, if you are self-employed or own your own business, that you work for yourself. The Christian, however, is to work for the Lord. Verse 24 of this same book and chapter says, “You are serving the Lord Christ.” So, if you think a half-hearted approach to your job pleases the Lord, then go for it. Otherwise, you had better up your game. There is another verse in Ecclesiastes that addresses how you work. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (9:10). In other words, in everything you do, whatever it is—your job, your service to your family or church, or even mundane things like mowing the yard or shoveling snow, give it all you have. Do it as for Jesus, as this greatly pleases him. It should be apparent, then, that if you wish to prosper, be applying these principles. And if you want to keep on prospering, don’t let up. I have found that after enjoying a measure of success, it is easy to ease off on the intensity with which you approach your work. Jesus says it best when speaking about prayer: keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. The key words here being “keep on.” The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

What Goes into the Cost of a Paint Job

By T.L. Hart • December 8, 2020

While you can get your property painted for just about any amount, hiring a reputable commercial painting contractor will ensure you get a quality end-product with a firm that stands behind its work. To provide this, there are three cost-factors that go into a good commercial contractor’s price: labor, materials, and profit.

Keep Your Commercial Property Watertight

By T.L. Hart • November 12, 2020

Moisture is among your commercial property’s greatest enemies. Wind-driven rain, leaky gutters and downspouts, old, deteriorated caulk or glazing, plus improperly painted substrates are all factors in moisture penetration. The result of water getting into unwanted places include peeling paint, damaged substrates, and—worse yet, mold and mildew. This is why you want to keep your commercial building waterproofed. While no one can prevent unwanted weather, and leaky gutters and downspouts are outside the scope of this article, proper preparation and a good quality paint job can go a long way in preventing moisture penetration. The following will contribute to a watertight building: Caulking. It is surprising how much damage a little water can do and how small an area allowing access will allow a lot of water in. Gaps in building materials, open joints, holes, plus splits and cracks may seem insignificant, but they’re a major entry point for moisture. This is easily solved by installing a good quality caulk. Since building components vary, caulks vary as well. They can be as simple as latex caulk, acrylic, siliconized acrylic, polyurethane, butyl, and pure silicone. The key is to seal up points of entry. Painting. Your commercial building is properly painted when all the paintable substrates have an adequate and cumulative amount of coating on them. I say adequate and cumulative as typically one coat of paint applied too thin will typically not do the job. Every substrate, that needs to be protected from moisture penetration, must have the right amount of millage installed. The proper mill thickness can be found in the manufacturer’s product data sheet (PDS). Of particular concern are those commercial buildings comprised of concrete masonry units (CMUs), or block. Concrete block is extremely porous, and unless coated properly will allow a huge amount of water into the walls of your building. The most important aspect of waterproofing a masonry building is filling the pores of the CMU. This is done by applying a block-filler as a first coat, with no more than ten pin-holes (the pore) per square foot. Once this is achieved, a good quality topcoat of any sort will provide water tightness. Best for CMUs are elastomeric coatings. These are rubber-based paints that, once dry, form an impenetrable rubber film over the substrate, and are the best for preventing moisture penetration—even wind-driven rain. Another advantage to elastomeric coatings is that they expand and contract, and will actually bridge small cracks in the masonry that may develop over time. There are other options for waterproofing—actual waterproofing sealers, stains, and cementitious coatings, all of which we have applied over our 36 years in business. In summary, to keep your commercial building looking good and free of moisture damage, keep it sealed up and make sure it is properly painted. Here at T. L. Hart, Inc. our goal is to ensure your commercial property is always in excellent condition. Our team of professional painters stands ready to keep moisture out of your property. Contact us today to request a quote.