Residential and Commercial Painting Contractors

While the location of the business has a great deal to play into the market focus of the painting contractor—that is to say, smaller geographical areas will necessitate contractors be multi-disciplined, there are distinctions to be made between the residential and commercial painting business.

The first is just that: is it a legitimate business?

As is common in many of the trades, many painting companies are not businesses per se; instead, rather, they are individuals engaged in the painting trade. Some might refer to them as ‘one-or-two-man shops.’ A major difference between the residential and commercial contractor is their business designation—they have a business address, are registered with the state as a bonafide entity (e.g., LLC, S-corp, etc.), and have employees. They are distinguished by having a quality website, uniforms, and labeled vehicles.

Let me say this about employees: companies who have persons working for them, who exercise control over what they do, how they do it, and when, are required to treat them as employees—not independent contractors. While the latter is a practice rampant among some trades, the IRS says if you control your workers, they are employees. You are responsible to pay them overtime if they work it, withhold and pay their taxes, and properly insure them.

Another feature of legitimate businesses is their affiliation. Membership in the local and state chambers of commerce is a good indicator that you are dealing with a business and not an individual. Memberships in trade associations are telling also. For painting contractors these might be The Painting Contractors of America (PCA), or The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

Another distinction is this: a safety program.

Since safety is paramount in any market sector, commercial contractors are more likely to have a detailed safety program and provide safety training to their employees. The painting business can be very hazardous; painters work with dangerous equipment and oftentimes hazardous materials. Both can put at risk both the company and the end-user. Moral of story: make sure the contractor you use, residential or commercial, has a viable safety program.

Insurance.

A contractor that is fully insured is vital to the end-user, and while all painters should carry insurance, not all do. General liability, auto, and worker’s compensation are not only required, but offer protection to both the contractor and their employees—plus the entity receiving their services.

Legal compliance.

The painting trade, like everything else, is highly regulated. While licensing is no longer required by the State of Michigan, there are DNR, EPA, and MIOSHA requirements that a contractor must know and abide by. In general, the commercial contractor is more likely to comply with these requirements.

Size and scope of projects.

Whereas there are, of course, smaller commercial jobs just as there are residential ones, the commercial contractor is more geared toward larger and more complicated projects. This means they must be knowledgeable as to staging and sequencing this kind of work as well as staffing it. Again, speaking generally, the commercial painting company is typically larger and able to accommodate more customers and projects than the residential contractor.

Longevity and reputation.

Finally, a major distinction between residential and commercial painting contractors is duration. Whereas many smaller companies come and go, commercial contractors—because they tend to be more bonafide businesses—generally are around much longer. They develop a reputation; and if they have served their customers well, it is a good one.

While these differences are not exhaustive, they do give you a good idea of what distinguishes commercial painting companies from residential contractors.

If you're looking to have your commercial property painted, make sure you choose the right painting contractor for the job. T. L. Hart has been in the business of painting since 1985. We have completed thousands of projects large and small all over Michigan as well as in other parts of the U.S. Contact us now to get a quote.

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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.