Commercial Painting Contractors in Toronto & the GTA
Commercial Painters in Toronto That Take Care of Business
From municipal institutions like hospitals and schools to industrial buildings like factories and warehouses, every commercial painting project has its own unique challenges. During our time as commercial painters in Toronto, The City Painters have tackled all sorts of different projects, including:
- Interior painting
- Exterior painting
- School and office building painting
- Warehouse refinishing
- High-rise and low-rise building painting
- Surface refinishing
We specialise in industrial painting projects, as well as helping facility managers with their maintenance schedules. Reach out to us regarding how any of the abovementioned services we offer can revitalize your commercial facility.
Commercial Painting for All Business Types
We Can Help With Specialty Commercial Building Needs
Keeping Up Your Maintenance Schedule
We help you repeat required work on a schedule
You’re going to want to redo – or at least touch up – your commercial paint job every so often. Even if you aren’t going for a completely new look, it’s still good to refresh the finish to reap the benefits of a professional paint job – even if that’s just to make the space look well-cared-for. We can set up a schedule to do maintenance work on your space’s paint job and keep it looking like new.
Drop-Deck Ceiling Spraying
For the biggest commercial spaces and warehouses
Larger commercial spaces – such as industrial spaces like warehouses – can have high metal roofs that don’t cover the supports, lights, HVAC ductwork, and so on in the interior with a ceiling. These are tricky to paint because of how high up they are and how many exposed elements you have to work around. That’s why you should leave this kind of paint job to professional commercial painting contractors in Toronto – like us, The City Painters!
Epoxy Flooring Installation & Repair
Epoxy is sometimes a better choice for commercial
In some commercial spaces, epoxy floors work particularly well. If you want your floor to be able to stand up to lots of foot traffic, heavy machinery, stacked products, and contaminants (e.g. mold, mildew, bacteria, and spills), an epoxy floor may be for you. Our expert team can install epoxy floors right the first time so you don’t have to worry so much about maintenance. We can also repair epoxy floors in the event they do get damaged.
Concrete Polishing & Repair
Creating a durable and long-lasting surface
Sometimes an epoxy floor will be too big of an upfront investment for a commercial space. If it is, then polished concrete is a cost-effective substitute that maintains many of epoxy’s benefits – durability, easy maintenance, and a smooth-looking finish. Whether you need a new concrete floor or repairs to an existing one, The City Painters are your top choice for commercial painting contractors in Toronto and the GTA.
Speciality Coatings
When your commercial building needs a custom touch
Certain commercial settings may be more prone to hazards like, heat, fire, spills, slips, water damage, corrosion, and contaminant buildup. If yours is one of them, The City Painters can apply specialty coatings like insulators, waterproof membranes, elastomeric paint, and epoxy to keep your space safe from what commonly threatens it.
Drywall Patching, Taping, Repair, & Caulking
We can clean up any problem areas
You won’t get a smooth, even paint finish on drywall if it isn’t secured properly or has holes, cracks, or dents in it. The City Painters can fix up the flaws in your drywall surfaces before we paint them – including patching, taping, and caulking – so they end up with a uniform look.
Stucco / Popcorn Ceiling Painting & Removal
For a fresher and refreshed look
There are many kinds of paints now that can change the look of stucco walls and popcorn ceilings. The City Painters have the tools and know-how to get the painting results you want on stucco and popcorn ceilings, even if you just want a refresh and not a big overhaul. We can also remove stucco and popcorn ceilings the right way so you aren’t left cleaning up debris or fixing flaws before you start painting the surfaces underneath.
Line Painting & Marking
Keep workers and customers safe and informed
Certain surfaces in your commercial space – such as your floors, and even some of your walls – may need special markings on them to warn of safety hazards or communicate other information. The City Painters can customize your space’s paint job to meet safety regulations and be more accessible to your customers.
Graffiti Removal & Anti-Graffiti Painting
Stop graffiti from covering your paint job
Unwanted graffiti can be an unsightly nuisance that clashes with the look you want for your commercial building. As part of our Toronto commercial painting services, The City Painters can remove graffiti from your building’s surfaces. We can also treat those surfaces with anti-graffiti coating so the graffiti doesn’t come back.
Outdoor Patio, Bench, & Fence Painting
Tackle tricky painting of exterior fixtures
There are two main challenges to painting exterior areas like patios, benches, and fences. The first is matching the paint, stain, and tools you use to the materials each surface is made out of. The other is painting objects that are large, have many hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, or both. The City Painters have the equipment and skills to handle these two challenges.
Commercial Building Exterior Surface We Specialize In
Choosing the Right Commercial Painting Company in Toronto
Make Sure They Are Insured, Accredited, & Have Great Reviews
“Commercial” is a broad category that includes both businesses and public institutions. So not all commercial paint jobs will be done the same way or for the same purpose. Look around at different commercial paint contractors not only for reviews and testimonials on how professionally they work, but also for photos and case studies on projects they’ve completed. See if you can find ones that are similar in scope to your space so you have a more accurate idea of how well they will handle your project.
Above all, ensure any contractors you’re considering hiring have adequate insurance and certifications to back up their work. Commercial painting tends to have a higher chance of things going wrong than residential painting, so you want to be certain that you won’t be held liable if an accident actually does happen.
They Can Make Recommendations That Are Specifically Suited to Commercial Spaces
The best way to paint a commercial building depends heavily on what it’s used for. For example, buildings with a lot of people coming and going may want to focus more on pleasing aesthetics to get people to enter and stay in the space. Meanwhile, buildings that involve handling potentially hazardous materials and machinery (such as kitchens and factories) will likely put more emphasis on safety features and markings to guard against accidents. Good commercial painters should be able to assess a building’s use cases and suggest relevant painting strategies.
They Offer a Clear and Honest Pricing Model for Commercial Buildings & Areas
Pricing commercial painting jobs can be difficult because there are many variables to them: how large the space is, what materials need to be worked with, when work is scheduled, how many painters are working on the project, and so on. But any commercial painting companies in Toronto should be able to work with you to map out what your specific space will need, what it’s going to cost, and why. There should be no surprises when you get your final bill.
They Come Prepared With the Proper Tools For Commercial Jobs
Painting commercial spaces can be very different from painting residential ones. Not only are they typically larger, but they also tend to contain more unique surfaces, and have specific aesthetic and safety needs. That means painters need to come prepared with the equipment to work in high places, around safety hazards, and with special materials.
Why The City Painters Is Perfect for a Commercial Paint Job
Fully Insured & Certified for WSIB
Commercial painting tends to be higher-risk and higher-stakes than residential painting, so we know you want to protect your investment. That’s why every member of our commercial painting team is certified by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), and we back up all our work with at least $2 million in liability insurance.
Expert Commercial Building Painters
We know commercial building painting in Toronto isn’t just about painting the interior or exterior of a business or institution. It’s about working around your particular area and schedule so your critical operations aren’t disrupted. To that end, we can work on weekends or outside business hours so you can keep running while we paint.
Custom Commercial Fair Pricing Model
We believe in transparency when it comes to how much a commercial paint job should cost. We’ll ask the right questions about your space to get the information we need to give you a thorough breakdown of what your project will cost. Paint, tools, labour, scheduling, team size – we’ll lay every cost out on the table for you.
Stellar Commercial Resume in the GTA
Though we got our start in 2010 as residential painters, we grew over the years and began tackling office painting in Toronto and all sorts of commercial painting jobs. We even became trusted enough to be asked to do some of the renovations at the Rogers Centre!
What’s Involved in a Commercial Painting Process?
There are typically 7 stages to painting commercial areas:
Plan With Your Painting Team
Commercial painting jobs tend to be big projects that can take weeks or even months. So you need to plan ahead in terms of when you’re going to paint each element that needs to be painted. For a building’s interior, that means painting at times and in sequences that limit interference with normal business functions. For the exterior, it means painting at times when weather conditions aren’t going to hamper painting work or threaten the paint job.
Prepare Thoroughly
Clear areas to be painted of obstacles, either by removing them entirely or isolating them in a place where they’re out of the way. That includes taking anything off walls or ceilings that could block a painting surface or accidentally get paint on it. If using certain kinds of paints or working in enclosed spaces, you should also make sure the painting area is properly ventilated, and painters are equipped with proper protective equipment.
Protect Non-Work Areas
If there are surfaces and objects you don’t want to get paint on, cover them with paper, plastic, towels, or sheets, and tape them down to secure them if need be. We recommend using quality cotton drop cloths on floors, as they absorb paint better and are safer to move around on. You should also put painter’s tape or masking tape over parts of surfaces you don’t want painted, especially if you’re using an imprecise method like spray painting.
Do Repairs and Cleaning
Prep surfaces you’re going to paint by patching cracks, holes, and dents in them and then sanding them down. Then clean those surfaces using whatever tools you need (pressure washers, scrapers, sponges, soap, cloths, etc.) to get rid of old paint, dirt, grease, mold, and so on. This helps the paint stick better for a more even finish, and also makes the space safer by getting rid of contaminants that could cause health problems.
Prime the Painting Surfaces
Get any protective gear and other safety equipment you need into the painting spaces, then coat the surfaces to be painted with primer. You may need to use different types and colours of primer, depending on what kinds of surfaces you’re painting and what you want the finished designs to look like. Then let the primer dry.
Do the Actual Painting
Once the primer is applied, you can start applying the actual paint using the tools most appropriate for the job. For example, spray-painters work best on large surfaces where you want a flat finish and speed is more important than precision, especially if those surfaces are in hard-to-reach places. On the other hand, paintbrushes and rollers are better for tight spaces where sprayers may have missed spots or you want to be careful about where you get paint.
Clean Up after Paint Dries
Certain kinds of paint may take up to a couple of days to dry, especially if applied on large surfaces or in cooler environments. When the paint’s done drying, remove any tape, protective coverings and other equipment brought into the area. Then move furniture and other objects removed or isolated from the painting area back where they were.
Plan With Your Painting Team
Commercial painting jobs tend to be big projects that can take weeks or even months. So you need to plan ahead in terms of when you’re going to paint each element that needs to be painted. For a building’s interior, that means painting at times and in sequences that limit interference with normal business functions. For the exterior, it means painting at times when weather conditions aren’t going to hamper painting work or threaten the paint job.
Prepare Thoroughly
Clear areas to be painted of obstacles, either by removing them entirely or isolating them in a place where they’re out of the way. That includes taking anything off walls or ceilings that could block a painting surface or accidentally get paint on it. If using certain kinds of paints or working in enclosed spaces, you should also make sure the painting area is properly ventilated, and painters are equipped with proper protective equipment.
Protect Non-Work Areas
If there are surfaces and objects you don’t want to get paint on, cover them with paper, plastic, towels, or sheets, and tape them down to secure them if need be. We recommend using quality cotton drop cloths on floors, as they absorb paint better and are safer to move around on. You should also put painter’s tape or masking tape over parts of surfaces you don’t want painted, especially if you’re using an imprecise method like spray painting.
Do Repairs and Cleaning
Prep surfaces you’re going to paint by patching cracks, holes, and dents in them and then sanding them down. Then clean those surfaces using whatever tools you need (pressure washers, scrapers, sponges, soap, cloths, etc.) to get rid of old paint, dirt, grease, mold, and so on. This helps the paint stick better for a more even finish, and also makes the space safer by getting rid of contaminants that could cause health problems.
Prime the Painting Surfaces
Get any protective gear and other safety equipment you need into the painting spaces, then coat the surfaces to be painted with primer. You may need to use different types and colours of primer, depending on what kinds of surfaces you’re painting and what you want the finished designs to look like. Then let the primer dry.
Do the Actual Painting
Once the primer is applied, you can start applying the actual paint using the tools most appropriate for the job. For example, spray-painters work best on large surfaces where you want a flat finish and speed is more important than precision, especially if those surfaces are in hard-to-reach places. On the other hand, paintbrushes and rollers are better for tight spaces where sprayers may have missed spots or you want to be careful about where you get paint.
Clean Up after Paint Dries
Certain kinds of paint may take up to a couple of days to dry, especially if applied on large surfaces or in cooler environments. When the paint’s done drying, remove any tape, protective coverings and other equipment brought into the area. Then move furniture and other objects removed or isolated from the painting area back where they were.
Toronto Commercial Painting FAQs
What is the typical commercial painting cost per square foot in Toronto?
The average commercial painting cost per square foot in Toronto is around $3. However, that can fluctuate quite a bit based on several factors, including:
- How much area is being painted
- What materials and equipment are required
- When painting needs to be scheduled
- How much prep work is necessary to paint the space safely
Are The City Painters insured for commercial painting jobs?
We sure are! We know commercial painting is a big investment that can have significant risk attached, so we want to give you peace of mind that your project is taken care of. That’s why our entire commercial painting team is WSIB certified, and we offer at least $2 million worth of liability insurance with each project.
What does ‘commercial painting’ mean exactly, and what does it entail?
Commercial painting refers to painting the interiors and exteriors of businesses, public institutions, and other non-residential buildings. While residential painting is mainly about giving a homeowner the look they want for their living space, commercial painting is more about helping business owners achieve aesthetics that attract customers and keep employees productive.
Commercial buildings tend to be larger and have more moving parts than residential ones, so commercial painting projects tend to involve larger painting teams using more advanced equipment. Commercial projects also usually involve more planning and prep so that the painting interferes as little as possible with business operations.
Are there different approaches and commercial painting methods?
Yes, and painters should use specific ones to match the type and size of commercial space they’re painting. For instance, large low-detail surfaces can often be spray-painted when speed is preferred over precision. High-up surfaces may need to be reached with ladders, or even lifts and scaffolding in a large building with exceptionally high ceilings and exteriors.
Tight spaces and highly-detailed surfaces may be better painted by hand with paintbrushes and rollers. Also, the kind of paint you use can depend on what you’re painting and what it’s made out of (for example, you may want to put a special heatproof coating on a particular machine). Your painters should be able to suggest various other paint and painting tool options that may best suit your particular project.
How long does commercial building painting take?
Commercial building painting can take anywhere between a few days (usually around 1-4) to a few weeks (usually 1-2) or even a few months. For example, painting a small office or commercial restroom is going to take much less time than painting an entire big box store.
Commercial painting projects can vary greatly in terms of how much needs to be painted, as well as how complex the job is. These complexities can include the amount of prep work needed, how long particular paints need to dry, when painting needs to be scheduled to avoid work disruptions, weather delays, and how difficult the space is to paint (e.g. heights and tight spaces).
How do I prepare my commercial space for painting?
How you prepare a commercial space for painting depends on the specific space and what parts of it you’re painting (including interior, exterior, or both). However, there are some common steps you can take to make the process faster and more efficient. They include:
- Scheduling painting for a time when the space isn’t in heavy use
- Informing employees and customers about the painting job so they can work around it
- Clearing furniture, decorations, and other obstacles away from the painting area
- Putting drop cloths and other protective coverings on things you don’t want painted
- Ensuring painting spaces are properly ventilated to clear paint fumes
- Repairing damaged or worn-out surfaces including cracks, holes, and old caulking
- Cleaning and drying the surfaces you’re going to paint to get rid of debris and moisture
- Priming the surfaces you’re going to paint so the paint will stick to them better
What types of tools are needed for commercial building painting?
The types of tools you’ll need for painting a commercial building can vary based on what the building is and which specific parts of it you’re going to be painting. Some ones that many professional commercial painting companies in Toronto will have include:
- Paintbrushes – Essential tools for painting small surfaces with fine details, where you want a glossy finish, or where other painting methods have missed spots.
- Rollers – Similar to paintbrushes, but can be used for medium-sized surfaces that are easy to reach.
- Spray painter – Used to paint large, uncomplicated surfaces (especially those out of normal reach) to save time when compared to painting by hand.
- Drop cloths – We recommend using professional cotton drop cloths, as they stay put better because of their weight and absorb paint faster than other materials. This keeps painters safer when moving and better protects things you don’t want to get paint on.
- Caulking gun – Seals windows, trim, and baseboards so paint retains an even finish and doesn’t leak onto surfaces you don’t want it on.
- Filling compound & putty knife – Patches cracks and holes in surfaces so paint doesn’t seep into them and cause more damage.
- Scraper & sander – Gets rid of old paint and rough surface debris to allow new paint to adhere to surfaces more efficiently and evenly.
- Pressure washer – Cleans painting surfaces with efficiency and precision, especially those that are difficult to reach without help.
- Ladders – Larger ladders are usually better to more safely reach common high-up places in commercial buildings, but sometimes they won’t always be enough.
- Lifts & scaffolding – Used to safely reach and paint high areas that ladders can’t get to.
- PPE – This can include items like masks, gloves, goggles, and coveralls to protect painters’ skin and lungs from potentially harmful substances they work with. It can also include things like harness gear to protect painters who are working at great heights.
Can’t I just DIY my commercial painting job?
It’s typically not a good idea to try to complete a commercial painting project on your own. Here are some reasons why:
- Commercial buildings tend to be larger and have more complex interiors than residential buildings, so they usually take longer to paint. If the painting isn’t carefully planned out in advance, it can greatly interfere with the people and equipment working inside the building.
- Because commercial buildings are typically large, they often have high places that are difficult to see or reach. If you attempt to paint these areas without the proper equipment, it’s challenging to get a good-looking result. More importantly, you risk serious injury.
- A poorly-done paint job reflects badly on your commercial brand to potential investors, partners, and customers. It can also sap your workers’ motivation if they notice you aren’t putting much effort into making their workspace aesthetically pleasing.
- Certain components of a commercial paint job actually work as safety or information measures. For instance, certain specialty coatings can help to weatherproof a building and guard against threats such as heat, fire, corrosion, and contaminant buildup. As another example, certain floor markings can help tell people where to go or warn them against areas that are unsafe. If these kinds of paint jobs are done improperly, they can frustrate employees and customers, and even put them at risk – and you may be held liable if someone ends up getting hurt or sick.