Understanding Painting Rules

Paint Choices for Commercial Offices

15 March 2021

Constance Cunningham

A fresh coat of paint can spruce up your commercial office. Make sure to do the job right so that the paint has a long and attractive life. Read on to learn how.

Determine Primary Damages

Every wall in your office can be prone to different types of damages. Corners and hallways, for example, may suffer scuffs and scrapes from maneuvering equipment to and from different areas. Waiting rooms and lounge walls are often damaged by chair backs scraping against the paint and wearing it thin.

Other issues can be smaller as opposed to permanently damaging. Fingerprints and dirt marks are common on walls near high touch surfaces, such as near the receptionist desk or by the office copier. You should walk through the office with a copy of the floor plan and detail on the plan what types of damages you are seeing on each area in the office. This will help you know which areas to focus on.

Select the Right Paint

Once you know the type of paint challenges and damages you are dealing with, you can choose paint to provide protection and help resist the damage. For commercial office environments, vinyl paint is likely the best choice. These paints are extremely durable, which means they do not scratch or scuff easily. This is especially useful if your walls or corners get banged and bumped into quite a bit.

The next choice is the finish. A matte finish has a smooth, non-glossy surface. While attractive, it can be very difficult to clean. For this reason only use vinyl matte paints in locations that aren't prone to dirt, such as ceilings. A vinyl semi-gloss or eggshell is a good choice for low-touch surfaces that still require some cleaning, as these aren't super high gloss but contain just enough of a gloss to wipe up easily. For extremely high touch surfaces or scuff-prone areas, go with easy-to-clean gloss paint.

Install Extra Protection

Even the best paint can't protect against all damages. If certain areas are especially prone to damage, consider installing some help. Corner guards can be made of clear or colored plastic, or they can be made of metal. They protect not just the paint from scrapes but the corner of the plaster from damage, making them a useful addition for doorways or hallways corners.

Chair rails can also protect the walls, especially in waiting rooms and lounges that see heavy traffic. These wooden rails look decorative, but they are installed at chair height so that the back of waiting room chairs can't scrape up the wall.

Contact a commercial painter for more help.

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