As any facility manager in Tampa, knows, there’s a lot that goes into keeping a building functioning well and looking its best. Not only do you have to deal with unexpected breakdowns and equipment issues in that require repair, but you have to be persistent in planning and executing ongoing maintenance to help minimize those unexpected breakdowns. As part of the ongoing upkeep, you’re responsible for hiring the crews that work on projects in your building, that includes finding and hiring a commercial painting contractor in Tampa. You can find the right one for your job by contemplating the following ten factors in your decision.

1. What is the scope of the project?

It’s important to understand precisely what needs to be done in the building and what you envision it taking to get there. If you need to have an entire building painted, you might need to look for a large company that can meet the requirements of the project in a timely manner. However, if it’s simply a hallway or one floor that needs painted, it might be easier to hire a small crew or even a single painter. You need to determine if the project has any special requirements or needs as well to make sure you are communicating this with commercial painters as you get estimates.

2. How do business needs impact the project?

The businesses that operate out of your commercial facility may have special needs that limit when work can be performed. A business may wish to have the painting project happen outside traditional office hours to limit interruption to the business as well as any other potential headache or sickness that can arise when people are exposed to paint fumes for too long. You’ll need to understand what these limitations are and how to communicate these with the commercial painting company during the estimation process as some companies may have limited or no availability in the evenings or on weekends.

3. What types of materials will be used?

You may have certain types of products or materials, such as “eco-paint”, that you want to be used in your building, so it’s important to discuss these with the commercial painting company in advance. You should discuss what equipment will be needed to complete the job. Your building may have a tall lobby entrance with a ceiling that needs painting. You’ll need to understand what equipment the company will be using to paint the ceiling to insure it doesn’t restrict business needs and is safe for the company to use.

4. What experience does the commercial painting company have?

Take time to understand what experience the painting company you are considering has in the Tampa, FL area. You want to hire a commercial painting contractor that delivers outstanding work and excellent customer service. Shepard Contractors is one of the long-standing companies within Tampa offering commercial painting services for more than 60 years.

5. What licenses and insurance does the painting company have?

At a minimum, commercial painting contractors should have liability insurance to cover any damages they cause to your facility or people during the course of their work. Depending on the type of facility, you may also request that the company is licensed and bonded. This ensures that they have the knowledge and financial resources to adhere their commercial painting projects to meet building codes and regulations.

6. What size crew will the company use for the job?

Crew size differs from company to company. One person may operate a commercial painting company as a one-man crew while larger companies provide bigger crews to tackle larger projects more quickly. It’s important that you discuss what crew size will be working on your job and guarantee that the size of the crew will allow your project to get done in the time frame you’ve requested. Missed deadlines are the last thing you want to deal with as a building manager. Not only can this put other facility projects in jeopardy, but it reflects poorly on you with the businesses in your building.

7. References and reviews?

When discussing the project and getting an estimate from a commercial painting contractor, it’s important that you ask about reviews and references the painting contractor can share with you. Professionals with experience in the industry should have the contact information for at least a few current or prior clients that they can share with you. This provides you with a chance to reach out to these clients and get their feedback on how well the company performed. You can also go online and read reviews of the company as well. In addition, you also have the option to reach out to your peers as some may have worked with the company previously. They may be more likely to provide a more realistic review of the company’s work.

8. How much will this project cost?

A major factor when considering what company to hire for commercial painting is what the project is going to cost you. It’s important to discuss costs with the painting company during your initial meeting when walking through the job. You want to obtain a written estimate as this locks in what the company is going to charge based on the project discussed. Don’t be shocked if some companies don’t provide a written estimate during your initial meeting but choose to provide this via email within 24-48 hours instead. This has become quite common as it allows the company to crunch the numbers and provide a competitive price rather than making it up on the spot.

9. Company communication, how good is it?

Consider what communication has been like with the commercial painting company from the first time you reached out to them till now. Have they been responsive to your requests and gotten back to you quickly? Or do you have to constantly follow up with them just to get a response? Do they listen and take into consideration what you’re saying, or do they just provide their expert opinion regardless of your needs and requests? How a company communicates with their customers often provides good insight into how they function and how they will perform on a project. You want a company that will exhibit good communication, respect and customer service throughout the project.

10. Are there any stipulations in the contract?

Finally, you want to make sure that you read through the proposed contract before preceding to hire a commercial painting company to paint in your commercial facility. Ensure that the details and cost of the project are exactly as you discussed. The contract should also contain information about any warranties and/or guarantees that will exist upon completion of the job. A solid contract at the beginning can prevent a larger headache later if the project hits a snag.

As a building manager, sooner or later you’ll need to hire a commercial painting company. You can ensure you hire the right one for the job by considering these factors.