Ricochet Construction is a Dallas-area leader in external painting jobs on all commercial properties, especially focusing on multi-family rental properties, large apartment communities, and major condominiums. We have painted a wide array of buildings across the Dallas metropolitan area, and we pride ourselves on the variety, quality, and speed of our painting work.

In the following article, we will briefly cover some of the major issues and problems to think about when deciding when it is time to get new external painting done on your condo, apartment community, or commercial property.

While it seems like it would be obvious when it’s time to paint -- “the walls are peeling, it looks horrible!” -- there are actually many factors in addition to actual failing appearance that contribute to your decision to paint or not to paint. You should think about each of these closely in order to decide when is the best time to bring in a contractor to repaint your properties.

Paint in the most vibrant part of your building, and it’s both the easiest one to get right and the easiest one to get wrong. People have strong reactions to color, and it can be surprising just how much the color, vibrancy, and newness of paint affects both direct renter/buyer decisions, and the general drive-by curb appeal of a commercial community.

It’s also true that like all aesthetic choices, what might have been very appealing at one time can suddenly fall out of favor. This can seemingly happen for no reason at all, or because a color becomes oversaturated and overused in a community, or even because the community or clientele of a commercial property has shifted over time. It’s important to remember that color is an incredibly power sales tool, and it can also be an equally powerful detriment to sales. Which means property managers really need to stay on top of color in order to ensure it is working in their favor.

The importance of strong curb appeal and enjoyable aesthetics is also a strong determinant for also how much visible wear and tear you allow on your properties. Peeling, cracking, and fading that can be seen from a distance are a sure sign that your paint is reaching the end of its viable lifespan. But smaller chips, flakes, and discolorations are also an issue when potential renters do a walk-through or closer inspection of the property as they try to decide to rent with you or not.

Another very important factor in painting decisions are whether the paint has begun to fail in its other primary purpose -- to protect the underlying building itself.

Paint is the number one line of security against invasive bugs and pests. It forms a barrier that keeps many bugs from ever accessing the underlying materials.

Paint is also the first line of defense a building has against water, sun, and weather damage. Fresh paint at its full strength can greatly extend the life of a building.

It’s difficult to put an exact schedule to how long you should expect your exterior paint to last. Many factors cause your paint to age at different rates. These include the original quality of the paint, the paint beneath your paint, the intensity of sun, rain, and wind in your region, and the exterior materials that were painted on. Wood, concrete, stucco, cement fiberboard, vinyl, and aluminum siding all cause paint to age differently.

Exterior repairs like painting should never be put off, due to their potential for increased damage to the more expensive components of the building itself. At Ricochet Construction, we specialize in large scale repairs to apartment and condo communities in the Dallas metropolitan area. We are well-equipped and fully experienced in external painting, and can inspect your properties and advise you on exactly what painting you need, and how long it should take. We have contracted with numerous owners and HOA’s on exterior paint jobs, and can supply a long list of satisfied customers to give references as to the quality, timeliness, and professionalism of our work. Contact us any time to find out more!