We’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but let’s face it: most of us do. A good first impression will grab your attention. The same is true when painting the exterior of your retail store.
Your storefront has to draw people in off the street. It has to show that you care as an owner, and nothing says “I care” better than a professional exterior painting job. It’s also the secret to turning passersby into eager shoppers.
Choose Top Quality Exterior Paint
Quality will be your first big question when it comes to exterior painting. Do you opt for cheaper, low-quality paint or invest in expensive, high-quality paint? Even Ebenezer Scrooge understands the value of high-quality paint. But is it worth the investment?
Paint quality comes down to four key factors: cost, durability, color retention, and longevity. Let’s unpack each to see how they impact the overall paint job.
Exterior Painting Cost
The cost depends on who you hire. A local handyman using lower-quality paint may save you thousands of dollars—yay! But you may find yourself repainting several years down the line—boo.
In the long run, it’s less expensive to hire professionals who’ll leave your business looking spic and span with a fresh coat of high-quality paint.
Durability
There’s a reason cheap paint is, well, cheap. It doesn’t last as long, it chips easily, and it doesn’t protect your building’s exterior.
High-quality pain is weather-resistant and won’t blister, peel, or chip as easily. You may save money with low-quality paint, but you’ll spend more on touch-ups, repairs, and re-paints.
Color Retention
This refers to how long a paint will hold its true color. Low-quality paint is more likely to fade over time than high-quality paint. This is especially true when it comes to exterior painting. Areas of your building that are exposed to direct sunlight will fade faster than your motivation to train for that upcoming 5k.
High-quality paint is like true love: it never fades (awwww). That said, you’ll still need professionals to apply it properly to reap all the benefits.
Longevity
Everything boils down to how long the paint will last. It should be obvious at this point: low-quality paint will fade, chip, and peel much faster than high-quality paint. High-quality paint is the better option if you’re in this for the long haul.
Pick Your Colors Carefully
Paging Dr. Freud: Some colors are better than others from a psychological standpoint. In fact, up to 90% of shoppers subconsciously judge a retail environment based on its color scheme.
Color sets the mood and tone of the customer’s experience. If you’re running a children’s toy store, you’d want bright primary colors (red, blue, and yellow). But if you’re selling caskets, vibrant colors send the wrong message.
Before choosing your exterior painting colors, research trends within your niche to see what other successful stores are doing. How are they pairing colors with their product packaging? How are they conveying messages about their brand through their color choices?
To answer those questions, let’s look at the psychology behind the most popular color options.
Blue = Trust, calmness, and dependability. Stores that use blue are likely more professional in nature, perhaps selling tech-related products.
Yellow = Optimism, happiness, and excitement. Yellow can make people hungry, so you’ll often see yellow in dining environments (i.e, McDonald’s). But too much yellow can be overpowering. Use it sparingly and in tandem with other colors around your store.
Red = Urgency, prosperity, and love. Retail stores like using red to highlight sale items.
White = Minimalism and honesty. Think about the Apple store. Everything is glowing white. It feels new, smart, and exciting.
Black = Elegance and sophistication. You’ll see black in cosmetic stores and high-end clothing brands.
Hire Experienced Contractors
When there’s something wrong with your car, where do you go? Do you bring it to your buddy’s house who likes to tinker? Nope, sorry Pete. You take it to a professional who knows what they’re doing.
The same principle applies to painting your retail business. While the DIY option is cheaper, it has too many pitfalls. Doing it yourself takes way too much time. You’ll also quickly learn that painting isn’t as easy as it seems. Drips, uneven coats, and brush marks will make the job look lazy, which makes you look lazy as an owner. Ouch.
Exterior painting is a major job, so you should lean on professional help. Pros have the experience and expertise to get the job done right in a fraction of the time. That means fewer disruptions to your business and more time spent with a fresh coat of exterior paint.
From a quality standpoint, professional painters are unmatched. They have steady hands and trained eyes. They also know how to use high-quality paints efficiently, so you’re not wasting money on touch-ups and repairs.
Create a Realistic Exterior Painting Schedule
Today’s world runs on deadlines and schedules. Truth be told, you barely have time to read this article! When painting the exterior of your business, setting air-tight, realistic schedules can make a world of difference.
Trying to decide if it’s time to paint your retail building? Consider these factors:
Building Materials
How often you paint your building depends on what it’s made of. Here are a few general guidelines you should stick to:
Wood surface paint can last between three and seven years.
Aluminum and exterior walls with stucco should be repainted every five years.
Cement fiberboard can last between 10 and 15 years.
Painted brick can wait between 15 and 20 years before applying a fresh coat.
Location
Where your building is located may impact these timelines. For example, if you get constant sun exposure, your paint will fade more quickly. The same is true for areas with harsh winters and frequent storms.
As for those hot, humid summers we get here in Athens? Extreme heat makes paint more likely to chip and peel.
Wear and Tear
If you start noticing cracks and blisters, call a professional to remedy the problem before it gets worse. A quick touch-up can add several years to your paint job’s longevity.
Scheduling also plays a critical role during the job itself. Before hiring a painting team, you want to consider things like customer traffic and peak business hours. Make sure they can work around your schedule to minimize disruptions.
Do Exterior Repairs in Advance of Painting
Making necessary repairs is one of the best ways to extend the longevity of your exterior painting project. Here are some of the most common repairs to watch for:
Wood Rot: If you have wood siding, chances are there’s a little wood rot going on. The key is finding and eradicating the source ASAP, whether it’s fungi or water damage. Once resolved, you can replace the rotted wood and paint your building.
Damaged Siding: Natural wear and tear will damage your siding over time. Thankfully, painting professionals can spot this damage and know how to fix it.
Chipped/Cracked Paint: You must remove chips and cracks instead of just painting over them. Taking the lazy route can leave your paint job looking rushed and uneven.
Kindness Without Borders: Worldwide Feel-Good Gems We Had To Share
Not all heroes wear capes. Who knows, your local painters may be superheroes in disguise. Take these two California contractors, for example.
Jorge and Gerardo were working on a home in Bakersfield, California, when a thief stole the homeowner’s bike. Without thinking, Jorge and Gerardo dropped their tools and pursued the bike thief. They cornered him at the end of the road, chased him off, and recovered the bike.
The homeowner, Stephanie Perez, captured their heroic deed on her home security system. She posted the video on TikTok, where it went viral overnight. As a sign of appreciation, she set up a GoFundMe to buy Jorge and Gerardo new tools. Donations poured in, raising over $6,000.
Make a Great First Impression With Exterior Painting
Where do lizards go to fix their fallen tails? The retail store!
Your retail storefront is the first thing customers (and lizards) see from the street. They will judge a book by its cover, so you might as well make the best impression possible.
Painting the exterior creates excitement and buzz around your store. If you choose the right colors, lean on high-quality paint, and hire professionals like Procoat Painting, your exterior paint job will take your retail store to the next level.
When you’re ready, get in touch with the pros at Procoat. Head to our website, scroll down, and dial the big white numbers. You can’t miss ’em! Want a quote now? Just fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch ASAP.
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