Commercial Repainting Between Tenancies: What Property Managers Should Plan
The gap between one commercial tenant leaving and another moving in can create a useful opportunity for maintenance.
With the space vacant, painters can often access walls, ceilings, doors and other areas without needing to work around employees, customers, furniture or normal business activities.
But the available window can also be short.
Commercial repainting in Perth between tenancies therefore benefits from a clear scope before the painting team arrives.
Inspect the tenancy as soon as it becomes available
The first step is to assess the condition of the property.
Do not assume every surface automatically needs painting.
Some areas may still be in good condition, while high-use areas may have significant marks, patching or coating wear.
The inspection should look at:
- walls
- ceilings
- doors and frames
- skirtings and trims
- reception areas
- corridors
- service areas
- previously repaired sections.
The aim is to determine what actually needs work.
Identify tenant damage separately from normal wear
Commercial interiors can show a mixture of general wear and alterations made by previous occupants.
There may be holes from fixtures, wall-mounted equipment, signage, shelving or partition changes.
These items should be identified early so repair and preparation can be included before painting begins.
Where substantial building work is required, coordinate it before the final painting stages.
Confirm whether the colour scheme is changing
A tenancy change often raises a colour question.
Will the space return to a neutral base colour?
Will the incoming tenant introduce a new scheme?
Will only selected areas change?
The answer can influence the painting scope and programme.
A significant colour change may require a different coating approach than a straightforward repaint in a similar colour.
Finalising these decisions early avoids delaying the painting team.
Take advantage of the empty space
Vacant commercial interiors generally provide easier access than occupied workplaces.
Furniture does not need to be repeatedly moved around and the contractor has fewer operational areas to work around.
That does not mean preparation can be rushed.
Walls may still require cleaning, patching, sanding or priming before finish coats are applied.
The benefit of vacancy is better access to complete this work efficiently.
Sequence other trades before painting
Painting is often one part of a larger make-good programme.
There may also be electrical, flooring, carpentry, ceiling or other work underway.
Where possible, coordinate the programme so activities that may damage finished surfaces occur before final painting.
If several trades are working at once, establish who is responsible for protecting completed areas.
Good sequencing can reduce unnecessary touch-ups.
Pay attention to high-traffic areas
Some sections of a tenancy tend to show more wear than others.
Entry areas, corridors, doors and shared spaces can receive frequent contact and cleaning.
Nu-Vision’s commercial capabilities include high-traffic coatings, so coating selection can be considered in areas where the expected use justifies it.
The choice should still be based on the actual surface and use rather than selecting a coating based only on its label.
Build some time into the handover programme
Painting should not be scheduled so tightly that there is no allowance for preparation, drying or final inspection.
Where a new tenant has a fixed move-in date, work backwards from that date.
Allow time for:
- site inspection
- quotation and approval
- colour confirmation
- repairs and preparation
- painting
- inspection
- agreed touch-ups
- other final handover activities.
A realistic programme is easier to manage than relying on painting to fill whatever time remains at the end.
Use the opportunity to inspect maintenance issues
A vacant tenancy also gives the owner or property manager an opportunity to look closely at surfaces that may normally be hidden.
That can include walls behind furniture or fittings and areas that are difficult to inspect when the space is occupied.
Any concerns can be incorporated into the painting or maintenance scope before the next tenant arrives.
Get the scope documented
A useful quotation should clearly identify which surfaces are included.
For example, does the price include:
- walls?
- ceilings?
- doors?
- frames?
- trims?
- feature colours?
- patching?
- existing signage areas?
- repairs?
The clearer the scope, the easier it becomes to coordinate the work with the tenancy handover.
A vacant tenancy is an opportunity, not an excuse to rush
The main advantage of repainting between tenants is access.
The contractor can work without as much disruption to occupants, while the owner can complete maintenance before the space returns to normal use.
The best results still come from allowing enough time for assessment, preparation and a clearly defined painting scope.
5. Internal links
- Commercial Painting page
- Painting Occupied Buildings With Less Disruption
- Paint Surface Preparation: What Does It Involve?
- Relevant office/commercial case study
- Contact page
Preparing a Perth commercial tenancy for new occupants?
Nu-Vision Painting can assess the interior, identify preparation requirements and provide a painting quotation around your handover programme.