Commercial services: Commercial and institutional painting in Ottawa

Painting buildings that stay open

Most of our commercial work happens in buildings that can't close. Tenants keep working, students keep learning and the public keeps coming through the doors. We plan the job around that: evenings and weekends where they make sense, phased areas so only part of a floor is out of use at a time, and a tidy, safe site at the end of every shift.

You get a written scope before we start, so your board, landlord or facilities department knows exactly which surfaces, products and colours are included and when each area will be done.

What we paint

• Offices, boardrooms and reception areas
• Retail units and storefront exteriors
• Schools, libraries and community centres
• Healthcare and other occupied institutional spaces
• Lobbies, corridors, stairwells and other common areas
• Exposed ceilings, ducts and structure in commercial fit-outs
• Doors, frames, railings and metal trim

We also handle the specialized parts of a building, from gymnasiums and parking garages to epoxy floors and safety coatings, so one contractor can look after the whole job.

How a commercial job runs

It starts with a site visit to look at the surfaces, the access and the hours the building is in use. The quote comes in writing with the scope, the products and the schedule. On site, floors, furniture and fixtures are protected, surfaces are cleaned, patched, sanded and primed where they need it, and the work area is taped off from everyone else.

When the work is done we walk it with you, area by area, and fix anything before we sign off. WSIB and liability insurance certificates come with the bid or on request, and corporate references are available.

Pricing a tender, an RFP or a specification

Many of our commercial jobs come to us as a tender, an RFP or a specification from an architect or facilities department. We price exactly what's specified, ask questions in writing when something is unclear, and flag anything that will affect the schedule or the finish before the bid closes rather than after the contract is signed.

If there's no specification, we'll write a clear scope with you: which rooms and surfaces, the preparation, how many coats, which product and sheen goes where, the working hours, and what's excluded.

The right finish for each part of the building

Different parts of a commercial building wear differently, so one product everywhere rarely makes sense. Typical choices:

• Corridors, stairwells and lobbies: scrubbable, low-sheen finishes that hide scuffs and stand up to cleaning
• Washrooms and kitchens: moisture- and mildew-resistant finishes that can be wiped down
• Doors, frames and handrails: harder enamels that resist chipping and hand marks
• Ceilings: flat finishes that hide imperfections and spread light evenly
• Concrete block and bare masonry: a block filler or primer first, so the topcoat goes on evenly

We'll recommend a system for each area at the site visit and write it into the scope, so the next repaint can match it.

Keeping occupants safe and informed

In an occupied building the details matter: wet-paint signs and taped-off areas, exits and fire routes kept clear, ladders and lifts never left unattended, and products stored safely at the end of each shift. We agree the order of work with your facilities or property manager so notices can go out to tenants, staff or parents in advance.

Low-odour options for occupied spaces

For schools, healthcare spaces and offices that stay occupied, we can specify low- or zero-VOC products from the major manufacturers. Tell us at the quote stage and we'll build it into the scope.