by Chris Wager

Created on: November 05, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

Through the course of the life of any building maintenance must be done. To maintain the cosmetic look and to protect the investment. Which will eventually bring you in contact with a commercial painting company. Even if the building happens to be block, stone or steel. Block and stone must be cleaned and sealed and steel must be painted. With thousands of commercial painting companies out there, deciding on which will be the best value can be a daunting task. Unlike hiring a contractor to paint your home, commercial work is entirely different. In regards to structure of payment, referrals and reputation. Often times having work done on a building involves many trades, not just one. In addition, often time's busy department heads don't have the luxury of spending a lot of time asking the right questions about every commercial painting contractor they ask a bid from. Which can leave them open to the tactics of unscrupulous painters. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /

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First in order to protect the company, the building, and jobs. Details must be understood about what it means to hire a commercial painting contractor. A good point to start is to ask the right questions. For example, how long has the company been in business? How many employees does the company have? Check with local trade originations to see if any complaints have been filed against the company. Are they a member of the B.B.B? To continue, what insurance policies do they carry? Always ask to see a workmen's compensation certificate.

If after doing some checking the company returns a satisfactory report, it's time to ask a few more questions. Given the size and scope of the project will the commercial painting company be able to complete the project on time? Does the company have the funds to begin the project? Using an escrow account is one way to safe guard the completion of the project to satisfaction. The use of A.I.A contract form is also a good move; they contain all necessary details for dealing with subcontractors. Money is always the motivator behind all construction and maintenance projects. However, this does not give you license to take advantage. Be honest, be involved in the project ever step of the way and make clear what is to be done. Being involved is the key to any maintenance program and cultivating a good relationship with a commercial painting company.

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