Building and facility maintenance is a never-ending process and though sometimes costly, it's the necessary cost of ownership. Industrial coatings are often subject to environmental regulations that protect end users, and for that reason it's generally good practice to obtain a cost estimate with an industrial coatings contractor before beginning a project.

Hiring an Industrial Coatings Contractor

In addition to regulations, other factors call for the guidance of an industrial coatings contractor such as performance, strength, durability, and life cycle of the product. The contractor provides the specifications and warranties provided with the products and service. In addition, the contractor provides a breakdown on costs for material and labor, and gives you a specific length of time guarantee for the finished product.

If surface repairs are needed before the coating can be applied, an experienced contractor will be able to provide that service and add it to the total cost. The type of surface and it's condition, as well as prep time, and type of application, are all factors in determining costs.

One issue in hiring a professional industrial coatings contractor is that many coating jobs need time to cure. A professional crew will be able to work around your facility's schedule to reduce downtime. Building owners must consider tenants and clients when they schedule jobs and this can be challenging depending on the work being performed.

Keeping Maintenance In-House

Small jobs, may lend themselves to performing maintenance in-house to keep costs down. Owners must make that decision based on the expertise of maintenance engineering staff that take all costs and quality standards into consideration. When maintenance staff complete the job to satisfaction while meeting regulatory standards the job can be done in-house.

As an example, resealing a floor for a small warehouse may require a small maintenance crew and a weekend to complete. In this case, standard polyurethane used throughout the factory routinely meets all requirements and this maintenance job may be performed in-house to reduce costs.

The downside to in-house maintenance is there's no guarantee of the finished product, and if the job falls short of quality standards, the owner must pay the cost to redo the job. In-house jobs fail when workers lack the necessary skills, the tools to do the job properly, or proper personal safety equipment. If the product fails the job is held up indefinitely until the issues are resolved.

Professional contractors do the job "right the first time" and provide a guarantee for their work.

Factors to consider when deciding whether to contract a job or keep it in-house:
Type of coating
Strength, durability
Dry and/or curing time
Cost of equipment needed
Cost of labor based on time
Downtime for facility
Condition of surface

Final Words

Industrial coatings protect surfaces from corrosion, abrasion, chemicals, and industrial vehicles. Hiring the right industrial coatings contractor or keeping the job in-house requires a well thought out analysis of cost, downtime, performance, safety, and quality standards. Environmental regulations change frequently and that is another reason to call an industrial coatings contractor before you start planning your next coatings project.