When we started offering painting services decades ago, our main focus was straightforward commercial interiors—places like offices and small retail spaces. Warehouse painting wasn’t really on our radar, mostly because it seemed so different from the day-to-day projects we’d been tackling.
We all know a warehouse is huge with massive walls, floors, and equipment, and they typically come with a bunch of extra hurdles to clear before anyone can even pop open a paint can. Still, we got our first warehouse request from a longstanding client who insisted we had the right skills for their large facility. We hesitated—no one on our team was entirely certain we could handle the complexity. But we recognized the chance to grow and decided, “Why not give it a shot?”
That decision led us down a path that turned out to be far more promising than we’d expected. After completing our first warehouse job (and learning plenty of lessons the hard way), we discovered there’s a consistent demand for quality warehouse painting. Over time, it grew into a substantial percentage of our total projects, often yielding a higher profit margin than our usual commercial work. The large scale of these sites introduces complexities, but it also presents unique opportunities for contractors willing to invest in the right gear, training, and scheduling approach.
If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into warehouse painting (or maybe you’ve started but aren’t totally sure you’re doing it right), we hope some of our hard-earned lessons below can help steer you in the right direction:
We didn’t wake up one day and say, “Let’s start painting a bunch of warehouses!” It came about more naturally. One of our trusted commercial clients managed a big, aging warehouse complex, and they wanted a fresh paint job to improve the appearance and upkeep of the space. Despite our nerves, we took it on because we felt that expanding our service offerings was the right move for the business.
It was a real learning curve: we dealt with a large interior area that hadn’t seen care in years. Dirt and dust everywhere, unknown stains on concrete floors, and walls that seemed to stretch into the distance. It was nothing like what we typically handled in offices or storefronts. But by breaking the project down systematically—zoning off sections, focusing on thorough prep work, and making sure our crew was up to speed on safety—we got through it. And we realized, “Hey, this could actually be something.”
After that, a few more warehouse gigs landed in our lap, some smaller, some close to the same size. We gradually refined our processes, invested in the appropriate tools, and built out a bit of a “warehouse painting playbook” that we keep updating. Sure, these jobs can be rough, but they’re also lucrative when done well, and they can fill our schedules during times of the year when other commercial projects might slow down.
A variety of clients end up needing warehouse painting. We’ve worked with property management companies overseeing multiple industrial sites, corporations operating shipping or production facilities, general contractors, and even smaller businesses expanding into bigger locations. One thing they all share is a focus on minimizing downtime—warehouses are a central part of any company’s operations, and shutting them down for too long is rarely an option.
Unlike clients who might be looking for decorative finishes or a signature aesthetic, function comes first with warehouse owners. They want a space that’s protected from wear and tear, easy to clean, and presentable enough for employees, inspectors, or potential tenants. That’s not to say they don’t appreciate a good-looking end result, but their main concern is usually durability and efficiency.
This mindset shapes the entire approach. You need to focus on coatings that can resist daily abuse and identify ways to get in and out without causing major disruptions. Night shifts, weekend work, or phasing need to be part of the deal.
Another big difference from other painting gigs is the communication style. Warehouse managers are a direct bunch. They want timelines, clear cost structures, and an assurance that you’ll respect their workflow. We learned early on that it’s smart to propose a project plan that includes when each phase of painting will happen, what areas might be off-limits, and how we’ll handle any last-minute curveballs, like a client scheduling an urgent shipment that puts us behind on our prep work.
Warehouse painting is a completely different beast compared to more standard jobs. Here are a few hurdles we’ve encountered repeatedly:
If it’s an older building, you can expect caked-on grime, oil stains, and possibly neglected repairs that need patching before any paint can go on. We’ve found that surface prep can be almost half the battle—vacuuming, pressure-washing, scraping, and even mild blasting if necessary. It’s time-consuming, but if you don’t do it right, you’ll regret it when the paint flakes off a couple of months down the road.
Warehouses can have extremely high ceilings. Working at those heights requires special equipment like scissor lifts or boom lifts, plus the right training and harness setups. We’ve had to organize safety training for team members who only ever used step ladders before, and we also reconsidered our insurance coverage to handle the added risk. It’s an adjustment, especially if your team is used to painting walls you can reach with an extension pole.
Some warehouses operate 24/7 or close to it. Fully shutting down is rarely an option, so you have to divide the project into zones or shifts. We’ll map out which section we’re tackling each day or night, making sure we’re not blocking key aisles or interfering with forklift traffic. You also need a solid plan for ventilation if you’re spraying large areas indoors, as well as ways to shield equipment or inventory from dust and overspray.
Once you learn to manage these obstacles, you’ll distinguish yourself in a market where many painting companies might be wary of such large, involved jobs. If you’re prepared, that’s a competitive advantage.
If you’re used to per-room or small commercial pricing, wrapping your head around quoting a space the size of a football field can feel overwhelming. We’ve tried different approaches and have landed on a hybrid method that works for us. We’ll typically start with a baseline cost per square foot, then add upcharges if there are lots of overhead beams, complicated mezzanines, or elaborate prep needs (like removing old adhesives or dealing with significant rust).
One area where many contractors slip up (we know we did) is not factoring in specialized materials. Warehouses might need more durable paints or coatings, especially for floors or high-traffic walls. These could be epoxy or urethane products, which are priced higher than standard commercial paint. We always itemize those costs so the client sees exactly why it costs more to coat certain sections.
You gotta consider equipment rentals too. Boom lifts, for example, can carry a hefty weekly rate, which needs to be built into the overall quote. Once you explain these complexities to a warehouse manager, they’re usually receptive, as long as you communicate why you can’t just roll paint on like a standard office job. Being transparent is key to making sure no one feels blindsided once the project is underway.
Whereas a small office might be handled with brushes, rollers, and a basic sprayer, warehouse painting calls for heavier artillery. An airless sprayer with the capacity to handle large volumes can shave hours off the job, but you still need to manage overspray. We use plastic sheeting or other protective methods around sensitive equipment, and we sometimes ask the client to move or cover pallets if possible.
Safety training is crucial because scissor lifts and other machinery aren’t inherently complicated, but complacency can lead to accidents. We have regular toolbox talks to review best practices, especially if the crew is rotating in and out of different jobs. For instance, we’ll remind everyone how to position themselves on a lift, where the weight limits are, and how to watch out for overhead sprinklers or low-hanging cables.
When it comes to materials, we’ll often choose coatings specifically designed to handle industrial-level wear and tear. Floors might get an epoxy topcoat for slip resistance, while metal beams could require a corrosion-inhibiting primer plus a durable topcoat to ward off rust. The goal is to keep everything sealed against moisture, chemicals, and the general beating it’ll take from day-to-day warehouse operations.
Hindsight is 20/20, so let’s share a few tips we wish we’d had from the start:
At this stage, warehouse painting accounts for a large chunk of our overall work, and it continues to grow. We’re thankful for that first client who gave us a chance and nudged us out of our comfort zone. While warehouse gigs can be more physically demanding and logistically complex, they can also be extremely rewarding, both in terms of revenue and the sheer satisfaction of revamping a massive space.
For contractors on the fence, we’d say this: if you’re willing to adapt your approach, put in the effort to handle specialized equipment, and schedule around high-traffic workflows, then warehouse painting can be a great addition to your portfolio. Yes, you’ll need to invest more in safety gear and maybe hire or train a few extra hands who are comfortable with big lifts and big open spaces. But if you stick with it, you might find a steady flow of these large-scale projects that offer solid returns.
At the end of the day, painting a warehouse isn’t just slapping a new color on some walls. It’s about safeguarding an industrial hub, often one that’s critical to a company’s logistics or production. With each successful project, you learn more about balancing safety, durability, and speed. And once you nail down that balance, you’ll see why warehouse painting can be a pretty great gig—a chance to expand your services, keep your crew busy, and tackle something beyond the scope of a traditional paint job. Sometimes, going big pays off in ways you never imagined.
A&K has been providing commercial and industrial painting services since 1994. We’re ready to help your business next.
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