Once your external painting project has been completed there is important information that shouldn’t be overlooked before filing your Leisuretex warranty and maintenance manuals – these documents contain notes about your chosen paint product/s, the recommended practices for paint care and using the right cleaning methods for your coating system.
Our Australian climate can deliver harsh elements and painted surfaces become at risk of developing dirt, stains, mould and grime. Even the best paint manufacturer products cannot withstand such conditions over an extended period of time, but with proper care and maintenance, you will minimize these levels of wear and tear.
THE BEST CARE FOR YOUR PAINTED EXTERNAL WALLS
A common oversight is the ‘paint and forget’ assumption. Painting is part of a process over time, the full benefits are realised when a professional painting project is scheduled alongside a good maintenance plan. Keep the outside of your painted building maintained by:
Cleaning your building – a full washdown by a professional every 1-2 years will extend the maintenance cycle of external paint. Exterior surfaces are painted with highly durable paint and therefore can withstand repeated cleaning.
Doing a walkthrough around your building regularly to keep an eye on the overall condition of your painted (and unpainted) surfaces. Schedule a nominated person in your building to conduct a visual inspection, they should look out for any rust stains, leakage or signs of structural damage that might need to be repaired to avoid premature deterioration. Keep in a mind, that a good painter should never use paint to cover up underlying issues – remedial repairs should be addressed and not dismissed just to save a dollar,…the future costs will come back to bite you.
Budgeting for repairs to damaged facades, walls, timber, and steelwork
Cutting back or even removing trees and greenery that are too close to building walls which can create excessive moisture, thus leading to things like mould and discolouration.
INVEST IN PAINTING MAINTENANCE FEES, SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG TERM
Choosing to prevent the chances of future painting repairs through good maintenance care now means you will benefit from an external building that will perform for a long time while looking its best.
In need of body corporate painting maintenance?
The Leisuretex Aftercare service offers maintenance to keep the exterior of your building looking its best
Upon your painting project being completed your Leisuretex Aftercare documents will be handed over, complete with everything you need to know for maintaining the look and performance of your finished work. Leisuretex offers a professional after-service for pressure cleaning, window washing and soft washing, having the technical skills needed to complete the job efficiently. Ask us about our licenses and certifications, as well as the equipment we use; this allows for maintenance to be done with ease and leaving your building performing at its best.
Before and after pressure cleaning a painted wall
Why choose Leisuretex to maintain the quality of your body corporate building
The Leisuretex point of difference is its attention to planning and preparation. Even before we touch the first surface, we make it a point to ensure a seamless process from start to finish. Our project planners visualise the project as a whole, long-term effort, and not play each part by ear.
We invite comparison and see for yourself why we are the go-to professionals for body corporate, industrial and commercial painting projects. From contracts to surfaces, we stand by our belief that preparation is always the key to success. We know all the work that needs to be done even before we get to your site.
You won’t find any other team of professionals as easy to work with as us— right from the start, right to the end.
There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to increase the value breathe new life into a property. When you’re getting your house or office painted, there’s usually a sole decision-maker or consensus is easily reached, it’s typically exciting times. But when it comes to strata or body corporate painting, it becomes a little bit more complicated.
This article will discuss why body corporate painting is a bit more complicated than other painting projects and how to choose the right painting contractors to make the process as harmonious as possible.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Since there is more than one property sitting on a collectively owned piece of land, and each owner has their say on things, it’s hard enough to get everyone to agree to undertake a large-scale panting job, let alone choose the colours for the new façades. There will always be a diverse set of opinions among residents, management and other stakeholders. Despite the variety of viewpoints, you can earn everyone’s complacency by having your painting project managed by experienced professionals—not just experienced in painting, but experienced in managing large-scale, complicated tasks, like body corporate painting projects.
Choosing the Right Painting Contractors
Even before the actual work can begin, a body corporate committee should carefully select the right service provider. This crucial first step will determine how well the residents receive and react to the painting project and set the tone for similar future endeavours.
Here are some tips for selecting suitable candidates for your next body corporate painting project
Look at the Credentials
Like any other service provider, your chosen team of professionals should be able to demonstrate the technical skills needed to complete the job efficiently. Ask for their licences and certifications, as well as the equipment they use; this will quickly weed out fly-by-night companies that may not be able to deliver your expected results.
Also, a company’s values will say a lot about how they deliver their work. For example, Leisuretex adheres to a Zero Hazards Policy that ensures that workspaces are safe for everyone.
Contact Professional Trade Bodies
Any reputable professional commercial painters will belong to at least one professional trade organisation. Some of the most prominent institutions include the Master Painters Association, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, the Accommodation Managers Industry and the Smart Strata database.
Reach out to these trade organisations to learn if your prospective painting services provider is a good-standing member. If they don’t belong to any dependable trade organisation, you might be better off looking for other options.
Evaluate their Reputation
Outright, you can search for the company online and check on their online reviews. You can reach out to other body corporate committees and ask whether they have done business with any of your prospects and ask for first-hand feedback. It will also be a good idea to ask for the painting company’s references for additional feedback.
Ask for their Portfolio
Most reputable professional commercial painting companies will have a well-functioning website that showcases their past works. Check whether they’ve done previous strata and body corporate work on their portfolio and visually evaluate their output. You can also request that they bring along their collection when they meet you for a site visit or ask for it when you meet them in their office.
Other things to Look for:
Do they Present Themselves Professionally?
Having the painting services done in a residential environment, some residents may find the task’s duration intrusive and obstructive at worst. You can soften the blow by ensuring that your hired contractors are visually aesthetic, courteous towards residents and respectful towards set boundaries.
For example, Leisuretex teams come in brand-marked trucks, clean uniforms and use well-maintained equipment. Leisuretex also prides itself in promoting values, such as respect, relationship-building, open communications, orientation towards achievement and consistency in quality.
Do they Have a Clear Chain of Command?
From the get-go, it would be beneficial in the long run if you need to talk to only one person during the entire project. Whether for updates, process changes or complaints, you don’t want to find yourself being passed around several people because nobody wants to be held directly accountable. Leisuretex allocate you one point of contact for you and your project, this gives you peace of mind knowing you can get in touch with the right person, without the fuss.
Look for a company with a well-defined team structure, so you know who you should deal with for whatever reason you’ll need to. Most importantly, they should assure you that there will always be a manager on site. You don’t want to be left with a team of workers who can’t answer your management-level enquiries because they simply don’t have the information you need.
Make it Easy for the Residents
As they will be receiving both the benefits and downside of the painting project, the dwellers must be kept in the loop. This inclusion could help them adjust their activities and set expectations during the whole process, and how they will see your skills, as a body corporate committee, towards handling large-scale ventures.
Almost everyone will be welcome a fresh coat of colour for and around their homes, but it comes with a certain degree of inconvenience. Both owners and tenants will appreciate it if you inform everyone beforehand. You can post announcements through your social media group and email list, but a physical letter to every dropbox will do well if you want to maintain a personal touch.
Let them know the entire scope of the work, which areas and specific surfaces will be worked on, when, how long each stage will take, and the duration of the whole project. It will also help if you let them know the name of the contractor you’ve hired and a bit of information about their company.
Ensure Regular Updates
Because body corporate painting takes a significant amount of time, residents will appreciate it if they’re constantly updated as to where the project is at the moment. Let them know which stages have been completed, what’s currently in progress, and which areas are yet to receive action.
It would also be helpful to include logistical information, such as parking areas delegated to equipment, walkways being closed off or a certain amount of noise during certain times. Lastly, encourage feedback from the stakeholders—let them express how they feel about the ongoing project so you can talk to the project manager if some adjustments are needed.
Strategically Schedule Areas for Minimal Disruption
Highly experienced body corporate painting management services will work with your organisation to devise an action plan for minimal residential disruption. This strategy can include scheduling certain areas at strategic times when foot and car traffic is least a factor and when noise levels should be kept to a minimum.
Licensed, Certified and Experienced Project Management
The Leisuretex point of difference is its attention to planning and preparation. Even before we touch the first surface, we make it a point to ensure a seamless process from start to finish. Our project planners visualise the project as a whole, long-term effort, and not play each part by ear.
We invite comparison and see for yourself why we are the go-to professionals for residential, industrial and commercial painting projects. From contracts to surfaces, we stand by our belief that preparation is always the key to success. We know all the work that needs to be done even before we get to your site.
You won’t find any other team of professionals as easy to work with as us—one name, one number, one contract from start to finish.
Getting your building winter-ready aims to protect your property against any potential or existing issues that can be worsened by the season’s rain and storms. Often there can be underlying problems that surface around this time of the year and there are few items you can inspect to stay ahead of building repairs and finances.
TREAT MOULD
Mould grows under damp and moist conditions. When it dries, mould releases spores of bacteria and fungi which can cause very serious health issues. Untreated mould can get into your walls, ceilings, plaster and behind gyprock. A professional washdown and cleaning service will treat the affected area, removing mould and preventing its growth. If water ingress is the possible cause of mould or even a waterproofing issue, you will need to get a building solution as a matter of urgency.
PAINTING
More than just the ‘skin’ or appearance of your building, painting also acts as an added barrier to protect against the elements – sun, rain, and wind. Autumn in Australia tends to provide the most ideal weather for painting exteriors as the days aren’t as hot, and they often allow for drying in between coats.
CLEAN GUTTERS
Be sure to unclog gutters from any leaves, needles, and branches. Blocked gutters can and will prevent the flow of rainwater from your roof, causing water to trickle down external walls and cause dampness or wetness to set in.
ROOFING
A healthy roof will get you winter-ready and prevent water leaks from occurring. * Look for and fix cracked or loose tiles and panels * Address existing leaks * Fix or replace bent flashings * Fix sagging gutters
A pro-active approach towards your property maintenance will help your building to retain its long term value. By using a professional licensed contractor you can have piece of mind knowing that your upkeep is in good hands, your building and staff are safe, and that you are minimising the risk of future expensive maintenance repairs.
