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How to Paint an Apartment Building

Buying and owning investment property has been something of a craze in the past decade.  But as money got tight, and rental rates dropped, some casual owners of multi-family residences have decided to save money on re-painting and do it themselves.   They may know real estate investing, but do they really know how to paint an apartment building?

 

Before we discuss interior painting of individual units, we'll look at the exterior portion of the job. 

 

Let's say you own a four plex.  It was last painted 7 years ago.  You're going to do the bulk of your work before you ever put a brush in a bucket of paint. 

 

Stucco demands expert repair.  You can do it yourself, but a bad patch job will stick out even when covered with a new coat of paint.  If your apartment building is wood, or siding, you have the same issue.  It makes no sense to paint over flaws.  You may think paint will cover all ills, but it will actually create more.  In fact, if you did not own your building the last time it was painted, one reason it may need it now is because the surface had not been properly prepared.  Every hole, crack, blister, nick and ding should be repaired.  Take the time to pull old caulk and reseal every window sash, door jamb and seam.  Think of it this way:  doing this paint job increases the value of your property and gives you a return on investment.  Investing time and energy into repairs is part of the bottom line.

 

The surface must be cleaned.  For your four-unit building, power washing is really the only choice, and will be a real time saver for you.  Pressure washing will blast off peeling paint, as well as dirt and mold or mildew.  You can rent one and do it yourself, or you can hire a pressure washing service to do it.  The option is climbing ladders and scraping and sanding and then washing with long brushes and a hose. 

 

A key factor in how to paint an apartment building is lead paint.  In 2010 an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead based paint rule took effect.  It is called "The Renovation, Repair, & Painting Rule", and requires owners to follow safe work practices when disturbing a lead-paint surface; for instance, sanding, demolition, renovation, or repair.  The law applies to housing built before 1978, and any housing in which children live.

 

The rule changes the way painters and trades do business.  They must have specialized training in removal and in working around lead paint.  There are strict rules on notifying tenants and disclosing the work that will be done.  Some extensive record-keeping is mandated.   Ignorance of how to paint an apartment building that has lead based paint will be no excuse to the feds.  These new laws have become a major reason property owners turn to professional painters to handle the work.  The training and record keeping alone are prohibitive.

 

Using a spray painter is how to paint an apartment building efficiently.  You can rent them.  They can be unwieldy on ladders if you aren't proficient.  You need to do an intense amount of masking and tarping of surfaces you want to protect, and that includes greenery.  Warn residents and provide them information on where to leave their cars.  Spraying is definitely a time saver.

 

Apartment buildings frequently have balconies and railings.  This can be a special concern for you. Wood railings will not only require hand scraping and sanding, but also repair and restoration.  Metals railings tend to peel in spots, and then rust.  Remember that poor paint job before you owned the place?  There is probably rust under the coat of paint on those metal railings.  Now you are talking about rust removers, rust proofing the metal and rust-resistant paint.  Some professionals find they have to sand blast metal railings to prepare them for a coat of paint.

 

How to paint an apartment building indoors is no less complicated.  The lead paint regulations apply here, too.  And there are many other considerations.  Chances are most of your units are occupied.  This means there are noise and smell issues for your tenants.  Make sure you've notified them in advance, because some people find their asthma is affected by paint smell.

 

You can save a lot of time on interior painting by using spray equipment, too.  It gives a nice even look to walls and ceilings.  Unless you don't spend time filling holes, fixing drywall, and spackling cracks. 

 

A final note about how to paint an apartment building interior:  paint the walls first, then trim and cabinets.  It is far easier to mask off the spots where walls meet fixtures, than to completely cover the fixtures you've just repainted.   If you have the time, and patience, you can repaint your own building. 

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About the Author:
Kelly Mardis owns and operates Marcel Painting in Phoenix, Arizona.  He has been in the painting industry for many years and enjoys a customer base that continues to increase.  Get more information at his website, http://www.MarcelPainting.com.
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