Commercial Painting Trends to Watch

Commercial painting contractors face a market shaped by shifting construction demand, new technology, aging facilities, and major investments in data infrastructure. Some traditional sectors remain flat, while data centers, water infrastructure, power generation, facility renovations, and specialized coatings are creating new opportunities.

In a recent episode of the Commercial Painting Podcast, PPD Painting President Aaron Moore and David Chism spoke with Julie Zamski and Paul Trautmann of Sherwin-Williams. Zamski serves as Commercial and New Residential Marketing Director for Sherwin-Williams’ Global Architectural Marketing Organization. Trautmann is Marketing Director for Infrastructure within the company’s Protective & Marine and High Performance Flooring division.

Their conversation examined current commercial painting trends, the sectors showing growth, and how painting contractors can prepare to enter new markets.

Data Centers Are Influencing Commercial Painting Trends

Data center construction is creating demand far beyond the walls of the facilities themselves. These projects require major investments in electrical systems, power generation, water treatment, water storage, and cooling infrastructure.

Trautmann explained that data centers need significant amounts of power and water to support their equipment. As investment in data infrastructure grows, related projects are appearing across the country. Water treatment facilities, storage tanks, transmission systems, power plants, and local utility improvements can all require protective coatings.

Many of these projects involve public funding and formal bidding procedures. Contractors may also encounter requirements related to domestically produced construction materials.

Commercial painting companies do not need to become industrial tank specialists overnight to benefit from this growth. Wastewater treatment plants and similar facilities include large amounts of atmospheric coating work. Epoxies, polyurethanes, and other two-component systems are used on exposed steel, mechanical rooms, railings, piping, and facility structures.

Immersion work requires specialized surface preparation and coating knowledge. Atmospheric work can provide a more practical entry point for an experienced commercial painting contractor.

Entering High-Performance Coating Markets

One of the most useful lessons from the episode was the importance of starting with a limited number of coating systems.

A contractor interested in infrastructure or industrial work should first learn the products most commonly used for atmospheric conditions. This includes understanding mixing procedures, pot life, application equipment, surface preparation, film thickness, curing requirements, and environmental limits.

Contractors can begin by working with a local coating representative and technical specialist. Sherwin-Williams provides resources for commercial and residential painting contractors, including product information, equipment guidance, training, and business support.

After learning several core systems, contractors can monitor upcoming public projects and attend job walks. Construction databases, general contractor bid invitations, and local public procurement portals can help companies find work planned for the next several months.

This approach gives the contractor time to review the scope, confirm that the coating system fits the company’s capabilities, and identify training or equipment needs before submitting a bid.

General Contractors Can Open New Markets

Relationships with commercial general contractors remain one of the most dependable sources of repeat work.

Trautmann discussed his own experience as a young painting contractor. After completing successful projects for local general contractors, those relationships began producing regular bid invitations. The general contractors already understood his company’s quality, communication, and ability to complete the work.

General contractors often specialize by project type, size, and market. A contractor trying to enter healthcare, education, water infrastructure, retail, or another sector should identify general contractors already active in that space.

This is one of the commercial painting trends that remains consistent across changing markets. Contractors gain access to different projects by building relationships with the companies already managing those projects.

Sherwin-Williams is also working with the Dodge Construction Network and The Blue Book on events intended to connect general contractors with painting contractors. These meetings can help smaller companies begin relationships that may lead to future bid opportunities.

Floor Coatings Require a Careful Entry Strategy

Commercial floor coatings can be a natural extension of painting services, but they carry risks that contractors must understand before accepting larger projects.

Moisture is one of the most common causes of floor coating failure. A concrete slab may lack a vapor barrier or allow moisture to move toward the surface. That moisture can carry salts through the concrete and cause a coating to separate from the substrate.

Surface preparation is another major factor. Concrete needs the correct profile for the coating system. Applying a coating over a smooth, contaminated, or poorly prepared surface can lead to adhesion failure.

Smaller mechanical rooms and utility spaces can provide a reasonable place to gain experience with basic epoxy systems. Decorative systems, terrazzo, and larger high-performance flooring installations require more training, equipment, and quality control.

Contractors should understand moisture testing, surface profiling, crack treatment, mixing, application rates, cure times, and environmental conditions before adding floor coatings as a major service.

Roof Coatings Create Facility Maintenance Opportunities

Roof coatings represent another growing service for commercial painting companies, especially on aging buildings.

The application process has similarities to applying heavy elastomeric coatings on exterior concrete. The equipment must be capable of moving high-viscosity material across a large roof area. Crews must also treat every penetration, seam, transition, and detail correctly.

A roof coating system must be continuous and free of pinholes. Drainage also needs to be reviewed because standing water can affect coating performance. These details make training and inspection an important part of the work.

The strongest opportunities are often found on existing facilities rather than new construction. An older commercial building may have a roof that can be restored with a compatible coating system instead of going through a complete tear-off.

Property associations and groups such as BOMA can help contractors meet facility managers responsible for these buildings. Roof inspections, leak concerns, capital planning, and sustainability goals can all lead to conversations about restoration coatings.

Trade Associations Require Active Participation

Joining an association or buying a trade show booth does not automatically produce commercial painting leads. Contractors must actively participate.

Zamski recommended attending dinners, after-hours gatherings, educational sessions, and other events where members have time to speak. A contractor should introduce the company, ask questions, learn about the other person’s responsibilities, and connect on LinkedIn soon after the conversation.

The same principle applies to organizations serving multifamily properties, homeowners associations, commercial real estate professionals, and general contractors. Consistent participation helps a contractor become familiar to the people who buy or influence painting services.

Simply distributing flyers and waiting for calls is unlikely to generate a meaningful return. Strong industry relationships are built through repeated conversations and follow-up.

Commercial Painting Trends Across Major Property Sectors

The Sherwin-Williams team also discussed the outlook for several markets commonly served by commercial painting contractors.

Healthcare

Healthcare construction and renovation are expected to post moderate growth. While the forecast does not point to a major surge, hospitals, medical offices, clinics, and related properties should continue creating painting and coating work.

Hospitality

Hotels may present more renovation opportunities later in the market cycle. Many properties delayed updates during and after the pandemic. Brand requirements, interior refreshes, exterior painting, and property improvement plans may produce additional work as owners resume capital projects.

Multifamily

Multifamily construction and transactions are expected to remain challenging. Flat development activity does not eliminate repaint work, but contractors may face more competition for apartment turns, exterior projects, and capital improvements.

Warehouses and Industrial Properties

Large warehouse vacancies remain a concern in some areas. At the same time, owners are dividing oversized buildings into smaller suites that are easier to lease.

These conversions require demising walls, repainting, new tenant finishes, and changes to shared areas. Movement within the warehouse market can create work even when new construction slows.

Office Properties

Office demand continues to change as employers adjust their workplace strategies. Companies are investing in shared areas, meeting spaces, and collaborative environments that support employees who divide their time between home and the office.

Tenant movement also creates painting opportunities. Vacated suites are often returned to neutral colors, while incoming tenants select finishes that reflect their own brands.

Retail

Brick-and-mortar stores continue to account for a large share of consumer spending. Retailers still update branding, remodel interiors, repaint exteriors, and open locations in growing communities.

Banks, restaurants, shopping centers, and service businesses can also fall within a contractor’s retail category. These properties require regular maintenance to protect their appearance.

Education

Education is one of the more promising commercial painting trends discussed in the episode. Colleges, universities, dormitories, and local schools continue to plan renovations.

Since much of the painting is completed during summer breaks, outreach should begin early. Contractors may need to start conversations during the fall budgeting period to compete for the following summer’s work.

Government and Military Facilities

Government work is expected to remain relatively stable. Military facilities may offer opportunities tied to maintenance, renovation, equipment, and infrastructure spending.

Contractors pursuing this work should be prepared for public bidding requirements, documentation, wage rules, and strict project specifications.

Stadiums and Entertainment Venues

New stadium construction and renovations to existing venues continue to generate coating work. Stadiums require structural steel coatings, floor systems, maintenance painting, waterproofing, and frequent appearance updates.

The Los Angeles Olympics will also lead to facility and infrastructure improvements across Southern California. Large public events often prompt owners and municipalities to refresh visible properties before visitors arrive.

New Construction May Remain Challenging

The guests were less optimistic about ground-up commercial construction. Some projects remain delayed or paused, and multifamily starts are expected to stay limited.

Commercial painting contractors may find stronger opportunities in renovation, maintenance, adaptive reuse, tenant improvements, and specialized coating work. Existing buildings still require repairs and updates even during slower construction cycles.

A balanced service mix can help a painting company respond to these changes. Contractors that serve several property types and maintain relationships with property managers, facility managers, and general contractors are less dependent on a single construction sector.

Preparing for the Next Commercial Painting Opportunity

The most valuable commercial painting trends are the ones contractors can turn into a practical plan.

Companies interested in new markets should begin by identifying nearby sectors with active investment. The next step is to learn the coating systems required for those properties and build relationships with product representatives, technical specialists, general contractors, and property organizations.

New services should be added carefully. A basic epoxy floor in a mechanical room is different from a decorative terrazzo system. Atmospheric painting at a treatment plant is different from coating the interior of an immersion tank. A roof restoration requires more than spraying material across an open surface.

Clear boundaries, product knowledge, proper equipment, and technical support allow contractors to pursue growth without accepting work beyond their current capabilities.

Listen to the Commercial Painting Podcast

This discussion with Julie Zamski and Paul Trautmann provides a detailed look at commercial painting trends and the sectors that may create new opportunities for contractors. Listen to the full episode of the Commercial Painting Podcast to hear their complete insights on market demand, high-performance coatings, business development, and working with Sherwin-Williams.

PPD Painting provides commercial painting, industrial coatings, facility maintenance painting, and specialty coating services across the Midwest and Mountain West. Contact PPD Painting to discuss an upcoming project or develop a painting plan for your commercial property.

Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Painting Trends

What commercial painting markets are showing growth?

Data centers, water infrastructure, power generation, healthcare, education, facility renovations, and entertainment venues are creating opportunities. Demand varies by region, project funding, and property type.

Can a commercial painter move into industrial coating work?

Yes, but contractors should begin with suitable atmospheric coating projects, learn several core systems, and work with technical specialists. Immersion, complex flooring, and other high-risk applications require more training.

Are roof and floor coatings good services for commercial painters?

Both services can support business growth, but contractors need the correct preparation methods, equipment, and product knowledge. Moisture, surface profile, drainage, and application details can determine the success of the system.

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