A business cannot stop for a paint job. Customers still walk in, staff still need desks, and a warehouse still has to ship. Commercial painting is mostly a scheduling problem with paint attached, and that is how we approach it at Alto Pro Painters: first we work out when and where we can work, then we work out how to paint it.

We paint the inside and outside of commercial space across the South Okanagan. That covers offices, warehouses, gyms and fitness studios, retail units, and buildings run by property management companies. The job might be one reception room or an entire floor. Either way you get a written quote that spells out the surfaces, the prep, the paint and the timeline before anyone opens a can.

What our commercial painting covers

Offices, meeting rooms, reception areas and shared corridors
Warehouse walls, ceilings, loading areas and line markings on request
Gyms, fitness studios, change rooms and washrooms
Retail units and tenant spaces being refreshed between leases
Rental and multi-unit buildings handled for a property manager
Exterior walls, trim, doors, railings and entrances on commercial buildings
Doors, frames, handrails and other metal or wood surfaces that take daily wear
Patching and repair of drywall and plaster before the finish coat goes on

How a commercial paint job goes

Walk the space and quote. We look at the surfaces, ask how the space is used and when it is quietest, then send a free written quote listing the areas, the prep, the paint and the timeline.
Agree the schedule. Before the start date we confirm colours, the order we will work through the space, and what needs to be cleared. This is where evenings, weekends or section-by-section work gets decided.
Protect and prep. On the first day we walk the property with you, cover floors and fixtures, move and cover furniture, fill holes and cracks, repair drywall and caulk trim and frames.
Prime and paint. Stains, patches and bare spots are primed, then walls, ceilings and trim are painted in the sequence we agreed so each area can go back into use as soon as it is dry.
Walkthrough and clean-up. We walk the finished space with you while the paint is still fresh, touch up anything that needs it, and clean up once you have signed off.

Prep and protection in a working building

In a home, the main risk is a splatter on a carpet. In a business, it is also a blocked fire exit, a paint smell in a client meeting, or a crew in the way of a delivery. Prep for commercial work covers the surfaces and the way the building runs.

Walking the property with you first so we agree what is in scope and what stays untouched
Covering floors, counters, equipment and fixtures that cannot be moved
Washing or degreasing walls in kitchens, break rooms and workshops where grease and hand marks build up
Filling holes and cracks, then sanding them flush so repairs do not show under office lighting
Caulking gaps at trim, frames and windows for clean, straight edges
Priming stains, patches and previously dark walls so the topcoat covers evenly

Choosing paint and finish for a commercial space

Finish matters more in a busy building than at home. Flat or matte suits ceilings and quiet offices because it hides wall imperfections. Eggshell and satin wipe clean, which suits corridors, reception areas and gyms where walls get touched and scuffed. Semi-gloss is the usual choice for doors, frames, trim and washrooms because it takes repeated cleaning.

We use low VOC paint, which keeps the smell down when staff and customers are back in the room. That is worth discussing for any space where people are working close to freshly painted walls. If you are matching an existing brand colour, bring a sample or the colour name and we will confirm it on the wall before the full job starts.

What affects the price of a commercial paint job

We do not publish fixed prices, because a gym and a warehouse have little in common. Your written quote shows each of these items so you can see where the cost comes from.

Floor area, wall area and ceiling height, including whether lifts or scaffolding are needed
The condition of the surfaces and how much patching and sanding they need
Whether we can work during business hours or need evenings and weekends
Colour changes, especially dark to light, which can mean primer and extra coats
Trim, doors, frames and railings, which are priced separately from walls
Furniture, stock or equipment that must be moved or covered, and any access limits

Leasing or managing the property?

If you rent the space, check your lease and speak to the landlord before choosing a colour. For strata-managed commercial buildings, changes to common property normally need approval under the BC Strata Property Act, and bylaws may set work hours and noise limits. Tell us about any of this when you ask for a quote so the schedule fits.

Common mistakes with commercial painting

Painting during peak hours and leaving staff and customers working around wet walls and fumes. We plan the order of work around when each area is quietest.
Quoting by square footage alone, then discovering heavy patching on the day. We look at the walls before we write the quote and list the prep in it.
Skipping primer over stains or dark colours, so the old colour shows through within weeks. We prime first and tell you how many coats the colour change needs.
Using a finish that scuffs in corridors and gyms. We match the sheen to how each area is used.
Leaving the job without a proper check. We walk the finished space with you while the paint is fresh and fix what you point out before we clean up.

Commercial Painting by town

We offer commercial painting in twelve Okanagan communities. Choose your town:

Commercial Painting questions

Can you paint outside business hours?

Often, yes. If your space is only quiet in the evening or on weekends, say so when you request your quote and we will plan the schedule around it. Whether it is possible depends on our calendar at that time, and we will tell you honestly.

How do you keep paint smells down?

We use low VOC paint, and we work through the space in sections where we can so the whole building is not affected at once. Opening windows and running ventilation overnight helps as well.

Do you paint warehouses and industrial spaces?

Yes. Warehouses are a regular part of commercial work. Tell us the wall height, the surface type, such as block, concrete or metal cladding, and whether any machinery or stock needs to be covered or moved.

Can you handle several units for a property manager?

Yes. We paint rentals and multi-unit properties between tenants. Send us the list of units and the timeline, and we will quote them in writing, either as one job or unit by unit.

Do you paint exteriors on commercial buildings?

Yes. Exterior work depends on weather. Latex paint generally should not be applied below about 10 C, so we plan outdoor work for warmer, drier stretches and agree a flexible start date.

Is the quote really free?

Yes. The quote is free, in writing, and lists the surfaces, the prep, the paint and the timeline. There is nothing to sign to receive it.

If you have an office, shop, gym or rental building that needs repainting without shutting the business down, tell us how the space is used and request a free written quote.

Request your free written quote or call (778) 946-0386.

Guides for commercial painting

Curious how a job runs from the first call to the final walkthrough? Read how our painting process works.

Have a question first? Read the FAQ, learn about Alto Pro Painters or contact us.

Further reading: WorkSafeBC and Volatile organic compounds on Wikipedia.

Commercial Painting in Penticton and the Okanagan