When considering a painting job, understanding the differences between commercial and residential painters is important as each specializes in a different environment and project scope. Residential painters concentrate on houses, including exteriors and interiors, and other living spaces. Usually smaller in scope, these projects let painters cater to the taste of the homeowner and pay great attention to detail. 

By comparison, Commercial Painters manage bigger projects including offices, retail stores, warehouses, and other commercial buildings. These projects call for extensive planning, bigger teams, and specialized equipment.

Materials and Techniques:

Residential and commercial painters apply significantly different materials and techniques. With a focus on high-quality finish, residential painters usually work with aesthetically pleasing paints and finishes appropriate for living environment.

Commercial painters use more durable paints and coatings meant to resist high traffic and wear in commercial areas. Depending on the industry’s regulations, they might additionally have to apply specialized coatings as anti-slip paints or fire-resistant coatings.

New Zealand’s Health and Safety Standards:

Residential and commercial painters in New Zealand have to follow the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, which outlines the responsibilities to guarantee the safety of employees and others affected by their activity. But their application for residential and commercial projects can vary.

Commercial Projects:

The scope and complexity of their projects mean that commercial painters have more strict health and safety requirements. They have to develop thorough safety strategies to control risks associated to handling hazardous chemicals, working at heights, and operating equipment. For example, the Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Height in New Zealand offer thorough directions to avoid falls and related accidents in various work environments.

Furthermore, projects involving commercial painting can involve working in an environment where dangerous chemicals are handled. The Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 regulated handling, storage, and use of certain chemicals. 

Residential Projects:

Although they must follow health and safety rules, but risks are lower than on commercial jobs. They still have to follow safety precautions to protect the tenants of the houses as well as themselves from paint and solvent fumes. In this instance you can see our team doing some roof painting.

Planning and Flexibility:

Since they are less likely to be limited by corporate operations, residential painting jobs usually provide more schedule freedom. Painters and homeowners can work together to create a schedule that least disrupts the household. 
On the other hand, commercial painting projects require painters to work outside of standard business hours—including evenings and weekends—in order to minimize disturbance of everyday operations. This calls for more cooperation and flexibility to guarantee effective completion of the project without affecting the operations of the business.

Choosing the right experts for your painting job depends on understanding the difference between commercial and residential painters. While commercial painters have the knowledge to oversee large-scale projects, residential painters shine in providing customised services fit for individual homeowners.
Understanding these differences will help you to make wise selection and guarantee that your painting project is carried out safely, effectively, and to the best quality.