People ask us this all the time: “So… how long is this gonna take to paint my building?” It’s not a quick, one-size-fits-all answer—especially when we’re talking about commercial painting in Windsor, CA, where buildings can be brand-new, decades old, or somewhere in between.
At Mike Chavez Painting, we’ve seen just about every kind of building you can imagine—modern offices, worn-down retail spaces, greasy service buildings, old stucco that’s basically begging for help. Square footage matters, sure. How easy it is to reach certain areas matters too. But the real factor hiding behind your timeline? Surface prep. If the walls are peeling, chalking, greasy, rusty, or crumbling, the schedule stretches out fast.
So let’s walk through what actually determines the timeline, what slows everything down, and why prep is the part nobody sees but everyone benefits from.
✅ How Long Commercial Painting Usually Takes
In Windsor, this is what we typically see:
- Small buildings (2,000–5,000 sq ft): about 3–7 days
- Medium buildings (5,000–20,000 sq ft): roughly 1–2 weeks
- Large buildings (20,000+ sq ft): 2–4 weeks or more
These numbers assume the surface is ready for paint… which, if we’re being real, almost never happens. Most buildings need at least some repair before we can even think about opening a paint can.
🛠️ Why Surface Prep Takes Time
We don’t go around calling ourselves surface-prep specialists just for marketing.
If the prep’s wrong, the paint won’t last. Period.
Windsor buildings take a beating—from summer heat to winter moisture and everything in-between. Older buildings especially love to surprise us with things like:
1. Peeling or Cracked Stucco
Windsor has a lot of stucco exteriors, and the weather here makes them expand, contract, and eventually crack. Sometimes we see bubbling paint, peeling areas, or hairline cracks running like spiderwebs. All of that has to be fixed, textured, and dried before painting starts.
2. Grease & Grime
Auto shops, restaurants, warehouses—if you know, you know. Paint won’t stick to oily walls. Ever. We usually need to degrease, pressure wash, maybe even sand or etch the surface so the coating bonds correctly. It adds time but saves headaches later.
3. Efflorescence
That chalky white powder on concrete or brick? It’s moisture sneaking out. If we paint over it, the new coating will just push off. Sometimes a building needs multiple cleaning rounds to knock it out.
4. Metal Corrosion
Rust loves metal awnings, railings, doors, and trim. If we don’t remove loose rust and prime everything with the right anti-corrosive products, the paint job won’t stand a chance. Metal prep is slow, detailed, and absolutely necessary.
🧑🔧 Mike’s Take: Why We Never Rush Prep
Mike has been doing this long enough to know what happens when someone rushes or skips prep: they get a callback. A do-over. An unhappy client. No thanks.
So instead, our crew treats prep as part of the painting, not something separate. We inspect everything, note weak spots, and figure out the safest and strongest way to repair each issue. Sometimes that means:
- Sandblasting steel
- Rebuilding textured stucco in layers
- Letting washed surfaces fully dry before priming
- Spending extra time fixing underlying damage no one else noticed
Doing it right the first time means your building looks better and your paint lasts way longer.
🧱 What Our Prep Process Looks Like Start to Finish
Here’s the general order we follow on every commercial painting project:
- Full Inspection + Moisture Testing
We figure out what we’re dealing with before we touch anything. - Cleaning & Stripping
Pressure washing, scraping, degreasing, and sometimes chemical treatments. - Repairs & Patching
Stucco, wood, metal—whatever needs fixing gets fixed. - Priming Correctly
We use primers based on your building’s surface: masonry, metal, wood, etc. - Final Surface Check
One last sweep to make sure everything will bond, seal, and last.
This might look like “extra work,” but it’s exactly why Windsor businesses trust and recommend Mike Chavez Painting. Long-lasting paint starts with prep—plain and simple.
🎨 Why Windsor Businesses Trust Mike Chavez Painting
We’re not just contractors—we’re locals who’ve been painting Windsor buildings for over 20 years. Our team is trained, experienced, and genuinely cares about the work. And because our name is literally on the trucks, we make sure every job reflects who we are.
From small offices to large industrial facilities, our goal isn’t just to make your building look good today. It’s to make it last for years without fading, peeling, or bubbling.
If you need commercial painting in Windsor, CA, we’re ready when you are.
📞 Give us a call at (707) 623-5850 or contact us online now to schedule an estimate or check out our Commercial Painting Services page for more details.