What does an Industrial Painting Contractor do?

An industrial painting contractor handles all components of a painting job for larger facilities, including preparation, application, and cleanup. In most cases, he will be an independent contractor who provides an estimate for a job, then manages the project from beginning to end. The contractor may also assist his team, especially in the case of mid-level projects. Usually, an industrial painting contractor supervises a team of others who do the majority of the painting work.

During the work day, a typical industrial painting contractor will supervise others as they perform painting jobs at large facilities. He may or may not actually paint, but he will be in charge of the work site and the safety of his employees. If he is working on several jobs at once, he might travel from site to site to monitor progress and give directions. He will hire and train new employees and will likely need to perform some payroll duties. Additionally, he may also spend part of his day providing estimates for new business and invoicing and collecting payment from customers with completed painting jobs.

The painting contractor will also supervise his team as its members clean and prepare surfaces in larger industrial buildings. This industrial painting contractor will need to have working knowledge of pressure washing and scraping. He may need to use his expertise in material preparation to sand wood areas and use special treatments for metal, glass, and plastic. Finally, the contractor is ultimately responsible for the cleanliness and order of the work site.

Once an industrial area is prepared and cleaned, the contractor will supervise or perform the duties of painting the area. Especially in larger facilities, this might involve the construction of scaffolding and other types of work structures to enable the painters to reach all walls and ceilings with paint. Usually, an industrial painting contractor will need to have experience using paint sprayers and other types of equipment required for larger areas.

The knowledge and expertise for this job may vary widely. Those in this role will certainly need broad knowledge of paint and its properties and the ways in which it affects different surfaces. In specific industries, it may be necessary for the industrial painting contractor to have special knowledge of the application of coatings and other treatments. He may also be called in for other special projects that require industry-specific knowledge and ability, such as the resurfacing of large equipment or devices.