The hidden drivers helping your assets last longer

The buildings that hold their value aren’t just the ones that look good: they’re the ones that have been looked after properly.

A building’s appearance is usually the first thing tenants, buyers and investors notice, which puts pressure on strata, property and facility managers to get it right.

The quality of the coating system, and what’s happening beneath the surface, can matter just as much as the final finish.

Paint holds more weight than just looks, because a poor paint job can lead to a whole host of other issues. Picture: Getty

A flaking facade or a patchy paint job is more than just a cosmetic issue. Left unaddressed, it can point to bigger problems: compliance risk, premature coating failure, and a slow erosion of an asset’s value and bigger costs in the future.

That’s why more commercial property professionals are shifting their thinking from reactive repairs to proactive asset lifecycle planning and maintenance.

And they’re turning to services like Dulux Commercial Services for coatings guidance and paint system specification support.

Reducing risk from the outset

Different buildings, substrates and exposure conditions come with different risks and different coating approaches.

Render can crack and let moisture in behind the surface. Steel and metalwork can corrode. Older facades may have been coated multiple times over the years, sometimes with products that aren’t compatible with each other, or need considering before a new coating system is specified.

Recognising the signs and knowing how to manage them is an important part of maintaining the value of commercial property.

“Property managers don’t need to become coatings experts,” Deb Hudson, Dulux Commercial Services Business Manager says.

“What they need is someone to walk the site with them, identify what’s actually going on beneath the surface, and recommend a coating system that’s tailored to that substrate conditions, exposure, site operations and budget, rather than a one-size-fits-all fix.”

This is where Dulux Commercial Services comes in, as a complementary coatings focused service designed to support a property’s repaint or remediation project teams.

The service brings together site coatings assessment, technical product advice, specification support, colour design input and contractor guidance, helping property managers to make better informed coating system decisions.

Prospective tenants will appreciate a well kept building. Picture: Getty

“It’s about being there from the very beginning of a project, not just supplying a product,”  Deb Hudson, Dulux Commercial Services Business Manager says.

“That might mean flagging a compatibility issue with an old coating before it becomes a problem on site, or recommending a higher-performance Dulux coating system for a wall exposed to full afternoon sun. Small calls like that, made early, are what prevent costly rework later.”

More than a fresh coat

It’s easy to think of a repaint as a simple refresh.

But for commercial buildings, from multi-residential complexes to retail centres, offices and healthcare facilities, it’s rarely that straightforward.

“A repaint or remediation project isn’t just about colour,” Deb Hudson, Dulux Commercial Services Business Manager says.

“It’s about understanding the surface to be coated, the preparation required, the coating system being specified and the conditions the coating needs to withstand. Those factors all influence the coating recommendation,” she says

“Get any one of those wrong, and you can end up with premature failure, costly rework, or a finish that simply doesn’t last.”

That’s a significant risk for property managers, who are often balancing multiple assets, tight budgets and the expectations of owners, tenants and investors, all at once.

Why planning ahead pays off

Strategic asset upkeep isn’t just about avoiding problems. Done well, it can actively improve how a property performs, and how it’s perceived.

In practice, that means:

• Treating a repaint or remediation project as part of an ongoing maintenance plan rather than a one-off event
• Timing works around lease renewals so tenants aren’t disrupted mid-cycle
• Staging a large facade or multi-building repaint project over a few years so it fits within capital planning and annual budgets
• Aligning coatings works with broader remedial works or capital works reviews where input from other project professionals may be required

“When a building is well maintained and looks the part, tenants notice, and so do valuers, prospective buyers and investors,” Deb Hudson, Dulux Commercial Services Business Manager says.

“A well-planned repaint or remediation project can lift kerb appeal, support tenant retention, and give investors more confidence in the long-term condition of the asset.”

Planning ahead also means fewer surprises for the project team and asset owners.

Instead of waiting until deterioration or damage is visible, property professionals can plan ahead: budgeting for the work, scheduling it around tenants, coating selection, contractor engagement and avoiding the disruption of last-minute repairs.

Protecting the asset, and its value

For strata and body corporate managers in particular, the stakes of getting a repaint or remediation project wrong extend well beyond appearances.

Poor product selection, insufficient preparation or inconsistent finishes can lead to compliance issues, disputes among owners, uncertainty about the appropriate maintenance or remediation approach, and costly rework, all of which can erode confidence in how an asset is being managed.

Getting ahead of any issues will pay off in the long run. Picture: Getty

“Ultimately, this is about protecting the long-term value of the asset by supporting the ongoing maintenance and presentation of the asset,” Deb Hudson, Dulux Commercial Services Business Manager says.

“A durable, well-specified, coating system isn’t just about how a building looks today. It’s about selecting a coating system that is appropriate for the surface, exposure conditions and intended maintenance requirements so that it performs well and is valued, for years to come.”

As more commercial property professionals recognise the link between planned asset upkeep and long-term performance, the message is clear: what happens behind the scenes of a repaint or remediation project can be just as important as the finish itself.

Dulux Commercial Services is a complimentary service for commercial repainting and remediation projects.

By providing technical coatings guidance, tailored Dulux paint and coating specifications and practical application support, the team helps property owners and managers make informed decisions about coating system selection, surface preparation and maintenance planning to achieve quality outcomes that protect and enhance their assets with confidence.

Visit Dulux Commercial Services to learn more.