If you decide to spruce up your office by painting, call a commercial painting contractor for an estimate. Not only can your painting contractor transform your office into an inviting workspace your employees will feel comfortable in, but he or she may also contribute to a healthier environment. Here are three ways your commercial painting contractor can help keep your employees healthy and why it is so important: 

Reducing Lead Exposure

If your business is housed in an older building or if it hasn't been painted in years, you and your employees may be exposed to lead paint. While children are more likely to get sick from lead paint from ingesting paint chips, lead exposure can also pose a health hazard for adults as a result of inhaling lead dust.

While lead content in paint cannot be assessed unless the paint has been evaluated with a lead test kit or another diagnostic method,  your painting contractor may be able to determine if the paint on your walls contains lead, based on when the last painting took place. 

Uncovering Mold

Your painting contractor may also uncover mold while he or she is sanding or scraping. While the most common types of mold do not pose a dangerous health hazard to most, those with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or allergies, may get sick when exposed.

Mold is a common finding in most commercial buildings; however, if your contractor discovers black mold, otherwise known as Stachybotrys, a mold remediation professional may need to be consulted. This type of mold, along with its mycotoxins, may lead to illness even in healthy people.

Your painting contractor will take steps to eliminate the "garden variety" type mold that is uncovered and may work with the mold remediation professional to make sure that your work environment is safe, clean, and healthy for your employees.

In addition, if it is determined that you have a black mold infestation in your office, chances are it will also be found in your ventilation system and ductwork. Your painting contractor can refer you to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, professional, who will check and clean your vents to help ensure that mold spores are not blown into your work environment every time the air conditioning or heater is turned on. 

Removing Dirty Wallpaper

Old wallpaper, especially wallpaper that is textured or flocked, can harbor bacteria and fungi. The painting contractor will remove the contaminated wallpaper, taking great care to avoid disturbing it too much so that fungal and mold spores are not dislodged into the air.

He or she may even wash it or thoroughly wet it down before removal to make sure that contaminated fibers are not released into the air inside your office. After the wallpaper has been carefully removed, the contractor will then prepare the walls with primer so that they can be freshly painted.

If you choose to re-paper your walls instead of painting them, the contractor will show you wallpaper samples that will match your office decor. He or she may suggest that you forego a textured wallpaper and instead, choose one with a smooth texture. Smooth wallpaper will be easier to clean, and you won't have to worry about dirt hiding in all the nooks and crannies.

If you're thinking about changing the colors of your office walls, call a commercial painting company like Castle Painting. Not only will your office look better, but you and your employees may also feel physically better and more productive. It may even cut down on employee absenteeism and sick days.