Commercial Painting · Jul 2017
Metal building interior: walls painted white under insulated fabric ceiling
Metal building interior: walls painted white under insulated fabric ceiling. These are before, in-progress and after photos from the job, taken Jul 2017. This commercial painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Metal Building Interior Walls Painted White Under an Insulated Fabric Ceiling
This large metal building has a quilted, insulated fabric liner across the ceiling and upper walls, with ribbed metal wall panels below, photographed in Jul 2017. Before the work, the lower metal panels were a dull gray with grime, marks and stains, and the fabric liner sagged in places. A scissor lift stood ready on the concrete floor. In-progress photos show an inside office block and mezzanine with smooth walls coated white, doorways into the rooms below, and the lift working along the walls. A long exhaust hose hangs from the ceiling, and heaters, fans and high bay lights are mounted overhead. In the after photo, the ribbed metal walls are a bright, even white from the floor up to the fabric line. The white walls bounce light from the high bay fixtures and the open overhead door across the shop floor, so the space looks cleaner and brighter for daily work.
How We Painted the Walls in This Metal Building
- We cleaned the metal panels to remove dust, grime and oily marks, since shop residue keeps paint from bonding to metal walls.
- Floors, equipment, outlets, doors and the bottom edge of the fabric liner were covered and protected before any paint was sprayed in the building.
- Any rust spots were scraped and spot primed with a metal primer, which helps stop rust from bleeding through the white finish.
- A scissor lift let the crew reach the top of the metal panels safely and work the full height of each wall section.
- We sprayed white along the ribbed panels and back rolled the coating, pushing paint into each rib so the coverage stayed even.
- The office block walls were painted white as well, and we finished by checking every wall in the bright shop light for thin spots.
Paint Colors Similar to These Bright White Shop Walls
These are similar colors to consider for metal shop and warehouse walls, not the exact coating used inside this building.
Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006
A bright, clean white close to these finished walls. It reflects the most light from high bay fixtures across a big shop.
Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004
A slightly softer white that still brightens a work space but shows dust and scuffs a little less than stark white.
Sherwin-Williams Gauntlet Gray SW 7019
A medium gray for a lower wall band or office doors, which hides wear where carts and equipment rub the walls.
Questions About Painting Metal Building Interiors
Can the inside walls of a metal building be painted?
Yes. Interior metal panels can be painted after cleaning off dust, oils and any loose coating. Rusty spots need to be scraped and primed. Many painters use a direct-to-metal coating or a metal primer under the finish. Spraying and back rolling helps cover ribbed panels evenly.
Why paint shop or warehouse walls white?
White walls reflect more light, which makes a large work space brighter and can help workers see details more easily. A bright interior also looks cleaner to customers and visitors. Many businesses add a darker band low on the walls to hide scuffs from equipment and traffic.
How do painters work around insulation liners and equipment?
Painters protect insulation liners, lights, heaters and machinery with plastic and tape before spraying. Overspray is controlled by working in sections and adjusting the spray pattern. Lifts allow safe access to high areas. Planning the work around business hours keeps the shop running during the project.
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