Painting a Barndominium, Metal Shop or New Build

Drive around Anderson County, Smith County and the lake country and you'll see how common metal shops, barndominiums and fresh new builds have become. They look different from a 1970s brick ranch, and they paint differently too.

Lomax's Custom Painting has photos of this kind of work: black-painted metal shop buildings, a black board-and-batten barndominium caught mid-job with ladders and drop cloths out, and stone new-construction homes. Here's what to think about if you own one.

Metal buildings: prep and color choices

These notes are general trade practice, not a product recommendation, so ask the crew what fits your building. Metal siding is usually washed first. A building that has sat through East Texas weather picks up dirt, pollen and chalky residue, and paint doesn't hold well to a dirty surface.

• Cleaning comes first, since chalky or dirty metal is poor ground for new paint.
• Any rust or bare patches typically get treated and primed before the topcoat.
• Existing coatings matter. What's on the metal now affects what can safely go over it.
• Fasteners, seams and trim are small areas that take the most care.

Color is a real decision. Black is a popular look for barndominiums and shops, and it is striking, but in general dark colors absorb more heat and can show dust, streaks and scratches more readily. Lighter colors are more forgiving. If you're drawn to black, ask how the crew approaches it before you commit.

It also helps to see color before the whole building is done. Ask for a sample on a small, low-visibility section, and look at it in morning light and late afternoon. Large metal panels reflect light differently than a small paint chip, and what looks right on a card can read much darker or flatter on a long wall.

Board and batten and cedar details

Many barndominiums mix metal with board-and-batten sections and wood features. Lomax's barndominium photo shows exactly that: black board and batten with a cedar porch gable. Different materials in one project mean different prep and sometimes different products. Wood accents may call for stain, as covered in Lomax's staining services, while the siding gets paint.

Gables, porch ceilings and exposed timbers are slow, detail-heavy areas. Ask upfront how many of these are in your plan, since they affect both the time and the quote.

New construction: working with your builder

On a new home, painting sits near the end of a long schedule with many trades. Lomax's says it partners with custom builders to deliver complete painting packages, from drywall finishing to final coats. For homeowners building in Tyler, Bullard, Whitehouse or Palestine, that handoff is worth understanding.

As general practice, drywall finishing and paint prep are closely tied. Smooth, well-sanded drywall shows up in the final result, and every flaw gets louder under a coat of paint. A painter who also handles the finishing work can manage that link directly.

• Confirm who is responsible for drywall finishing and who handles the final coats.
• Choose colors before the walls are ready, so there's no delay when the crew arrives.
• Ask when the painter needs access relative to flooring, cabinets and trim.
• Plan for touchups after other trades finish, since small dings happen late in a build.

Lomax's has also sprayed cabinets in new construction. One of its photos shows freshly sprayed sage-green base cabinets in a house that still has bare concrete floors, which is how early in a build their crews can be involved.

Scheduling around other crews

New construction and commercial work often can't wait for a convenient weekday. Lomax's says its commercial painters offer flexible scheduling, including evenings, weekends and holiday periods. If your shop or business has to stay open, that kind of flexibility matters, and it's a good question to ask any painter.

Interior timing is shorter than most people expect. Lomax's says most interior jobs take one to three days, and exteriors three to five. A big metal building or a full barndominium will run longer, which is why the walkthrough is where you get a real timeline for your project.

A few questions to ask before you hire

• What does prep look like for my specific material?
• How will you handle the dark color I'm considering?
• Who coordinates with my builder or electrician on timing?
• What do the final walkthrough and touchups include?

If you're building or buying a barndominium, shop or new home near Palestine or Tyler, call Lomax's Custom Painting at (903) 320-5032. They'll look at the project in person and send a free estimate within 24 hours.