Detroit's storefronts, offices and apartment blocks are often older buildings with plaster, painted block and steel windows. We walk the building, plan the work area by area around your hours and put the scope in writing. Exterior work is scheduled for the warmer months, and interior work goes on all year.
Detroit has a deep stock of older commercial buildings: brick storefronts on Michigan, Gratiot, Grand River and Livernois, offices downtown and in Midtown, churches, plants, warehouses and apartment blocks. Many have plaster walls, steel windows, painted block and old coatings in several layers. Before we quote, we walk the building, look at each surface and note what is peeling, stained or damp. The quote then says which areas are included, what prep each one gets and how many coats go on.
A business has to keep running while it is painted. We plan the work area by area with the owner or manager, protect floors, fixtures and stock, and keep exits and walkways clear. Timing depends on the building and on your hours, so tell us what you need and we will say what is possible. Buildings put up before 1978 may have lead paint, and that changes how sanding and scraping are done in spaces used by children.
Michigan weather sets the schedule for exterior commercial work. Paint needs dry surfaces and mild temperatures, so storefronts, block walls and metal doors are best done from late spring to early fall. Interior work goes on all year. If your building is in one of Detroit's local historic districts, the Historic District Commission reviews exterior painting first. Detroit Painters is licensed and insured, and every commercial job starts with a free walk-through and a written quote.
Commercial painting in Detroit: common questions
Can you paint my Detroit business without closing it?
Often, yes. Most commercial repaints are done in sections so part of the space stays in use. How that works depends on your building and your hours. Tell us your schedule at the walk-through and we will plan around it and put the plan in the quote.
Do I need a permit to paint a storefront in Detroit?
Painting alone does not normally need a building permit. If the building is in a local historic district, the Detroit Historic District Commission must approve exterior painting first. New signs and awnings have their own rules, so check with BSEED.
How is commercial painting priced?
By the square foot of surface, the prep needed and the access. National figures published by HomeGuide for 2026 put commercial painting at $2 to $6 per square foot. That is not our quote. We price your building after a walk-through.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.